Thursday, November 28, 2013

Windsor Dermatology is Thankful for Our Patients!




With today marking Thanksgiving, we would like to take the time to say how thankful we are for all of our wonderful patients and the caring members of our community. We're honored to serve each and every one of you and look forward to continuing to provide you with the utmost in care and service.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Windsor Dermatology Wishes Our Patients a Happy Hanukkah!




Tonight marks the beginning of Hanukkah and we'd like to take the time to wish all of our patients a Happy Hanukkah.


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Exploring Adult Acne - Causes and Treatments



An Interview with Brian Keegan, M.D., Ph.D.

Adult acne is a topic rarely covered in traditional or social media. However, that’s about to change. In the article below, Brian Keegan, M.D., Ph.D., a board certified dermatologist at Windsor Dermatology, provides insight to managing adult acne, as well as debunks some myths associated with the condition.

Q: What causes acne?
A: Acne is caused when pores become clogged with dead skin cells and oils. The causes that contribute to breakouts can range from normal physiology to hormones or medications such as steroids, lithium and chemotherapy drugs.

Q: What causes acne breakouts in adults?
A: We’re coming to a better understanding of acne, but we’re still not sure if acne is the same in adolescence as it is in adults. For example, the medication Aczone appears to be more effective when treating adults for acne, as opposed to adolescents. This study and others like it suggest that all acne is not the same; we just have to identify these differences, which is only a matter of time.

Q: Can acne breakouts become serious?
A: Acne is serious on multiple levels. It’s not only a painful and uncomfortable condition that has the potential to leave marks and scars, but it also causes emotional and self-esteem issues. Often, people’s daily lives are affected. For instance, when clothing or makeup cannot cover their acne breakout, they may skip work or call out sick.

Q: Are there other issues associated with the emotional stress of acne?
A: Another serious factor contributing to the emotional stress of the condition is that acne is “less appreciated” by the media and insurance companies. Adult acne patients often feel alone or unique since there is very little media coverage about the condition. Also, medical insurance companies often cap the age at adolescence, or the early twenties, when a patient can seek treatment for acne, making treatment more difficult.

Q: Are there any myths about acne you’d like to debunk?
A: Many studies suggest that different foods like pizza and chocolate can cause acne, but there has never been any conclusive evidence to back up those claims. Another myth is that acne breakouts occur because you don’t wash your skin enough. That’s not exactly true; you can wash everyday, but still suffer from an outbreak. In fact, sometimes outbreaks can occur because people are too aggressive with their treatments.

Q: Would you recommend treating acne at home? If so, how?
A: There are many over-the-counter medications to help treat acne, however, they generally include one of two of the medications.  I recommend a wash with salicylic acid to help open pores and spot treatment including benzoyl peroxide to kill inflammatory bacteria.

Q: When should someone consult with a dermatologist about their acne?
A: If over-the-counter medications aren’t helping to control the outbreak, it’s a good idea to see a dermatologist since there could be contributing factors. Also, a dermatologist can prescribe oral and topical medications to help keep acne manageable or clear up the affected area completely.

For more information about adult acne, call Windsor Dermatology at 609-443-4500 or visit Windsor Dermatology to make an appointment.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Halloween Makeup Safety Tips



By Teresa Zawada, aesthetician at Windsor Dermatology 

It’s that time of year again...Halloween. For aestheticians such as myself, this day isn’t just about candy and trick-or-treating, it’s also about advising our patients how both they and their kids can safely use Halloween makeup. Parents often ask me about the “safety” of using Halloween paint or makeup, especially if they have young children who want to be painted green as goblins or yellow as Sponge Bob. So here are some quick tips to help:

Using makeup is one thing, but when paints are formulated to glow in the dark, congeal like blood, or shimmer and shine, chemistry is throwing its weight around in formulations. In recent years, many companies have come under scrutiny for including lead, nickel and chromium as ingredients, but not labeling them on the packaging. Keep in mind, “expensive does not equal quality,” however, there are exceptions when it comes to Halloween makeup.   

If you have the option of buying 10 colors for $3, or one color for $3, opt for the latter. Make your purchase, take it home and do a few tests for yourself. 

First, you want to check if the product or the company has had any recalls. Secondly, you may want to test a small inconspicuous area on your body with the paint a few days before you need to use it.
 
If you are prone to allergies or have had allergic reactions to cosmetics or costume jewelry in the past, you may want to have an anti-allergen like Benadryl on hand. If you’re using the product on small children, spot test them as well, but also look for wording on the package such as “FDA approved,” “non-toxic” and  “child toy safety” ratings. This will ensure the product went through rigorous tests and if the product should get into the nose, eyes or ingested, it is not toxic.

After all of that prep, you were thrilled with the outcome, you were the hit of the party, and now it’s time to take off all that gook. For adults, use a gentle cleanser, I do not recommend mixing cleansers with active ingredients, but rather, using a creamy gentle cleanser with a microfiber cloth. For children, nothing is gentler than the old fashioned baby wipe, and with less water run-off, it’s more easily controlled when wiping their delicate faces. Proper cleansing at the end of the night will ensure that your face makeup will not make a new home in your pores, and you will wake up looking like yourself again!  


Happy Halloween!