HealthCare

Is there any point in using sunscreen with spf greater than 50?

The Truth About Sunscreen: SPF 30 or Higher Recommended, Reapply Every 2 Hours

So the American Academy of Dermatology recommends sunscreens be broad-spectrum, UVA/UVB coverage, that is an SPF of 30 or higher. And what that means, SPF of 30, is that it blocks about 97% of the sun's UVB rays. And UVB is what's responsible for burns and skin cancer. When you get up to an SPF of 50, you're blocking about 98%. And when you're at an SPF of 100, you're blocking 99%. So certainly that higher SPF is going to give you a little better blockage. But what we found is that these higher SPFs of 100, give people a false sense of security. And then they end up in the sun longer, and then they do get more sunburns. So what's important to know, regardless of the SPF, you need to reapply every 2 hours. If you have an SPF of 100, that doesn't mean it will last longer. Every 2 hours, you need to reapply an SPF 30, an SPF 50, or an SPF 100. So you know, pick your whatever sunscreen you're actually going to use, whether it's a lower number or a higher number at least 30 or higher though, and just reapply every 2 hours.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. An SPF of 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays, and an SPF of 50 blocks about 98%. An SPF of 100 blocks 99%, but giving people a false sense of security as they may stay in the sun longer and get more sunburns. It is important to reapply every 2 hours regardless of SPF.

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The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using sunscreens with a broad-spectrum, UVA/UVB coverage and an SPF of 30 or higher. An SPF of 30 blocks about 97% of the sun's UVB rays, which are responsible for burns and skin cancer. As the SPF increases, the blockage also increases, with an SPF of 50 blocking about 98% and an SPF of 100 blocking 99%.

However, it's important to note that higher SPFs can give people a false sense of security, leading them to stay in the sun longer and potentially experience more sunburns. Regardless of the SPF, sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours for optimal protection. An SPF of 100 does not mean it will last longer than lower SPFs.

The key is to choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and reapply it every 2 hours, regardless of the specific SPF number.

How can you tell if you are fully hydrated?

Stay Hydrated: Signs of Dehydration Revealed

Hi there. Dr. Lara Butler, board-certified dermatologist here to answer the question, how can you tell if you are fully hydrated? Well, when your skin loses moisture and becomes dehydrated, you'll be able to see noticeable changes in the skin. Your skin tone will be a little dull. You'll notice more fine lines and wrinkles. Even the dark circles under the eyes will be more pronounced. So you can also experience things like headache, fatigue, decreased urination. But in terms of skin symptoms, that's what we're going to be talking about today. You can tell if your skin is dehydrated by trying to do a pinch test where you pinch the skin on the cheek or on the chest. And it should retract and not leave a wrinkle. If it does leave a wrinkle or take a while to retract, usually, that means that the skin is dehydrated, and you need to start rehydrating. So how can we do that? Well, we do it from the outside in and the inside out. From the outside, we can start hydrating by drinking a ton of water, 8 to 12 cups a day. And if you can super boost that by adding in a lemon wedge, that just adds some vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that's going to help with collagen synthesis. And that's just going to help to boost and plump the skin even more. In terms of sports drinks, we kind of recommend steering clear of those because they can have a high amount of sugar in them and that can counteract what you're trying to do with hydrating the skin since the sugar can then dehydrate the skin more. In terms of outside in, putting on a topical moisturizer or something with a ceramide, that's the key ingredient you want to look for. Ceramides are lipids, which are basically fat molecules that are going to help to lock in that moisturizer or that moisture. For extra hydration, you can add a serum like a hyaluronic acid. The serum should go in first and then the moisturizer on second. Hyaluronic acid serums are going to help the water bind collagen for that extra plumping. Otherwise, eating a ton of fruits and vegetables that can help to plump the skin with hydration are always a good option. So we get about 20% of our hydration from what we consume. So just be aware of what you're putting in your body, drink a ton of water, use some great moisturizers, and hopefully that will help plump the skin. Take care.

You can tell if your skin is dehydrated by doing a pinch test where you pinch the skin on the cheek or on the chest. To rehydrate, drink 8-12 cups of water per day and add in a lemon wedge for vitamin C. Use topical moisturizers with ceramides and hyaluronic acid serums to help lock in moisture. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables for added hydration.

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To determine if you are fully hydrated, pay attention to your skin. When your skin lacks moisture and becomes dehydrated, you may notice visible changes such as dull skin tone, increased fine lines and wrinkles, and more pronounced dark circles under the eyes. Other symptoms of dehydration can include headaches, fatigue, and decreased urination.

To assess skin hydration, you can perform a pinch test. Pinch the skin on your cheek or chest and observe how it retracts. If it quickly returns to its original state without leaving a wrinkle, your skin is likely well-hydrated. However, if it takes longer to retract or leaves a wrinkle, it indicates dehydration and the need to rehydrate.

Hydration can be achieved both from the outside and inside. Drinking an adequate amount of water, around 8 to 12 cups per day, is essential. Adding a lemon wedge to your water can provide a boost of vitamin C, an antioxidant that aids in collagen synthesis and promotes plump skin. It is advisable to avoid sports drinks due to their high sugar content, which can further dehydrate the skin.

From the outside, use a moisturizer containing ceramides, which are lipids that help lock in moisture. Additionally, consider incorporating a hyaluronic acid serum before applying moisturizer. Hyaluronic acid helps bind water to collagen, providing extra hydration and plumping effects.

Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can also contribute to skin hydration, as approximately 20% of our hydration comes from what we consume.

By staying mindful of your water intake, using effective moisturizers, and nourishing your body with hydrating foods, you can help maintain well-hydrated skin.

What are your opinions on the skin cycling trend that blew up on TikTok?

Streamline Your Skincare Routine: The Power of Skin Cycling

Hi there, Dr. Lara Butler here, talking about skin cycling, so the concept of skin cycling was introduced by dr. Whitney Bo who is a board certified. Dermatologist very well respected in the field and she introduced this as a way to streamline your skincare routine and make it more effective and I'm absolutely a fan of it. It's a great way to approach your skincare routine because the world of skincare has just become overly complicated with so many active ingredients and there's this obsession with more is better. And by putting on too many ingredients that don't play well with one another, you can lead to a lot of blotchiness in irritation, which isn't your skin purging It's actually an irritant dermatitis which is not beneficial for your skin care routine. So by looking at skin cycling you're just going to be able to optimize the outcome of the ingredients, you are putting on your skin and you're really going to make those products work better for you. So what it is is a four night routine. Your first night is going to be exfoliating With some sort of an alpha hydroxy acid. So, either a glycolic acid, a lactic acid, or a salicylic acid or the most common as tolerated and that's going to help to turn over the top layer of your skin. The second night is a retinoid night and that's going to penetrate a little bit deeper into the second layer of the skin called the dermis and that's where you have collagen and elastin being produced. So that's going to help more with Fine Lines, wrinkles the third, and fourth night are going to be recovering night. So they're basically intense moisturizing. Tonight's and those are the most important nights because they allow Your Skin Barrier to recover, they optimize the outcome of your first and your second nights of kind of the more active ingredients. So if you haven't started cycling, it's a great time to start. Make sure you focus on your face, your neck, and your chest, and make sure to wear sunscreen during the day, because all of these active ingredients are going to make your skin more sensitive to the Sun. So if you're listening, get started and I hope this helps

Skin cycling is a four night skincare routine introduced by dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bo, which involves exfoliating with an alpha hydroxy acid on the first night, using a retinoid on the second night, and focusing on recovering nights (intense moisturizing) on the third and fourth night. Wear sunscreen during the day to protect your skin from the active ingredients used in skin cycling.

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As a dermatologist, I have positive opinions on the skin cycling trend that gained popularity on TikTok. The concept of skin cycling was introduced by Dr. Whitney Bo, a respected board-certified dermatologist. It aims to simplify and optimize skincare routines, which I believe is a great approach.

The skincare industry has become overly complicated, with an obsession for using multiple active ingredients. However, applying too many ingredients that don't work well together can lead to blotchiness and irritation, which is not beneficial for your skin. Skin cycling allows you to optimize the effectiveness of the products you use.

The skin cycling routine consists of four nights. The first night involves exfoliation using an alpha hydroxy acid like glycolic acid, lactic acid, or salicylic acid. This helps to remove the top layer of the skin. The second night focuses on using a retinoid, which penetrates deeper into the dermis to address fine lines and wrinkles.

The third and fourth nights are dedicated to recovery and intense moisturization. These nights allow your skin barrier to recover and enhance the effects of the active ingredients used on the first and second nights.

If you haven't started skin cycling, now is a great time to begin. Remember to apply the routine to your face, neck, and chest, and always wear sunscreen during the day as these active ingredients can increase sun sensitivity.

I hope this information helps, and if you're interested, I encourage you to give skin cycling a try.

Skip the DIY: Seek Professional Help for Skin Tag Removal

So home removal of skin. Tags is not typically recommended by your dermatologist despite big Promises of the at home creams. They just don't really deliver actually removing skin tags in terms of at home removal, trying to cut them off yourself. That just has an increased risk of bleeding and scarring, these little skin tags. Do have a vascular Supply, so when you snip them at home, you're not going to be able to control that bleeding and then of course that can just lead to more. Ins. Also, if you cut it at home you're not usually using a sterile scissors. So the increased risk of infection is more common which again can lead to a worse car. So typically what you will do is see your primary care or your board certified dermatologist and they can help you out with them if you're cosmetically bothered by them. If the skin tag is a little bit wider, what we can do is locally anesthetize, the area with tiny little bit of Lidocaine and then we use a sterile scissors to just snip the base. And then we use a little aluminum chloride. Which just feels off the little vascular Supply at the bottom so that you don't get persistent bleeding. And that's going to give you a very minimal amount of scarring and removal of the skin tag the other option. Some people use liquid nitrogen, cryosurgery to just try to freeze off that little skin tag and that works as well too. And these procedures are not covered by Insurance unfortunately. So you're probably looking at an out-of-pocket cost around two hundred dollars or so for a handful of skin tags. So if you're bothered by them, Cosmetically or if they're kind of getting irritated and bleeding on their own, certainly see your primary care or your dermatologist to get some help.

At home removal of skin tags is not recommended due to risk of bleeding, scarring and infection. Visiting a board certified dermatologist is best for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. Treatments such as cutting the base off with sterile scissors or using cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen are available but may be costly.

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Home removal of skin tags is generally not recommended by dermatologists. Despite the promises of at-home creams, they often do not effectively remove skin tags. Attempting to cut off skin tags at home carries an increased risk of bleeding and scarring. Since skin tags have a vascular supply, controlling bleeding can be challenging without professional assistance. Additionally, using non-sterile scissors at home increases the risk of infection, leading to potential complications.

It is advisable to consult a primary care physician or a board-certified dermatologist for the removal of skin tags, especially if they are causing cosmetic concerns. In a medical setting, the area can be locally anesthetized, and a sterile scissors can be used to snip the base of the skin tag. Aluminum chloride may be applied to stop bleeding. Another option is cryosurgery, where liquid nitrogen is used to freeze off the skin tag. It's important to note that these procedures are typically not covered by insurance and may cost around $200 for a few skin tags.

If you are bothered by skin tags cosmetically or if they are causing irritation and bleeding, it is recommended to seek professional help from a primary care physician or dermatologist.

What does a solid skincare routine look like, and how can someone develop one of their own?

Build Your Best Skincare Routine: Expert Tips for Glowing Skin

Okay, so what does a skincare routine look like? And how do you start one on your own? Well, it really depends what your ultimate goal is, you know, are you trying to just get a better glow or you trying to prevent fine lines and wrinkles? Are you trying to help your acne breakouts or any hyperpigmentation or discoloration? You know, each of those goals is going to dictate what type of products you're using. So for your best outcome, of course, I think you should see a board-certified dermatologist to assess your skin and give you the right direction on what type of chemical ingredients to use. To improve your concerns. But if you're going to be starting at home, the best way to start, is to consider a skin cycling routine. So something where you're going to be, helping that Skin Barrier recover when you are applying the different chemical ingredients onto the skin, usually skin cycling involves the first night of a chemical exfoliation, a second night of a retinoid, and a third and fourth night of just recovery with just intense hydration. Moisturizing, everybody's skin care routine and Maya. Opinion, should involve a vitamin C in the morning and an SPF, of course, and a hyaluronic acid serum and then in the evening, you know, the different chemicals and retinoids that you're using or all going to depend on what your goals are. So ultimately, I think you should come in and see one of us for your best results but if you're going to start at home just start gentle listen to your skin if you're getting irritated back off.

Skincare routines depend on your individual goals, but typically involve chemical exfoliation, retinoids, vitamin C and SPF in the morning, and hyaluronic acid serum in the evening. It's best to get a dermatologist's opinion before starting a routine. However, if you're beginning at home, start gentle and listen to your skin.

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A solid skincare routine can vary depending on your specific goals. Whether you want to achieve a better glow, prevent fine lines and wrinkles, address acne breakouts, or target hyperpigmentation, each goal will require different products. It's advisable to consult a board-certified dermatologist to assess your skin and receive personalized guidance on the appropriate chemical ingredients to address your concerns.

If you're starting a skincare routine at home, consider implementing a skin cycling routine. This involves alternating between different treatments to help the skin barrier recover. For example, one night could involve a chemical exfoliation, the next night a retinoid, and the following nights focused on intense hydration and moisturizing.

In my opinion, a basic skincare routine should include a vitamin C serum and SPF in the morning, along with a hyaluronic acid serum. In the evening, the specific chemical ingredients and retinoids used will depend on your goals.

While it's best to seek professional advice for optimal results, if you're starting at home, begin with gentle products and pay attention to how your skin reacts. If you experience irritation, it's important to back off and adjust your routine accordingly.

What is the best way to remove blackheads?

Dr. Lara Butler's Expert Tips: How to Remove Blackheads at Home

Hey Dr. Lara Butler answering the question about how to best remove blackheads at home. Well, blackheads are stubborn, they're basically an oxidized version of oil and dead skin cells that clog up the pores and they can be removed by physical extraction or chemical degradation. So what you should focus on in your skin care, routine is adding a salicylic acid and a retinoid salicylic acid is going to just dry up the oil gland and the retinoids going to help turn over the top layer of those sticky cells. So the Sal acid face wash, you can start using morning and night. And a retinoid, I would introduce every third night, just a tiny little bit in the areas, you're getting the blackheads and hopefully over the next few weeks that would help to extract some of those blackheads on their own. While you're using these acids and retinoids you do want to have a strong focus on, moisturizing the skin. Because if you're stripping the skin too much of its oil you could then actually cause your skin to make more oil which will then make more blackheads. So moisturizing is key. Every day despite thinking your acne prone, if you want to use a scrub is Al acid-based. Scrub can be helpful but you need to limit it to once a week. If you're overly scrubbing and exfoliating you're just going to make more oil in your skin. In terms of extractions, you could certainly consider seeing a licensed esthetician to do some of the steams and extractions. If you're going to do it at home, make sure you have clean hands and just perform the procedure very Only if they're not coming out on their own then leave them alone if you have access to it comedone extractor. That's actually going to be most sterile way to remove those blackheads. You could also consider doing some clay masks at home that are going to dry up the oil. You could use the little strips that help to unplug those pores. That's only removing the dead skin cells. It's not actually affecting the oil production so you can do these diy things at home but make sure that you're also doing the Kind of chemical ingredients that I just talked about and then if none of these things are working, you need to see a board-certified dermatologist for some more prescription-strength options to try to improve the results. Good luck.

Treating blackheads at home can be done with salicylic acid and retinoid face wash, moisturizer, clay masks, strips, and an optional comedone extractor. If none of these work, see a board-certified dermatologist for prescribed treatments.

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To effectively remove blackheads at home, there are a few approaches you can take. Blackheads are caused by clogged pores consisting of oxidized oil and dead skin cells. You can address them through physical extraction or chemical degradation.

In your skincare routine, focus on incorporating salicylic acid and retinoids. Salicylic acid helps dry up the oil glands, while retinoids promote the turnover of the top layer of sticky cells. Start by using a salicylic acid face wash morning and night. Introduce a retinoid every third night, applying a small amount to the areas with blackheads. Over a few weeks, this may help extract the blackheads naturally.

While using these acids and retinoids, it's important to moisturize your skin well. Stripping the skin of too much oil can lead to increased oil production and more blackheads. Moisturizing is key, even if you have acne-prone skin.

You can also consider using an alpha-hydroxy acid-based scrub once a week to help exfoliate the skin. However, excessive scrubbing can stimulate more oil production, so moderation is important.

For extractions, it's advisable to consult a licensed esthetician who can perform steams and extractions in a sterile manner. If you choose to do it at home, ensure your hands are clean and proceed with caution. If the blackheads are not easily coming out, it's best to leave them alone. If you have access to a comedone extractor, it can be a sterile tool for removing blackheads.

Additionally, clay masks can help dry up excess oil, and pore strips can assist in removing dead skin cells. However, these methods do not directly affect oil production, so it's essential to incorporate the chemical ingredients mentioned earlier.

If none of these approaches yield satisfactory results, it may be necessary to consult a board-certified dermatologist for prescription-strength options.

Good luck in your efforts to remove blackheads!

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Lara K. Butler, M.D. is a Harvard trained, board-certified Dermatologist and Mohs Micrographic Surgeon. She also specializes in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. She is a diplomate of the American Academy of Dermatology, and a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery and American Society of Dermatological Surgery. Following her Dermatology residency, she completed a fellowship in cutaneous oncology, Mohs micrographic, and reconstructive surgery with the Harvard Medical School Department of Dermatology at the Lahey Medical Center. She has been a researcher at the Johns Hopkins and Mount Sinai Hospitals and has published numerous articles and chapters on skin cancer, scar revision and cosmetic surgery in leading medical journals. She has taught at the Harvard Medical School Department of Dermatology, and is a lecturer on complex reconstruction techniques after Mohs surgery.

Neither AnyQuestion nor its Experts provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment or otherwise provide professional healthcare services.

Dr. Lara Butler, MD