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Q. I have a 5 year old daughter with eczema. I have had a couple of people tell me to let her lay in a tanning bed. I was just wondering if this would be safe for her? A. ABSOLUTELY NOT! Tanning beds emit intense radiation (UVA light) that damages the skin. The tanning bed industry is not well regulated in most states. The dose of radiation can vary from machine to machine. The consumer is blind to the fact that they are receiving radiation that can adversely and permanently damage their skin. Understand that eczema is a skin condition and not a disease. I explain to patients that it is a skin sensitivity condition that is for the most part life long. Skin flares can occur when the skin is irritated. There are easy maintenance tips that can help control eczema. Good daily maintenance is minimizing water exposure and using moisturizing creams twice a day. Back to Top Q. For the past many years now I have had a strange occurrence on the palm of my hands. I have noticed that every time I am in the water for a long time or when my palms stay wet for a little while either from sweat or showering, tiny white cavernous lesions form on my hands. I can't really explain them, but they look like someone has been poking my hands with a little needle and leaving little dots. If you have any idea, what this could be, I would love to know. A. The most common cause for this type of presentation is a condition called dyshidrotic eczema. This is a skin sensitivity condition where the skin is irritated by: heat, friction, water, sweat and chemicals. The presentation is scaling, sometimes itching areas on the hands (feet too when they are irritated). Part of the answer is isolating and avoiding the source of irritation. Moisturizing creams are helpful. Back to Top Q. Little red dots under the surface of the skin appear around my fingertips. They cannot be felt, and aren't bothersome. They seem to move closer to the surface, then the skin becomes dry cracked and scaly. At this point, it feels rough and is sometimes itchy. It does not spread to any other areas, but occurs on several fingertips. My general practitioner says I wash my hands too often. Is this probably the case, or could it be something else? A. Everybody's skin has different sensitivities. Frequent hand washing can cause irritation similar to what you are describing. The answer is simple, try decreasing the frequency of hand washing ie: after the restroom and before meals. Use hand sanitizers instead of water. Finally, use moisturizing creams 2-3 times a day. If the rash clears, your practitioner was right. Back to Top Q. I have acne on my arms, face, back and buttocks. Where do I start? A. Widespread acne many times can be related to other conditions. For example, there is a condition called keratosis pilaris. This is commonly seen on the arms, upper legs, upper back/chest and buttocks. This condition is follicular in origin and can be improved but not cured (it has a genetic tendency). This condition improves with acidic moisturizers. Traditional acne treatments do not help. A good dermatologist is found by word of mouth. You really need evaluation as to your course of treatment. Back to Top Q. I have been using shower gels for some time now. I wonder if they can make you itch? I can't use soap because it dries my skin. A. Dry skin is a maintenance problem. Daily activities influence the moisture/dryness of the skin. Many times it is the frequent water exposure (not attributed entirely to the soap) that causes dry skin. Read about dry skin on YourSkinDoctor.com. Back to Top Q. I am 47 and going through perimenopause. I notice I have more freckles or moles mostly on my back and elsewhere. Do hormonal changes cause this or is this just a part of aging? Thanks. A. Freckles, moles and sunspots can all look similar. Usually a person in their 40's doesn't grow many new moles. Freckles and sunspots are a reaction to sun exposure. For women, estrogen (normal estrogen or hormone supplementation/replacement) sensitizes the skin. They can get more sunspots or blotchy hyperpigmentation on sun exposed areas. Treatment is conventional with antioxidants, retinoids, bleaching creams and sunscreen. Remember,your sunscreen should be at least an SPF 15 and used 2-3 times a day. Back to Top Q. What is the best treatment for blackheads? A. Blackheads are from dilated keratin filled pores. Some people have a predisposition and it is not a reflection of hygiene. We recommend in our practice retinoids (retinoic acid products), home or in office acid peels, and extraction. We try to get patients on skin care programs that involve daily skin care. Daily maintenance is the key. Back to Top Q. My face gets oily really quickly, but at he same time is dry and flaky. What are the best products, or the best course of treatment I can take? A. Oily flaky skin is very common and is many times suggestive of seborrhea(dandruff). Seborrhea is a skin condition that can be controlled but not cured. The cause is unclear and it can present on the scalp, face, chest, underarms or genital areas. Most of the time it is controlled by using an anti-dandruff shampoo 5-6 times a week and leaving on for 5 minutes. Try it and you may be pleasantly surprised. Read about seborrhea/dandruff on YourSkinDoctor.com. Back to Top Q. I read this information on another site. "Wanting to offer vitamin C products, many companies have used derivatives of vitamin C, such as ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. Derivatives are easier to stabilize, but they are not L-ascorbic acid, which is the only form of vitamin C the body can use" Can you tell me about your Vitamin C? A. YSD Youth Serum C uses 25% ASCORBYL METHOL SILINOL. It is a C derivative. You can use different types of C derivatives, ones that have no water (L-ascorbic acid) are the best as the full percentage gets sub-dermally but they not compatible with everyone. We have opted for the high percentage (25%) that has stabilizing water in it because it is tolerated much better by the skin for most people and the high concentration ensures that it is effective. The external benefits of topical vitamin C do not rely on specific isomers of the molecule. That is why we see so many different forms. The benefits of topical Vitamin C are as follows: protection from sun related aging, increased collagen synthesis, and faster wound healing. It is also an effective anti-inflammatory when applied before or after sun exposure. Back to Top Q. I have suffered from "fever blisters", on my lips usually, for all of my life. I understand that they are caused by oral Herpes Virus I. I currently have a cluster-type blister on my lower lip, which is quite painful and unsightly. My question is whether I should drain the blister to speed up the scab/dry up process, or does the risk of spreading virus-contaminated discharge to other areas of my mouth outweigh this potential "shortcut" to recovery? A. "Fever blisters" are related to the herpes virus. Common provoking factors are stress and sun exposure. Picking and draining the areas will not speed up recovery. Manipulating the area may cause it to spread or become infected. Use good hygiene when you have an outbreak as it can also spread to other people. I'm not sure we can prevent the stress but you should use sunscreen/sun block on your lips. There are also some excellent anti viral medications on the market that help with recurrent attacks. See your physician for advice. Back to Top Q. How often should you exfoliate your skin? A. Excellent question. There are three pillars of skin care that I recommend. I like the antioxidants, retinoids and exfoliating agents. These all stimulate promote healthy skin The challenge is how to incorporate these in your daily life. We are defeating our objective if you are walking around with skin that is red and irritated. Use of these products varies from person to person. It also depends on your goals whether you are in an improvement or maintenance phase of your skin care. In our office we ask people their goals and design a program accordingly. If someone wants aggressive treatment, we will use the antioxidants, retinoids and exfoliating agents on a daily basis. If someone is more in maintenance, then use the antioxidants and retinoids daily and exfoliate once a week. Back to Top Q. I would like to know if tanning is bad for acne? And if it is what would happen? I really want to go tanning but I need to know if something would happen to my face. A. Excess sun exposure or use of tanning beds can actually exacerbate acne in some people. It is a misconception that these are helpful. The long term risks of skin cancer outweigh the benefits of temporary acne reduction. Of interest, there is a new kind of pulse light therapy that uses light and heat to treat acne. This doesn't have the same risks as sun exposure or tanning beds. Our office is using it and it may be available in your community. Also, read about Acne in YourSkinDoctor.com and try some easy home treatments first. Back to Top Q. I got a very bad sun burn around a year ago (I peeled and then burned on the new skin 2 days later) my skin scabbed up and then a week latter it peeled off. After the burn my face was red for awhile. Now where I burned (my forehead, my nose cheeks and around the mouth) it’s lightened the skin and has fine lines. Is there anything that I can do? I'm a 22 year old and feel like I look much older. Will my skin be permanently like this? A. Sun burn is sun damage. Our skin between adolescence and mid twenties is especially sensitive to the sun. For sun damage, I am an advocate of retiniods such as Renova, antioxidants such as topical vitamin C and exfoliating agents such as salicylic, glycolic and lactic acid. It wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention sunscreen/sun block twice a day. Back to Top Q. I was given a sample of Neutrogena Anti-wrinkle Cream, Retinol Facial Treatment. Last night I put it all over my face. This morning my face was very swollen and my eyes almost shut. Also, my skin was red and burning and I had a little asthma. Can retinol give that type of allergic reaction? A. Any topical medication can give an allergic reaction. Yours sounds like it is pretty severe and I would stay away from retinol products. Back to Top Q. What is the cause of Folliculitis and how can I treat it? I have a severe case of it on my legs and the result is scarring over the entire length of my legs. A. Folliculitis means inflammation or infection of the hair follicles. Some people have a predisposition to recurrent episodes and daily maintenance is a must. We all have bacteria on our skin and controlling this is many times the answer. Start with your soap. Benzoyl peroxide cleansers are very helpful. If you shave your legs, use a shaving gel and change the razor blades frequently. It is also important not to scratch your legs as this can make the condition worse. If your legs itch, try anti-itch lotions and soothing creams. These creams can be used anytime. Back to Top Q. I have a question just for the purpose of understanding skin issues. I had a black comedone, very large; many times larger than pictures I have seen, that broke from underneath my skin and fell out. It was very black, very hard and irregular shaped, about the size of a bird seed. Now, 10 years later, I have a tiny black speck where the comedone broke through. Is this typical and confirmation that I indeed had a common comedone? A. Sometimes the skin will form pockets that collect dead cells and debris. A small "pocket" in the skin is called a comedone (blackhead). A larger "pocket" is called a "dilated pore of Winer". When there is a large pocket under the skin with substance and debris, this is called a cyst. These growths can't hurt you. If you elect to do so, the dilated pore of Winer and cysts can be surgically removed. Back to Top Q. I am 21 years old and I have a long line under my right eye. I have never been scarred there. I was wondering how you can get rid of it or is there a cream out there I could use? A. Lines in the skin are from a number of factors including genetics and environmental causes. For example, skin wrinkling increases from sun, smoking and pollution. Skin care should be like body care. Most of us exercise daily so why not condition your skin daily. The products and protocols are too numerous to discuss but we like categories such as antioxidants and retinoids in addition to sunscreens. The antioxidants are used in the morning and the retinoids are used in the evening. Sunscreen (SPF 15 or above) is used two to three times a day. This is a wonderful regimen that helps repair and stimulate the skin. (Thus minimize wrinkles.) If you have specific wrinkles, Botox is an option and you should discuss this with doctors in your community. Back to Top Q. What can I use to tighten up my skin? From gaining and losing weight, my face seems to be sagging? A. Sagging skin is impossible to treat with acids, creams and lotions. Acids, creams and lotions work on complexion, texture, pore size, pigmentation and overall health of the skin. Sagging skin is usually treated surgically or with lasers. Back to Top Q. I've noticed a lot more wrinkles on my upper lip and chin area since I started waxing. Could the waxing be the cause? If so, are there any gentler treatments for hair removal? A. Facial wrinkles are usually from muscle expression and sun damage. Theoretically, repeated trauma (such as waxing) probably would contribute to wrinkling of the skin. Other options for hair removal include depilating agents or a new prescription cream called Vanqa. If you have wrinkling of the skin, address the sun damage. Read Sun Damaged Skin on YourSkinDoctor.com. Back to Top Q. I have had what has been diagnosed as dermatographism for many, many years. I've had a number of tests that show it is NOT allergy-related, but rather due to a faulty histamine (or antihistamine) system. It occurs, as your site indicates, in areas where my body has come in contact with a fitted garment, most often, around my waist and surrounding areas (both front and back). It's worse in cold weather. Over-the-counter antihistamine tablets help, but as most contain pseudoephrine or other medications I definitely don't want to use on a regular basis, I've been using several topical creams and lotions (e.g., Sarna and Aveeno) which are only somewhat effective (and occasionally not at all). Can you recommend other, effective creams or lotions? I'm really desperate as some times my "hives" cause great discomfort. A. Dermatographism is a type of hive that results from irritation of the mast cells in the skin. In this case, the irritation is pressure induced. Think of the mast cells as "water balloons." Under the right conditions, these "water balloons" rupture releasing a chemical into the skin and body called histamine. In the skin this results in a welt or hive appearance. Think of this as a sensitive skin problem and not a faulty mechanism with your body. Topical anti-itch creams and lotions usually help when combined with oral antihistamines. Talk to your pharmacist as there are antihistamines without pseudoephedrine. This condition can be aggravated by other medications. Be patient - it will resolve in time. Back to Top |
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