Derm RF

Myth Busters

Myth: There aren’t any quick fixes when it comes to Skincare

Whether you’re hoping  for a kiss under the mistletoe or just getting camera-ready for holiday photos, there are small steps you can take weeks and days before the big moment to look your best.

If you have 12 days: Assume the worst and plan for the best. Meaning, if you have occasional sensitive skin peaks or the predictable acne valley, start your treatment regimen before your visual symptoms start. This will keep your skin happy and healthy looking.

If you have three days: Add in some gentle exfoliation to lighten and brighten skin. Keep skin moisturized and apply an eye cream daily with optical brighteners to keep the eye area bright and luminous.

And for an emergency pimple fix, here’s what we recommend:

1. Apply ice buffered by a napkin for 10 to 15 minutes to reduce redness and telltale swelling.
2. Cleanse and apply a treatment lotion containing sulfur, which can be purchased without a prescription. Sulfur helps to unplug pores and shrink swelling.
3. Follow with a product containing 1% hydrocortisone or benzoyl peroxide (both are available over the counter) to keep pores freer and cleaner.
4. Apply a thin layer of a medicated concealer.
5. If time permits, get a cortisone shot from your dermatologist. The results can be miraculous.

So, as the days tick down toward the big event, rest assured you’ll be able to handle any skincare emergency that comes  your way.

December 13, 2011 at 7:23 pm Derm RF

Myth Busters

Sensitivity is Only for the Fairest of Us All

Just because our fair-skinned friends blush and flush more visibly than the rest of us, doesn’t mean they have the corner on the sensitive skin market. Fortunately or unfortunately, sensitive skin picks no favorites and even when it doesn’t show, it tells and lets us know we have it in the form of stinging, burning, itching and general discomfort.

While redness is more visible in fair skinned complexions, sensitive skin is equally prevalent in all races, genders and ethnicities. And although differences in skin tone may mask the obvious signs, the solution for all is one and the same. Look for a regimen that shields against the biological and environmental aggressors that can trigger inflammation, helps fortify skin’s natural moisture barrier, calms visible redness, and reduces irritation so that you can take comfort in having a healthy-looking complexion every day.

November 24, 2011 at 10:03 am Derm RF

Myth Busters

UV Manicure Mania

A minute here.  A minute there. Drying your nails under a UV lamp is only a few minutes a couple of times a month … no harm done, right? Wrong. While your manicurist will assure you otherwise, the truth is, UV damage is cumulative, and whether from a UV lamp or the sun, damaging just the same. And you’ll find the effects on your skin and health will be even longer lasting than your favorite shellac.

But the good news is there are ways to safely indulge in the famous two-week manicure. Simply apply an effective UVA/UVB SPF to the tops of your hands before placing your hands in the UV dryer and enjoy your manicure guilt-free.

October 11, 2011 at 5:59 pm Derm RF

Muth Busters

Fading Away

If you think autumn means accepting a ghostlike pallor, don’t give up your glow. The end of summer doesn’t have to mean the fall of your tan. With modern advances in sunless tanners, it is possible to fake that healthy, vital glow you love about your skin all year long. As temperatures fall, apply a foaming sunless tanner for an even application whenever you feel the need to warm up your appearance and your attitude.

September 28, 2011 at 1:08 am Derm RF

Myth Busters

Myth: September Means I Can Put my Sunscreen Away

You may have used up your vacation days, but the sun hasn’t used up its damaging rays. Just because  summer has come and gone doesn’t mean you’re free to play or work unprotected. No matter the season, our world revolves around the sun 365 days a year and along with our orbit comes UVA rays responsible in large part for accelerated aging. And these UVA rays only get worse as fall approaches … they’re actually stronger on cloudy days.

Want proof? Take your UV sensitive silicone wristband out on a cloudy day; you’ll see it turn purple in no time. So make sure to apply a broad spectrum SPF daily for healthy skin year-round.

September 13, 2011 at 8:18 pm Derm RF

Myth Busters

MYTH: I don’t ever burn and always tan so I don’t have to worry about skin cancer or aging from sun exposure.

While fair skin tones do tend to burn easier, those with olive and dark skin tones don’t have a get-out-of-jail-free card when it comes to the sun and its effects. In fact, while skin cancer rates are indeed higher in Caucasians, they are increasing among all ethnicities and it may be because not burning easily can be a curse rather than a blessing when it comes to avoiding skin cancers. A sunburn is a bit like an alarm that goes off a little too late (but better late than never), telling us our bodies are in danger. Skin that doesn’t burn gives us a false sense of security that masks the sun damage skin is really getting.

Men and women of ALL colors shapes and sizes experience sun effects ranging from skin damage, to premature aging to, in some cases, even death, so don’t slack off on sun protection. Regardless of skin tone or our ability to tan, we’re all one under the sun.

July 21, 2011 at 7:19 pm Derm RF 1 comment

Myth Busters

MYTH: If I stay out of the sun during “peak hours” I don’t really need sunscreen

The sun may be brighter, hotter and produce a painful sunburn faster from mid-morning to late afternoon, but that’s only half the battle. While skin burning UVB rays are at their peak between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., UVA rays or “aging” rays of the sun are present from sunup to sundown and require protection all day long. Your best bet is to apply broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays every morning (yes, even on cloudy days) and reapply throughout the day.

July 15, 2011 at 1:13 am Derm RF 1 comment

Myth Busters

Myth: I was born with freckles

Nobody is born with freckles. While there is a genetic tendency to form freckles, exposure to sun is a critical factor in bringing them out. That is why freckles tend to be darker in the summer and may fade almost completely in the winter. So, make sure sunscreen is part of your child’s life from the time she or he is born.

June 28, 2011 at 3:30 pm Derm RF 2 comments