Family Skin Care

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Great Skin for Every Age

Skin can be a mystery for most people. At different ages, our skin tends to act up and it can be hard to know when to seek medical advice. We want to help you with this decision. Below is a list of common conditions for every age. If you have a rash or irritation that simply will not go away or progressively gets worse, call us immediately or click on the “Appointments” link.

Infants

Our skin is the first line of defense against the world around us. Babies, as they are exposed to new things every day, are more likely to react to the environment. Most conditions babies get are easily treatable, but when conditions persist causing Baby (and parents) added distress you should come in to our office. Below are some common baby skin conditions.

Diaper Rash

Diapers provide a warm, moist area with lots of friction making diaper rash an inevitable part of every baby’s life.

Here’s what to do:

  •  Use diaper rash creams. Creams with a higher amount of zinc are best. Thicker creams are better. Creams that are too watery or runny can actually make diaper rash worse. We recommend Buodreaux’s Butt Paste ®.
  • Instead of using baby wipes, use warm wash cloths and pat Baby’s tender area clean. If you do use wipes, make sure they are hypoallergenic and unscented. After cleaning the entire area, go back and pat down with a clean, wet cloth.
  • Use unscented cornstarch baby powder on clean dry skin. This can help reduce friction on Baby’s bottom. Avoid anything with artificial scents in it. This tends to cause more harm than good.
  • Sometimes it is good to let baby air dry. Letting your baby have a few minutes without a diaper on after every change will help keep his or her little bottom.

When is it time to call the doctor?

When a diaper rash persists or gets worse, you should call your doctor. Diaper rash should start looking better within a few hours and should go away within a few days. If you notice any bleeding or obvious chaffing, call to make an appointment with your healthcare provider.

Cradle Cap

Cradle cap is the common term for infantile seborrheic dermatitis. It may seem scary, but cradle cap isn’t serious; although it can cause thick crusting and white or yellow scales.

Here’s what to do:

  • Keep Baby’s head clean. Washing will help remove the excess dermatitis on his or her head. We recommend a gentle cleansing shampoo like Johnson & Johnson for babies.
  • Keep the area moisturized. Special, unscented baby lotions or baby oil are safe to use.
  • You can gently remove the scaling or flaking with a fingernail or a soft brush. If you find a scab, or something doesn’t easily come off, leave it to heal naturally. You don’t want to break Baby’s skin if you can help it.

When is it time to call the doctor?

If baby’s skin continues to flake or scale, becomes thicker, or begins bleeding you should see a specialist.

Infant Eczema & Baby Acne

Baby eczema can look a little scary—especially when red, crusty patches appear in Baby’s first few months—but it is a common treatable condition. Eczema presents in about 10%-15% of babies. It can often look like cradle cap, but it isn’t limited to Baby’s head. Most kids grow out of eczema before they are school age, but they may have dry skin. Triggers for baby eczema include dry skin, irritants (like perfumes in wipes, laundry, or soap), stress, heat or sweat, and allergens.

Here’s what to do:

  • Invest in a good moisturizer. Companies like Aveeno® make eczema specific lotions for babies. Use the lotion immediately after every bath.
  • Give baby a warm bath—not too hot and not too cold. Hot water can draw moisture out of the skin. Bath products like oatmeal baths have been shown to help in some cases, although they have never been clinically proven.
  • Keep baths under 10 minutes.
  • Pat your baby’s skin dry instead of rubbing
  • Use cotton clothing that breathes well and avoid too many blankets.
  • Keep fingernails trimmed often so Baby can’t injure the skin. You can also get scratch mittens.

When is it time to call the doctor?

When simple treatment doesn’t help, there are prescriptions medications that can. If Baby’s rash is not going away or continues to get worse, you should see the doctor. We see babies in both offices and are happy to help.

The Teen Years

Teenagers have notoriously bad skin. This is because hormone changes during puberty change skin. Acne is the most common condition associated with adolescents, but there are other conditions to keep an eye out for.

Rashes

It is not uncommon for teenagers to develop rashes. As the skin changes from child skin to adult skin, there is bound to be some stretching and rubbing.

Here’s what to do:

  • Keep it clean! Shower with a gentle soap and do not turn the shower too hot. Hot water strips the body of its natural oils that keep it moisturized. Pat down to dry with a clean towel every night. We recommend Dove for Sensitive Skin ®.
  • Let it breath. Rashes love hot, humid places so make a point to let the area breathe. The best time to do this is night time. Sleeping in minimal blankets and cotton clothing will help. Allowing yourself to get too hot and sweaty will make it worse.
  • Cortisone can help with the rash. There are a number of over-the-counter cortisone medications availble that can help. If regular cortisone doesn’t help, try one with anti-fungal like Lotramine ®.

When is it time to call the doctor?

When it doesn’t get better. Teens get rashes often and they typically clear up. When it begins spreading, gets worse, or doesn’t get better it is time to call us. There are many conditions that can cause rashes—most of them are easily treatable—but they need to be looked at by a specialist.

Body Odor

Body odor is not uncommon In teens, it is usally the result of changing hormones. In the teen years, the body produces a lot of sweat and if proper hygiene isn’t maintained, body odors can occur.

Here’s what to do:

  • Keeping the underarm and groin areas clean is essential.
  • There are prescription strength antiperspirants that can help if strong over-the-counter deodorants don’t do the trick.
  • Reapply deodorant throughout the day. Most wear off in a few hours.

When is it time to call the doctor?

Sweating is an embarrassing problem, but not a critical one. There are some medications that can help with hyperhidrosis—excessive sweating—and treatments like miraDry that can stop or reduce sweat, because this is considered a cosmetic problem, many are not covered by insurance. That is why we accept CareCredit®.

Mole Changes

Many teenagers like tanning and aren’t always aware of the future consequences. Tanning beds are dangerous and can cause mole changes.  Moles change with the body as we grow and hormones take their effect, but you should always have them checked. You can click here to learn what to look for.

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