Behold, The Secret Product The Dermatologist Loves | Southlake, TX

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If you have ever stepped foot into a dermatologist’s office in Southlake, TX, you know there are a lot of creams and moisturizers out there. Most keep sample bags on their hands that they graciously hand out to their clients along with samples of products that they actually prescribe. Unlike other fields of medicine, dermatologists lean on a large array of products that are equally available over the counter and by prescription only. The very success of their practice hinges on knowing about every cream on the market and which one is the most effective for a large range of skin conditions.

Therefore, you might be surprised to learn what one of the most beloved moisturizers in a dermatologist’s arsenal is. It’s not what you are probably thinking, and it’s not a big name that you will recognize from the beauty store shelves or celebrity magazines. Instead, it’s a small jar that you probably only reach for when your lips get dry: petroleum jelly. Known by its brand name of Vaseline to most, it turns out that sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective at fighting dry skin. This isn’t to say that you can skip the office in Southlake, TX, because some problems do truly require more sophisticated solutions, but don’t count out the effectiveness of Vaseline either.

History of Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly is such an effective moisturizer, that it was actually created with the intention of using it to treat leather in 1867. However, the world of medicine saw how easily it was able to replenish leather and quickly grabbed ahold of the product for use treating dry hair and chapped hands which were common in those days. Prior to the invention of vaseline, lard was the substance of choice for dry skin, but the quick moisturizing (and better smelling) jelly quickly took over.

Not the Same as Petrolatum

Despite the name, it is important to note that petroleum jelly is not the same as industrial-grade petroleum. No dermatologist would dare use this type of petroleum given it would destroy the skin and likely cause a number of reactions. However, what is placed in topical products is completely safe for almost everyone and is not associated with any skin reactions. Petroleum jelly is non-allergenic, regulated, odorless, and comedogenic which is one of the many reasons that it is a favorite among so many dermatologists around the world.

Petroleum Jelly as a Moisturizer

Unlike a lot of moisturizers that are heavy or expensive, petroleum jelly is always available and it is accessible to every client regardless of their financial situation. This makes it a great option for dermatologists who prefer to stick with solutions that are familiar to their clientele. However, affordability is not the only reason why petroleum jelly is a favorite, the fact that it works so effectively is by far the biggest reason.

As an occlusive, petroleum jelly is extremely effective. In fact, it is able to reduce as much as 99% of all water loss when applied to the skin because it penetrates down through the stratum corneum and stimulates the skin barrier to start repairing itself. At the same time it is stimulating skin revival, it is also softening skin which makes it dual-purposeful as an emollient and an occlusive. The benefits don’t stop there, as it can be used on both inflamed and healthy skin so there really is no time or situation where it is not appropriate to use.

How to Use Petroleum Jelly

You should never use this advice to replace the advice of a properly trained dermatologist. Everyone has different skin and there are many skin conditions that require attention from a professional. If you suffer from a skin disease you probably already know this all too well, but all of that said, there are some simple ways you can use petroleum jelly that you probably have never thought about. Instead of buying some expensive lotion at the store while you wait for your next visit, you might want to consider grabbing a jar of vaseline and treating some common issues in a much more effective manner.

Moisturizer

To start, petroleum jelly is great for use as a moisturizer. It is great to use on areas of your skin that look rough or patchy or to treat dry flaky areas of the skin. You also can use petroleum jelly to treat cracks and hardened skin on the heels of your feet. However, it should be noted that the heel of the foot is some of the roughest skin to treat, so if you don’t have any luck you don’t want to put off calling the dermatologist for help.

Lips

Unless you have a skin condition that doesn’t respond to normal treatment, petroleum jelly is one of the best things you can purchase to treat chapped lips. In fact, it is the base of almost every type of chapstick for good reason- because it works.

Wounds and Cuts

While petroleum jelly might not be the first thing you reach for when you get a cut, it can actually help a wound heal faster. This is one reason why you will often see it as an ingredient inside of antibiotic ointments. However, it should not be used to clean wounds as it doesn’t have any antiseptic qualities.

Diaper Cream

Petroleum jelly is safe enough that it can be used on infant skin in sensitive locations. Diaper rash is not fun for anyone but can be prevented if you use petroleum jelly as a barrier ointment that you cover the skin folds with between diapers.

If you are having skin issues that won’t resolve, it is time to consult a professional dermatologist in Southlake, TX. Compassion Dermatology treats an array of clients with a variety of different skin conditions and would be happy to help you restore your skin to its best condition.

Winter Skin Care Tips From Your Dermatologist | Southlake, TX

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We’re in the middle of winter here in Southlake, TX, simply dreaming of the days we can be out wandering the parks in the warm spring air. During the colder weather, our skin quickly dries out and becomes irritated, but with some simple skin care tips from your dermatologist, you can still look and feel your best even when the weather isn’t.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

One of the best things you can do for your skin during winter is to moisturize, particularly if you often suffer from dry skin. Regularly applying thick moisturizers, in the form of creams and ointments, can do wonders for skin of all types. There are many different moisturizers on the market, however, so it can seem very confusing if you’ve not invested in this product type before. If you’re unsure which skin type you have or what products may be best, an appointment to discuss this with a dermatologist will help set you on the right path. While you’re waiting for your appointment, here are a few tips to get you started:

  • Water-based moisturizers are great for oily skin. If you’re looking for a new moisturizer, try to select one that advertises itself as non-comedogenic. A non-comedogenic moisturizer is one that will help you to avoid clogged pores and breakouts. Your doctor will likely recommend avoiding thicker lotions as these may irritate your skin.

 

  • Oil-based moisturizers are better for aging skin. Mature skin is naturally drier than younger skin and benefits from oil-based creams rather than water-based. A dermatologist may recommend those with a petroleum base or added antioxidants to keep aging skin looking and feeling healthier in winter. Lotions containing rosehip, hazelnut oil, or avocado may also provide relief during winter and improve overall skin texture.

 

  • Oil-based moisturizers are also suitable for naturally dry skin. Heavier oil-based moisturizers can rejuvenate dry skin, especially if they are petroleum-based, as these are designed to prevent water from evaporating from your pores. Most often, a dermatologist will recommend heavier creams and ointments for night-time use rather than daytime. You may find that products that contain mineral oils and lanolin particularly soothing.

 

  • The best moisturizers for sensitive skin are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, paraben-free, and oil-free. Aloe and chamomile can soothe especially sensitive skin and are excellent ingredients to look out for.

 

  • Use moisturizers at least once daily, whether it’s part of your morning routine or evening; regular moisturization with the right product is an essential part of winter skin care. While routine hand washing and sanitization is a daily challenge at the moment, using a moisturizing cream or oil-based cream can help to reduce flare-ups of skin conditions after you’ve done so can help to relieve dryness.

Avoid Alcohol-Based Skin Care Products

While you may want to treat yourself to the occasional mask, peel, or toner to cheer yourself up during these trying times, avoid using any with an alcohol base. These products can remove natural oils and make dry, wintry skin much worse.

Take Shorter Showers

One way to avoid drying your skin out further in winter is to take shorter showers than you might usually. While a long, hot shower can feel incredibly relaxing, standing under hot water for an overly long length of time can contribute to dry skin. You might not be aware, but hot showers, in fact, play a large role in stripping away the natural oil barriers that keep your skin moisturized. Don’t be surprised when your dermatologist recommends changing your shower routine! Long showers and baths can increase the dryness and itchiness of the skin, so it’s best to avoid them in winter if you can. Keeping the door closed to trap humidity in the bathroom while you towel dry your skin and then immediately apply your chosen moisturizer can aid rehydration.

Protect Exposed Skin While Outdoors

It may seem an odd recommendation, but wearing sunscreen on your hands, face, and any other areas of your body that are exposed while you’re outdoors is one way that you can go about preventing excessive irritation and dryness. Dry, chapped lips are also something you’re incredibly familiar with; a simple application of petroleum jelly may help lock in moisture. Wearing gloves is not just great for keeping your hands warm; they can also keep your skin from drying out. Removing wet clothing, such as gloves and socks, once you get back indoors after being out in the rain will also prevent dry skin on your hands and feet from becoming unnecessarily worse.

Add Gentle Cleansers To Your Arsenal

Harsh facial cleansers, exfoliators, and peels can have the opposite effect that you want. In winter, they can dry out and even irritate your skin. Fragrance-free and soap-free cleansing choices can be used to heal your skin in winter, particularly in the cold, harsh winters we often experience here in Southlake, TX. Even the regular use of hand soap can cause unwanted effects; pick a soap designed for more sensitive occasions to avoid unnecessary winter damage.

If you’ve previously been diagnosed with skin conditions like eczema, it’s vitally important that you stick to the gentle skin cleansing routine and moisture-retentive skin care routine that your dermatologist recommends. Where possible, your dermatologist will recommend transitioning your skin care routine to one that lends itself to benefitting your skin in winter. Still, it’s never too late to make the right changes to your regimen.

Your dermatologist can develop personalized skincare routines for you. Request an appointment online at Compassion Dermatology to be put in contact with someone who can help you create a routine that works for you throughout the winter and beyond. Compassion Dermatology offers complete skin evaluations, even looking at your hair and nails and how you can improve on any concerns that you have. Moles, pigment changes, growths, and inflammations, as well as your skin condition, can all be assessed by your dermatologist before a plan is formulated.

All About Skin Care | Tips from Your Southlake, TX Dermatologist

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Concocted “Facts” About Skin Care

There are a lot of things that are considered “common information” about skin care that are actually myths and concocted “facts” that are not true. If you are receiving treatment from a dermatologist in Southlake, TX they can also debunk these myths for you. In this post, I am going to share with you some of these “facts” that are believed about skin care.

  1. The Right Skin Cream Can Prevent Your Skin from Aging: There are many skin care products on the market that claim to slow down or stop the process of aging. A lot of products that are sold over-the-counter have Retin-A in them (which is known to reduce wrinkling). Your dermatologist will also tell you that the best way to keep your skin from wrinkling is to not smoke and to use sunscreen.
  2. Antibacterial Soap Cleans Your Skin the Best: Skin typically has bacteria on it. It is basically impossible to keep bacteria off of your skin for any amount of time. In fact, a lot of experts are concerned that regularly using antibacterial soap can cause more antibiotic-resistant bacteria to appear on the body. They say that this type of soap should not be used on a daily basis. Regular and thorough washing of hands and not antibacterial soap is what will help prevent the spread of infections.
  3. Eating Chocolate or Foods with Oil in Them Causes Acne: Any dermatologist will tell you that the oily substance called sebum is one of the causes of acne. They will also tell you that there is no clear evidence to prove that any certain type of food will cause acne.
  4. Tanning is Not Good for You:  Spending a large amount of time in the sun or in a tanning booth may increase the risk of getting skin cancer. The risk of skin cancer is largely connected with how much time you spend in the sun and how often you get a sunburn. Excessive tanning can also cause harm to the skin, which can cause it to wrinkle and age before it should. If you have any questions about tanning and its effects on your skin, you should absolutely talk to your dermatologist. However, getting a gradual or light tan from ongoing, but careful sun exposure is not harmful to the skin. As long as you are putting precautions into play (such as using a sunscreen that has at least a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least thirty, applying it thoroughly, regularly reapplying it (every thirty minutes), and not being outside during peak exposure times, a light tan with no signs of burns on the skin is nothing to be concerned about.
  5. Tanning is Good for You: A lot of people believe that if a person has a dark tan, that they are very healthy. Any dermatologist will tell you that people that have pale skin are not any less healthy than a person who has a dark tan. Being out in the sun does have a benefit to the skin though. Sunlight activates Vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D keeps the bones strong, may lower the chances of getting some types of cancer, and can also strengthen the immune system. Depending on how much Vitamin D you consume through what you eat and drink, not being out in the sun enough can increase the risk of a person not having enough Vitamin D in their system.
  6. If You Cross Your Legs, You Will Get Varicose Veins: There are many things that can cause varicose veins. Any dermatologist will tell you that crossing your legs will not cause them. Genetics is one of the most important factors-an estimated eighty percent of people with varicose veins has a parent that has varicose veins. Other things that make a person more likely to get varicose veins are smoking, not being active, having a baby, being overweight, and having a job that requires them to stand on their feet a lot.
  7. The higher the SPF a Sunscreen Has, The Better: Once it gets to a certain level, a higher sun protection factor (SPF) does not have any better sun protection that a sunscreen with a lower SPF. Experts (like a dermatologist) usually recommend using a sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 30, which blocks out 97% of UVB radiation (which is ideal for hot Texas towns like Southlake, TX) It definitely would be worth using a sunscreen with a higher SPF if you are planning to be out of doors for at least two to three hours, especially during the hours of peak sun exposure (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). However, using a sunscreen with a higher SPF is usually not necessary.
  8. A Scar That Can Hardly Be Seen is The Sign of a Good Surgeon: The true skill of a good doctor (like a dermatologist) is proven by what they in between the time that they make the incision and the time that they close it after surgery. While surgeons regularly pay a lot of attention to incision that are on their patients faces by using thinner sutures, putting the stitches closer together (when that is possible) whether or not you have a post-surgical scar tells you very little about how good your surgeon is.
  9. Scalp Massages Can Prevent Baldness: There is no evidence that scalp massages prevent baldness.

Now that you know some of the “facts” that have been concocted about skin care, you can properly take care of your own skin so you can have good looking and youthful looking skin for a long time.

If you are looking for a Dermatologist in the Southlake, TX area look no further than Compassion Dermatology. You can conveniently set up an appointment onlineor calling 817-380-5911. Give yourself the gift of healthier, more radiant skin.