The Blog
What good is coconut oil for hair and skin?
Question: I've been reading more and more about using coconut oil for hair and skin. Do you think this is a good idea? Can you tell me how to buy coconut oil and how to use it properly? Answer: I love coconut oil as an added treat for hair and skin (as long as you are...
Should I be using a retinoid?
Question: As I've moved through my thirties and into my forties, I've noticed a marked change in my facial skin. I have some dark spots and discolorations and my face seems thinner overall and a little more sallow. I've heard about using a Retin-A cream but I thought...
UV rays and location, location, location…
Question: Is it true that the sun’s UV rays are stronger in the South? Answer: Yes, this is true. The closer your location is to the equator (the line that is equally distant from the South Pole and the North Pole which also separates the Northern Hemisphere from...
Want to be 25% less likely to get age spots?
Well, I've been saying this to my patients for years: Daily sunscreen use prevents the ugly results of photo-aging (spots, roughness and wrinkles caused by years of cumulative sun exposure which speeds up your skin's natural aging process) and finally a study...
Allergic to sunscreen? Read labels!
Question: My daughter is apparently allergic to many of the sunscreens I have tried on her and gets an itchy, burning rash. What is it in the sunscreens that is causing this reaction? Answer: There could be many different chemicals causing a skin reaction. Most...
Black Salve no skin cancer salvation!
Question: I've read many accounts online about an alternative therapy of using an herbal "Black Salve" to treat skin cancer, but then I also saw many scary photographs and read many scary stories of disfiguring skin damage from the treatment. What's your opinion?...
How to get rid of age spots, sun spots, liver spots
Question: I have a dark brown oval-shaped spot on my forehead and a cluster of them on my upper chest. I've heard them called age spots, sun spots and liver spots. What are they and how can I get rid of them? Answer: These spots are medically called solar lentigines...
Are you aware of this summer itch hazard?
Question: I was working outside doing pool and yard chores and all of a sudden I got this intense itching and burning on my upper, inner arms. What is it and how can I get rid of it? Answer: This is a true story and it can easily happen to you the more time you spend...
Little known topical ways to prevent and treat skin cancer
Question: My dermatologist gave me a topical cream with special ingredients to prevent skin cancer where he thought it might be forming. How is that even possible? Answer: It is now possible and FDA-approved. There are some new topical medications that target...
See how simple a Basal Cell Carcinoma removal can be
Question: My dermatologist said my scab was a Basal Cell Carcinoma...Now what? Do I have cancer? Answer: Relax. A Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is rarely the spreading cancer that requires the systemic chemotherapy you're thinking of. Cure rates for BCCs are close to...
Roaring mad about spotted skin!
Question: What are these brownish spotted areas on matching sides of my face and how can I get rid of them? Answer: Those brown spotted areas on your face are called melasma, and the discoloration is caused and worsened primarily by sun exposure. The result can be a...
What moms must know about teens and indoor tanning
Question: My teenage daughters love using tanning beds, especially now that its winter. Tell me once and for all, is this a dangerous practice leading to skin cancer or a safe way to get some color? I’ve read conflicting reports online... Answer: Did you know that...