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A board-certified Dermatologist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) that has completed 4 years of medical school as well as 1 year of internship and a minimum of 3 years of dermatology residency. They are the experts in over 3,000 conditions affecting hair, skin, and nails. They can see patients of all ages and are able to address medical, surgical, and cosmetic concerns.

Most people see a Dermatologist once yearly for an overall skin check. If there is a personal or family history of skin cancers, abnormal moles, or other conditions such as acne, eczema, or psoriasis, the frequency of visits can be increased.

Dermatologists recommend performing a once-monthly self-skin examination to check for new or changing spots. You should examine all aspects of your skin, using mirrors or a partner as needed. Do not forget to try to examine your scalp, look between fingers and toes, check the bottoms of your feet, and examine the groin area. Please have any new or changing lesions examined by a Dermatologist to determine if any treatments are needed.

UV damage is the biggest skin aging culprit. Daily sun protection measures (even in thewinter) is the best preventative step. Avoiding smoking, excessive alcohol consumption,other drugs, staying hydrated, and eating a well-balanced diet can all have positive anti-aging effects as well.

Topical vitamin A products (retinols, retinoids) are the overall most effective topicals for addressing skin aging concerns such as loss of elasticity, fine lines, skin texture changes, and dyspigmentation. There are various over-the-counter products and prescription products that contain these active ingredients. People with very sensitive skin can sometimes have a more difficult time tolerating these topicals as they can be irritating to the skin.

Studies have shown that low-glycemic index diets (diets low in processed carbohydrates, sugars, etc) can help to reduce acne in some patients. Some patients are also sensitive to cow’s milk (including whey protein supplements) as a trigger for acne. Reducing sugar/carbohydrate and cow’s milk intake may help to reduce acne in some patients.

If your skin is acne-prone, you want to make sure that your skincare products are “oil-free” and “non-comedogenic” as these products will not clog your pores. There are several good options for over-the counter treatments for acne-prone skin. Salicylic acid cleansers, benzoyl peroxide cleansers and leave-on treatments, azelaic acid suspension, and adapalene (a vitamin A product) can be used alone or in combination for acne-prone skin. Keep in mind, it is best to add just one new product at a time as many acne treatment skincare products can be drying and irritating to people.

Many patients experience acne throughout a portion of their teenage years thanks to hormonal, among other, influences. This acne can lessen and clear overtime as hormones stabilize. However, acne can sometimes linger into adulthood, and can even sometimes develop during adulthood even if acne was not an issue during teenage years.

It typically takes 4 weeks for a new skin cell to be shed from the surface. Due to it taking time for skin cells to get into a new pattern, it can take 4-6 weeks to start to see a difference with any acne treatment and can take 2-3 months to know if that current treatment is going to be completely effective in the long run.

The more inflammation present in the acne lesions, the larger the lesions, and the longer they are present, the higher the chances that there may be some scarring. Picking or manipulating acne lesions can also increase risks for scarring and discoloration.