Archives for April 2018

As someone that works and lives in the Greater Boston Area, there’s nothing that quite brings the city together like the Boston Marathon— especially since the tragic bombing in 2013. But it has been both encouraging and uplifting to see so many passionate, dedicated athletes return year after year and refuse to be deterred. And because of that, I look forward to seeing the blue and yellow take over the city a little more every year.

While I won’t be running this year, I have a few skin care tips that could make all the difference for runners. Because while marathons require months and years of physical training, skin preparation and aftercare is something that should never go overlooked.

Before/during the run:

This seems straightforward enough to most people, but I can’t over-emphasize the importance of staying hydrated. It’s not just essential to your endurance, but essential to your skin. The last thing you want to deal with while running is sore, flaky skin due to sun exposure. It goes without saying that running works up a sweat. Make sure to keep your electrolytes in balance during your run in order to avoid muscle cramps or more serious health issues.

A common problem that I see among runners is a skin condition called Grover’s disease. Grover’s disease appears as itchy red bump on the chest. This rash is secondary to inflammation of the sweat ducts. If you suffer from this condition, a mild over the counter hydrocortisone cream may be helpful. A good OTC hydrocortisone to try is Vanicream HC.However, if your rash is severe you will want to see a dermatologist.

Some runners find that they are more prone to folliculitis. One type of folliculitis –pityrosproum folliculitis is very very common in runners. Pityosporum folliculitis results from an overgrowth of yeast at the leval of the hair follicle. A good way to prevent this is by using a Z/P bar. These soaps contain zinc pyrithioe which fights yeast. 

If you are prone to acne, you will want to make sure to cleanse and exfoliate your skin to get rid of all of the dirt and build up that can clogged pores.

Don’t wear makeup. I don’t care what any brand claims — no makeup is going to look good or stay in tact after a 26 mile run. And more importantly, wearing makeup during a long, physically demanding task that will cause you to sweat is just asking for clogged pores and acne.

Use sunscreen. Not only do you want to avoid tan lines, but no matter your race, ethnicity or complexion it’s important to protect your skin from harmful UV rays that could ultimately lead to cancer. As I’ve said before, cancer doesn’t discriminate. When you are running, you want to look for a water resistant sunscreen. Water resistant sunscreens impart 80 minutes of sun protection while you are sweating or swimming. You’ll want to look for a physical blocker like zinc and titanium oxide which may stay on the skin a bit better during a long run.

Lastly, let’s talk about chafing. Who doesn’t remember that scene in The Office where Andy goes the extra mile to avoid chafing. 

Luckily, you won’t have to go as far as he did to protect yourself from chafing. Chafing can occur wear the clothes or skin are rubbing against skin (groin, butt) it can also occur on the feet. To protect your skin from this you want to use a skin barrier/skin protectant. My favorite is Vaniply because it contains a powerful skin protectant called dimethicone. You can also use Petroleum Jelly.

After the run, make sure to thoroughly cleanse your skin and get yourself the carbs and cosmos you deserve!

Spring break season is officially upon us, and people all around the country are heading south to celebrate time off from school. So you’ve got your bikini bod and you’ve packed your sunscreen, but what about your hair down there? Though we evolved with pubic hair to protect our nether regions, they’ve become quite a hassle for many women on vacation that prefer a smooth, hairless look down there.

Luckily, there are several solutions for ridding yourself of your hair down there just in time for spring break season.

The most common way that people remove hair is through shaving, but with shaving comes the risk of razor burn, irritated skin, and a potentially painful condition called folliculitis. Folliculitis is inflammation of the hair follicles that can result from bacteria. For those who shave, I always recommend  trimming the hair first. You want to make sure to clean the area with a gentle cleanser to decrease the risk of introducing bacteria into your skin. After that, use a natural shaving cream or gel (bonus points if it contains aloe Vera) and shave in the direction of your hair growth. If you find that you are prone to razor bumps or folliculitis, it’s a good idea to get a prescription antibiotic to use after shaving. By applying the antibiotic right after shaving you will decrease inflammation and bacteria.

The next most common method of hair removal down below is waxing. Your two options are either a Brazilian wax or a bikini wax. As the name indicates, the bikini wax removes hair from the bikini line, whereas the Brazilian wax removes everything — unless you’re uncomfortable being completely bare, in which case you can request a small, neat strip or patch is left. When getting a wax, it’s important to visit a clean facility you trust with a licensed, experienced practitioner that uses fresh wax (and fresh strips if their methodology involves them). Some people are allergic to wax. I often recommend a test area prior to opting for a large treatment.

If you have extremely sensitive skin that is prone to razor bumps and irritation, you may want to dry a depilatory cream. This is a cream that removes hair from its root. It is usually applied to the skin for about 3 minutes and then washed off using a wash cloth. Brands I like are Nair sensitive skin formula. By removing hair in this fashion you are less likely to get razor bumps.

What if you are prone to ingrown hairs? Women with curly or coarse hair down there are more likely to experience ingrown hairs. This happens with the curly hair bends back on itself and gets stuck under the skin instead of growing out normally after the hair removal process. The best way to avoid this painful problem is to avoid non-permanent forms of hair removal. If you can’t avoid hair removal opt for depilatories or better yet, laser hair removal.

The most permanent (and expensive) solution to hair down there is laser hair removal, which destroys hair follicles over a period of time that requires several treatments. I can’t stress enough how important it is to seek treatment at a reputable clinic. Laser hair removal is not a one size fits all procedure. Different lasers must be used depending your skin type and skin color. I can’t tell you how many injuries I have seen secondary to botched laser hair procedures, including burns and permanent hyperpigmentation. When it comes to laser hair removal cheaper is not better.

There are options for every spring breaker; what it comes down to is largely pain tolerance and price point. But if you’re mindful, you can have a carefree hair-free spring break on any budget.

Sexually transmitted diseases (or STDs) are an awkward subject for a lot of people to talk about, and many patients tend to feel anxious or embarrassed to ask their doctors about them. But as doctors, our jobs are to keep you as healthy as we possibly can, and we can’t do that unless we’re well informed about what’s going on in your body.

And this might surprise you, but a great deal of STD skin care falls under the jurisdiction of dermatologists like myself, because a lot of STDs have symptoms that include unsightly reactions.

The most common STDs that dermatologists end up addressing are herpes simplex virus (HSV), genital warts, syphilis, and chlamydia. It’s important to have a basic idea of what these STDs look like so that you know when to seek medical attention.

• Herpes simplex virus (HSV) creates painful, unattractive sores on the genitals and mouth. The challenging thing about HSV is that can be transmitted even when you don’t have active sores. This is why suppressive therapy may be necessary. Common places to find HSV are on the mouth (most common and not necessarily sexually related), on the genitals (may be transmitted from oral sex, as well as sexual intercourse), and on the buttocks (often transmitted from spooning after sex).
• Genital warts are (generally) painless, non-itchy, small, flesh colored bumps induced by HPV. Sometimes larger cauliflower-like growths may appear. HPV can cause cervical cancer in women, and penile or anal cancer, so it’s important to have HPV treated.
• Syphilis causes big, open sores on the lips, mouth, and tongue and if left untreated can develop into a red rash all over the body.
• Chlamydia may manifest itself as vaginal discharge, pain during urination, or genital inflammation — but it can also turn into a form of pink eye and cause permanent sight loss if left untreated. 

The most important things to know when it comes to STDs is that they are serious diseases that absolutely require professional medical attention. Do NOT try to self-treat or medicate STDs, and if you suspect you have an STD do NOT ignore the symptoms, because the longer you wait to address them, the more damage they can do to your body.

And any serious doctor will heavily encourage the use of condoms as a preventative measure. While some people are allergic to latex and the more popular materials, there are low cost-effective alternatives for everyone.

Dermatologists both diagnose and treat STDs. Bacterial STDs are treated with antibiotics and while viral STDs can’t be cured, the symptoms can be managed with medication.

Again, I highly advise consulting a board-certified dermatologist if you suspect you have an STD.