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How Winter Weather Affects Your Skin

The cold, dry winter months effect all skin types, but what if you are already suffering from a condition? It is important to be proactive to understand how the winter weather affects your skin condition. Here are some common skin conditions, how the weather affects it and how to better manage the symptoms.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic condition that causes the face to become inflamed and remain red for an extended period of time. This can be a frustrating condition; however, it causes no internal health issues. In the winter months, your skin can be especially delicate as it fights against the harsh temperatures and conditions. Try to keep your skin covered from the elements. Wearing a scarf is a great idea, as you can pull it up to cover your nose and cheeks as you trek to your destination. It’s important to stick to your treatment plan. However, if you are experiencing more intense flushing, start applying a heavy moisturizer and talk to your dermatologist about adding something seasonal to your treatment regimen.

Psoriasis

Phototherapy and spending time in the sunlight are common psoriasis treatments. The condition causes a buildup of skin cells that leave scaly, raised patches. In addition to the patches, psoriasis can also cause small, red bumps that cover different areas of the body. Decreased exposure to sunlight can play a huge role in the increased intensity of the condition during winter months. Try talking to your doctor about phototherapy, a new psoriasis treatment, to supplement for the time lost in the natural sunlight. Another reason for the condition worsening is the dry weather. A lack of humidity in the air can cause dry skin. A way to add moisture back into the air is to use a humidifier in your home, allowing your skin to drink in a bit more hydration.

Eczema

The skin condition, eczema is commonly seen as red, irritated and bumpy skin. It is often itchy and uncomfortable. Although it is not treatable, eczema is easily managed. However, in the winter, flare-ups occur more often causing heightened symptoms due to rapid temperature changes, especially when coming indoors from a cold day. To help avoid a reaction that may cause your skin to inflame, it is important to regulate your temperature as best possible. Try keeping your heater at a low setting. While it may seem nice to walk into an incredibly warm house after being in the cold, keeping your heater at a lower setting helps your skin acclimate to the temperature more easily.

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Similar to dandruff, but with more serious implications, seborrheic dermatitis causes a red, burning scalp with flakes. However, unlike dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis can appear on your body anywhere hair is present. The dryness of the winter can cause your condition to worsen, but be sure to still follow your treatment plan. Don’t use hot water when showering, but instead use lukewarm water so your scalp does not become inflamed. Try adding a humidifier in your home so your scalp stays moisturized without adding extra products to your hair or increasing oil production.

You can’t change the weather, but you can change up your daily routine by adding some simple items to your home treatment regimen. If your skin condition is beginning to worsen, it may be caused by the weather. Talk to your dermatologist about changes in your condition and ask about different treatment options. If you suffer from one of the conditions listed above, the dermatologists at Knoxville Dermatology Group are ready to help. Visit our website or give us a call to schedule an appointment at 865-690-9467.

Seasonal Allergies and Your Skin

As the weather begins to change, bringing lots of light and warmth, your skin will begin to change with it. You may start to notice small differences from the warmer temperatures or that your sweat glands working overtime. However, did you know that your seasonal allergies also have an effect on your skin?

What are Seasonal Allergies?

Allergies are chronic and occur when the immune system sees a substance as harmful and overreacts to it. This causes individuals to experience a number of reactions, ranging from mild to fatal. Allergies are unique to individuals, meaning different people suffer from a different mix of allergies. It’s also possible to not suffer from allergies at all if you happen to be one of the lucky ones.

Commonly known as hay fever, seasonal allergies occur during different times of the year, like spring, summer, and fall. This is generally when plants pollinate, causing higher pollen counts in the air. They are different from normal allergies in the way that they only affect an individual at certain times of the year. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, it is important to be aware of the ways they can cause new issues for your skin as well as irritating existing conditions.

Skin Conditions and Seasonal Allergies

Eczema

Research shows a link between eczema and allergies. While eczema resembles an allergic reaction, it is not directly caused by allergies. However, allergies can cause flare-ups in those who suffer from the condition. Once you’ve come into contact with the allergen, your immune system starts to overreact which causes your skin to exhibit a reaction similar to that of eczema. Seasonal allergens include dust mites and pollen. A dermatologist can diagnose and treat symptoms associated with eczema.

Hives

Also known as urticaria, hives are caused by a number of different triggers and are symptomatic of red, raised and itchy patches of skin. Hives can last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of weeks. One common trigger is an allergen coming into contact with the skin. Seasonal changes bring about higher counts of pollen, which means you are at a greater risk of coming in contact with a potential irritant.

Dryness

Skin dryness is not directly caused by seasonal allergies but often occurs as one suffers from the adverse effects of allergies. Allergies can cause the nose to run and the eyes to water. This means that you may use tissues to wipe your nose more often than your sensitive facial skin can handle. Chapping and dryness around the nostrils can be uncomfortable and often painful. Some ways to avoid drying out the skin when your allergies are causing your nose to run is to use tissues with lotion, apply a salve regularly or even apply a layer of petroleum jelly to the area to keep the skin protected. Your dermatologist can recommend products specific to your skin type and needs.

Seasonal allergies can cause an array of new issues for skin and cause existing conditions to worsen. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, suffer from seasonal allergies or are seeing flairs ups of existing conditions, it is time to call your dermatologist.

Cooking this holiday season? Be sure you know how to treat minor cooking accidents.

Cooking this holiday season? Of course you are! The holidays are about two things, food and family. However, some of the most common kitchen injuries can leave you spending more time in the emergency room than around the table. Here is a list of the most common minor cooking accidents, how to treat them and when you should see a doctor or a dermatologist.

Burns

The holiday seasons are ripe with major and minor burns. The danger zones? Frying the turkey, boiling the macaroni and pulling the sweet potato casserole out of the oven, among many others. Whether the burn came from bumping over or touching a burning pan, it is important to treat the burn promptly and correctly. First, you need to determine the degree of the burn. Depending on how bad the burn is, you may have to seek medical treatment immediately:

  • First Degree Burn: Mild burn; results in pain and redness.
  • Second Degree Burn: More severe burn; damages the lower layer of the skin. A second degree burn may result in redness, swelling, blistering and pain.
  • Third Degree Burn: Most serious burn, affects all layers of skin and possibly deeper. May result in serious pain, blackened or charred skin.

The most common cooking accidents are mostly contained to first degree burns. First degree burns are also the only burn you should treat without the help of a medical professional. Although your initial instinct may be to run the burn under cold water, this traps the heat in your skin and makes the burn heal much slower. What you should do is apply a burn cream or anti-inflammatory, like aloe vera or antibiotic ointment. You can take any acetaminophen such as Tylenol to help with pain management. Be sure to regularly change out bandages and reapply creams to keep the burn sanitized.

For second and third degree burns, be sure to visit your doctor or dermatologist to receive correct burn treatment.

Cuts

As careful as you are during cooking, it’s easy to get a cut or accidentally slice your finger. Accidents happen, but it’s best to be prepared for when they do. Remember, only treat cuts yourself if they are minor flesh wounds. If you are unable to control the bleeding, visit the emergency room immediately.

If, however, you have a minor flesh wound there are three simple steps to keep in mind as you treat the cut.

  1. Clean the cut. You can clean out your cut by flushing it with a bit of rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, followed by antibacterial soap and water.
  2. Apply an antibacterial ointment like Neosporin. This will help the cut heal more quickly.
  3. Bandage cut tightly. This will allow you to keep cooking and to protect the wound from infection.

If you cut yourself too deeply and needed to take a trip to the emergency room for stitches or other wound treatment, you may develop a scar. Scar treatment looks different for everybody and is dependent on the severity of the wound. If you have scarring from a cut, a dermatologist can help you develop a treatment plan to lessen its appearance.

Eye Irritation

Eye irritation can occur during cooking, especially while preparing spicy foods or handling peppers. It is best to keep your hands away from the face during cooking and keeping them clean to avoid mishaps like eye irritation. If a bit of spice or pepper does reach your eye, causing a burning sensation, don’t panic. Most importantly, do not rub your eye. This will most likely cause more of the irritant to reach your eye, which will cause more pain. Secondly, go directly to the sink. Open your eye and begin to flush water into it. Do this until the irritant has been washed from your eye. You may experience redness after an episode like this. Using eye drops for eye irritation is okay, but the redness will recede naturally as well.

Accidents happen, so be prepared! If a more serious accident occurs, always seek medical help for correct treatment. If you have a cut or burn that leaves scarring, there are many ways to treat this. The experienced dermatologists at Knoxville Dermatology Group are ready to help you develop a treatment plan to reduce the appearance of scars and pigment irregularities. If you have a scar from a burn or cut and need help leaving it in the past, make an appointment, visit our website or call us at (865) 690-9467.

These holiday habits are hurting your skin

The holiday season is in full swing. Christmas parties, office gifts and holiday dinners usually involve one thing – food. Eating more than usual during the holiday season is a commonly accepted principle. However, taking advantage of the phrase “eat, drink and be merry” can be harmful for your skin.

Eat – Carbs and candy are holiday favorites, but they cause a spike in blood sugar. This spike can unleash hormones, which stimulate oil production. High-sugar diets can cause collagen and elastin to break down, which loosens your skin.

Drink-  Heavy drinking can cause dehydration, which dulls and dries your skin. Some skin conditions can also be inflamed by alcohol consumption. Alcohol also dissolves vitamin A, which repairs your skin through collagen.

Be merry- Don’t stay at your holiday party too late. Sleeping seven to nine hours a night is essential to keeping your skin youthful and healthy.

You don’t have to sacrifice your skin during the holiday season. Enjoy everything in moderation and keep up with your daily skin routine. To schedule an appointment with Knoxville Dermatology Group, call (865)690-9467

Annual Skin Check: Your Skin Loves Getting Attention

eczema

Health-related goals always top resolution lists because everyone wants to live a happier, healthier lifestyle. Normal healthy habit resolutions include exercising more and eating right, but a very important task on your to-do list should be scheduling an annual skin check.

Yes, a doctor’s visit may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! To make sure you get the most out of your visit, here are some tips you can do to make sure nothing gets overlooked:

–       Remove nail polish on fingers and toes. Skin cancer can also develop in your nailbeds, so it’s important to expose them for your dermatologist to check.

–       Perform your own skin check and make a list of any changes in your skin.

–       Double-check your moles and freckles. Make note of changes in size, shape or color.

Skin cancer is the most preventable type of cancer. While you’re taking preventative steps to avoid heart disease, diabetes and other health-related diseases, adding steps to prevent skin cancer is crucial for an overall healthy lifestyle. Some proactive and easy ways to achieve skin health are to monitor your sun exposure, wear sunscreen every day and drink lots of water. If you are more susceptible to skin cancer, it’s important to perform a self-scan of your skin at least once a month. Healthy skin is a lifelong goal and requires regular attention. Make this a year of great strides in continuing to pamper and care for one of the most important parts of your body!