I have horizontal ridges in my nails. How did this happen?
What are these horizontal ridges in my nails? Horizontal ridges on the nails can represent very benign causes. The most common cause of horizontal ridges…
I know it’s always a good idea to sanitize your hands, but when is enough, enough?
Before meals and after using the bathroom are usual times to sanitize your hands. Another great place to sanitize is after exiting super public areas,…
Is it bad if I use body lotion on my face? What is the difference?
Lotion ingredients vary widely from brand to brand, but there is usually little difference between ingredients used in body lotions compared to those intended for…
What sunscreen is better for the beach? Spray or lotion? Higher or lower SPF?
The best sunscreens, of course, are ones that you will use! It makes no difference whether you're using a spray or lotion- whichever you feel…
Is there really no such thing as waterproof sunscreen?
That's true! However, there is water-resistant sunscreen that can be quite helpful. I recommend picking a water-resistant sunscreen, because the FDA has disallowed the use…
I always shave my chest, but those little red bumps always appear on my bod. Options?
You're optimizing your beach bod, but this may represent a local irritant on your chest. Those little hair follicles on your chest that you're pulling…
I’m a male, and I’ve tried so many OTC shampoos, but my dandruff won’t leave. Any tips?
It may be time to see a board-certified dermatologist. Certainly, over-the-counter therapies can start with zinc pyrithione and selenium sulfide. However, these anti-yeast agents just…
What are some natural ways to treat eczema?
There are some Eastern methods for treating eczema. The most popular is heating oolong in water, letting it cool and then applying this solution to…
How can you shrink the size of your pores?
There are a few ways to treat larger-sized pores; a couple of which are in-office methods. For example, chemical peels and various tightening lasers, like…
Should I get my plantar wart injected again?
Usually, the best way for me to tell whether a wart has gone away is to if I see the palm lines on the surface…
What are some ways to treat my ‘Chicken Skin’- will it ever go away?
Unfortunately, keratosis pilaris, better known at “chicken skin,” is a condition that is genetically determined and will never go away. It has to do with…
I have a red spot on my face that is slightly risen. Could it be a boil?
This is a really hard question to answer, because sometimes seemingly harmless red spots that are not healing can be a sign of skin cancer,…
I’ve heard that coconut oil is an effective acne regimen. Any thoughts?
Coconut oil has been used for thousands of years for acne. Many of my patients, especially the ones that are more into holistic approaches to…
Will less shampooing help with oily hair or should I be washing my hair every day?
Natural oils accumulate on the scalp and spread down to the hair shaft over time, so washing your hair every day will make it less…
How does a blackhead form? How can I tackle them especially on my nose?
As with all things, we prefer prevention rather than treatment. In this particular instance, there are retinol and retinoid preventive treatments. Retinol is over the…
We know that we wrinkle as we age, but how do wrinkles actually form?
Wrinkles are caused by a breakdown of collagen and elastin. As we age, collagen and elastin degrades on its own just from time. But, sun…
What is the real importance of wearing sunscreen every day? I’m not outside that much.
This is a great question, because there’s a huge myth among my patients that sunscreen is only required when you’re out at the beach or…
Flip flop weather means dry, thickened, and cracked skin on my feet. Any preventatives?
Summertime brings a whole unique set of skin challenges, and the dry, cracked skin on your feet is not an unusual concern. I have two…
Does adult acne appear different than teen acne?
Acne is certainly more inflammatory (pimples and cysts) than comedonal (white and blackheads) in adulthood. The only location difference we’ve noticed is that adult acne…
When should someone talk to their derm about getting a prescription?
Yesterday. It’s rare that OTC formulations work as well as prescription formulas, and I see so many patients spending hundreds of dollars and waiting months…
