Reducing Stress Can Help Keep Your Skin Healthy

By Kim Raynor, LPN, Phototherapist

Have you ever stopped to think about the effect that stress has on your skin? If you’re experiencing breakouts, dryness, or rashes, stress may very well be to blame.

As we go through life, dealing with stress is inevitable, but it’s how you manage this stress that can affect your skin overall. When our bodies become stressed, the level of stress hormones in the body, called cortisol, rises. This causes an increase in oil production, which can lead to acne breakouts, flare-ups of skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema and other related skin problems.

Below are some tips to curb the effects of stress and maintain healthy skin: 

• Get Ample Sleep: Getting enough sleep (7-8 hours is the recommended number of hours per night) is essential for your overall health. Sleep will help with your complexion, especially with dark circles, and leaves your body feeling refreshed.
• Eat Well Balanced Meals: Consuming well-balanced meals each day, especially foods high in antioxidants such as blueberries, beans and carrots, can help keep your skin healthy and refreshed. Foods higher in sugar may lead to breakouts and other skin related problems.
• Hydrate: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day will help keep your skin moisturized and looking its best. Staying hydrated also helps prevent the skin from becoming dry and scaly.
• Exercise: Regular exercise (3-4 times a week) will help keep your body relaxed while releasing harmful toxins via your sweat glands, helping you better fight stress and illnesses.
• Do Something You Enjoy: While this doesn’t directly affect your skin’s overall health, this does help you manage your stress, which in turn affects your skin. Finding time in your day to do at least one thing that you find enjoyable, can help relax your mind and body, but also will help relieve stress and restore your skins natural glow. 

Implementing some of these suggestions into your daily routine can help boost your overall wellbeing and decrease stress while working to keep your skin healthy and looking rejuvenated. 

It’s also important to schedule regular skin screenings with your dermatologist to maintain healthy skin all year long. To schedule an appointment, visit www.windsordermatology.com or call 609-443-4500.

Maintaining Healthy Skin – The Importance of Annual Check-ups

By Dr. Brian Keegan

Many patients schedule a visit with their dermatologist when they have a concern or issue with their skin, but at Windsor Dermatology, we believe it’s equally important to schedule an annual “skin check-up” with your dermatologist the same way you schedule an annual visit with your primary care physician. The skin is the most visible organ on the body and when there are sudden or unusual changes in its appearance, it can indicate an underlying medical issue that needs to be addressed. Here are some other reasons why annual check-ups are important:

1.     To quickly diagnose and treat other medical conditions.

For instance, stains on the legs can indicate poor circulation that could potentially lead to cardiac issues. Certain types of coloration on the neck could be indicative of hormonal abnormalities. Cholesterol deposits around the eyes could indicate high cholesterol within the blood.

2.     To screen for melanoma.  

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), skin cancer affects 1 in 5 Americans, and more than 3.5 million new skin cancer cases in 2 million people are diagnosed each year in the United States. Even with the progress that has been made over the years in prevention and treatment, the number of melanoma cases are still rising in the U.S., so it’s important to have a skin exam to help increase the chance of accurately diagnosing this skin condition.

3.     To proactively prevent flare-ups of acne, eczema or psoriasis.

Skin conditions such as acne, eczema or psoriasis can flare-up during certain times of the year and in response to changes to the weather. Regular check-ups are an important preventative treatment that can help avoid any discomfort. 

As you can see, scheduling regular check-ups with your dermatologist is a key way to maintain healthy skin and good health all year long. 

To schedule an appointment, visit www.windsordermatology.com or call 609-443-4500.

Tips to Avoid the Winter “Itch”

By Dr. Jerry Bagel
 

It’s certainly not new news that the winter leaves everyone with dry, chapped and cracked skin, but for those suffering from eczema, winter can unleash a whole other beast on your skin. Eczema is a common inflammation of the skin that is not contagious, but is extremely uncomfortable for those who suffer from it. 

Common exacerbations of eczema include an allergic reaction to something in contact with the skin such as detergents, soaps, fabrics or substances that dry out the skin. Some types of eczema are hereditary.

Here are some tips for eczema sufferers to get through the “itchy” season:

1. It’s better to take a bath rather than a shower as the skin hydrates better. When bathing, put Aveno powder into the bath to help soothe the skin and soak for 15-20 minutes.

2. If you do not have a tub or do not care for baths, take a lukewarm shower (it’s important to make sure the water is not too hot or too cold). Use moisturizing soaps like Dove or Cetaphil.

3. After your bath or shower, gently pat skin dry.      

4. Immediately after patting skin dry, apply a moisturizing cream—not lotion

5.  Moisturize using Eucerin a few times a day (typically in the morning and at night) to help keep your skin hydrated.

6. Avoid wool clothing, as it will trigger itching.

7. Wear layered clothing to keep your body temperature moderate. You never want to get overheated or be too cold, as this will cause eczema flare-ups.

8. Take a Benadryl at night if you can’t seem to stop itching, but beware, Benadryl will make you sleepy or groggy.

It’s important to note that the physicians at Windsor Dermatology can provide a proper diagnosis and treatment plan to manage or diagnose eczema. For more information, Windsor Dermatology can be reached at 609-443-4500 to schedule an appointment.