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4 Times to See a Dermatologist for Optimal Skin Care

To the surprise of many people, a person’s skin is actually their largest organ, as well as one of the most sensitive components of the human body. Any number of conditions can aggravate or irritate the skin, and it’s vitally important that people take care of their skin as best they can.

This article will outline four of the more common scenarios in which a person should consider scheduling an appointment with a dermatologist, in San Francisco or wherever a person happens to live. California residents face a number of unique challenges to their skin that people in other areas may not, and should speak with a dermatologist on a somewhat-regular basis to be proactive in caring for their skin.

Excess Sun Damage

The sun’s rays are wonderfully healthy, but there of course can be too much of a good thing. Too much sun exposure can cause skin damage, and far too much can potentially lead to skin cancer. Common signs of excessive sun exposure include blotches, dark spots, and excessive wrinkling.

The most common form of damage from the sun is predictably sunburn, which can vary from milder forms (reddish skin and mild pain that self-resolves in 1-2 days) to more severe forms (blisters, fever, extreme pain). The sun can be extremely dangerous, and everyone who loves being outside should take some common sense steps to protecting their skin.

Other forms of sun damage that may merit a trip to the dermatologist:

     Actinic Keratoses – rough, scaly skin patches that appear as raised bumps.

     Actinic Cheilitis – a split, dry spot on the bottom lip. Could be white in color.   

     Changes to Age Spots – darkened spots on the skin that look like freckles. People should watch to make sure that these do not raise or change colors.

     Changes to Moles – most people have moles, but like age spots, moles can change colors or grow larger. Itching, bleeding, or other changes could warrant a trip to the dermatologist.

     Rosacea – this condition will come and go in those who experience it, but the sun can certainly aggravate it. People experiencing severe outbreaks following excess sun exposure may want to speak with their dermatologist.

These are just a few of the more common sun-related conditions that could warrant a trip to a skin specialist. California residents who see a lot of sun will want to visit a dermatologist near Palo Alto or see a skin doctor in Roseville if they notice any abnormalities.

Severe Acne

While most people experience some acne outbreaks through the course of their lives, people dealing with severe acne – otherwise known as cystic acne – should consider seeing a dermatologist or seek professional skin treatment in Walnut Creek or San Francisco if the acne does not respond to over-the-counter medication.

Products containing benzoyl peroxide, when used in tandem with a gentle, healing skincare routine, can generally reduce or eliminate acne outbreaks. That said, if acne persists after 1-3 months of OTC medication use, most people will want to see a skin specialist.

Today, there are a bevy of prescription medications that are very effective at reducing acne, and a good skin doctor will be able to both recommend and prescribe the best medications for a given individual.

Allergic Reaction or Rash

Not to be confused with a true medical emergency in which a person would head to the hospital, and persistent allergic reaction or rash is another reason to schedule an appointment with a local skincare specialist.

Conditions such as eczema, as well as other forms of dermatitis, are generally accompanied by painful inflammation as well as excessive itching or irritation. In many cases, a person is putting something on their skin every day that’s causing this inflammation, and most of the time, a person may not know exactly what the source of the irritation happens to be. A skincare specialist can help greatly in this regard.

People can troubleshoot a bit themselves by switching to dye-free and fragrance-free products. Most of the time, products with a number of chemical ingredients can irritate the skin, particularly if a person is unusually sensitive. Keep as many chemicals off the skin as possible is generally good advice, but doubly important for people prone to allergic reactions.

Eczema or regular allergic reactions are not conditions that people will want to let go for extended periods of time. While people can remove chemical irritants from their cosmetic lineup and perhaps try over-the-counter cortisone cream to help control rashes, a lot of people may want to save themselves some time and aggravation by scheduling an appointment with a skin specialist.

Scar Treatment and Prevention

Lastly, people who have been cut recently and want to lessen the likelihood of scarring can consider contacting a local skincare specialist. While there are a number of over-the-counter products and natural solutions (such as Vitamin E and Aloe) that can help minimize scarring, people who obtain deeper cuts will want to talk to a dermatologist about the ways in which a scar can be prevented or treated.

There are a number of procedures that a good skincare specialist can perform to help minimize scarring. Dermatologists can attempt to build up depressed scars, or perform certain treatments on  raised scars – particularly scars incurred from burns.

Laser treatments have become popular as a form of scar-minimization therapy. While laser treatments cannot remove scars entirely, in many cases laser therapy can drastically reduce a scar. This form of therapy can reduce pain and itching associated with scars, as well as increase a person’s range of motion if a scar happens to limit it.

In many cases, it may be worth a consultation to see if there’s anything that a dermatologist can do about a given scar. While in some cases scars can’t be removed entirely, there are likely a few treatments that a skincare specialist can perform to reduce the appearance of scarring.

 

Disclaimer: We are unable to guarantee any result, even though most of our patients do see success. The results of our services will vary greatly to each patient’s level of commitment and compliance with the program.

 

 

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