11 Nov NYU Dermatologist Addresses Common Skin Concerns
Dr. Nagler
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Arielle Nagler MD
Instructor, Department of Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
NYU Langone Medical Center
Medical Research: What are some of the best ways to keep our skin healthy?
Dr. Nagler: Sun protection is the single, most important step you can take to keep your skin healthy. Sun protection can help to prevent many of the signs of aging including wrinkles, changes in skin texture, and uneven pigmentation. Also sun protection has been shown to prevent certain types of skin cancer, which may save you from the distress and scarring of treatment. While we should all be careful in the sun, sun protection doesn’t mean that you have to avoid all outdoor activities and deprive yourself of outdoor fun. If you have any issues with your skin, or want more information, you might want to look into someone like this Ava MD cosmetic dermatologist or dermatologist local to you. However, you can take steps to protect your skin. Here are a couple of tips:
- Limit activities that require noon time sun exposure.
- Wear sunscreen with broad UV coverage (including UVA and UVB). Physical blockers such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are ideal.
- Buy a stylish wide brimmed hat.
- There is an enlarging retail space for UV protective clothing. Check them out!
Follow these simple tips and your skin will thank you later.
Medical Research: How can dry skin be managed at home?
Dr. Nagler: As we enter into winter and the air gets cold and dry, more people will be suffering from dry skin or “xerosis.” Although warm showers are a pleasant treat during the winter, they actually can make your dry skin worse. Ideally, when your skin is dry, you should aim to take short, luke-warm showers. Frequent moisturizing is also extremely important, particularly immediately after a shower. Moisturizers without fragrances are the most well-tolerated. Thick moisturizers that are packaged in tubs and tubes are often more hydrating than lotions in pumps, which tend to be water based. Additionally, some people find humidifiers to be helpful.
Medical Research: Is there anything one can do to prevent acne? Does exfoliating or scrubbing help? Does diet play a role?
Dr. Nagler: Acne is a common condition that is seen in both adolescents and adults. There are many contributing factors in the development of acne, some of which we can modify.
The easiest thing you can do to help prevent acne is to avoid any topicals that occlude your pores. Try to buy make-up that is advertised as “non-comedogenic” or “oil-free.” These products tend to be less occlusive. Also, always wash your face with a mild cleanser before bed to remove all make up. Contrary to popular belief and intuition, exfoliating is not recommended. Exfoliating can promote inflammation which is one of the factors that exacerbates acne.
The relationship between diet and acne is complicated and heavily debated. There is extensive research into the association between what we eat and acne, but the conclusions are not definitive. That being said, some studies have found the diets with a low-glycemic index (for example, limiting processed carbohydrates found in pasta, white bread, pretzels, etc.) have been associated with an improvement in acne. Given that low glycemic index diets have other health benefits, regardless of their impact on acne, they are recommended.
Medical Research Can I prevent wrinkles? Can I have wrinkles treated?
Dr. Nagler: The most important thing you can do to prevent wrinkles is to protect your skin from the sun. In addition to sun protection, topical retinoids such as tretinoin and tazarotene have also been shown to have preventative effects when it comes to wrinkles. These creams, however, are not for everyone and cannot be used in patients who are pregnant or breast feeding.
Even with perfect skin care, wrinkles are unavoidable as we age. But fear not! There are constantly more treatments being developed that target wrinkles. Available treatments include botulinum toxin, certain fillers, and fractionated lasers. If you are interested in treatments for your wrinkles, discuss the options with your dermatologist. The treatments should be tailored to your particular wrinkles and areas of concern.
Medical Research: When should I see a dermatologist about moles or skin growths?
Dr. Nagler: Your threshold for bringing something to the attention of your dermatologist should be very low. There is no such thing as a silly concern. For melanoma, the easiest criteria for lesions of concern are the ABCDE’s where A = asymmetry, B= borders (irregular), C = color (variation or change), D = diameter greater than 6mm, and E = evolution (change in the lesion). More generally, however, anything that is new, changing, bleeding, itchy, or unusual appearing should be discussed with your dermatologist.
[wysija_form id=”5″]
Arielle Nagler MD (2015). NYU Dermatologist Addresses Common Skin Concerns
Last Updated on November 11, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD