Dermatology For You

Learning the ins and outs of Dermatology!

[dermatologyforyou]

Findings About Chronic Hand Eczema!

“Itching in Patients with Chronic Hand Eczema: Data from the CARPE Registry,” by Linda Ruppert, Christian Apfelbacher, Sonja Molin, Andrea Bauer, Vera Mahler, Jochen Schmitt, Peter Elsner, Thomas L. Diepgen, and Elke Weisshaar was published in 2014 by S. Karger AG in Dermatology; Basel. As it is explained in the thesis, “The aim of this data analysis was to identify factors associated with itch and itch severity using baseline data from all CHE patients included in CARPE,” (page 147). This journal speaks to an audience of people who struggle with Chronic Hand Eczema and struggle with excessive itch, among other symptoms. 

This research was motivated by a gap in the research. Data was collected from those who struggle with CHE, along with other factors such as sex, age, severity, etc. Following the collection of this data, statistical analysis was performed and the results of the study were presented in the research. The authors of this journal were very obviously looking to come to conclusions about CHE and its connection to excessive itch, as well as who it most affects and how badly. 

[dermatologyforyou]

One Last Skincare Shoutout

In the very beginning of this blog process, I talked about how I intended to talk about popular skincare brands that have been helpful for so many people. In this post, I am going to be talking about La Roche-Posay!

Unless you live under a rock, I bet you have heard of La Roche-Posay. Their website has so much to offer. When you click on "our products," you can choose from the sections face, body, sunscreen, skin concerns, product line, safety concerns, and ingredients, making finding the right skincare for your skin needs super simple. Something else that I found fascinating on their website is their “analyze your skin” tab. Under it, you can take a quiz to find a face serum that is right for your skin, or you can access their AI face scanner that helps to analyze your complexion and find the right products, how cool! Finding your perfect routine and products is made easier when using La Roche-Posay!

[dermatologyforyou]

Skincare Goes Way Back

For my primary source post, I looked into the Smithsonian’s online exhibition on skincare. The museum has an extensive collection of lots of cosmetic and hygiene products, it is not just limited to skincare. I explored the skincare page and noted what was most commonly discussed.

The Smithsonian provides historical background with a lot of the products that are shown, explaining who used the products and what they were used for. As I went through this page, a very common theme that I noticed was the changing of skin color in some way, which I found to be fascinating. It is explained that “Both white women and women of color used products to bleach their skin, to lighten or conceal discolored areas, and to soothe and smooth irritated skin and acne,” regardless of the fact that there were many harmful chemicals in these skin bleaches (according to Smithsonian Institute). As time went on, things began to change, in the 1920’s it was popular to have a light tan, and in the 1930’s companies began making products that gave the effect of a tan. By the time that the sixties came around, “darker skin tones were more fully embraced, and skin care products changed in response. Both white men and white women sought deeply tanned, “bronze” skin, and tanning products now promised to give a long-lasting and dark tan,” (Smithsonian). 

Aside from tanning and bleaching products, some of the other skincare products I observed on this page include various different toilet creams, face and hand lotions, moisturizing gels, and acne and complexion products. 

This online resource was very informative and interesting to explore. I had never seen old skincare products before doing this assignment, so I felt it was very insightful. While I was reading and observing these products, it made me think about how much progress has been made in skincare. Today, there is a solution for just about any skin struggle you may have, and it is nice to see!

[dermatologyforyou]

What Should Your Routine Look Like?

As I was searching for articles to blog about, I found that there were multiple articles in relation to viral and prominent skincare trends. A lot of kids, teenagers, and even adults today are intrigued by Get Ready with Me skincare videos that include a lengthy skincare routine with high-end and expensive products. But is all of this good for everyone to use? 

Janna Mandell of The Washington Post wrote “Is skin care on your child’s wish list? Proceed by caution,” to explain that many teens want to partake in the same skincare trends as those that they watch online, but it can be harmful. Mandell talks about how these expensive products can potentially damage their skin barrier due to the use of products that contain ingredients that young people do not need to put on their faces. She cautions that it is unnecessary, and that dermatologists say simplicity is better for a young person’s skincare routine. 

Similarly, “How worried should we be about the Drunk Elephant tweens?” in the Washington Post by Danny Nguyen and Ashley Fetters Maloy talks about how these pricey products are intended for an older audience of people, and they could be an issue for the younger generation. This article goes into detail about how kids and teenagers are becoming too invested in skincare prevention for things like wrinkles and aging.

Fiorella Valdesolo's “Psst: That 10-Step Skincare Routine Might Be Hurting Your Face,” on the Wall Street Journal expands on the idea that a simple skincare routine may be more beneficial. It is explained that the best products for a skincare routine for anyone, not just younger people, include “cleanser, moisturizer, an optional active treatment (such as a retinol or vitamin C serum) and SPF,” New York Dermatologist Whitney Bowe explains, and that adding lots of products to your routine may cause more problems. 

All of these articles talk about how skincare and self care culture online can get out of hand and spread misinformation to consumers. Many teenagers and adults have gotten caught up in these trends that are not always good, making them potentially harmful and expensive to keep up with, and professionals recommend that you stick to the skincare basics. 

Although these articles were all on similar topics, I did not notice any of the same names come up in the interviews. I also did not notice any explicit bias, but all three of these articles are suggesting that these trends can be very negative. All of these articles were written fairly recently, with the oldest being published in March of 2024. Skincare trends are still very prominent, so this is a topic that is still relevant. The people that were interviewed for these articles were a mix of parents of kids who had an interest in skincare and dermatologists who provided explanations, giving a professional opinion and a parental perspective.

[dermatologyforyou]

CeraVe Spotlight!

Time for a shoutout! Today, I will be talking about my personal favorite skincare brand, CeraVe. I have been using CeraVe for a few years now, and I have found that their products have helped to improve my skin significantly. I use five of their products on an everyday basis, so let’s go through my routine. In the morning, I wash my face with their Hydrating Facial Cleanser and moisturize my face with the Daily Moisturizing Lotion. At night, I first wash my face with the Foaming Facial Cleanser, then I apply the Resurfacing Retinol Serum, followed by the Daily Moisturizing Lotion again, and finish it off with the Eye Repair Cream.

I have very sensitive skin, and I love all of these products because none of them have broken me out or caused irritation to my skin. Both the foaming and hydrating cleansers are very gentle and leave my face feeling clean. The moisturizer is light and hydrates my skin. These final two products are my most treasured. The retinol serum has significantly helped to reduce the appearance of my acne scars, and the eye cream may be simple, but this is the only eye cream that has not caused my eyes to swell up, not to mention that it is so hydrating. 

I have yet to find a CeraVe product that I have not liked, and I hope to find more that are just as great as these! They have a product for just about any skin struggle that you have, so if you haven't given them a shot, I recommend that you do!

Image Source

[dermatologyforyou]

Your One-Stop Shop for all Things Skincare

My book review is going to be covering “Your Best Skin: The Science of Skincare,” by Hannah English, published by London: Hardie Grant Books in 2022, making it pretty recent. The book's subject is labeled as skincare and hygiene.

This book begins with a Cover Page, Title Page, and Contents. It is then broken down into five different sections, including Introduction, Your Skin, Your Skincare Routine, Your Skin Concerns, and The Other Stuff. Following those sections comes the Glossary, Endnotes, Thank you, About the Author, and Copyright. The first section, the Introduction, includes Hannah’s story. Although the name is pretty self-explanatory, English breaks down her complicated relationship with her skin throughout the years, going through her struggles, different remedies she tried, and even sharing statistics about different skin problems and who is most affected by them. 

Next, “Your Skin” is split up into 3 chapters: What is Skin anyway, Skin Types, and Sensitive or Sensitized. Chapter 2 “What is skin anyway?” opens by giving an explanation to what skin is, its job, and describes the difference between skin on the body and on the face. English then goes into the scientific side and breaks down the structure and layers of the skin. Chapter 3 “Skin Types” names different kinds of skin types, and shows different scales that were used to measure people’s skin types, such as the Fitzpatrick Scale. She concludes the chapter by including a quiz to see how well you know your own skin. Chapter 4 “Sensitive or Sensitized?” focuses on the difference between what makes your skin sensitive or sensitized, how to treat such problems, and the author includes her favorite products. 

Section 3 “Your Skincare Routine” consists of 6 chapters: Sunscreen, Cleansing, Hydration, Exfoliation, How to Read a Skincare Label, and Building Your Skincare Routine. This section introduces all of the steps that you should include in your skincare routine, the purpose and importance of these products, and how to tell what products/ steps are right for you and your skin. 

“Your Skin Concerns,” is the 4th section, it includes: Acnes, Wrinkles and Retinoids, Hyperpigmentation, Skincare Mistakes, and Seeing a Professional. Reading this section will inform you about different types of skin concerns, causes and effects, treatments, do’s and don'ts, and at what point you should consult a doctor for assistance.

Finally, section 5 “The Other Stuff” goes over Skin and Diet, Body Care, Injectables, and The Comparison Trap and Self-Care. These chapters consist of additional information that may be helpful for those either struggling with certain problems or are interested in learning more about these topics. 

In “Hannah’s Story,” she explains that she wants you to think of her as your informed older sister so you can be “armed with the facts next time you go to your favorite beauty retailer, to decipher the advertising speak, make informed purchasing decisions and not waste your time or money,” (English). Her intention and goal for writing this book is to inform and help you understand your skin, and I think she did a fantastic job. It is well written, and all of the chapters were broken down very thoroughly and explained everything that you need to know. She includes many of her own experiences and the effects, as well as factual and scientific information. This is a great mix because it allows you to be informed with accurate information, while also allowing the reader to connect with her as she talks about her struggles. There were many illustrations throughout the book, and I found them to be helpful. They were mostly diagrams of the skin to show how certain structures looked in relation to whatever the author was explaining. 

Truthfully, I think that just about anyone could benefit from reading this book. Whether you have struggled with skin-related issues in the past or are still struggling with them, this book is perfect for anyone who is looking to learn more about their skin!

[dermatologyforyou]

How Accurate is AI?

AI can be useful, but it can also be harmful. I asked ChatGPT many different questions relating to skincare and dermatology for this blog and found some very interesting things. I expected to get more false information from ChatGPT than true, but a lot of the information was actually accurate. I asked ChatGPT about causes and remedies for acne, dandruff, and eczema, and all of the information that I read matched up with the research I have done for this blog. I even asked questions about Christine Valmy, who I wrote about in my profile post, as well as her career, background, education information, etc, and it was all accurate. 

I was having a tough time finding inconsistencies, until I asked ChatGPT a series of questions about the book “Mayo Clinic: Book of Home Remedies,” which was one of my freestyle post topics. When asking about author and publication information, ChatGPT stated that “the authors of Mayo Clinic: Book of Home Remedies are: Mayo Clinic Staff and Dr. Michael H. O'Neill – a Mayo Clinic physician and one of the key contributors to this book,” (according to ChatGPT, accessed on 4/2/25). As listed on the physical copy of the book and on Google Books, which you can find here, the two authors of this book are Dr. Cindy A. Kermott and Dr. Martha P. Millman, and ChatGPT does not give either one of them credit for this book.

[dermatologyforyou]

A Great Watch for those Struggling with Acne!

“Overcoming Acne,” by Information Television Network (ITN) explores the world of acne and what it entails. This documentary did a good job of making its point and capturing the emotions of its audience. The purpose of this documentary was to allow those watching who also struggle with acne to see that their feelings are validated, while also providing explanations and potential solution options. This video consisted of interviews with doctors of Dermatology and real people who have struggled with acne at some point in their lives. Having both points of view is very helpful in an educational video like this one because it allows for two different perspectives.

Many people were featured in this documentary who struggled with acne. They talked about their personal experience with acne, its effects, treatments they have tried, what worked/ what didn't, etc. A consistent comment coming from multiple patients was that acne was very emotionally taxing, causing them to feel very self-conscious, lowering their self-esteem, as well as isolating them from peers due to feelings of insecurity.

The doctors interviewed in this documentary are Dr. Madhavi Kandula and Dr. Lawrence Eichenfield. Throughout, they provide facts, reasons for breakouts, discuss myths, and different treatment options. These doctors provided an overall definition of acne, how it forms, types of breakouts, levels of severity, and common areas that it will appear as on overview. They expanded on potential causes, such as genetics, hormones, and stress, and even explained how diet does not have as much of a factor on acne as one may think. Additionally, they mention who is most likely to be affected by acne at certain points in their lives, including (but not limited to) those going through hormonal changes, women in menopause, teenagers, and those who have stopped taking birth control pills.

In terms of solutions, these doctors also explain that over-the-counter treatments are helpful, but if acne still persists or gets worse, it is best to consult with a dermatologist. Some of the do’s that are suggested include consistency with a skincare routine, good sleep and diet, and frequent checkups with your dermatologist. There is a multitude of treatments available that a Dermatologist can prescribe you as a solution, such as topicals, antibiotics, birth control, or isotretinoin (better known as Accutane) for those with severe acne.

This was a great watch! I felt that it was very informative. There is a great mixture of personal opinions and feelings, as well as facts and explanations. If you are looking to simply learn more about acne or if you are trying to fight it yourself, this documentary is worth checking out!

[benefitsofbodyscrubs]

Step 2 :

Measure two whole cups of coconut oil. You can use the spoon and do four big spoonfuls as well !

Why extra virgin coconut oil ?

From the dermatology standpoint, extra virgin coconut oil has a number of factors in it to promote healthier skin. Coconut oil itself is important to your skin because of the hydration, moisturization, and strengthening it provides. The properties come together in coconut oil and make it a wonderful barrier for your skin. The scientific aspect of it is that "it can decrease staphylococcal colonization on the skin. In a randomized controlled trial, coconut oil was found to clear an impressive 95% of staphyloccal colonization in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). This is extremely provocative in a time when we are all increasingly concerned about the role of bacteria in AD 10 and simultaneously worried about increasing bacterial resistance.11 ". First, AD, an abbreviation for atopic dermatitis, often referred to as eczema, is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that causes inflammation, redness, and irritation of the skin. This type of excema irritates the skin with dry, red, flaky , rough skin patches. Studies have shown that the elements in coconut oil, have helped to decrease staphylococcal colonization in patients with AD. Staphylococcal colonization is a form of bacteria that builds up on the skin barrier, disrupting it. Coconut oil provides a sense of ease to irritated skin through the oils and hydration. Coconut oil helps with the natural antibacterial agents it has by helping those who struggle with overproduction of bacteria on the skin.

[dermatologyforyou]

Great post! Body scrubs and other self care products and activities are very similar to the world of skincare, and in a way, is skincare. This is a great explanation. This blog talks about the benefits of body scrubs and how body scrubs benefit your skin based on what you’re struggling with. Skincare, in the same way, targets specific problems and helps to treat them.

[dermatologyforyou]

A Health and Wellness Must-Read

Hello everyone! For my first freestyle post, I will be sharing a book. This book is the “Mayo Clinic: Book of Home Remedies,” by Cindy A. Kermott, M.D., M.P.H., and Martha P. Millman, M.D., M.P.H. While this book talks about all topics from illness, to injury and everything in between, I am only going to focus on highlighting and sharing some of the skin care related issues in relation to this blog. Those topics included are as follows: acne, dandruff, dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, shingles, and sunburn. 

This book is incredibly helpful for all of your health needs, but their skincare tips are great! Each of these topics’ sections offers a short explanation or definition of what the problem consists of, potential causes, medical help suggestions, and a list of home remedies. Some sections also include extra information, if applicable. For example, the acne section includes different variations/kinds of breakouts, such as cysts, nodules, papules, and many more (pg. 10). As another example, both the shingles and sunburn sections talk about preventive measures that you can take to avoid these issues. Shingles prevention consists of a vaccine that those who are 60 and older are suggested to get (pg. 148), and sunburn prevention includes avoiding the sun during its “peak time”, covering exposed areas, reapplying sunscreen every few hours, and protecting your eyes (pg. 165). 

I found that I learned a lot while I read these sections, so I am going to include some of the most interesting and helpful facts/tips that I was unaware of before reading. The dandruff section mentions that being exposed to the sun (in moderation) can be good in treating dandruff (pg. 53). Dry skin can be helped by choosing more natural fabrics to wear, such as cotton or silk, because it allows your skin to breathe (pgs. 64 and 65). Similarly to dry skin, eczema can be treated by wearing cotton clothing, and cold and wet compresses can also help soothe skin struggling with eczema (pg. 70). And finally, psoriasis treatment can become less effective with the consumption of alcohol, so it is best to avoid it (pg. 144).

The authors of this book do a great job of giving the information in a short, to-the-point, and easy-to-understand manner. So whether it be your skin that you’re struggling with or just about anything else, this book is great to have around. Check it out if you get the chance!

Image Found here

[dermatologyforyou]

The Original Skincare Queen!

Christine Valmy was a Romanian esthetician and is known as one of the original pioneers of esthetics and skin care. She began creating skin care for herself from ingredients from her garden, and did not stop there. Throughout her time working as an esthetician, she invented her own skin care techniques, now better known as the “Valmy method.” The Valmy Method is based on using natural products to help improve the quality of your skin. She also incorporated holistic methods into her skincare teachings.

Valmy then opened a widely accredited skin care school in New York in 1966, which is named after her. The Christine Valmy school offers different educational courses, such as esthetics, waxing, nails, makeup, and barbering. Additionally, she also created “an American association of skin care specialists (estheticians), an association which gained the respect of the international governing body of skin care professionals, CIDESCO,” (Wikipedia). 

Christine Valmy worked alongside her daughter, Marina Valmy, to expand on the esthetics profession. Although Christine Valmy passed away in 2015, her work and legacy still lives on through her schools in New York and New Jersey, along with her daughter Marina is still a prominent part of the organization.

Check out the Christine Valmy School website here!

Image source

[dermatologyforyou]

Welcome to Dermatology For You!

Hello everyone, and welcome to Dermatology For You. Whether it just be some facial moisturizer or a whole 10-step routine, almost everyone has a skincare routine to some degree. The purpose of this blog is to explore the importance of skincare through looking at brands, products, and methods while additionally looking into the study of dermatology.

Within my blogging process, I would like to talk about both skincare and dermatology and the difference between them. Skincare is defined as, “the use of creams, lotions, etc., to care for the skin,” (Oxford English Dictionary). Versus dermatology is “a branch of science which treats of the skin, its nature, qualities, diseases, etc.,” (Oxford English Dictionary). 

I think that it is important to talk about the difference between these two topics because I feel that a lot of people seem to group these two branches together as if they are the same thing. Skincare is more of personal products for basic, everyday use, while Dermatology is a study of different skin conditions.

I will also discuss different brands and kinds of skincare products. Skincare has become an especially prominent and popular topic on the internet today, and many brands have had a breakthrough and have been fantastic. CeraVe, La Roche Posay, and The Ordinary, just to name a few, are some of the most commonly talked about skincare brands that I have seen, primarily being all positive. These brands have such a wide variety of products to choose from. Whether it be a facial-based problem, such as acne, or an issue affecting elsewhere on your body, like eczema, these brands, amongst many others, probably have something to assist in treating the issue at hand.

Additionally, different skin problems are a big interest of mine. I would like to explore the different causes for problems, treatments, effects, and everything in between.

I hope to expand on more of these ideas, brands, products, etc as we move along through this blogging process!

Image found here