A dermatologist is a doctor that specializes in the largest organ in the human body – the skin.  Most people think the dermatologist is only for acne, but you might also seek a professional opinion for psoriasis, eczema, hair, and/or nail problems. If it has anything to do with the outer layer of your body, the dermatologist is probably the right person for you.

After you’ve found a dermatologist (we’d recommend that you find one through referral instead of just searching for one – you want to make sure that you get someone that will be able to help you with your condition, and the best way to do this is by using a doctor that your friends/associates have already tried)

To make your visit to the dermatologist as productive as possible, consider asking him/her some or all of these questions:

1. How much is enough sunscreen and what active ingredient should I look for?
2. What are the signs of skin cancer and how often should I have my moles checked?
3. How is my makeup affecting my skin?
4. What can you tell me about the latest anti-aging products?
5. What is the best way to treat visible sun damage?
6. How will hormone replacement therapy or birth control affect my skin?
7. How should I take care of my nails?
8. Are self-tanners really safe and do you recommend them?
9. What is the best facial cleansing routine for me?
10. How should I take care of my hair if I perm or color-treat it?

You should schedule a visit with your dermatologist once a year, and discuss any changes or concerns that you might have about your skin.

Choosing the right professional is an essential part of maintaining your healthy skin.  If you don’t have a dermatologist, talk to your friends that already have great skin to see if they can recommend someone for you today.

-Jason

Do you cover them up or take steps to eliminate them in the first place?  Do you have a fool-proof way of getting rid of acne, fast?

For me, the secret I’ve found is the need to shave daily.  If I shave regularly, with a disposable blade, I can virtually guarantee my skin to be blemish free.  The problem comes from the weekend, the two days that I generally don’t shave due to my undiagnosed case of extreme lazyness. So, if I’m not careful, Monday can see a fresh outbreak of whiteheads.  Not quite what you want to see on a nearing-40 professional.

So, to make the rest of the week manageable, this is my normal routine:

-          Shower, gently scrub face using Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser

-          After showering, I shave using a sensitive skin targeted shaving cream

-          After shaving, I wash my face again using the Cetaphil

This top secret blend helps me keep the blemishes to a minimum, but I’d love to know what works for you.  Let me know in the comments, and I will share it in future posts.

-Jason

The fine folks at acneteam.com were kind enough to develop a list of ten guidelines to follow to help you have healthy, radiant looking, and most importantly, blemish free skin.

You can find the original link here, as we have condensed their list a bit:

10. Treat yourself to a day spa once every two or three months – The soothing effects of a thorough pampering can do wonders for your sense of well being, while the expert provides you with cleansing alternatives that you may not have considered.

9. Stress is bad for you and worse for your skin. – Your body reacts when it’s under stress, and this can result in break outs or flare ups, so take care of your mental health to take care of your physical health.

8. Make sure that you get plenty of rest. – Your body needs proper rest to provide it with the tools and energy to fight off whatever is attacking it.  Help your body win these battles by getting proper rest on a regular basis.

7. Don’t squeeze pimples, or pick at any sores. – Yes, this might give temporary and instant relief from small areas, but leaving the infected material on your skin can result in more pimples, blackheads, or whiteheads. If you absolutely have to squeeze one away, make sure you thoroughly wash the area and your hands to minimize the chances of contaminating other areas of your skin.

6. Don’t avoid the sun altogether – The sun is your friend, and in moderation can help you and your skin look great.  The vitamin D that the sun provides you is good for your skin – as long as you remember to practice moderation. Hydrate yourself and your skin, use a balanced sun screen, and pay attention to the UV index to prevent damaging your skin.

5. Eat a well balanced diet – This doesn’t mean that certain foods are going to cause you to break out, but it is something to be aware of to help your body be prepared to fight the upcoming infected battles,

4. Hydrate the body – and the skin – with water – Get water in you on a regular basis, and give your body the building blocks to healthy skin

3. Keep your hair and hands off your face. Your hands and hair are covered in oil, which can transfer to your skin and result in blocked pores if you aren’t paying attention.  Wash your hands regularly, and try not to rest your face in your hands.

2. Reduce the use of cosmetics as much as possible. You don’t need that much foundation to smooth out your skin.  Find out what the least amount of makeup that you can wear and still be happy with your look.  Think of how much money you can save by not buying so much makeup.

1. Wash your face twice each day – the fine folks at acneteam.com actually say to wash your face at least twice a day, but as we’ve said in previous articles here at clear.ca, twice a day should be adequate.  If you are in an excessively greasy environment, then washing more than twice a day might be beneficial to you.  But for most of us, a thorough clean with a mild cleanser is the right combination to minimize your breakouts.  Consult with your doctor or dermatologist to find what the right combination is for you.

Print these guidelines off and post them by your bathroom mirrors.  Use them as a guide to help you get clearer, healthier skin.

- Jason

While researching for material to write about tonight, I stumbled upon this article from acne magazine about horrible home remedies for acne.  It got me thinking about some of the things that I’ve been told would help me with my acne.  Things like:

-          Honey – smear a bit of honey on your acne before you go to bed each night.  For me, this just resulted in extra love from my dog, and very sticky pillows.  It didn’t do a thing for my acne, good or bad.

-          Eat apples and carrots – One home remedy said to eat an apple or carrot three times per day to “soothe your skin.”  All this did for me was make my jaws hurt, and make me really sick of carrots.  I didn’t mind eating the apples all the time, but a person can only eat so many carrots.  This “cure” was another flop – but at least it didn’t do anything to make my acne worse.

-          Nutmeg and unboiled milk – First of all, I had no idea what unboiled milk was.  Isn’t it all unboiled? Second, after 3 weeks and no change, I figured it wasn’t worth it to keep testing it.  Maybe I should have used skim milk? J

So – what is the weirdest ritual that you have used to eliminate acne?  Let me know in the comments – especially if you found something that worked great.

-          Jason

Myth #1 – you’ve got acne because you don’t wash often enough

Not true at all, and this thought process might even cause people to aggravate their acne.  Wash your face twice a day with a mild soap and then pat your skin dry.  If you scrub too aggressively, or use too harsh a cleanser, you can rob your skin of the essential oils that it needs, causing your body to make your skin oily, causing more pimples.

Myth #2 – you’ve got acne because you eat crap

Ok – crap may not be exactly the medical term, but we’re all heard it before: pizza, chocolate, ice cream, or other fatty foods all cause acne.  This isn’t true at all.  Some people have reported that their skin reacts after eating certain foods, but this is more likely a skin allergy.  Follow a healthy diet plan, to keep your body as healthy as possible.  But with the right acne treatment, you don’t need to worry that what you’re eating will cause a break out.

Myth #3 – you’re acne is just a cosmetic problem

Well, no – this isn’t quite the case.  Many people with acne, from moderate to severe, are affected psychologically by their acne, as they feel that people think more about their acne than their personality.  As, well, the scarring and potential infections can cause actual damage to the skin, which isn’t just cosmetic.  Acne can go away if it’s properly addressed.

Myth #4 – you’re acne will go away when it’s ready to go

Nope – you can make acne play by your rules.  Control the variables that you can; follow a set routine for your skin hygiene, use the acne products that work best for you, and if that doesn’t work, consult with your friendly neighborhood dermatologist.  Treatment for acne continues to improve every day, so there’s no need for you to suffer from it.

Put yourself back in charge of your skin – share this post with your friends so they know that acne doesn’t have to leave its mark on them.

- Jason

Our focus here at clear.ca is clarity for you, which might be clearer skin or clearer vision.  Today we are going to look at one of the ways that you can clear up your vision, and never have to worry about losing your contacts, or fogging up your glasses again.

LASIK, or Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, is gaining public approval due to the number of people that are able to shed the glasses that they’ve had to wear most of their life.

What is LASIK?

LASIK is a procedure where the doctor will peel back a small section of your cornea, near the top, that will allow a focused laser to reshape your cornea and get rid of any tissue that can be identified as the main cause of your vision problem.  While LASIK isn’t 100% effective at giving everyone perfect 20/20 vision, it can help many people see better.

What are the risks?

Just like any other surgical procedure, there are some risks with LASIK that must be considered.  In order to assess your current corneal status, your doctor will ask you to switch to your glasses for a few weeks (or longer if you are currently using hard contacts) as well as no smoking and no drinking.  This is to ensure that your eyes, specifically your corneas, are healthy so the doctor can accurately measure them and detect the cause of your vision impairment.  As with any medical visit, you should inform the doctor of any other medications that you are currently taking, prescription, herbal, or over the counter, as well as any allergies you might suffer from.  Your doctor will assess your current situation, and all the mitigating factors, to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK.

Surgery

OK, the doctor has said you’re a good fit for the procedure; you’ve booked the appointment as well as a few days off work to recover.

Make sure that you thoroughly clean your face to get rid of all traces of creams, perfume, lotion, and make up.  This will help eliminate the chance of infection, so be thorough.  Next, you’ll need to have your transportation options figured out before the procedure.  You are going to be able to see after the process, but between the procedure, the medications, and any pain meds, it would be very unwise for you to drive.  Phone a friend, take the bus, or call a cab – don’t let your investment be ruined by your poor planning.  Legitimate LASIK clinics won’t let you leave alone – someone will need to pick you up.

After Surgery

There are a few things to remember after your procedure, but one of the most important ones is Don’t Rub Your Eyes – you don’t want to risk damaging your newly improved corneas, so keep your hands away from them.

Your doctor is going to meet with you shortly after the procedure to check how things went.  Now is a good time to let him know about any burning, itching, redness, or excessive watering.  You might be a bit blurry still, but if it does continue, make sure you let the doctor know.

After the doctor determines that everything is healing ok, he will probably let you know that you should refrain from any activities that might cause undue stress on your eyes, activities that include running, jumping, or watching “Marley and Me” (just kidding).  Until your eyes are fully healed, it’s best to stay away from hot tubs and swimming activities to prevent infection.  Your doctor may advise you to eliminate any eye makeup or lotions for the first few weeks, again to give your eyes the best environment to heal in.

Some side effects that you might notice over the next few weeks include a sensitivity to glare, seeing halos, as well as your ability to drive at night might be more difficult.  For many people, these symptoms go away after three to six months.  Check with your doctor about your symptoms if anything seems out of the ordinary.

So, now that you can see the world clearly again, what are you going to do?  And with all the time that you are saving by not changing your contact solution/looking for your lost glasses, you’ve got plenty of time to figure it out.

Use that extra time to come back to clear.ca to find out other ways we are helping you live life clearly.

-          Jason

Some of the ideas that we have come up with:

-          Celebrity Skin (probably not a great choice, as it sounds like it might be a bit NSFW)

-          Pimple Pop (kinda like this one, but it might be a bit, uhm, gross)

-          American Acne Idol  – (ok, probably not)

-          Skin Problems of the Rich and Famous – hmm, good enough for now.

We would like to use this post to share with you the fact that celebrities have to fight the same problems as we do.  OK, maybe they have an army of makeup experts and photo-shoppers to help them cover up their blemishes, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have skin problems, too.  The internet is full of the pics that you fav celebs don’t want you to see – but we’re pretty good at digging up the dirt.

So who would you like to see us profile?

Some of your favorite leading men, like Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, or Dane Cook?

How about some of the leading ladies, like Cameron Diaz, Penolope Cruz, or Alyssa Milano?

Do you know which actress said “They even had to schedule filming around my breakouts sometimes because all the makeup in the world couldn’t hide it”?

We’ll investigate the secrets that the celebs use to cover up their skin challenges, from cleansing products, skin care maintenance programs, make up applications, or how to find the right photographer that can make you look great, while hiding anything that might resemble a blemish.

But we don’t want to focus on only the problems, we’re happy to include some celec success stories.  The celebs that were able to find a solution that helped them break free from acne, or the celebs that just show that they didn’t care about it.  They’re just happy with who they are.

Let us know in the comments which celebrity you’d like us to focus on, and we’ll dig up some pics and maybe write up an email to thank them for being normal – just like the rest of us.

-          Jason

(If you said “Alyssa Milano” had breakouts so bad they had to change the filming – then you’re the boss!)

What are your options to fix the scarring?

1 – Don’t worry about it.  You fought, and one, the battle with acne.  You have it under control, and you aren’t bothered by the marks that dot your cheeks.  You call them battle scars, and you are so comfortable with your own inner beauty that a few marks on the surface don’t mean a thing.

2- Cover them up. There billions of dollars spent every year on treatments for acne, but even more money is spent on makeup you can use to cover up the scars.  If this is the technique that works best for you, check this article to make sure you aren’t causing yourself more problems.

3- Chemical Peel. You can choose to go to your dermatologists or medical aesthetician where they can help remove the scarring, one layer of skin at a time.  Depending on the severity of your scarring, you might be looking at 6 treatments, with 3 weeks between them.

4 – IPL Intense Pulsed Light – A new technology that stimulates the body’s collagen production, helping it heal naturally.

This list is by no means comprehensive.  Think of it as a pointer to help your find more information about acne scarring, and how to live with it.

-          J

OK, you’ve got red blotches all over your face.  You’ve had them since you were a teenager and they won’t go away.  You’ve tried every acne cream out there, yet you still feel like the employee of the month at any fast food restaurant.

If you are treating your rosacea the same way you treat acne, you probably aren’t ever going to get rid of it.  First off, a bit about the two conditions.

What is acne?

When the pores on your face, neck, back, chest, or shoulders get plugged, pimples or cysts can appear and this is commonly known as acne, or medically as acne vulgaris.  These pimples, whiteheads or blackheads, are usually seen on teenagers (apparently almost 100% of people aged 12 – 17 have had some form of pimples), but there are some folks that are afflicted by acne into their 40s.  Though acne usually isn’t lethal it can be emotionally, or physically, damaging. The pores can become infected, and might result in scarring.  There are some therapies that can be used to mitigate the scarring, but it is much more effective to use proactive treatments to avoid this situation.  Most people will see their acne symptoms disappear as they get older.

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a skin condition that causes blotchy redness and swelling, usually limited to the face, but it has been known to affect the neck, ears, chest, back, and scalp. There have been some cases where rosacea has affected the eyes, resulting in a bloodshot appearance, burning/itching, and swelling of the eyelids.

People that suffer from rosacea tend to blush or flush very easily.  The symptoms of rosacea can resemble a sunburn or acne, and this redness affects approximately 14 million Americans.  Where acne is normally seen in teenagers, rosacea can be commonly found on adults between 30 and 50, and often in women during menopause.

The causes of rosacea are not fully known, with theories ranging from heredity, to skin mites, to bacteria.

Some famous people that suffer from rosacea include: Bill Clinton, Rosie O’Donnell, Mariah Carey, and W. C. Fields.  Field’s distinct nose is a classic example of rosacea, clearly demonstrating the skin damage that can occur from this condition.

How do you treat rosacea?

Though the cause is still unknown, there are some treatments that have been shown to improve the symptoms on those suffering from rosacea.  The first step is to consult your doctor to ensure that you are suffering from rosacea instead of acne.  If it’s determined to be rosacea, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, like tetracycline or doxycline, to help minimize the flare-ups that occur.  You can help your doctor by keeping a log of your flare-ups to help identify possible triggers so you can avoid them in the future. Some more permanent treatments for rosacea include laser or electrosurgery, where the blood vessels on the face are reduced so they become less visible.

Another problem with the similarity between the two afflictions is that some of the treatments that you would use to prevent acne can actually exacerbate your rosacea.  People that are suffering from both conditions at the time same time should be seeing a medical professional to help them determine the best course of action.

Like acne, rosacea isn’t harmful to your health, but it can cause a lot of psychological grief. If you are suffering from rosacea, consult your dermatologist to find the right options for you.

- Jason

 OK, so this might not be the most appetizing post, but it is one that anyone with skin can benefit from reading.

You’ve got a pretty good idea about what a pimple looks like, what it feels like, and why you want to get rid of it – but do you know what a pimple actually is?

The fine folks at Clearogen have given us an excellent primer on these minor skin complications that everyone has, and no one wants.

 How is a pimple formed?

You already know that your skin is made up of tiny pores, the tiny openings in your skin that allow oil and sweat are excreted from the glands below the skin.

When a pore gets plugged, either with dirt, dead skin, or makeup, the sebum (the oil that your sebaceous glands produce to keep your skin young looking and supple) gets trapped, and this prevents your hair follicles from growing.  This causes your skin to break out in pimples.  Your body is always fighting for you, so when a pore gets clogged, usually one of two things will happen.  Either pus forms to help push out the bacteria from the dirt, dead skin cells, or makeup, and this results in a whitehead pimple, or if the bacteria isn’t present a blackhead will form.

How do you get rid of pimples?

The best solution for dealing with whiteheads or blackheads, zits or blemishes, is to actively keep your skin clean.  Regular washing with an antimicrobial face wash is the key to having a good healthy skin.  Make sure you use the right wash for your skin type.  If you’re skin is too oily, and you use a treatment that is designed to help dry skin, you are probably going to make your pimple problem worse.  And try not to use any cleaners that are alcohol based.  They will dry out your skin, which might give you temporary relief from a pimple, but they can result in damaging the skin, which could lead to more pimples in the future.

Wash your skin twice a day, once when you get up, and once when you go to bed.  Doing it more than twice a day can cause your skin to dry out, which might trigger your skin to produce more oil, which will result in more pimples if your pores are easily blocked.

How old are you when you stop getting pimples?

Depending on who you are, you might not like this answer very much.  Some people might have pimples for most of their life.  Typically, you are more prone to pimples when you are a teenager, with hormones playing havoc on your body.  Menstruating women might also suffer more frequent pimple problems for the same reason.  Men with facial hair can be more susceptible to pimple production, but the facial hair can often camouflage the symptoms.  Many people will grow out of the conditions that result in pimples, but by developing good skin habits early on, you can live a virtually blemish free life.

So, there you have it.  A bit of background info on what causes pimples.  In future posts, we are going to explore some of the ways that you can minimize acne, we’ll debunk a few myths about pimples and acne, and we will look at some of the ways that you can treat the scars that acne can cause.

If you have any questions or suggestions for us here at clear.ca, feel free to leave a comment.

 -J