Laura Skin Care

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Category Archives: Skin Care

What is Sallow Skin and What Can You Do About It?

   Skin Care  Aug 02, 2018  Comments Off on What is Sallow Skin and What Can You Do About It?
What is Sallow Skin and What Can You Do About It?

The term sallow skin refers to a dull, tired appearance of the skin that can look slightly yellow depending on your natural skin tone. It can make people look tired and age them beyond their years. Sallow skin often occurs as part of the natural aging process, as cell turnover slows down, other minor or serious conditions can cause it as well.

Why People Have Sallow Skin

Sallow skin has many causes, therefore, it’s important to check with your doctor to ensure that there isn’t an underlying deficiency or anemia contributing to the condition. If these concerns exist, your doctor will be able to provide advice on specific nutrients that can aid in the restoration of a more youthful complexion. Nutritional remedies take some time to work, however, and it’s possible that your sallow skin is caused by lifestyle factors such as lack of sleep, smoking, stress and natural aging.

What You Can Do About Sallow Skin

If the above factors are contributing to the appearance of sallow skin, or if you want to manage your complexion during nutritional therapy, there are some things you can do that may help improve the appearance of your skin. These treatments include:

  • Vitamin C serums. Topical vitamin C is one of the best remedies for brightening a complexion according to an article published by Allure magazine in 2017. Be sure to speak to your dermatologist before using a vitamin C serum, as they may interact with other topical treatments or increase sensitivity of the skin.
  • Ensure that you take proper care of your face through frequent cleaning and use of moisturizer.
  • Wear sunscreen. The UV rays emitted by the sun can damage skin, and wearing a sunscreen or a sunscreen based foundation may help protect your face from these rays.
  • Moderate, gentle once a week exfoliation can help to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, enabling visibility of newer, younger skin underneath.
  • Stop smoking. Smoking, with its multitude of pollutants, contributes greatly to the aging of the face. It also dehydrates the body, further contributing to a sallow complexion.
  • Stay hydrated. Skin loves water, so be sure to drink plenty of it through the day. It will help keep your skin cells well hydrated and plump.
  • Get your beauty rest. Lack of sleep is a common factor among those who suffer from sallow complexion. Be sure to get enough rest in order to help your body and skin function at optimal levels.

Feel free to discuss any skin concerns with your licensed esthetician for personal recommendations.

What to Do If You’re Suffering From Pityrosporum Folliculitis

   Skin Care  Jul 19, 2018  Comments Off on What to Do If You’re Suffering From Pityrosporum Folliculitis
What to Do If You’re Suffering From Pityrosporum Folliculitis

A common condition that causes breakouts on your skin which you might not be aware of, is pityrosporum folliculitis. It manifests under your skin and in the follicles of your hair due to a buildup of yeast bacteria. While it is often mistaken for acne, it is more likely to occur with people who are also susceptible to conditions including seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff.

What to Do If You’re Suffering From Pityrosporum Folliculitis

How Do I Know if I Have It?

Pityrosporum folliculitis typically shows up on the face, particularly along the hairline, and on upper arms, the back and the chest areas. All these areas of the skin have a reputation for being more oily than are others, and the resulting bumps (pustules) produced, can itch and be extremely uncomfortable. In some people, these bumps tend to congregate in one specific area of the body while, in others, there may be multiple outbreaks.

Though it is a definite annoyance, pityrosporum folliculitis is considered a benign condition and not indicative of a more serious medical condition. Because it so closely mimics acne, it can be hard to diagnose. For this reason, if you have been treating these pesky bumps as acne, and your medication or natural treatments are not responsive, contact your dermatologist to have yourself screened for pityrosporum folliculitis. Your dermatologist will need to extract a cell sample from the afflicted area by gently scratching your skin and examining the cell sample through a microscope.

It is also possible to have pityrosporum folliculitis in conjunction with other skin conditions like acne and keratosis pilaris, so you might have symptoms of multiple conditions, different areas may react differently to different treatments, and bumps may occur in areas not consistent with pityrosporum folliculitis because they are in fact a different condition. That does not mean that pityrosporum folliculitis is not present.

What Is the Treatment for Pityrosporum Folliculitis?

There are a couple of options your dermatologist is likely to recommend:

  • Itraconazole, an antifungal drug taken orally which has been demonstrated to produce good clinical outcomes.
  • For those who suffer from both pityrosporum folliculitis and acne, a prescription cocktail is recommended. This cocktail contains topical anti-acne ointments that includes steroids. This cocktail drug may be prescribed in conjunction with Itraconazole.

For those more inclined to home treatments, whenever possible, a shampoo containing selenium sulfide, like Head & Shoulders, or Neutrogena can be applied on the head and in the hairline. For areas of the skin, pityrosporum folliculitis may be treated with topical creams that contain econazole, such as Spectazole.

Most anti-fungal and anti-yeast topical treatments are okay to use, like Selsun shampoos and Lamisil.

Are Natural Treatments Available?

A good natural home treatment involves applying tea tree oil that has been diluted with another carrier oil to the afflicted area several times a day. In addition, daily baths in sea salt have been known to help the infection through the drying out of the skin. Using anti-fungal soaps and shampoos may help keep pityrosporum folliculitis from recurring, and including a probiotic in your diet whenever you have to take antibiotics may also aid the body against the infection.

Feel free to discuss concerns about pityrosporum folliculitis with your esthetician. We can give helpful skin care advice and many of our treatments are safe for and beneficial for skin conditions such as pityrosporum folliculitis. If one is not suitable for the condition, we’ll let you know.

Can Deodorant Cause Skin Rash or a Lump?

   Skin Care  Jul 05, 2018  Comments Off on Can Deodorant Cause Skin Rash or a Lump?
Can Deodorant Cause Skin Rash or a Lump?

Deodorant is definitely one of those things most of us don’t leave home without. But what if your deodorant leaves your skin feeling itchy, bumpy or red? If it does, you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to your deodorant.

Can Deodorant Cause Skin Rash and Other Skin Issues?

Allergies to deodorants and antiperspirants are very common. There could be several different ingredients you may be allergic to, but the most common one is fragrance.  Fragrances and perfumes are ingredients in many cosmetic and skincare products that cause people to have allergic reactions.

You may notice that a lot of cosmetic and detergent products now come in a “fragrance-free” option. The increase in allergic reactions to fragrances has forced manufacturers to offer a less harsh option to those with sensitive skin.

Deodorants are a common culprit. The good news is that there are many deodorants made for sensitive skin that you can try.

Underarm Rash

If you find yourself dealing with an underarm rash, or a single large lump, here are some tips to help you find relief.

If you currently have a bumpy rash under your arms, then you’ll want to clear that up before exposing that sensitive skin to new products. An over-the-counter cortisone cream should clear up the rash. If it doesn’t, be sure and see a dermatologist for treatment.

Switch to A Fragrance-Free Deodorant

Try using a fragrance-free deodorant. Eliminating the fragrance ingredients may solve the issue. If not, then you know it’s not the fragrance, but rather a different ingredient that is causing your allergic reaction.

In that case, try a deodorant made for sensitive skin. There are many on the market to choose from, so experiment to see which one will work best for you.

If you are still having skin issues from your deodorant, try moving to a natural deodorant. There are more and more of these on the market to choose from. Natural deodorants remove harsh chemicals like aluminum, which is common in antiperspirants, but will keep sweat odor away.

See A Professional

If you have switched to a natural, or sensitive skin deodorant and you’re still experiencing bumps, itchiness or rash, you should see a dermatologist to get further evaluated. Not all rashes are contact dermatitis. See a doctor to find out what the root cause of the rash is and how you should treat it.