Find out why cracked, dry skin happens and what you can do about it.

Dry or cracked skin can be a real nuisance, and you must be giving your skin the care it needs to keep it hydrated. You may find that your feet or hands are particularly susceptible to cracking and dryness, especially during the cold winter months.

What Is Causing My Dry, Cracked Skin?

Pay attention to your symptoms so you can pinpoint what might be causing your dry or cracked skin. Dry skin may be the result of,

• Exposure to hot water (e.g., washing dishes; taking a hot shower)
• Cold weather
• Chemicals (e.g., laundry detergent; dish soap)
• Medications
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Athlete’s foot

How Is Dry Skin Treated?

There are many ways to tackle dry skin depending on what’s causing it and where the dry skin is located. Luckily, dry skin can easily be treated with certain home care, including,

Using a daily moisturizer

A moisturizer will become your new best friend if you are prone to dry skin. Moisturizers lock in moisture in the skin and can be particularly helpful when applied after showering. A thick emollient moisturizer will be best for dealing with severely dry or cracked skin.

Applying petroleum jelly

Petroleum jelly is a simple topical remedy that can help protect the skin while healing cracks. Petroleum jelly can be beneficial when dealing with cracking skin or dry lips.

Gentle Exfoliation

Sometimes, exfoliation can be a great way to remove dead cells from the skin’s surface and reduce dryness and cracking, particularly on the hands and feet. After soaking feet in water for about 20 minutes, exfoliation can be done with a pumice stone. Apply a moisturizer after using the pumice stone.

When Should I See a Dermatologist?

If you’ve tried just about everything to get your dry skin under control on your own and you still aren’t seeing results after two weeks, it’s time to turn to your dermatologist. You should also call your dermatologist if your symptoms get worse or if your skin shows signs of infection, such as,

• Bleeding
• Pus
• Severe or increased redness
• Fever

If dry, cracked skin has become the norm, and no moisturizer seems to be helping, it’s probably a good idea to turn to your dermatologist for answers.

Noticing a suspicious mole?

When was the last time you put on sunscreen? If you didn’t say this morning or yesterday then we might have a problem. Apart from turning to your dermatologist once a year for skin cancer screenings, there are definitely things you can be doing every day to reduce your risk for skin cancer during your lifetime. One of them is to check your own skin regularly to look for new or changing moles that could be signs of melanoma.

“See Something, Say Something”

Here’s what to look for when performing your own skin check,

New moles: By the age of 30, you should already have all the moles that you’re going to have. So, if you notice any new moles or growths cropping up where there was nothing before, it might be time to have a dermatologist check it out.

Oddly shaped moles: Healthy moles are asymmetrical, which means that you could draw an imaginary line down the mole and both halves would look identical. Asymmetrical moles are more likely to be precancerous or cancerous, so it’s a good idea to have them checked out by a skin care professional.

Moles without borders: Healthy moles have a clearly defined border or outline while moles that are cancerous are more likely to have an irregular or poorly defined border. If your mole doesn’t have a clearly defined shape, it’s time to see your dermatologist.

Moles with multiple colors: While healthy moles will range in color from skin-colored to nearly black, it’s important that your moles are one color. If you notice a mole that contains multiple colors, particularly one, pink or blue, schedule an immediate evaluation with your skin doctor.

Moles that change: Moles should stay relatively the same over time, which also means that you probably shouldn’t notice them much; however, if a mole hurts, is red or swollen, crusts over, bleeds or oozes, these are also signs of a problem.

Even if everything looks great, you should still schedule an annual skin cancer screening with your dermatologist just to play it safe. After all, skin cancer is one of the leading cancers in the US. These annual screenings offer early detection of skin cancer, which also means a swifter treatment and a higher cure rate. Call your dermatologist today to make sure you don’t miss out on your annual skin cancer screening.

Is it time to see a skincare specialist?

Your skin is your largest organ, so it’s important that you take care of it. That sometimes means turning to a dermatologist for specialized care. Whether you are dealing with skin problems or want to improve your skin’s appearance, a dermatologist can provide you with the cosmetic and medical treatments you’re looking for. Here are some reasons to turn to a dermatologist,

Your Acne Doesn’t Respond to Home Care

Yes, it will take time for acne to respond to treatment. There is no overnight fix; however, if you’ve been using the same over-the-counter acne treatments for twelve weeks or more and aren’t seeing results, it might be time to turn to a dermatologist. Over-the-counter options are only good for milder acne cases. A dermatologist can provide customized treatment options if acne is more severe or treatment-resistant.

You Want a Skin Cancer Evaluation

You don’t have to be fair-skinned or have a family history of skin cancer or tanning beds to benefit from turning to your dermatologist once a year for a skin cancer screening. Everyone can benefit. An annual screening with a dermatologist can catch melanoma and non-melanoma cancers early.

You Have a Chronic Skin Condition

When dealing with eczema, psoriasis or chronic dry skin, these problems require personalized care only a dermatologist can offer. If you are dealing with red, itchy, scaling or burning patches of skin and you’re not sure what’s going on, a dermatologist can provide you with a swift diagnosis and a customized treatment plan to help you get your flare-ups under control.

You Want to Look Younger

Apart from all the medical benefits of turning to a dermatologist, another reason to seek care from a skin care professional is that you’re looking to enhance your skin’s appearance. Whether you want to smooth away lines and wrinkles with Botox or improve skin tone and texture with microneedling or laser resurfacing, a dermatologist is an ideal doctor to turn to for safe, effective cosmetic treatments.

Are you dealing with skin problems that impact your everyday routine or self-esteem? Do you want to treat imperfections to get skin you feel more confident in? If so, call your dermatologist today to schedule a consultation and find out how this specialist can help you get healthy, radiant skin.

Find out how this simple injectable can take years off of your face.

So you want to get Botox but wish to learn more about this cosmetic treatment before turning to your dermatologist and taking the plunge. Botox can be a great option, particularly if you’re new to the cosmetic world, because it’s minimally invasive and temporary. Here's what you should know before you say “yes” to Botox,

Botox Smooths Dynamic Lines and Wrinkles

Not sure what dynamic wrinkles are? These wrinkles are the ones that are accentuated or pop when you make facial expressions. Smile in the mirror, and if the lines and wrinkles that drive you crazy are even more prominent, these can be treated with Botox. This means that Botox can typically smooth away,

• Crow’s feet
• Forehead wrinkles
• “11s” (lines between the eyebrows)
• Nasolabial lines (lines around the nose and mouth)

Botox cannot treat lines and wrinkles caused by sun damage or gravity.

Botox Only Takes a Couple of Minutes To Administer

Another bonus of getting Botox is that a qualified dermatologist can easily administer this in a matter of minutes. Even those with busy schedules can find time to schedule Botox. Some patients even choose to use their lunch breaks. Yes, it’s that fast, and discomfort is minimal. Worried about discomfort? Talk with your dermatologist about icing or numbing ointments before getting Botox.

Aftercare is Important After Getting Botox

Yes, getting Botox is minimally invasive. You can return to your regularly scheduled program fairly quickly; however, it’s important not to put on makeup, massage or touch the area for at least four hours. You should also avoid exercise or workouts for 24 hours after getting Botox. You also will not want to lie down for four hours after getting injections.

Results Last About 3-4 Months, on Average

Botox provides temporary results, lasting anywhere from 3-6 months. Age, the severity of your lines and other factors will impact how long Botox lasts for you; however, the good news is that if you love the results you get with Botox, a dermatologist can provide you with subsequent treatments to refresh your look once or twice a year.

Want to refresh your appearance with Botox? If so, talk with your dermatologist to discuss your cosmetic goals to see if Botox is the right option for you.

Learn more about your treatment options for getting acne under control

Dealing with acne? Want to know the different treatment options available so you can make a better and more informed decision regarding your skin health? A dermatologist can be the ideal medical specialist to turn to address questions or concerns about your acne. Here are some of the ways you can treat your breakouts,

Lifestyle Changes

If your acne is mild, you may wish to try your luck at changing your current lifestyle, habits and diet to see if that offers an improvement. Most individuals who may these changes do see an improvement in the number of breakouts,

• Quit smoking
• Stay hydrated
• Get an adequate 7-9 hours of sleep
• Avoid the sun
• Eat a healthy, clean diet
• Exfoliate two times a week
• Wash your face twice a day
• Schedule makeup-free days
• Get regular exercise (don’t forget to wash your face after sweating)
• Reduce stress
• Limit alcohol

Home Treatment Options

While a dermatologist should treat more severe or painful acne, if your acne is mild or moderate and you want to see if over-the-counter options work for you, it certainly won’t hurt to try. Look for cleansers and ointments that contain active acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Products containing tea tree oil, aloe vera or witch hazel may also improve acne-prone skin. Just know that no treatment will work overnight. It takes several weeks to see results, so be patient.

Treatments that Require a Dermatologist

Of course, if you’ve been trying to treat your acne for months on your own without success or your acne is deep, nodule or cystic, a dermatologist is the right specialist to turn to for care. Home remedies and lifestyle changes often aren’t effective for more severe cases. The treatment plan your dermatologist creates will be tailored to your needs. Acne treatments may include,

• Prescription ointments or creams with a higher concentration of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide
• Laser or light therapy
• Chemical peels
• Regular facials
• Steroid injections
• Antibiotics
• Hormonal bill control
• Retinoid
• Tretinoin

If acne impacts your appearance and self-esteem, you owe it to yourself to speak with a dermatologist who can provide you with more effective treatment options so you can feel confident in your skin again.