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What’s in a good moisturizer?

Shopper deciding on lotion

There are a ton of skin products on the shelves. To ensure you’re using the safest and most effective products, you should follow two steps:

  1. Determine your skin type so you know the right kinds of products for your skin. Refer to this blog to determine your skin type.
  2. Check the ingredients to make sure the appropriate products are effective.

Here are the best ingredients to look for when determining which moisturizer to purchase at check-out.

Glycerin – As stated in our blog about winter skin, hot showers and heaters can sometimes suck the moisture out of your skin. Glycerin does the opposite – it sucks moisture in the air back into your skin. It also makes lotions silkier, allowing you to put makeup on almost immediately after application.

Lactic acid – Lactic acid should be applied just out of the shower and is another good moisturizer to treat chapped skin. It’s especially effective for healing dry legs.

Ceramides – Ceramides reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier. They seal water in so cells don’t dry out. It primarily helps to relieve dry, itchy skin and tends to leave an afterglow.

Key antioxidants – There are dozens of antioxidants that can help the skin in a variety of ways. Keep your eyes peeled for: grape extract, resveratrol, green tea extract, vitamin C, vitamin E, epigallocatechin-3 gallate, superoxide dismutase, ferulic acid, quercetin, willow herb extract, feverfew extract and licorice extract. Because they each have a different effective quality, the more antioxidants in your moisturizer, the better.

If you’re worried about an ingredient in your daily skin routine or need advice on how to treat a problem area, consult KDG. Schedule an appointment with Knoxville Dermatology Group by calling (865)690-9467.

Gameday Essentials

It’s football time in Tennessee! Many southerners’ favorite fall tradition is watching football and tailgating. However, this weekly tradition can take a toll on your skin. Here are your gameday essentials – stadium approved!

Sunscreen: Skin protection is important in every season. Apply SPF 15 or above to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Don’t forget commonly missed areas, like your face, back of the neck and ears.

Lip Balm: Lips need protection, too! Many tinted or colored lip balms come with SPF in them. SPF lip balms not only protect the lips from sun damage, they keep them from getting dry or cracked from the wind or cold.

Hand lotion: Whether waving pom-poms, holding drinks or high-fiving after a touchdown, your hands can easily dry out on gameday. Carry a small container of hand lotion to help trap the moisture, especially if you use hand sanitizer.

Sunglasses: Eyes are easily damaged by UV rays. Pack your favorite pair (with UV protection) for those times when it’s too bright to see the ball.

Water is also an essential gameday item. Stadiums can trap in heat, sometimes making it feel much hotter than it truly is. Staying hydrated is essential to both your safety and your skin’s health. Bottles are not allowed in stadiums, so make sure to drink a few before entering and pick one up at the concession stand for the game. Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group by calling (865)690-9467 for all of your dermatology needs.

How to Prevent Dry Hands

Dermatology

Dry, cracked hands are normally a symptom of cold weather, so it can be alarming when hands feel particularly rough in the warmer season. There are many other causes of dry hands that can be easily prevented.

Harsh soaps such as dish soap can cause roughness and cracking. Soaps with synthetic fragrances, preservatives and sulfates are red flags. Look for words such as “mild” or “moisturizing” ingredients to keep your hands soft. Another good practice is rinsing the soap from your hands for 20 seconds with warm water.

Cleaning products can also dry skin, whether it’s a dust wipe or window spray. It’s important to wear gloves while cleaning around the house to provide a protective layer from the chemical ingredients. Be sure to apply moisturizing lotion to your hands after wearing gloves, too, because some glove materials can also dry skin.

The key to keeping hands soft and silky is to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Applying lotion is a good nightly practice. Hand lotion helps to lock in moisture. A key ingredient to look for in lotions is petroleum jelly. If you have questions about dry or cracked skin, schedule an appointment with Knoxville Dermatology Group by calling (865)690-9467.

The Secret of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera, which dates back more than 6,000 years to ancient Egypt, is a common healing ingredient for external skin problems. Known as the “plant of immortality,” Aloe vera has been used to heal cold sores, frostbite, wounds and burns.

The magical ingredient known for wound healing is the gel within the plant that is exposed after breaking a plant’s limb. More specifically, acemannan hydrogel is an FDA-approved ingredient to treat canker sores and other oral wounds. While there is no scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of Aloe vera lotion to help sunburns, the plant gel has multiple hydrating properties known to moisturize and cool skin.

While Aloe vera can provide a soothing sensation, the first treatment for a temperature burn should be cold water, rather than any kind of ointment. Always check the added ingredients in Aloe vera lotions to ensure no allergies are present. To schedule a visit with Knoxville Dermatology Group, call (865)690-9467.