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Skin Care Archives - The Neiman Dermatology Building – Buffalo, NY Cosmetic Dermatology
Summer Skin Care
With the unofficial beginning of summer next week with the Memorial Day holiday, many people will be spending more time outside over the next few months. As we learned in an earlier post, even if it’s not sunny out, harmful UVA and UVB rays are still prevalent. Here are just a few important things to keep in mind to help protect your skin this upcoming summer:
• When applying sunscreens, layering them does not give added SPF protection. The SPF you end up with is only the SPF of the highest sunscreen you applied. For example, if you apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 then apply one with an SPF of 25, you will only have protection of the SPF of 30.
• The American Academy of Dematology (AAD) does recommend applying two layers of sunscreen on all exposed areas though. The second layer should be applied about 30 minutes after the first, at least 30 minutes before sun exposure.
• SPF protection is on a logarithmic scale. This means there is a bigger difference between SPF 25 and SPF 30 than there is with SPF 30 and SPF 45.
• SPF’s below 15 are essentially worthless.
• If you do contract sunburn take Advil or Motrin. They block inflammation and can actually lessen the burn.
Just remember these tips to keep your skin safe and healthy this summer!
How to Treat a Sunburn
Maybe you fell asleep on the beach, or forgot to pack sunscreen. However it happened, sunburn can be painful and in severe cases, even dangerous. If you do get burned:
• Take a cool shower or bath, or apply wet, cold washcloths.
• Avoid products that contain benzocaine, lidocaine, or petroleum (Vaseline).
• Cover blisters with dry bandages to prevent infection.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen, but do not give aspirin to children.
Call a doctor if you have a serious reaction:
• Feeling faint or dizzy
• Rapid pulse or rapid breathing
• Extreme thirst, no urine output, or sunken eye
• Pale, clammy, or cool skin
• Nausea, fever, chills, or rash
• Eyes hurt and are sensitive to light
• Severe, painful blisters
Of course, it’s best to protect yourself from getting burned in the first place. Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends taking these steps:
• Wear clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to protect as much skin as possible. Protect your eyes with sunglasses that block at least 99% of UV light.
• Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30: reapply at least every 2 hours, and after swimming or sweating.
• Avoid direct exposure to the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when rays are strongest.
• Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps: both can cause serious long-term skin damage and contribute to skin cancer.
Source: American Cancer Society, Healthy Living
How Beards Can Impact Acne & How to Combat It
Having a beard may be a good way to disguise acne on the lower part of the face, but did you know it can actually worsen it? That’s right, facial hair can affect acne. Some ways include:
• Food and dirt can get clogged in the hair leading to bacteria forming and causing infections.
• Sweat and oil from the skin can get trapped in the hair and lead to blocked pores.
• Ingrown hairs are common among beard wearers and another reason that pores can become clogged and infected.
Now don’t grab that razor just yet! There are some things you can do to reduce the effects. They are as follows:
• Keep the beard well trimmed to prevent ingrown hairs. Focus on areas where food or dirt may be lingering.
• When trimming, shave lightly in one direction to avoid cutting the skin or stretching it out. This can further aggravate acne.
• Wash the beard thoroughly each day and rinse it well to remove cleansers which can clog pores.
• Test a variety of shaving creams, shavers, and after shave products to determine which is best for your skin in particular.
• Avoid thick shaving creams which can cause pores to become clogged.
Even though having a beard can adversely impact the skin, there are ways to manage and minimize the effects. If you are still having trouble with facial acne though, contact our office.
Marionette Lines
Marionette lines can be described as wrinkles located at the outer corners of the mouth that extend down around the chin. Although they usually start out as fine lines, they can eventually become more apparent as someone ages and loses facial volume.
Dermal fillers, such as Juvéderm and Restylane, are great options for marionette lines. Not only do they help improve the appearance of them, they also keep the skin in the area plump and moisturized. Best of all, results are clinically proven to last a year or more in patients. To learn more about Juvéderm and Restylane, contact our office today.
Triggers of Rosacea
Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness or blushing. Usually residing in the center of the face (nose and cheeks), it may spread to other areas of the face and body as well. There are many different things that can trigger a rosacea flare-up according to the National Rosacea Society and they include:
Foods
• Liver
• Yogurt
• Sour cream
• Cheese (except cottage cheese)
• Chocolate
• Vanilla
• Soy Sauce
• Yeast extract (bread is ok)
• Vinegar
• Eggplant
• Avocados
• Spinach
• Broad-leaf beans and pods, including lima, navy or pea
• Citrus fruits, including tomatoes, bananas, red plums. raisins or figs
• Spicy and thermally hot foods
• Foods high in histamine
Beverages
• Alcohol, especially red wine, beer, bourbon, gin, vodka or champagne
• Hot drinks, including hot cider, hot chocolate, coffee or tea
Emotional Influences
• Stress
• Anxiety
Physical exertion
• Exercise
• “Lift and load” jobs
Temperature-related
• Saunas
• Hot baths
• Simple overheating
• Excessively warm environments
Weather
• Sun
• Strong winds
• Cold
• Humidity
Drugs
• Vasodilators
• Topical steroids
Medical conditions
• Frequent flushing
• Menopause
• Chronic cough
• Caffeine withdrawal syndrome
Skin care products
• Some cosmetics and hair sprays, especially those containing alcohol, witch hazel or fragrances
• Hydro-alcoholic or acetone substances
• Any substance that causes redness or stinging
Understanding what can cause a rosacea flare-up is key to prevention.Contact our office today for more information about this relatively common condition.