5 Dermatologist Tips To Follow When Dealing With Acne | Southlake, TX

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Acne is perhaps one of the most common skin conditions in America, affecting at least 50 million people every year. Knowing how to treat and deal with your skin may not necessarily be easy. There are different types of ingredients that you should look for and different types of tips that you should follow.

We’ll look at 5 of the most common tips recommended by dermatologists below. By following these tips, you’ll be on your way to flawless, beautiful skin.

#1. Allow Any Acne Treatment 4 Weeks to Work

First and foremost, make sure that you give your acne treatment enough time to work. Most dermatologists recommend giving the treatment at least four weeks to work before calling it quits are switching to a new routine. Your skin needs enough time to get used to the new ingredients that are within the treatment. If you switch from one treatment to another too quickly or use too many products at a time, you could potentially irritate your skin, causing your acne to worsen.

After about four weeks, you should start to see some improvements. If you think that the treatment is not working quickly enough for you, don’t worry at all. This is merely the start. The full effects of the acne treatment will usually kick in right after according to most professionals.

#2. Be Gentle with Your Skin

Many people with acne feel tempted to scrub at their skin. They may wash their skin way too aggressively. When dealing with acne, the key is to be as gentle as possible. On the same note, avoid over exfoliating your skin. Make sure that you choose exfoliating products that aren’t too aggressive, as aggressive exfoliating products can irritate the skin and cause it to become inflamed.

In fact, exfoliating a pimple can cause healthy skin cells to be removed. It can also increase the risk of scarring! At which point, you’ll have a different type of skin problem on your hand that might require a lot more treatment to fix.

If you’re not sure which type of exfoliating products to use, speak to a dermatologist for a recommendation. A dermatologist in Southlake, TX can also recommend different types of products to try. Sometimes, it’s good to pair your skin care with your cleansing products. Your dermatologist can also take a look at the ingredients list to make sure that there aren’t any ingredients that might be too aggressive for your skin type.

#3. Avoid Touching Your Face

One of the most common tips that dermatologists give is to avoid touching your skin when you have acne. Your spans contain a lot of oils and dirt. If they aren’t clean, they can bring a lot of oils and dirt to your skin, which can cause further skin problems. It could also cause your acne problems to worsen significantly.

You also want to avoid squeezing out your pimples. When you try to squeeze your pimples, the dirt and oil on your fingers can cause the acne to spread. It can also cause further infections. Popping pimples can lead to scarring as well, and you definitely want to avoid that as the scars usually are much longer-lasting than the pimples themselves.

If you must touch your face, make sure that you wash your hands with warm water and soap first. Make sure that there aren’t any oils or dirt on your fingers.

#4. Take Time to Relax and Get More Sleep

Insufficient sleep can have a huge effect on your overall well-being. In particular, insufficient sleep can wreak havoc on your skin. The same can be said for stress. Stress can be equally as problematic for your skin as insufficient sleep.

Another common tip for most dermatologists is to get enough sleep and to reduce the amount of stress that you have in your life. This could be anything from taking on less work, getting a massage, practicing meditation, mindfulness and yoga and trying out art therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It really depends on what works for you. If you’re not sure what works for you, play around and try different things.

Try to go to sleep at the same time every night. Turn off the screens at least an hour before you go to bed and even drink some chamomile tea to relax. Your goal is to get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep every night. If you’re able to reduce your stress levels and get more sleep, you might see an incredible change in your skin’s overall condition.

#5. Clean Your Hats and Headbands

A common culprit of forehead acne is dirty hats and headbands. If your wardrobe consists of many hats and headbands, you’re going to want to take a look at how clean they are. If you are someone who wears hats and headbands for hours and hours in your day, you may be trapping sweat, dirt and oils onto your forehead. These contaminants can clog your pores and cause you to get acne.

If you are experiencing a lot of forehead acne, consider taking off your hats and headbands more regularly. Give your skin a break and a chance to breathe. Also, make sure that you wash these accessories regularly with either dish soap, hand soap or a laundry machine.

Speak with a Dermatologist to Get a Personalized Skincare Routine

If you’re having any problems with your skin, one of the first things that you should do is to make an appointment with a dermatologist in Southlake, TX. A professional can access your skin type to determine the underlying causes behind your problems. They can help you find a solution that works for you.

If you’re interested in seeing a professional, consider giving Compassion Dermatology a call at 817-380-5911. We offer a wide range of services, from complete skin evaluations to medical and surgical procedures. We can help you deal with all types of skin problems.


Dermatologist Tips: How to Look After Your Hands | Southlake, TX

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While it’s true that washing your hands frequently with soap effectively removes germs and dirt from your skin, it can also remove your skin’s natural oils. Harsh soaps used too often can result in a dry, rough feeling on your hands. Depending on your cleanser of choice, some brands are more drying than others, and some may be quite abrasive. If you’ve got a tendency for dry skin anyway, and often see your dermatologist for this very reason, you may notice a sharp increase in the dryness and flakiness of your skin, as you are encouraged to wash your hands more with soaps.

If you suffer from patches of dry, flaking skin on your hands or face, you’ll notice it’s more frequent when the outside air is drier. Even indoors, if you don’t have a humidifier in your home, you may notice it happening more frequently. With current health regimes suggesting frequent handwashing is the way forward, looking after your hands by adopting an excellent hand care routine is something every dermatologist will be recommending this season.

Everyone from the World Health Organization to your local doctor is pushing for an increase in handwashing habits to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. It’s no secret that there’s a link between handwashing and dry hands – any dermatologist you speak to will be able to attest to this, and also work with you to develop a skincare routine that suits your skin type.

Both liquid soaps and bars of soap can, unfortunately, have a drying effect on your skin, depending on their active ingredients. Pure soap is a mixture of salts and fatty acids. This caustic mix is capable of removing your skin’s protective acid layer, which can adversely affect the condition of your skin.

If you’ve got a pre-existing skin condition such as eczema, you may find that ‘normal’ soap is quite hard on your skin. Your Southlake, TX, dermatologist will be able to recommend softer varieties that are kinder to your skin – after all, looking after your skin is our profession! Handwashing choices can be very confusing when you don’t have access to a doctor to analyze your skin condition and recommend a suitable care regimen.

In a nutshell, both liquid and bar soaps do the same thing for normal skin. But if you’ve got sensitive skin that’s prone to dryness or reaction, your dermatologist may likely recommend avoidance of liquid soaps. Liquid soaps can have added preservatives, fragrances, and other ingredients that may act as allergens, making it harder for you to achieve soft, hydrated skin if your skin is in any way sensitive.

If you’re lucky enough to have hand sanitizers available, using these can be less drying than a soap and water routine if you find that soap and water are unavailable. Hand sanitizer can help to kill viruses on your skin, especially if it has a high alcohol percentage, making it the go-to choice in areas where reducing infection rates is critical, such as hospitals and other potentially crowded spots. However, if you do have sensitive skin to start with or you have a broken skin barrier, hand sanitizer is more of an irritant.

Whether you have dry, sensitive skin or not, including a moisturizer in your skincare routine will help to keep your skin in good condition. Dermatologists everywhere know that what you’re doing when you’re moisturizing is helping to restore the skin barrier, replacing your skin’s natural oils that might have been wiped away or destroyed by an excessive hand washing routine.

Looking after your hands can be as simple as introducing the right moisturizer. Three main types are available to choose from: lotions, creams, and ointments. Lotions are often sold in pump packs, often feel lighter and more absorbent than other types of moisturizer, and can avoid the greasy, sticky feeling. You’ll typically find creams sold in jars and tubes, and they can often feel heavier and oilier than lotions, but they do last longer on your skin. Another side effect of using cream is that your skin may feel slippery or sticky afterward – a complete opposite to the dry, flaky feeling you may experience with soaps.

Ointments are oil-based, tubed concoctions that are known for being the heaviest, greasiest option. If you have been recommended or prescribed an ointment to treat a skin condition or help your skin to feel less dry, it’s often best used before bed as you’ll not be using your hands for a while.

Every dermatologist will have their favorites. Everyday skincare routines that may be advised by your doctor include using a light moisturizing lotion throughout the day to avoid drying out or irritating your hands unnecessarily. In contrast, nightly hand care routines will usually include creams or ointments that will help your skin to repair overnight.

There are a few key ideas to keep in mind when choosing the right hand treatments to help avoid dry, irritated skin:

  • Don’t buy a fragranced moisturizer with essential oils if you can avoid it. The more ingredients a moisturizer has, the more likely it may include an allergen that can upset your skin further.

 

  • Try to avoid runny oils as these aren’t known for hydration.

 

  • Don’t share any moisturizers you do have with others, and only use your moisturizer after you have already washed your hands with your preferred soap or sanitizer.

 

  • If you notice your hands are becoming itchy or irritated, stop using the product, and try to speak to a dermatologist, doctor, or healthcare professional by phone, before turning up at your local office for an appointment.

While ongoing pandemics such as COVID-19 are in effect, Compassion Dermatology in Southlake, TX, offers revised patient guidelines. Product purchases are still available and can be processed by phone while you wait in your car. Payments can still be made online or over the phone. If you’re looking for a suitable hand care product, contact your dermatologist at Compassion to see what we’ve got in stock and what we can recommend to help you minimize the adverse effects of a repeated, aggressive hand washing routine.


Dermatologist: Handwashing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: What You Need to Know | Southlake, TX

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With the globe locked in the COVID-19 pandemic, handwashing has taken center stage like never before. The CDC says that washing the hands is one of the best and most effective means of preventing the spread of germs in your community. Let’s look at the CDC’s recommendations for handwashing and some advice from dermatologists on keeping your hands healthy despite frequent abuse from soap, water, and hand sanitizer.

When to Wash

The CDC says it is important to wash your hands before, during and after making food, prior to eating, and before and after providing care for a sick person. Additionally, take time to wash your hands before and after treating cuts, wounds, and scrapes, after toileting or diapering a baby, and after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing. And don’t forget to give your hands a good scrub after touching animals or their food or waste.

How to Wash

The CDC outlines the best procedure for washing your hands:

  • Wet the hands with clean running water. Turn the tap off. Apply your choice of soap.

 

  • Rub the hands together to lather them; lather the entire hand, including the fingers and under the nails.

 

  • Take at least 20 seconds to scrub your hands. If there’s no timer available, hum “Happy Birthday” in its entirety twice before rinsing your hands with clear running water.

 

  • Air dry your hands or dry them with a clean towel.

If you’re using hand sanitizer instead, make sure it is at least 60% alcohol by content. Apply the product to your hand, and rub your hands, fingers, and nails for a minimum of 20 seconds.

Pitfalls of Frequent Handwashing

Even during normal times, your hands take a beating, according to dermatologists. Factor in the evolving COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic, and you’ve got a recipe for dry, cracked, raw, and chapped hands due to all of the frequent hand-washing that health authorities recommend to reduce the viral spread and keep you, your families, and Southlake, TX, community safer from this unseen enemy lurking on every surface. Admittedly, dry hands are the least of our collective worries at the moment, but dermatologists warn that it is also important to keep the hands healthy, since chafing and cracking can make your skin more vulnerable to various infection types. It can also lead to the development of conditions like eczema.

The red, itchy, flaky, rash-laden hands that are prevalent in restaurant workers and health care employees are now being seen more and more in the general population as folks scramble to fight off coronavirus germs. Frequent washing of the hands and the application of hand sanitizers along with the use of solutions and wipes used to clean surfaces can really punish your hands. So what can you do to help your hands cope?

Choose a Mild Cleanser

You do not need industrial-strength or even antibacterial soap to clean your hands and remove bacteria and viruses, dermatologists advise. Look for cleansers (even those meant for the body or face) that are free from fragrances and marketed with words such as “sensitive,” “hydrating,” or “gentle.” Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are less irritating to the hands than soap, says dermatologists, and they kill microbes on your skin without removing debris. The CDC warns that hand sanitizers are less effective than soap in cleaning the hands, but professionals say that it makes sense to use them sometimes, such as when you touch a door handle or other possibly contaminated surface.

Avoid Overly Hot Water

Your skin is a delicate organ, and your hands, although designed to withstand a lot, are not impervious to the abuse they go through. While it is almost instinctual to use the hottest water you can stand to try to remove potential pathogens, the CDC says that germ removal is not impacted by water temperature. Because of this, you don’t have to have overly hot water to wash your hands efficiently. Choose water that is at an ideal temperature for your personal tastes, keeping in mind that the hotter the water, the greater the drying impact on your hands.

Moisturize

Choose a fragrance-free lotion or hand cream to keep by your sink, and use it after each and every handwash. It will protect and soothe your skin to defend it against dryness and flaking. Before heading to bed each night, hydrate your hands to the max with our favorite lotion after cleansing them gently one last time for the day. Lotion should be applied while your hands are still moist and warm.

Protect Your Hands

When you’re outside in the cold, protect your hands with gloves or mittens. And don’t forget to wear gloves when you’re washing dishes or cleaning, especially when using cleaners that may irritate your condition further. This will reduce dryness and irritation.

Avoid Scratching

If the skin on your hands is dry, it’s natural to want to scratch it. However, doing so can make things worse. Dermatologists recommend over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream for those times when itching is bothersome. You can also go for an anti-itch relief lotion or a moisturizer that cools while it hydrates.

When To Call Your Dermatologist

If you find yourself unable to heal your dry or cracked hands at home, you may need to be seen by your Southlake, TX, dermatologist Compassion Dermatology. There are several medicinal creams and ointments available to make your hands feel better, including topical steroid creams such as betamethasone or clobetasol. There are also nonsteroidal options, including creams like Elidel and ointments containing crisaborole. Your dermatologist can also evaluate your hands to determine if frequent hand washing is truly the culprit of your dry, chapped hands. Eczema, nerve injuries, underlying health problems, and reactions to medications may also be to blame.