Tag Archive for: skin care

Asian woman worry about acne occur on her face after wearing mask for long time during covid-19 pandemic, wondering how to help decrease mask acne.
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Help Decrease Mask Acne With These Tips

Masks play a vital role in reducing the spread of the coronavirus. Masks can also be hard on your skin, causing problems that range from acne and peeling skin to rashes and itchiness. This can be annoying and uncomfortable, especially for people who are required to wear masks for extended periods of time.

We’ve got some tips and tricks to help you fight back! Keep reading below to learn how to help decrease mask acne.

Apply Moisturizer

Keeping your skin nice and hydrated will produce a barrier between your face and your mask, preventing friction. Applying a moisturizer before you put on your mask will do the trick! Applying a moisturizer to damp skin will help the absorption of your moisturizer.  Look for moisturizers that best suit your skin type.  Look for moisturizers that contain the following ingredients: ceramides, hyaluronic acid and dimethicone.

Avoid Makeup

Wearing makeup underneath your mask can lead to issues with clogged pores. To prevent this problem, don’t wear makeup in the areas your mask covers. No one can see your skin under there anyway! If makeup is necessary, use only products labeled “non-comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores.”

Wash Your Face

Wearing a mask traps dirt and oil “in a moist/humid environment” exacerbating acne and skin irritation. Proper skin care including washing with a gentle cleanser can help decrease the negative effects of mask-wearing. It is recommended to wash your face twice a day.  Look for cleansers that are nonabrasive and do not contain alcohol. Use warm water and avoid scrubbing, using your hands is enough.

Wash Your Mask

If your mask is washable, make sure it stays clean! Not only does this ensure you remain protected from the virus but it also keeps your skin from building up even more dirt and oil.

Use Less of Certain Skincare Products

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, some skincare products that you’ve used in the past may irritate your skin. Temporarily decreasing their use may be a good idea if you are having troubles with your skin. These products may include: leave on acne treatments (ex: salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide), retinol creams, and aftershave or perfumed lotions.

Struggling to find time to make it into the office but have more questions about how to help decrease mask acne? Click here to learn more about our telemedicine efforts!

White cosmetic bottles, eucalyptus flowers, towels, soap on green background. Top view, flat lay. Natural organic beauty product concept. Spa, skin care, body treatment, highlighting the history of skincare.
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History of Skincare Products

When people think of medical advancements, they don’t often think of skincare. But just as the practice of medicine has evolved and improved over the years, so has the process of caring for the body’s largest organ — the skin. Learn more about the history of skincare below!

The Evolution of Skincare

Keep reading to journey through the various phases of beliefs, ingredients, and practices that impacted the way people cared for their skin.

  • The earliest evidence of skincare and makeup comes from Ancient Egypt. Preserving youth was a strong theme within their culture, not too dissimilar from modern times. However, they used ingredients like castor, sesame, and moringa oils. They also used olive oil and clay mixtures to cleanse their skin, milk masks to moisturize, and dead sea salts to exfoliate. Additionally, the makeup they created had two purposes: to help decorate their skin and also to protect them from the harsh elements of the sun and desert.
  • Like the Ancient Egyptians, the Ancient Greeks relied on totally natural ingredients to create the elements of their skincare. Their regiment included lots of fresh berries, milk, olive oils, and yogurt to create items like perfumes, eye shadows, cleanses, and even hair dyes.
  • The 1700s globally saw skincare as an art form. Many people believed makeup was most beautiful when it was painted and layered on. Heavier makeup conveyed social and economic status. Popular skincare treatments during this time were saunas, sweat cleansings, and milk baths.
  • During the 1800s, skincare was a privilege. It was seen as vital for those in higher classes to participate in, but it wasn’t necessary for those who were just trying their best to survive. For a majority of this century, skincare products were hard to obtain and expensive. Using products to lighten the skin was also popular. To do this, many people used items like harsh cleaners, oatmeal, lemon juice, and egg yolks.
  • Fortunately for everyone, the 1900s and current times is when skincare really exploded. This century saw the birth of countless businesses for makeup and skincare products. For example, sunscreen wasn’t created until 1944. This also means that beauty products stopped being a privilege and became readily available for all types of people, no matter their economic status. Additionally, we’ve learned that using harsh chemicals to change our tone isn’t healthy while darker skin tones became more widely celebrated. Now, we focus on using natural ingredients like the civilizations before us. We also protect ourselves and our skin by using items like sunscreen and vitamins.

Avail Dermatology is here for any of your skincare needs. If you have any further questions about the history of skincare or want to speak to our staff, click here to reach out or give us a call at 770-929-9033. Click here to learn more about our telemedicine efforts!

 

 

Sensitive Skin, Food allergy symptoms, Irritation. Doctor dermatolog and patient, wondering how to tell if you're allergic to skincare products.
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How to Tell You’re Allergic to Skincare Products

At the end of a long, stressful day, taking a hot shower and indulging in your skincare routine can be the best way to unwind and pamper yourself. But what if instead of feeling comforted and clean, your skin starts to break out and/or become itchy? Unfortunately, this usually means your skin is having an allergic reaction to a product you just used.

Our experts are explaining how to tell you’re allergic to skincare products below!

Reactions to Look Out For

Here are some of the most common ways your skin might negatively react to ingredients in your skincare products:

  • Red, itchy, and irritated skin, otherwise known as dermatitis.
  • Red pimples.
  • Flaky skin.
  • Sensitivity on the skin.

The important detail to remember is that an allergic reaction caused by skincare products will stay only on your skin. If you start to have other symptoms, like a runny nose or feeling queasy, another issue may be to blame.

What Causes This Reaction?

To figure out why your skin might be having a negative reaction, you have to consider common skincare ingredients. Unfortunately, this can be tricky, because there are thousands of different types of ingredients used across skincare products. For example, maybe you’re allergic to the preservatives or chemical components of certain fragrances in your face wash. Or perhaps the base ingredient in that anti-aging serum doesn’t sit well with your skin.

So, if you wake up with a skin reaction, the best way to determine the cause is to retrace your skincare steps and specifically examine the ingredients in those products.

What to Do if You Think You’re Allergic

If you suspect you’re having an allergic reaction to skincare products, stop using any of the products that could possibly have caused the reaction. Next, schedule an appointment with your dermatologist as soon as possible. If you’re able, it’s also helpful to record the times your symptoms appeared and which products you’ve been using. If you can bring them to your appointment, even better.

Bringing this information to your dermatologist will help them narrow down what could be happening. That way, the two of you can figure out which products are best to avoid and which products you can use instead.

Avail Dermatology is here for any of your skincare needs. If you have any further questions about the history of skincare or want to speak to our staff, click here to reach out or give us a call at 770-929-9033. Click here to learn more about our telemedicine efforts!

Eco friendly skincare. Natural cosmetics and organic herbs and flowers on pink background, top view, flat lay. Bio research and healthy lifestyle concept, highlighting Are “Organic” Skincare Products Really Better?
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Are “Organic” Skincare Products Really Better?

When it comes to skincare, it’s important to know what’s exactly in the products you apply to your face. When you find a product labeled with the word “organic,”, you might be tempted to assume it’s higher quality. However, while this might sometimes be true, it’s definitely not always the case.

The experts at Avail Dermatology are answering the question are “organic” skincare products really better? 

What Does the Word Organic Mean? 

By definition, when a skincare product uses the word organic, it’s referring to how their ingredients were farmed.  The USDA will give a skincare product an official “organic” seal if the food based ingredients like honey or berries do not contain any synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. 

However, the rules for what percentage of those ingredients are actually organic differ from country to country. You can learn more about America’s definition of organic cosmetics here. 

What Does This Mean for Skincare Products? 

Organic skincare products use ingredients that do not require certain chemicals while certain ingredients are being grown. However, it doesn’t mean that the product is perfect. Organic products can still contain problematic ingredients or plants that can cause a reaction on your skin, just as those products without a USDA “organic” seal.

Organic also may not mean better for the environment. Some organic products still use growing methods that can be detrimental to the planet.  

Ultimately, it’s vital to look beyond labels like organic and thoroughly research what skincare products work best for you. By understanding how ingredients within these products might affect your skin, you’ll be more informed to purchase something that’s just right for you.  

Avail Dermatology is here for any of your skincare needs. If you have any further questions about how organic skincare products truly differ or want to speak to our staff, click here to reach out or give us a call at 770-929-9033. Click here to learn more about our telemedicine efforts! 

Grooming concept. Young black man looking at mirror and shaving beard with trimmer or electric shaver at bathroom, free space, wondering how facial hair impacts skincare.
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How Facial Hair Can Impact Your Skincare

Whether you want facial hair or want to get rid of all of it, you should be keeping skincare in mind! Those with facial hair have to worry more about acne and dandruff underneath the hair follicles, and those who are getting rid of their hair might suffer from irritation. 

The experts at Avail Dermatology will explain how facial hair can impact your skincare below! 

For Those Who Want Smooth Skin

If you hate the idea of facial hair, then you will often find yourself using different aesthetic procedures to get rid of it. That includes threading, shaving, plucking, and waxing (to name a few). 

Unfortunately, most of those options can potentially cause trauma to the face. Whether you nick yourself with a razor or pull a hair follicle out of your pore a little too harshly, infection and irritation are all very possible side effects.

That’s why it’s important to consider using less hard products for your face to help lessen the side effects. Use cleansers and moisturizers that are gentle to the skin (products that are free of dyes and scents). In addition, keep applying sunscreen, daily, and if you will be outside for more than an hour, reapply every hour.  Your sunscreen should contain a physical block like zinc oxide. Too much exposure to the sun can worsen irritation. 

For Those Who Want Facial Hair 

If you’re trying to grow out a beard or other facial hair, your skincare considerations should be different.

Facial hair is both similar and varied from the hair that grows on top of the head. While both types of hair create a sebaceous gland that produces natural oil, the skin on the face is much more sensitive than the skin on the scalp. Washing your beard with regular shampoo won’t cut it. Generally, a gentle skin cleanser like you would use on all of your facial skin will be needed. 

And what happens if you just don’t clean your beard? First of all, it’s estimated that a person touches their beard hundreds of times per day. That means that facial hair is harboring a lot of germs. Secondly, if you don’t wash that skin underneath the beard, acne will be quick to follow. It can also cause skin issues to those you kiss or hug often. Therefore, it’s vital to wash that area. 

Avail Dermatology is here for any of your skincare needs. If you have any further questions about how facial hair can impact your skincare or want to speak to our staff, click here to reach out or give us a call at 770-929-9033. Click here to learn more about our telemedicine efforts! 

Beautiful woman with spa facial mask. Homemade mask for face. spa treatments. Facial dry skin and body care, complexion treatment at home concept, wondering how to make your skincare routine less wasteful.
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How to Make Your Skincare Routine Less Wasteful

We’re all searching for ways to be more eco-friendly. We recycle, we try to reduce our use and consumption of harmful gases for the environment, and we cut down on our food waste. But have you thought about how your beauty routine might also be an opportunity to be more sustainable? 

Unfortunately, most people don’t know about this opportunity. The products we use for our day to day skincare come in wasteful containers that we can’t reuse, and, since we use these on such a regular basis, it creates a lot of trash. 

Keep reading below to learn how to make your skincare routine less wasteful from the experts at Avail Dermatology! 

Find Ways to Swap Out Products

When you use types of shampoo and conditioner that come in giant bottles that aren’t recyclable, that produces a lot of waste. Luckily, many companies are realizing this and have searched for ways to make their products more eco-friendly. Look for products with eco-friendly packaging instead of large plastic tubs. 

There’s a lot of alternatives out there for you to enjoy, you just need to be proactive about finding them. 

Challenge Yourself to Use All Your Products 

It can be difficult to find yourself using every single drop of the products in your skincare routine. Most people see something running out and immediately reorder the product before it’s all gone. Scrapping containers for every single bit of product is annoying and time-consuming. Or, sometimes, we don’t get to use our products before they expire, so we just toss them. 

Those habits can be extremely wasteful. So, we challenge you to make sure you use all your products. Apply every bit of foundation and scrap the bottom of your lotion container for the last bit before you let yourself get any new products. 

Avail Dermatology is here for any of your skincare needs! 

If you have any questions about how to make your skincare routine less wasteful, click here to reach out or give us a call at 770-929-9033. 

You can also click here to learn more about our telemedicine options!

What is Keratosis Pilaris?
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What is Keratosis Pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris, also known as KP, is an extremely common skin condition that affects almost three million people worldwide. Despite its commonality, not much is known about this chronic, long-term skin condition, and many people who have it may not even realize that their skin is abnormal.

To learn more about keratosis pilaris from the experts at Avail Dermatology, keep reading below.

What is Keratosis Pilaris?

Keratosis is a common skin condition that causes the skin in certain areas to have a bumpy appearance, often described as “chicken skin.” By far, the most common location is on the upper outer arms, but less commonly, it can affect the outer thighs, and lateral cheeks on the face. These bumps are caused by an build-up of keratin, , which is the protein that is forms the outer layer of the skin. In KP, the keratin builds up into tiny “mounds” around individual hair follicles. .It is an extremely common condition, particularly in children and adolescents, with some estimates as high as 50% to 80% of adolescents showing some degree of KP. It often worsens in winter when the skin is dry, particularly in patients who also have eczema, a common finding.

Generally, KP improves with age and is less common in adults, though still not rare. Generally, KP does not cause symptoms, although in rare cases it can lead to skin irritation and peeling.

KP appears to be a genetic disorder, and many patients have a family history of KP. There are some studies suggesting that abnormal genes that control the production and function of keratin may be responsible for the condition.

How is Keratosis Pilaris Treated?

Just as it is not truly known what causes KP, there is also no known cure. The good news is that, most often, keratosis pilaris disappears with age and will go away on its own.

However, there are several ways to help manage your symptoms if they are a burden to you. Follow these steps to do just that:

  • Keep your body moisturized. This remains the hallmark of therapy for KP. Moisturizing reduces the appearance of the bumps and prevents peeling and scaling. Some moisturizers may be more effective for KP. These include alpha hydroxy acid moisturizers, which contain ingredients like lactic or glycolic acid. By accelerating exfoliation, they may reduce the bumpy texture of the skin.
  • Start new daily habits. Along with moisturizers, try out warm water instead of hot water for your bath, and add moisture to your home with a humidifier.
  • Work with your doctor. More resistant or bothersome cases of KP may need additional treatment. Work with your trusted dermatologist to help formalize a plan that will be best for you and your skin. Your physician will be able to recommend the best products and help you to avoid practices that may not lessen your keratosis pilaris.

If you would like assistance with managing your keratosis pilaris, then reach out to the trusted dermatology experts at Avail Dermatology. We’ll be happy to formulate a management plan that is just right for you and your skin.

Give us a call at 770-251-5111 or click here to schedule an appointment.