Fully Exposed
SKIN TAGS
Skin tags are outgrowths of normal skin. They are usually smaller than a pencil eraser in diameter and grow on a pedicle or stalk. They are sometimes called fibroepithelial polyps or acrochordons. Whatever you call them, they are harmless skin growths that typically do not hurt or itch. Almost 50% of the adult population has at least one skin tag and the chance of developing one increases with age.
Although the exact cause isn’t known, they are commonly seen in overweight and obese individuals and in people with diabetes. They also seem to have a genetic component as they tend to run in families. Skin tags are commonly found in the armpits, around the base of the neck, underneath the breasts and in the groin creases. But they can be found anywhere on the body.
- Skin tags are not contagious.
- Removing them does not cause them to grow back.
- Skin tags are benign, non cancerous growths.
- They are not a sign of underlying disease.
- Skinny people and children can also get skin tags.
Skin tags do not NEED to be removed but can be if they become irritated or even if the individual deems them unsightly. Because there are no medical reasons to remove otherwise healthy skin tags, many private insurers will not cover the removal of these benign growths.
Skin tags can be removed quite easily in a dermatologists office. Although many people attempt to remove them at home, this is ill advised as doing so may lead to infection, prolonged bleeding and discomfort. In addition, never assume any growth is a benign tag. Allow a skin expert to evaluate any change in your skin before attempting to treat it yourself.
SUNBURN: DOs & DON'Ts
You put on your sunscreen, but clearly not enough. Maybe you missed a spot, or maybe just forgot the sunscreen altogether. Your skin is red and painful. It feels hot to the touch. You have it, sunburn!
DO:
· Stay out of the sun to prevent further damage.
· Take a pain reliever. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug like Advil or Motrin will relieve some of the discomfort and swelling.
· Cool the skin with frequent cool compresses or take a cool shower or bath.
· Moisturize. Sunburned skin loses water into the environment so apply cool aloe gel or moisturizing lotion to healing skin.
· Apply an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream (0.5-1%) to minimize inflammation, redness and itching.
· Drink water. Sun exposure and sunburn causes water lose through the skin. Stay hydrated.
· Apply antibiotic cream and a wet dressing to blisters should they develop.
· Get medical attention should fever, nausea or other systemic symptoms arise.
DON’T:
· Get more sun.
· Break any blisters if they should develop. This increases the risk of infection.
· Apply lidocaine or other “caine” anesthetics as they may cause allergic skin reactions
IF IT DIDN'T WORK...RETURN IT
- It's not your fault if a moisturizer didn't lift your sagging skin.
- It's not your fault if an eye cream didn't eliminate your dark circles or puffiness.
- It's not your fault if that "anti-aging cream" didn't make you look 20 years younger.
If you buy a skincare product that doesn't live up to its claims, take it back for a refund!
POISON IVY
Poison Ivy, also known as rhus dermatitis, is caused from an allergic reaction to the oil resin, urushiol, found in the leaves, stems and roots of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. It is very common in the summer months.
The classical rash is a red blistering eruption seen in straight lines due to the way the plant brushes against the skin. If contact to the resin is a result of touching a piece of clothing, or from touching a pet that has been romping through the woods, the rash may appear more spread out. Inhaling smoke from a burning poison ivy, sumac, or oak plant may even cause a dangerous irritation to the nasal passges and lungs.
Once the oil resin is on the skin, it can spread to other parts of the body by scratching. Rhus dermatitis is often a very itchy rash and if untreated may last for several weeks. The rash itself is NOT contagious.
If contact to any of these plants occurs, immediately rinse yourself off with lukewarm water. Use a cleanser to wash away any remnant oil resin from your skin. Oil from poison ivy can stick to many different surfaces. Wash the clothing that may have contacted the plant. Rinse off patio furniture, garden tools, golf clubs, and even the fur on a pet.
A mild case of poison ivy may be treated at home with calamine lotion, over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream and oral antihistamines to control the itch. Do not open a blister as this may lead to infection. Cool compresses may help relieve the itch. If the rash is severe or widespread, affects the face or genitals, if blisters are oozing pus, or if a fever develops, seek medical attention immediately.
ALL ABOUT SERUMS
What exactly is a serum? The term serum is a medical term referring to the clear liquid in blood after both the cells and clotting factors are removed. Somehow this term morphed into a kind of cosmetic that most consumers assume is a clear water-based liquid with the promise to brighten skin, decrease wrinkles, improve pigmentation, improve tone and texture, give the skin a younger appearance, and more. Fact is there is no standard definition for the formulation of a serum, neither from the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), from cosmetic chemists or dermatologists.
The buzz about serum is that they claim to contain a higher concentration of certain ingredients than other facial skincare products. They may. Or they may not. Consumers have no way of knowing what the actual concentration of any particular ingredient is in a cosmetic because the amount of each ingredient is proprietary and not given on the ingredient listing or the label. Serums are often touted as miraculous because of the ingredients they contain like hyaluronic acid, caffeine, snail mucin, peptides or arbutin, to name a few. There is little, if any, scientific evidence proving the effectiveness of any of these ingredients, which surprisingly, is in the manufacturers' best interest. If these products could actually change the structure or function of skin, they'd be classified as drugs and manufacturers would have to obtain FDA pre-market approval at great expense. Serums are cosmetics, not drugs.
My concern with serums is more about the ingredients they don't contain. Most serums do not contain ingredients that keep water from evaporating from the skin, such as petrolatum, mineral oil or dimethicone. Without one of these types of ingredients, a product is not very effective as a moisturizer.
And how these products fit into a healthy skincare regimen is also arbitrary. Some companies recommend serum application between cleansing and moisturizing. Others recommend application after both cleansing and moisturizing. Which one is it?
Even more confusing, the variations of serums keep growing. You can find combination serums (like serums plus primer, another unnecessary product), double serums, daytime serums and nighttime serums - a hysterical concept as ingredients can't tell time. Can serums be fun to apply? Yep. Do they feel good on the skin? Sometimes. Can they cause allergic reactions or irritation? Yep. Do you really need a serum? Nope.
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Welcome to Fully Exposed
Hello, and welcome to FryFace!
I've been a New York based dermatologist for over 25 years. I love music. I love triathlons. I love chemistry. (I love petroleum jelly.) I study skincare ingredients and product formulation. I listen to skincare "advice" from self-proclaimed ......Read More
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