This month’s Patient Buzz contains several articles that address basic skin and hair care questions. Time addressed whether people should use soap or cleanser when bathing. Dermatologists Drs. Erin Chen, Anthony Rossi, Rachel Nazarian, and Shilpi Khetarpal outlined the damage that soap can do to the skin, and the benefits of using cleansers in maintaining the skin barrier. The dermatologists also shared how soap is best when handwashing, and why water is good enough for cleansing the body most of the time.
The New York Times published an article on how to take better care of your skin, which outlined a four-step skin care routine consisting of cleansing, treating, moisturizing, and protecting the skin. “Simple is good,” Dr. Neelam Vashi, shared in the article. “You really just want to have products that moisturize, rejuvenate and feel comfortable on your skin. There is no magic cream. The magic is just finding the routine and sticking to it.” Other tips include using products with short ingredient lists, and not equating price (or fancy packaging) with effectiveness.
Two other article asked some unusual questions. USA Today asked if wearing a hat causes baldness. Dr. Mansha Thacker shared that, while wearing a hat doesn’t cause baldness in and of itself, a hat that is too tight or worn too often can irritate the scalp, which may weaken hair follicles.
Real Simple asked if it’s possible to wear too much deodorant. Dr. Raechele Cochran Gathers explained that deodorant doesn’t become more effective with each swipe, and that excessive application can lead to challenges in the skin and in fabrics near the arm pits. “The active ingredients must be spread evenly, not piled on top of each other,” she said in the article.
In this age of information, never underestimate the questions your patients may have about caring for their skin, hair, and nails. Read these articles from the consumer press. They may give you ideas of what topics to address with your patients.
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- CNET: Rosacea symptoms, causes, and treatment tips
- Condé Nast Traveler: Why you should wear sunscreen on a plane
- Cosmopolitan: Hormonal acne
- First for Women: Shower routines
- First for Women/Yahoo!: Peptides for lips
- Glamour: Do red light masks work?
- Glamour: Does laser hair removal hurt?
- GQ: Laser hair removal for men
- InStyle/AOL: Cryofacials
- NBC News: Beef tallow as moisturizer
- NBC News: What is scar tape?
- New Beauty: ‘Clean’ beauty labels
- New Beauty: Debunking filler myths
- New Beauty: Post-laser treatment tips
- Parade: Common skincare mistake
- Prevention: Spots on the skin
- Prevention/MSN: After-sun lotions
- Refinery29: Skincare tweaks for spring
- SELF: Kojic acid benefits
- SELF: Scalp detox
- TODAY: Should you avoid sulfates in hair care?
- USA Today: How to exfoliate the face
- USA Today/AOL: What is niacinamide?
- Verywell Health: Salmon sperm facials
- Vogue: How to build a nightly skincare routine
