Thursday, December 23, 2010

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from Greenville Dermatology!


Check back in the new year when we will reveal the 6th and final myth on acne.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Busting Myths on Acne! Myth 5 of 6 Myth 5: You can’t wear makeup if you are prone to acne.

BUSTED!
While there are many cosmetics that will clog pores and make acne worse, if you know what to look for you can find makeup that not only hides blemishes but also helps clear up your skin. Now doesn’t that sound like a product you want in your arsenal?

Things to look for in cosmetics:
• Oil-free: This is a must. Your face naturally produces oil, so adding more oil will only clog your pores.
• Non-comedogenic: Means it won’t clog your pores. Always a good thing!
• Oil-free, matte, or semi-matte foundations are the best for acne prone skin.
• Mineral makeup contains no preservatives or fragrance, which often irritate sensitive skin. But be wary- if the makeup says mineral-enriched, you’re getting more than just minerals.
• Avoid oil-based cosmetics as well as creamy foundations and blush.

Also be sure to apply cosmetics with applicators rather than with your hands. This helps to limit the amount of oil on your face. And no matter how tired you are, wash your makeup off before going to sleep. You don’t go to bed in the clothes you wear all day, so don’t go to bed with the makeup you wore all day.

At Greenville Dermatology we offer glominerals cosmetics that use the power of vitamins and minerals to even complexion, hide blemishes, and improve the overall look and feel of your skin. Call (864) 242-5872 today to learn more about glominerals products.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010


Busting Myths on Acne! Myth 4 of 6
Myth 4: Only teenagers get acne.

BUSTED!
Thought you finally kissed bad skin goodbye along with your teen years? Contrary to popular belief, adult acne is much more common than one may think. Having skin problems as an adult can be just as embarrassing as when you’re a teen, or even more so, but you are not alone. About 25% of men and 50% of women experience some degree of acne in their adult lives. These numbers are higher for women than men because acne is hormonally related and women’s hormones tend to fluctuate with their cycles and pregnancies.

As an adult, your skin is different than it was during your teen years, so your treatment should be different as well. It may be tempting to just visit your pharmacy store and grab some over-the-counter cleanser, but what you really need is a visit to the dermatologist. There are a lot more treatment options available and as your dermatologist, I can suggest the best option for you based on your unique skin.

In addition to prescription topical or oral medications, Greenville Dermatology also offers Omnilux Therapy, an intense pulsed light designed to treat acne or rosacea. Unfortunately Omnilux is not covered by insurance companies at this time, but it is competitively priced for our clients.

Make your appointment and start treating your acne the grown-up way. Call (864) 242-5872 today!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Busting Myths on Acne: Myth 3 of 6

Myth 3: Acne is caused by uncleanliness.


BUSTED! You have been told for years that you get acne because your skin is dirty, so you scrub and you scrub multiple times a day. Acne is not caused by not washing your face enough. In fact, washing your face too often and scrubbing your face irritates your skin, which may actually worsen your acne.

You should not wash your face more than twice a day- once in the morning and once at night. When you wash your face too often, you risk drying out your skin. Dry skin will either result in redness and peeling, or it will overcompensate by producing too much oil, giving you an oily complexion. Overly dry skin irritates acne while too much oil clogs pores and causes pimples to form. Limit washing your face to twice a day and your skin will thank you!

If you can’t pronounce the ingredients in the facial cleanser, chances are your skin won’t like it. Unless you have a face wash prescribed by me, your daily facial cleanser should have simple ingredients. Many over-the-counter cleansers contain Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid to help fight acne-causing bacteria, but that is about as complex as it should be. Ingredients that aren’t natural can be quite harmful for your skin.

If your face is still very dry after limiting your cleansing to twice daily, I suggest taking it down to once daily and using an oil-free non-comedogenic moisturizer immediately after washing your face.

Lastly, don’t scrub your face! Most cleansers that advertise deep-clean scrubbing or come with their own scrubbing pad will only serve to irritate your skin. Your skin is vulnerable so wash it gently!

As a dermatologist, I have a wide selection of skincare products, including many face cleansers with key ingredients such as Benzoyl Peroxide to help kill acne-causing bacteria. Call (864) 242-5872 to make your appointment today and start cleaning your acne the right way!