Latest Updates on the Coronavirus Disease

dermatologist preventive care :: Article Creator

TikTok's DermDoctor Shares His Top 3 Summer Skin Care Tips

Dr. Muneeb Shah, better known as @dermdoctor, has become TikTok's eminent dermatologist. While he's based in North Carolina, where he is a partner at Fora Dermatology, anyone, anywhere can learn a bit of skin care knowledge from his social media. His skin care recommendations, trend explainers and reaction videos to pimple popping and skin anomalies have earned him 18 million followers.

@dermdoctor

The latest skincare trend… SKIN FLOODING? @Amazon @loréal paris #dermatologist #skincare #hyaluronicacid #LorealParisHAHA #LorealParisPartner

♬ Hey - L'Oréal Paris

"I try to take a very like practical approach to skin care — like what is happening, and why would you want to change it?" Shah shares. Along with giving advice on common concerns like acne, hyperpigmentation and dryness, the dermatologist focuses on accessible products that you can likely grab on your next trip to the drugstore.

As an authority on all things skin care, we asked the DermDoctor to share some summer skin do's and don'ts, along with his favorite products for the season.

Although sun protection is necessary year-round, Shah says that it's even more important in the summer since there's an increase in sun exposure. That means you'll want to look for a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapply it as necessary — typically, every two hours if you're in the sun. To build the habit, Shah recommends pairing it with behaviors that you're already doing.

"When I first try to get people to wear sunscreen, I try to get them to pair it with brushing their teeth," Shah says. "And then if you're out in the sun, I tell them to reapply with lunch."

@dermdoctor

How to Choose the Best Sunscreen for YOU! @La Roche-Posay #sunscreen #dermatologist #spf #anthelios #larocheposaypartner

♬ La Roche-Posay Skin Heroes - La Roche-Posay

"For summer, one of the main changes is that humidity goes up," Shah notes. In this environment, the dermatologist recommends "switching your heavier, cream-based moisturizers to more lightweight moisturizers." Look for hyaluronic acid-based moisturizers or gel moisturizers, options that Shah says are "lighter weight [and] sit on your skin in a humid environment."

Because of the increased sun exposure, Shah says to "potentially eliminate or just decrease your use of exfoliating acids during [summer]." According to the derm, alpha hydroxy acids — such as lactic acid and glycolic acid — increase your risk of sunburns. If you want to have the brightening and smoothing benefits of those ingredients, Shah recommends cutting back to just once a week.

Shah prefers Neutrogena's Gel-Cream formula to the Water Gel because it is fragrance free. The lightweight, oil-free moisturizer is a great summer skin care swap.

Shah also loves this hyaluronic acid moisturizing gel from Olay, which features niacinamide for oil control and peptides to support the skin barrier.

A peptide-packed moisturizer that Shah also says has a gel-like consistency, Drunk Elephant's Protini Polypeptide Cream is a year-round favorite.

According to Shah, "Hyaluronic acid can actually dry out the skin when it's not very humid outside. You sort of lose that moisture to the environment. So hyaluronic acid is best to use in times of the year where it's a little bit more humid." He recommends this serum that uses multi-molecular weight hyaluronic acid. "It gives that dewy, hydrated plump look," he says.

"If anyone's ever had a problem with hyaluronic acid and they didn't like it because they said it irritated this skin, this one will not irritate," Shah says. "It's pure, high molecular weight hyaluronic acid [with] a super elegant formula and super simple ingredients."

EltaMD remains a dermatologist-favorite for sunscreen. Shah likes this tinted option that he says is "awesome, blends really well and is pure mineral."

Shah also loves this sunscreen for the face and body. Its fast-absorbing formula will help you avoid any sticky or greasy feeling, so it's ideal for hot, humid days.

A favorite of Shah's for its blendability, the Isdin Eryfotona Actinica SPF 50 disappears against all skin tones. It also features DNA Repairsomes, which Shah says "are awesome for even repairing damage that's already happened to your skin."

For an affordable option, Shah recommends this drugstore sunscreen that's especially great for dark skin tones. It uses chemical UV filters — Shah says he doesn't have a preference between chemical and physical sunscreens, and people should ultimately just find a formula that they love and will use daily.

If you do get a sunburn, Shah says to keep your post-sun skin care super simple. In the first two hours after, use a cold compress to cool the skin and ease the burning, then "after 24 hours you can start using plain Vaseline," Shah advises. "That's gonna help the skin repair itself and let the skin heal because there's not much you can do once the damage has already started. Once you have a sunburn, it's almost like a car crash, like the impact has already happened."

Dermatologist-recommended Skin Care For People Over 50

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details

YOUR SKIN CARE NEEDS CHANGE AS YOU AGE

As you age, your skin will change, and so should your skin care routine. People over 50 are prone to skin characteristics that may not have been present years before, such as wrinkles, dry skin, melasma, age spots, blood vessels, increased bruising and even skin cancer. To learn the best way to address these needs, we turned to BestReviews' skin care expert and dermatologist, Dr. Alina Zufall.

Shop this article: AlphaRet Overnight Cream, Neutrogena Purescreen+ Mineral UV Tint Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 30 and SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

HOW SKIN CHANGES AS YOU AGE

As people age, "skin thickness and elasticity decreases, leading to wrinkling and fragile skin," explains Dr. Zufall. Furthermore, the skin barrier becomes dry and "loss of fat pads and resorption of bone further leads to sagging skin and a sunken appearance."

Sun exposure throughout one's lifetime will also damage the skin with changes including "wrinkling, textural change, thinning, dryness, blood vessel development and pigment changes," adds Dr. Zufall, noting that the development of benign and malignant lesions can occur as well.

All of these skin concerns, which are specific to mature skin in people over the age of 50, require targeted care.

HOW TO BEST CARE FOR MATURE SKIN

For people over 50, Dr. Zufall suggests the following skin care routine. Morning and night, wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Gentle cleansers are preferred over harsh antibacterial soaps that dry out the skin.

In the mornings, follow cleansing with moisturizer and sunscreen. "I recommend moisturizing the body and face daily with a gentle, non-scented moisturizing cream or ointment (not lotion, as these are less moisturizing)," Dr. Zufall adds. "Sunscreen daily is extremely important to protect from 'photo-aging,' or aging due to skin exposure to UV radiation."

In the evenings, forego the sunscreen and use a retinol-based product followed by a nighttime moisturizer. "Nightly use of a retinol-based product will also help to combat the aging process," says Dr. Zufall. "If you are dealing with dark spots, then an over-the-counter lightening agent can be used in the morning and evening."

BEST SKIN CARE INGREDIENTS FOR MATURE SKIN

When shopping for moisturizers for mature skin, Dr. Zufall recommends products with glycerin or hyaluronic acid, as they're "good ingredients for pulling water into the skin." In addition, "shea butter and colloidal oatmeal can help hydrate the skin and prevent evaporation of water."

"Petrolatum, dimethicone and lanolin are excellent occlusive ingredients to keep moisture locked in," notes Dr. Zufall. "Ceramins can help repair the skin barrier and lock in moisture."

For body moisturizers, try products with urea or lactic acids, which Dr. Zufall says "are great ingredients for removing the top layer of dead or dry skin on the body and also pulling moisture into the skin."

For sunscreen, look for broad spectrum protection against UVA, UVB and visible light. It's best to find products that are water-resistant for at least 40 minutes, or ideally, 80 minutes.

"Tretinoin is the best retinoid available for combatting aging, but it's also only available by prescription," notes Dr. Zufall. "There have been some studies that show that retinol and retinaldehyde products work just as well as tretinoin, but the data is limited."

As for lightening agents, over-the-counter ingredients Dr. Zufall likes include niacinamide, kojic acid, azelaic acid, alpha arbutin, tranexamic acid, thiamidol, glycolic acid, retinol, vitamin C and cysteamine.

Watch out for scented products and instead look for fragrance-free versions. "Fragrance is generally irritating to the skin and can worsen dry skin," she explains.

BEST SKIN CARE PRODUCTS FOR PEOPLE OVER 50 Best 50-AlphaRet Overnight Cream

AlphaRet Overnight Cream

"Alpha ret consists of conjugated lactic acid and retinyl retinoate. This would be an over-the-counter product worth trying due to some promising data showing that it may be just as effective as — and with fewer side effects than — tretinoin, the gold standard of anti-aging," says Dr. Zufall.

Sold by SkinBetter

APC 5% Cysteamine Cream

"Cysteamine is one of the best ingredients available over the counter for skin lightening," Dr. Zufall notes. "This is an excellent option for someone wanting to try to lighten those dark spots before going to see a dermatologist. But remember, sunscreen is the best way to prevent worsening and recurrence of the dark spots."

Sold by Walmart

Neutrogena Purescreen+ Mineral UV Tint Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 30

"This product has some of the best protection for anti-aging and dark spots available in the U.S.," says Dr. Zufall. "It goes on the skin relatively lightweight and comes in four shades to find the one that matches your skin tone the most." Another bonus, she notes, is the affordable price point.

Sold by Amazon

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

This cream helps restore essential skin lipids including ceramides, natural cholesterol and fatty acids. Dr. Zufall loves this product because it's a "high-quality moisturizer" that can help "improve the look and feel of skin."

Sold by SkinCeuticals

Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.

Talia Ergas writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

A Dermatologist Explains How To Protect Your Skin From The Summer Sun

It's summer, which means most of us are spending more time outdoors this time of year. It's easy to forget that too much sunlight can damage your skin and even cause cancer.

TPR's Jerry Clayton spoke with Dr. Karla Muñoz, board certified dermatologist, about how to protect your skin from the sun

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity

Clayton: Let's talk about the effect of sunlight on our skin. I mean, I've heard that getting sunlight is good for you, in a way. Right?

Muñoz: You know, that's right, sunlight, to a certain degree, can help us increase our vitamin D levels. But also, the sunlight does emit UV radiation, and that can cause sunburn. And as a carcinogenic, UV radiation does cause cancers —especially things like squamous cell skin cancer and also basal cell skin cancer and melanoma. And also it actually contributes to photo aging. So it makes us get more sun spots and wrinkles.

Clayton: What is the main thing you should do to protect yourself if you're going to be out in the sun?

Muñoz: So one of the big things before we even get into sunscreen is actually UV protective clothing. Seeking shade and getting in the shade is number one. But if you're going to be out at the beach or a water park or somewhere where you just can't get shade, sometimes I think wearing a good wide brimmed hat would be great. You can look for clothing that has UPF 50 plus, which means ultraviolet protection factor.

So my patients ask me, 'Hey, are there any chemicals in this clothing?'

The clothing with the UPF 50 tag is just the way that they're woven. So they're really safe. They protect even more so, I think, than sunscreen, because sometimes when you're at places where you're sweating and there's a lot of water, you don't even have to worry about reapplying, right? You're going to just have that shirt on. It would be great if you had one with long sleeves.

They sell them everywhere for kids, for adults. They're not as hot as they used to be. There's a lot of great options. So number one, UPF protective clothing and then second, sunscreen. So you do want to use sunscreen. There's two different main kinds of sunscreens. One is physical sunscreen, which is the zinc or titanium-based one. Those actually deflect the rays from the skin and they sit on the surface very safe and and actually great for sensitive skin, great for babies and kids. As long as the babies are six months of age and up.

And then there's chemical based sunscreens and they have a lot of options as well. And they now make them even more safer than they ever have been. So those are all great. You want to look for things that say broad spectrum covering both UVA and UVB sunrays, SPF 30 or higher, and then one that's maybe water and sweat resistant. Those are my favorites.

Clayton: When should someone be concerned about skin cancer?

Muñoz: So I think if you have a lesion on your skin that's persistent, maybe it's crusting, maybe bleeding, sometimes itchy, and sometimes these things are slow growing. So that's one thing. If something's not healing, maybe it looks different than anything else you have on your skin.

And then the second thing is just looking for moles. Get comfortable with the moles that you have. If you have a mole that maybe is changing or maybe is itchy, or maybe a mole that maybe has a couple of different colors in it. I mean, anything like that, you do want to get that checked out.

And sometimes they can be something you've had for several years. We do know that two thirds of the time, melanoma comes from a brand new growth. But one third of the time, it can come from a preexisting mole.

Poliomyelitis Treatment