Blog Archive

Itching, or pruritus in dermatology jargon, can be caused by a plethora of skin conditions, not just one.  This is a very common symptom and sometimes doesn’t have a rash associated with it.  A key player in itch is a molecule called histamine.  Mast cells, which permanently occupy the skin,...

Although cumulative sun exposure causes 90% of skin aging, the other 10% comes from a number of different sources.  It turns out alcohol (along with smoking and environmental pollutants) is a major culprit.  A recent study published in the Journal of Pharmacological and Biophysical Research showed that consuming alcohol, even...

Skin care products are well known to cause “break outs” on the skin.  The most common scenario is a product that is placed on the skin and is left to sit all day (as opposed to a product that is washed off).  Sunscreens, moisturizers and “anti-aging” creams and serums are...

Acne is the most common skin condition known to man.  According to the latest research, over 90% of people have acne at some point in their life.  One of the main drivers of acne is excessively oily skin, which corresponds to increased sebum (oil) production.  Since men produce up to...

Although there are plenty of foods that have been touted to have anti-aging properties, the blueberry has the most research to back it up.  This small berry packs one of the highest amounts of antioxidants per gram of fruit.  Antioxidants are molecules that protect living cells from free radicals (or...

Most people will have some hair loss during their lifetime.  It is not uncommon to see patients with pattern hair loss (hair thinning/loss) who have more hair loss on one side of the scalp compared to the other side.  This is an interesting phenomenon and is probably due to more...

This is a question that a lot of patients have on their minds, considering that almost all people have had a scrape, burn or surgery that has left a scar on their skin.  Scars are the result of the normal wound healing process the body uses to repair trauma to...

Flaky scalp and dandruff are a frequent concern for patients, as the condition can result in white scales on dark clothing that can cause some embarrassment.  This condition is not one thing, as many dermatologic diseases can lead to dandruff.  Dandruff is nothing more than dead skin cells that result...

Growth factors, peptides, and other macromolecules have become very popular in the cosmeceutical industry over the last decade (see blog on cosmeceuticals).  Most of these cosmeceuticals are targeted toward females, however there are a growing number of over-the-counter products (especially serums) that target men.  Growth factors are normal signaling molecules...

A greasy, shiny forehead can interfere with a person’s daily activities in life, such as meeting clients and giving business presentations.  At Dana Point Dermatology, we also see these types of skin conditions hamper a patient’s confidence when going out with significant others, leading to a less satisfying personal life. ...

Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative that is a FDA-approved for severe, recalcitrant nodulocystic acne or acne that is unresponsive to antibiotics.  Since acne is driven by hormones (especially dihydrotestosterone and other androgens), nodulocystic acne is a common issue in both men and women.  It is also used for acne...

Collagen is the major structural protein in human skin, accounting for three-fourths of its mass.  The strength of collagen fibers is what gives skin its firm, smooth and non-wrinkled appearance.  Collagen is made and released by cells in the second layer of the skin called fibroblasts.  Unlike women, men’s collagen...

The answer to this question involves a process known as dry-down time, which basically is the amount of time before the sunscreen no longer feels wet on the skin.  When you apply sunscreen, it creates a film on the skin that interacts and mixes with the oil, sebum and sweat...

Aloe vera is a tropical plant grown in hot climates throughout the world.  The active gel, found in the pulpy flesh of an aloe vera plant leaf, has been used since the Roman times to speed up wound healing, including sunburn.  Want to speed it more?  Aloe can help.  Although...

The Ultraviolet (UV) Index, developed by the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is a forecast of the amount of ultraviolet radiation expected to reach the Earth’s surface when the sun is highest in the sky.  Meausured on a scale of 1-10, the higher the index,...

Shaving pubic hair is pretty common among men and does present health concerns from a dermatologic viewpoint.  Besides the danger of shaving in that area (according to a recent study in the journal Urology, men had over 750 emergency room visits related to using razors in the pubic region), shaving does increase your risk...

Patients are increasingly turning to vitamin C and vitamin E containing anti-aging serums, creams and lotions to fend off the signs of skin aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, brown spots and uneven skin tone.  Vitamin C (a water soluble vitamin) and vitamin E (a fat soluble vitamin) are...

Dark pigmentation on the face is a common concern for patients.  Dark spots are usually one of three non-cancerous skin conditions:   sun spots, melasma or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Sun spots, or solar lentigo in dermatology jargon, are flat brown spots that occur on sun-exposed surfaces (face, arms, upper back).  Basically,...

Tattoo removal has steadily risen over the last 20 years.  In fact, according to recent statistics published in the journal Archives of Dermatology, 28% of people with tattoos regret getting inked within 1 year after having it done and as many as 50% of people choose to undergo removal procedures.  Decades...

Absolutely.  Lips, or vermillion in dermatology jargon, age even more than skin because the lips do not have a protective outer layer of dead cells, which reflects light, covering it.  This makes it more susceptible to damage by ultraviolet radiation (sunlight).  Pre-cancer and full-blown cancer of the lip is also very...

This is a common question by both men and women for dermatologists.  Acne is caused by a combination of bacteria on the skin, inflammation, excessive oil, and clogged pores.  A person’s hair styling products range from hair spray to forming cream to hair gel.  In general, these grooming products don’t...

This is a question that has been debated among dermatologists for decades and is still controversial to this day.  However, there is some new research that deserves mention.  According to a recent article in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, high glycemic index foods, such as sugary cakes, white...

This is a common scenario among professional women and men who must give, aspart of their job function, presentations, speeches and seminars to an audience.  This results in a stress response that causes nerves in the body to signal the eccrine glands (sweat glands) to pump out sweat. Men and women differ significantly...

Enlargement of the nose in people is usually due to rosacea.  Specifically, a form of rosacea called rhinophyma (pronounced “rhi-no-fy-ma”).  This subtype of rosacea is usually seen in men.  In the typical scenario, men or women come in with red bumps and pus lesions on the nose that come and...

Pores are nothing more than the opening of the hair follicle on the skin, causing a slight depression at the point of entry. The reason that pores are noticeable is that they form depressions in the facial skin that would be smooth otherwise.  All of the hair follicles on a...

Acne vulgaris is an inflammatory disease of the skin that by hormones, inflammation and bacteria on the skin, which contribute to the red nodules and pus bumps that are seen.  One often hears about how the beach can improve acne, mainly because of the sun, salt water or some other...

Sunscreens are an important component of a person’s fight against skin aging and skin cancer.  There are plenty of misconceptions and misinformation about sunscreen that are passed along from one person to the next.  Considering that 90% of skin aging and cancer is due to cumulative sunlight exposure, protecting the...

Cold sores, also known as fever blisters and herpes simplex labialis, are common among patients.  In fact, one in 5 persons have frequent cold sores and up to 90% of the population in the US tests positive for the virus that causes them.  The virus itself, herpes simplex virus, is...

Multivitamins are taken by some people daily as part of a healthy, nutrient packed diet. Products like Centrum and One A Day contain a host of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, D, calcium.  Given that skin aging is in part due to toxic molecules called reactive oxygen species...

Clothing’s ability to block the sun’s age-inducing rays largely depends on how tight the weave is:  the tighter the weave, the better it blocks out the sun.  A simple way to test a piece of clothing is to hold it up to the sun and look to see how much...

Venture into a men’s or women’s skin care section of a department store or look at ads in magazines and you will undoubtedly see claims by skin care companies that state that their moisturizers “improve the appearance of wrinkles”.    Men’s skin is different than women’s skin.  For example, in...

Cosmeceuticals (a portmenteau for “cosmetic” and “pharmaceutical”) are over-the-counter skin care products that claim to contain biologically active ingredients with “drug like” properties. These ingredients, when added to moisturizers, serums and creams, claim to have pharmaceutical grade effects, such as preventing DNA damage, reversing skin aging, or increasing the amount...