Clear Skin: Do you need expensive treatments?
Clear skin is the dream of every teenager, along with a hot date, a hot car and unlimited cash. Skin care companies know this and sell millions of dollars of products and treatments designed to prevent and treat acne. Many of these cost a lot of money. Do you really need expensive treatments to get clear skin?
The truth is you may if you have a really severe case of acne. However, before you see a dermatologist or buy an expensive acne treatment, try these steps:
1. Watch your diet. While there is some debate as to whether chocolate, chips and other junk food cause acne, they aren’t doing you any favors, either. On the other hand fruits and vegetables are wonderful for your skin, providing many vitamins and other nutrients. Reach for an apple instead of an apple turnover at snack time.
2. Drink plenty of water. We all know that water is great for helping you to lose weight, but remember that water is also great if you want clear skin ñ and for the same reason: it flushes toxins out of your body, including those that can lead to acne.
3. Get plenty of sleep. When you sleep, the body resets itself, producing hormones and other chemicals that help keep us healthy. A good night’s sleep can help you deal with stress, which produces other hormones and chemicals that are not good for your skin.
4. Don’t let anything touch your face. On windy days, it’s easy to have strands of hair whipping your cheeks. But your hair has oils on it that could damage your skin. Likewise, don’t rest your face on your hands either, for the same reason.
5. Be wise in the sun. The sun is a good source of Vitamin D, which is necessary for your good health. It is also good for drying up acne, thus leading to clear skin. However, use a small amount of a sunscreen made for oily skin every time you head out and wash it off when you’re back inside so it doesn’t clog your pores.
6. Choose your makeup wisely. Avoid using it at all, if possible, as anything on your face can clog your pores. If you must use it, wear only types made for oily or sensitive skin. Splash your face with cold water before applying it so as to close your pores and prevent acne. Be careful and remove it promptly.
7. Wash your face twice a day with a cleanser made for acne-prone skin. Use hot water so it will open your pores.
8. Never, ever squeeze a pimple, blackhead or whitehead as this will spread your acne and possibly lead to a skin infection. Apply any acne medication with a cotton ball or swab.
See? Most of these clear skin tips are simple and inexpensive. If these eight clear skin tips don’t work for you, then it is time to see a dermatologist. But chances are you won’t need to. If you take care of your body, it will reward you with clear, beautiful skin.
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Dermatologist Skin Care: What can Your Doctor Do for You?
People often wonder whether they should see a dermatologist. Skin care should begin with consulting one of these medical professionals who can help you make wise choices.
A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of skin conditions. The type of treatment depends, of course, on your particular skin condition, so a thorough examination is the first step in the process.
On your first visit, the dermatologist will take a thorough medical history. This will include family history, current and past medications, stress levels etc. The dermatologist will also consider allergies to food, clothing, sunlight etc and ask you about any pain, itching or rashes.
The next step will be for the dermatologist to examine your skin. He may use a Wood’s light, an ultraviolet light that emphasizes skin color changes. He may also use a dermatoscope, a bright hand-held magnifying light. If needed, the doctor may obtain a skin culture or a biopsy to get a sample of the skin tissue in order to make a diagnosis.
Depending on the diagnosis, there are many options that can be suggested by the dermatologist. Skin care treatments may be a simple matter of apply an anti-fungal cream for an infection. Or she may choose to prescribe Retin-A, which has been shown to be affective against wrinkles as well as blackheads and whiteheads.
For those who want to fight the effects of aging, dermatologists can provide many options. Botox can be used to block signals from the nerves to the muscles, helping wrinkles to soften and disappear. Collagen can be injected to fill in wrinkles. A chemical peel may be used to remove damaged outer skin layers. Each of these treatments can be very effective.
At the other end of the spectrum, dermatologists often help people troubled by acne. It can be treated with creams or an oral medication called Accutane. Acne surgery may be used to manually remove skin blemishes. Another option is to eliminate them through interlesional corticosteroid therapy, in which each pimple is injected with a diluted cortisone solution.
Of course, an important part of a dermatologist’s practice is skin cancer treatment. There are many options available, including conventional surgery, burning or freezing out the cancerous cells, laser surgery, light therapy and chemotherapy.
While most people think “skin” when they hear the term “dermatologist,” skin care is not all they do. Did you know that they also perform laser hair removal as well as provide treatment for hair loss? There are many treatments available for these conditions as well.
As you can see, dermatologists offer many services to keep your skin in the best possible condition. Choosing one can be bewildering as many of them specialize in specific treatments. Your best bet is to ask your regular physician for recommendations. You may also check local telephone listings. Often directory advertising will list a doctor’s specialties. If you know anyone with the same skin concerns that you have, ask them for recommendations too.
Don’t be afraid to see a dermatologist. Skin care treatment can be relatively quick and painless when you see a board-certified professional.
