Skin Care Product Expiration

Skin care products can be expensive. People love to have them but hate to buy them – and that’s exactly why it’s easy to talk yourself into keeping that $50 bottle of moisturizer you bought three years ago that’s only half-empty. Although you may be saving money, you might be doing a disservice to your skin. Here is a brief guide on when to keep and when to toss your skin care products:

Makeup

Eyes

Of all your cosmetics, your eye makeup probably has the shortest shelf life. There isn’t a good way to clean the majority of the applicators you use, so it’s easy for bacteria to grow quickly and abundantly. You should throw away your mascara every one to three months. If it’s dry and clumpy, it’s well past its expiration. When it comes to liners, pencils can last up to a year if they’re the type that can be regularly sharpened, but gel and liquid liners should be thrown away every couple of months. Cream eye shadows can last up to a year, and powder eye shadow is good for up to two years. 

Lips

Lipstick will begin to dry out after about two years, and that’s your sign to toss it. Lip gloss, on the other hand, will start becoming extra sticky when it’s reached its expiration, and that usually happens after one year. 

Face

Powders and blushes tend to last up to two years. Powders will start to become flaky and dry when it’s time to toss them. Liquid foundation can last anywhere from six months to a year. When your foundation starts to lighten and separate into layers, that’s when you’ll know it’s time for it to go.

Cleansers

Face

Facial cleansers can last up to six months. If your cleanser includes benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, it’s important to note that they decay quickly and no longer work as they should after about four to six months. Glycolic peels and acne treatment pads will begin to dry out after two months and should be thrown out once that happens.

Body

Body washes can last for two to three years. If you notice a change in consistency, smell or color, stop using the product.

Moisturizers

Face

One year is a safe bet for most moisturizers. Although products that don’t contain anti-aging properties may last longer, the bacteria that accumulates in the jar causes your moisturizer’s shelf life to decline dramatically.

Body

Body lotions can last from two to three years. If you notice a change in smell, color or consistency, it’s time to replace it.

Sunscreen

As mentioned in a previous post, sunscreen is effective for up to three years after its purchase date. To ensure shelf life longevity, it’s important to store your sunscreen in a cool or room-temperature environment.

Do you have any product expirations that weren’t addressed in this post? Leave them in the comments below, and I’ll try to help you out!

Quick Fixes for a Wedding Day Skin Dilemma

Planning your dream wedding can be very rewarding, yet extremely stressful. High levels of stress and other factors can lead to surprise breakouts in the days leading up to your wedding and even the morning of your big day. But have no fear! We’ve come up with some great preventive tips and emergency fixes that will help you get that bridal glow before you say “I do!”

Preventive Actions:

• Don’t change your normal skin care routine. New products have the potential to cause skin irritation, so it’s best to stick with what your skin is already used to. If you don’t already have a regular skin care regimen, start one at least two months before your wedding day. 
• Always remove your makeup at night. This should happen during your regular skin care routine, but nerves and stress could cause you to forget the night before your wedding. Make sure this is on your to-do list! Not removing your makeup at night could lead to breakouts caused by clogged pores and excess oils. Additionally, makeup left overnight can cause swelling and redness, which are two things you definitely want to avoid on your big day. 
• Hydrate! Drink plenty of water to keep your skin moisturized and fresh. Hydrating will not only boost your skin’s appearance, but also your mood!
• See a skin care specialist. At Advanced Dermatology’s medi spa, we offer oxygen facials and other services that can ensure that your skin looks flawless.

Quick Fixes:

• For a quick and safe fix, apply benzoyl peroxide gel on the inflamed spot. Benzoyl peroxide is commonly found in over-the-counter acne treatments. In a gel form, it can be an effective way to spot-treat a surprise breakout. 
• Try using a few home remedy solutions if you don’t have time to run to a store. Crushed aspirin with a few drops of water will help with problem spot redness and inflammation. Honey is another home remedy that is a natural antiseptic. Both can be used as spot treatments the night before or morning of your wedding. Don’t expect them to immediately make the pimple disappear, but they can help reduce the size and redness enough to cover with makeup.
• Don’t touch it! The old adage “it’ll only make it worse” is true. Although tempting, try to avoid touching the area completely. Bacteria from your hands can spread to other pores on your skin and can also cause more inflammation around the already irritated area.

Have any questions about quick-fix treatments I didn’t mention? Leave them in the comments, and I’ll try to answer them. 

Common Infant Skin Conditions and How to Deal

Entering into the world of parenthood can be an overwhelming venture. The number of things you have to remember and take care of can seem vast, but when it comes to skin problems on your little one, we’re here to help. In this blog we’ll share a few common skin conditions that most infants experience and what to do about them.

Common Infant Skin Conditions:

Intertrigo

Occurs most often in babies younger than six months old

What is it?

Intertrigo is an irritant dermatitis that often surfaces as a red, raw and sometimes oozing rash that is found in babies’ skin folds, primarily in their chin and neck areas. It is caused by excessive moisture (normally from excessive drool or spit-up) that has collected in your baby’s skin creases that are not directly exposed to air. This rash can lead to bacterial and fungal infections and should be monitored regularly.

What are the treatments?

We recommend keeping the area as dry as possible by blotting the rash. Never rub it! Using a hair dryer on the low setting with cool air is another way to air-dry the irritated spot. We do not recommend applying ointments, which can lock in moisture and encourage the development of a bacterial infection.

Cradle Cap

Occurs most often in babies younger than six months old

What is it?

Cradle cap, known in the medical world as infantile seborrheic dermatitis, is a rash that can appear on your child’s scalp and eyebrows. It can also appear behind the ears or on the neck, cheeks and chest. Cradle cap is often compared to dandruff due to the rash’s dry, flaky nature. The cause of the dandruff is unknown, and it doesn’t normally cause discomfort to infants.

What are the treatments?

Cradle cap often goes away on its own. If your child is experiencing a more severe case, try washing the scalp with baby shampoo once a day. Make sure that all the shampoo is rinsed off of the baby’s scalp to prevent more drying of the skin. 

Eczema

Begins to show in babies older than six months old

What is it?

Eczema is a chronic skin condition that appears in dry, itchy patches on your baby’s skin. In some babies, the rash can also appear red and weepy. Some infants experience mild eczema and others have more serious cases, but it’s rarely dangerous, as 20 percent of all babies will experience some form eczema. It is most common in children with a family history of eczema. In infants, eczema most often appears on the cheeks, forehead and scalp, as well as on the elbows and knees, the body parts most commonly used in crawling.

What are the treatments?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for eczema, but there are ways to ease your child’s discomfort. We recommend a short, warm bath with unscented soap. You should also moisturize your child’s skin two times daily with a cream or ointment to help seal in moisture. Other treatments, like steroid ointments, are available for older children, but they are not ideal for infants.

Contact Dermatitis

Occurs in infants of all ages

What is it?

Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin becomes irritated by something it has come in contact with. Grass, jewelry, soaps and detergents are a few common culprits. The rash can be red and mild or it can be harsh, forming large oozing bumps. In infants, the rash is most often caused by drool or wet or soiled diapers.

What are the treatments?

The rash will normally disappear after a few weeks, but it can also be treated with common ointments used to treat diaper rash, like A&D cream.

If you have any questions about any of these skin conditions, click here to visit our website or call 901-759-2322.

Types of Burns and Treatments

Your skin is the largest organ on your body. It’s actually very resilient given all the stresses it is exposed to every day! One thing that can change and damage the skin like no other is a burn. Every burn is different, and burns can be difficult to treat. The best way to keep your skin healthy is to avoid burns! That’s easy to say for something like a sunburn, which can be prevented by avoiding the sun or using sunscreen. But more severe burns are not always easy to prevent. Here’s the skinny on the types of burns and how to treat them.

Types of Burns

Most burns can be classified into one of three types. These include:

First-Degree (Superficial) Burns

Examples of first-degree burns include mild sunburn or a burn resulting from a short rendezvous between your finger and a hot stove. First-degree burns affect only the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, and they do not have blisters. First-degree burns rarely result in long-term tissue damage.

Second-Degree (Partial Thickness) Burns

A second-degree burn damages both the epidermis (outermost layer) and dermis (secondary layer) of the skin. Blisters, swelling, redness and more severe pain than a first-degree burn often identify second-degree burns. The blisters are caused by the heat from the burn causing blood vessels to dilate, allowing the plasma to escape into the skin.

Third-Degree (Full Thickness) Burns

These are the most severe burns, and destroy the epidermis and the dermis, often damaging muscles, bones or tendons normally protected by the skin. Someone suffering from a third-degree burn may not feel pain at the site, as this type of burn can damage the nerve endings. A third-degree burn will appear charred and white, having been damaged beyond blisters or redness. Rather than escaping into the skin, the blood plasma being released from the vessels will escape from the body, which can cause a loss of fluids and result in the body going into shock.

Causes of Burns

Burns can be caused by a variety of things. Below are the most common classifications for burns.

• Thermal (heat) burns are caused by external heat sources that cause the skin’s temperature to rise. Things like hot liquids, metals or flames can cause thermal burns.
• Radiation burns are caused by exposure to some form of radiation, such as x-ray machines or the sun.
• Chemical burns are the type of burn you might expect to get in a science lab. Acids, detergents, solvents or other chemicals can often burn skin.
• Electrical burns are what they sound like. They’re caused by contact with an electrical current. Someone suffering from an electrical burn may have other issues beyond burned skin.

How to Treat Burns

Treatment will depend on several factors, including the age of the patient, severity of the burn and the cause of the burn. Unless the burn is very minor and has no sign of blistering, you should see a doctor. Here are a few best practices to consider.

For Minor Burns

Sunburns or other first-degree burns can be treated at home. Consider the following treatment options:

• Sunburns – Use aloe vera or cool washcloths to relieve the burning sensation. While nothing will prevent the peeling that results from a bad sunburn, lotion may help with the itchiness. The best way to treat a sunburn is not to get one!
• Minor burns (like from a hot pot) – Run cool water over the affected area and use a hydrocortisone cream to treat the burn. Never use ice! It can damage the skin tissue. Use an over-the-counter medication (like ibuprofen) to treat pain as necessary.
• Don’t smoke! Smoking can decrease blood supply, delaying tissue repair.
• Watch for an infection or worsening symptoms. If you experience these things, see a doctor immediately.
• See our previous post on wound care (link) for more information on caring for the affected area.

For Severe Burns

If a burn is blistering or oozing, see a doctor immediately! The oozing means that the burn has damaged more than just your outer layer of skin, and may have gotten through the dermis (secondary layer) as well. As mentioned earlier in this post, this loss of fluid can result in a patient going into shock.

For the Scarring

Severe burns often cause scarring, because the skin can regenerate only from the edges. That’s why skin grafts are often necessary. If you have a scarred area on your face or other area, it is sometimes possible to reduce the visibility of the scarring by using certain fillers or other cosmetic solutions. Talk to your dermatologist if you have questions about these options.

Have any questions about burns or burn treatments? Leave them in the comments and I’ll try to answer them there. 

Treating and Preventing Varicose Veins

 

What are they?

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that are usually dark blue or purple. Varicose veins are most commonly found in the legs, particularly the calves, but they can form in any part of the body. A healthy working vein has a one-way valve that carries blood from the body to the heart, keeping the blood from stagnating or flowing back. An unhealthy vein, in this case a varicose vein, occurs when the valves within the vein become weakened or damaged, allowing the blood to flow back toward the heart and accumulate in the vein(s). When this occurs, the vein becomes enlarged and swollen, making it varicose.

Signs and Symptoms

Common symptoms can include:

• Bulging, swelling and/or twisting of the vein(s)
• A weak feeling in legs and muscles
• Cramping pain in legs when resting
• Heavy limbs
• Itching or aching of the affected area

Severe case complications:

• In severe cases, the varicose vein may rupture from the thinning of the skin above the affected vein.
• The affected veins are more susceptible to ulcers.
• Blood clots may develop in deep varicose veins.
• The affected veins are prone to inflammation, also known as phlebitis.

Causes

Varicose veins are very common and may occur anywhere in the human body. When a vein becomes less flexible and weak, the valves within the vein become faulty. Many theories exist as to why varicosities occur in the veins, but overall the consensus is that defective valves within the vein are the leading cause. That being said, here are a few other factors that may contribute to the development of varicose veins:

• Age: Varicose veins usually develop between the ages of 30 and 60 years and tend to worsen with time.
• Genetics: Varicose veins often run in families.
• Sex: Recent studies have shown that females are more susceptible to varicose veins than males.
• Pregnancy: A pregnant woman has much more blood in her body, which puts additional pressure on the circulatory system, raising the risk of forming varicose veins.
• Excess weight: Excess fat places added pressure on the veins of the lower limbs, making it easier for varicose veins to develop.
• Hormonal factors: A change in hormone levels can cause the walls of the blood vessels to relax and expand, which causes the vein to become weak and more vulnerable to varicosities.
• Chronic constipation: Constant pushing may contribute to the development of rectal varicose veins, also known as hemorrhoids.
• Lifestyle: Experts say that some jobs that require standing and walking for prolonged periods of time, which places extra pressure on the veins of the lower limbs, can contribute to the formation of varicose veins. Gravity pulls blood down to your legs and feet when you are standing up or sitting down. The veins have to work extra hard to get that blood back up to the heart, and some of those veins can wear out over time.

Treatment/Prevention

Varicose veins can be tender, painful and, more importantly, unsightly, unwanted and just plain annoying. There is no guaranteed method for preventing varicose veins, but there are steps you can take now to help decrease your chances of developing them.

First and foremost, daily exercise is the best way to get your blood flowing and moving. A happy and healthy body keeps your veins happy and healthy, too! Keep moving and your body will love you for it. Additionally, maintaining a healthy weight, elevating your legs when resting and avoiding constipation are all good habits to form.

If you already have varicose veins, it’s good to know that they are harmless. Although they may not look pleasant, they usually do not require treatment.  Exercising, losing weight, avoiding tight clothes, elevating your legs as much as possible and avoiding long periods of standing or sitting can all ease the pain and also help prevent varicose veins from worsening.

If you don’t like the way varicose veins look or if you experience extreme swelling, aching, discomfort or complications, like ulcers, treatment might be necessary. Here are a few options for treatment of varicose veins:

1. Compression stockings
2. Sclerotherapy
3. Laser treatment
4. Mini-stab avulsion
5. Vein stripping
6. Radiofrequency ablation
7. Endoscopic vein surgery
8. Ambulatory phlebectomy

Be cautious when it comes to your treatment options for varicose veins. Advertisements claiming “painless” or “permanent” methods to remove veins may not live up to those claims. As always, it is important to communicate with your doctor in full detail about the health risks, side effects and costs of surgery.

For more information about ADSCA and our services, please click here to visit our website.

Dealing with Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is uncomfortable for children, annoying for parents and, unfortunately, doesn’t always end after potty training. Diaper rash is a common condition infants develop because they are dependent upon someone else to clean them. Almost all children younger than 2 will experience diaper rash at some point. It doesn’t make you a bad parent, and it isn’t a reason to be alarmed! But it must be addressed.

Although diaper rash is most commonly associated with infants, it can also be seen in people with incontinence or who are paralyzed. Most commonly, diaper rash is an abrasion, similar to chafing while exercising. The red, tender irritation is a result of a combination of moist materials rubbing against sensitive skin. Here’s the skinny on what causes this rash and how to treat it.

Causes

For infants, diaper rash is typically the result of continuously wet or infrequently changed diapers. However, introducing new foods, a reaction to a new product, a bacterial or yeast infection and the use of antibiotics can contribute to the problem.

Stool and Urine

Lengthy exposure to urine or feces can be irritating to skin. Feces is more irritating than urine, so frequent bowel movements are more likely to cause inflammation.

New Foods

The more solid foods there are in your baby’s diet, the greater the chance for diaper rash. Also, if you are breastfeeding, your diet matters! Eating acidic foods such as citrus, tomatoes, pineapple and raisins can be abrasive to your child’s skin when excreted through the baby’s bowel movements.

New Products

Ingredients in disposable wipes, diapers, detergent, bleach, fabric softener, lotions, powders and oils can be irritating to your baby’s bottom. If your child is experiencing regular rashes, look for products made for sensitive skin when purchasing these items. Also, there is no evidence that clearly shows either cloth or disposable diapers faring better than the other for babies’ bottoms. I recommend using whichever type works best for you and your baby.

Bacterial or Yeast Infections

The warm, moist environment of a diaper creates perfect growing conditions for a bacterial or yeast infection. Make sure to wipe thoroughly in skin folds when changing a dirty diaper.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics have the potential to kill good bacteria, too. This can disrupt the balance of good and bad bacteria, causing more harmful bacteria to grow. Be mindful of the above causes when administering antibiotics to your baby, and always discuss your options with your doctor.

Treatment and Prevention

The best thing you can do to prevent diaper rash is to keep your baby’s skin dry and clean. You can also try an over-the-counter diaper rash cream, also known as zinc oxide paste, to soothe the irritation. Different brand choices include: A+D, Balmex, Desitin, Triple Paste and Boudreaux’s Butt Paste.

If you are mindful of the above causes and cleaning your baby’s bottom regularly but are still seeing no change, I urge you to seek a medical professional’s advice. They can recommend a mild hydrocortisone cream, an antifungal cream or antibiotics depending on what they determine the cause to be.

It will take several days for your baby’s skin to heal after a diaper rash. But if the rash persists, you should seek a dermatologist’s consultation.

If you are concerned with the appearance or frequency of your child’s diaper rash, please consult a medical professional for advice. If you have any more questions about diaper rash or other skin conditions, please visit www.advanceddermatologymemphis.com or call 901-759-2322.

The Rudolph Effect: How to Avoid a Raw Red Nose

Unless you're guiding Santa's sleigh this Christmas Eve, having a red nose at this time of year is probably not ideal. It can be unsightly and painful to boot. But it doesn't have to be that way! Here's the skinny on raw, sore noses.

Maybe you recently spent a weekend skiing on the slopes, or maybe you’ve come down with some sort of cold/allergy/flu combination. Regardless, you’re probably experiencing one common side effect: a raw, red, extremely sore nose. No need to worry! Here are some quick tips to help give your nose some TLC.

• Don’t use hot water on your nose, as this will only further dry out your skin. Instead, use lukewarm or cool water when washing your face to avoid more irritation.
• Don’t use irritating soaps or other chemicals on your nose. These will just add to the irritation.
• Don’t unnecessarily touch or rub your nose. This also will make your sore nose worse.
• Do use a gentle lotion, like shea butter or a natural balm, to help seal the broken skin and introduce healthy nutrients back into the skin.
• If you must touch your nose during this painful time, use a soft, clean tissue, and gently blot your nose if need be. If possible, choose tissues that have lotion in them and are labeled for “sore noses.”
• Refer back to my winter skin care blog post. Moisture is the biggest factor when discussing winter skin. Cold temperatures, heaters and overly hot showers rob skin of valuable moisture during the winter. To combat these issues, drink plenty of water, use a heavier moisturizer than you use during the summer and use warm, rather than hot, water when showering or bathing.

Hopefully, with the help of these tips, you can pull through this last bit of winter without looking like Rudolph. Do you have more questions regarding your red and raw nose? Leave them in the comments below, and I’ll try to help you out!