It’s still summertime, and hopefully we are all taking care of our skin by using sunscreens and sun protection, avoiding insect bites, and treating occasional poison ivy. But there’s another common skin condition that we dermatologists see quite often during sunny weather: phytophotodermatitis. Never heard of it? We see quite a bit of it at SkinCare Physicians near Boston, and the main culprit is LIMES! Understanding phytophotodermatitis To better understand this condition, let’s break down the derivation of the word: “Phyto” = plant “Photo” = light “Dermatitis”= inflammation of the skin So, phytophotodermatitis means inflammation of the skin that is … Continue reading »
Summer is in full swing. We are all hopefully enjoying a reprieve from a long and cold winter in Boston with beach time, outdoor activities, and fun. While most of us welcome these summer days, we at Skincare Physicians always remind our patients that summer is a great time to start checking all the spots on your body, be they brown, tan, blue, gray, yellow, pink, or red with a monthly self-skin examination. Performing a self-skin check is a great way to identify new or changing lesions that should be brought to the attention of your dermatologist. Once a month, take a … Continue reading »
Our patients at SkinCare Physicians near Boston often ask what level of SPF (sun protection factor) in sunscreens is sufficient to reduce the risk of photodamage and skin cancer. It turns out that the answer is somewhat confusing. In order for sunscreen to perform maximally, applying a generous quantity is required. One ounce, or the equivalent of one shot glass amount, is needed to cover the exposed areas of the body for the average adult. When used in this manner, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 for planned sun exposures. However, most … Continue reading »
There can be many misconceptions about skin and skin care. As dermatologists at SkinCare Physicians, we often hear the same beliefs from our patients in the Boston area, so shedding some light on these may be helpful to you, your families, and your friends. Skin Myth #1: My makeup/moisturizer contains spf, so my skin is protected all day Many people wear a daily moisturizer or makeup that contains sunscreen, which is a healthy habit to protect the skin from UV rays on a routine basis. However, don’t be fooled into thinking you are protected all day. The sunscreen in moisturizers … Continue reading »
While it appears as if “everything is just sagging” as we age, recent research has revealed a much more complex series of events occurring beneath the skin than simple gravitational pull. Recognizing the mechanisms of aging helps our dermatologists at SkinCare Physicians near Boston to better understand how to correct them in a more natural manner and avoid giving patients that “over-done” look. Understanding the deeper cause of facial aging The youthful face has a beautiful smooth look with high cheekbones and even tone. As we age the effects of the sun create tan spots and little veins just under … Continue reading »
You’ve gotten your acne under control and now you are ready to get rid of the acne scars. What are your options? Depending on the type and severity of acne scar, there is a variety of treatments that can help. Skin discoloration from acne Brown discoloration from acne usually goes away on its own, but sometimes it can take a while. To speed things up, these brown spots can be lightened with daily topical application of bleaching agents such as hydroquinone or kojic acid. It’s important not to forget to apply sunscreen with an SPF 30 regularly to avoid these … Continue reading »
When seeing patients, lots of questions arise about sun safety. Given our long winters and lack of year-round warmth, patients often have a lot of questions about indoor tanning. They wonder about things such as: Is there such thing as a healthy tan? Isn’t indoor tanning safer because you can control the time you are exposed to the lights? Isn’t it better to get a “base” tan rather than to burn in the sun? How much can really happen if I am just going tanning once in a while? Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a healthy tan. “Base” … Continue reading »
Over the Fourth-of-July weekend, most of us will be participating in outdoors activities and joining summer festivities. With outside fun comes the risk of scraped knees, dermatitis, insect bites or heat rash. Here are four rescue tips for summer skin emergencies, so you and your family can enjoy a safe and worry-free holiday. #1 Road Rash Kids and grownups alike are hopping on their bikes, buckling on their skates, and even bouncing around on pogo sticks! With all of this activity comes the inevitable dangers of tumbles, bumps, and bruises and scrapes. Your holiday rescue: The first step in dealing … Continue reading »
With summer here, it is more important than ever to be lathering up with sun protection every time you leave the house. With so many sunscreens out there, it is hard to know which one is right for you. The key is to choose a sunscreen that you will use and that offers the following characteristics: Broad spectrum (protecting you from both UVA and UVB rays) SPF 30 or higher Water resistant Below are a few recommendations for sunscreens based on your own skin and its needs. #1 Brown spots or melasma – Use a sunscreen that not only blocks … Continue reading »
Thermage has been used for over a decade to tighten skin of the lower face and jaw line, producing a more youthful and natural look. Now scientists have discovered that Thermage can also prevent aging. Based on experience with patients treated every one to two years, we have observed that those patients appear to age more slowly than those who have Thermage only once every 4 to 5 years, or don’t have any treatment at all. We know that patients start to appear older at 5 to 10 year increments, which was the original theory behind the timing between Thermage … Continue reading »
