Christmas is almost here so we're scrambling around shopping for others and getting our homes ready for visitors unless we're preparing to hit the road.
In all the hustle and bustle, it can be easy to forget to take care of ourselves.
If you're not careful, you could be affected by one of many skin flare-ups.
Everyone can experience these skin conditions at any time, but they can occur more frequently with stress or not properly maintaining the skin.
Here is a list of common skin flare-ups you can experience during the holiday season and what to do about them.
Rosacea and acne
One common problem that can flare with stress or certain drinks and food is acne rosacea or adult acne.
Rosacea and acne are inflammatory skin conditions that are treatable. Rosacea is when the face gets flush on the cheeks, chin and nose area.
Common symptoms include red bumps or a more advanced issue on the nose called rhinophyma, a red bulbous nose often likened to acting legend W.C. Fields.
A few trigger factors for rosacea can be exposure to temperature extremes of heat or cold, alcohol, chocolate or cheeses at holiday parties, and stress.
Many people forget to use their topical rosacea cream such as Soolantra or Metrocream to help keep their rosacea under control.
Adult acne is also a frustrating and embarrassing problem to have when experiencing the holiday stress.
Fortunately, many women can camouflage their lesions with makeup. Even with applying a nightly retinoid for maintenance skin can still flare with large, painful cystic nodules.
The worst thing to do is have yourself or partner pop or squeeze the lesion.
A flare with acne rosacea or adult acne can be treated with oral antibiotics such as Doxycycline or Minocycline.
If the lesions are painful, then an appointment can be made at the dermatologist for a localized intralesional kenalog injection to get relief.
Don’t forget to keep up with using a daily sunscreen with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, a gentle skin cleanser such as Cerave, Cetaphil or Aveeno, and keep up with monthly facials or peels at the aesthetician office to keep skin looking its best.
Allergic contact dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis can occur while doing yard work and getting ready for company, buying and moving in a fresh new Christmas tree, or simply putting on the great smelling fragranced vanilla cookie or peppermint lotions that you got as a stocking stuffer.
Allergic contact dermatitis can occur when coming in contact with certain things even though you have come in contact with the items before.
Even though something may smell great and put you in the holiday spirit, an inflamed itchy rash can put the end to your holiday cheer when you end up at the dermatologist office trying to put out the fire of the rash that is making you miserable.
More: Hammerling: BOTOX Cosmetic Day sanctioned by National Day Archives
More: Hammerling: Women and men should know signs of breast cancer
More: Losing hair in strange places? It could be Alopecia areata
Try to avoid products that contain fragrances or paraben when applying to the skin. Some dermatologist recommended products are the Vanicream product line or Cerave.
If you know you are allergic to something, avoid it. If you have been allergy tested and are allergic to cats, dogs or certain trees then don't put yourself in a situation where you will be exposed to these things.
Treatment can include oral antihistamines such as Claritin, Allegra, Benadryl or Hydroxyzine as well as topical steroids to the affected skin where the rash has occurred.
Be careful not to use a friend or family member’s medication they found in their medicine cabinet. Some topical steroids are too potent for the face and under the arms. If a severe case is a present, then a short course of oral steroids may be needed.
Dry skin
Another skin condition that occurs in the winter, especially if traveling to colder climates, is xerosis, which is known as dry skin.
Many people forget to moisturize daily and only do it if their skin feels dry. When taking a hot shower or being in a home with a heater, skin can dry out if not moisturized.
Recommended brand moisturizers that can be purchased over the counter are: Cerave, Vanicream, Aveeno, Eucerin or Cetaphil.
When bathing try using a gentle cleanser such as Dove, Aveeno or Oil of Olay, then apply moisturizer to moist skin.
Cold sores
With all the holiday stress to get the perfect gift, making sure the house is in tip top shape, or stressing over traveling, annoying cold sores can occur.
Some patients get a cold sore once a year and others can experience them once a month. No matter the case they can be treated but not cured.
It is important to note that these pesky sores are contagious so be careful under the mistletoe if someone tries to smooch you with a cold sore on their lip.
If you feel a tingly painful sore getting ready to appear, then you can take prophylactic oral medication such as Famvir or Valtrex. Others may select a topical antiviral such as Zovirax.
Now that you know some important tips on how to look and feel your best, have safe travels and an enjoyable holiday season with friends and family.
Susan Hammerling-Hodgers, a Member of the National Psoriasis Foundation, is a PA-C (Certified Physician Assistant) and MPAS (Master of Physician Assistant Studies) and works at Brevard Skin and Cancer at the Merritt Island and Palm Bay offices.
"Skin" - Google News
December 17, 2019 at 10:26PM
https://ift.tt/35B4pA4
Hammerling: Holiday stress, parties can wreak havoc on skin - Florida Today
"Skin" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2Rv81zw
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
No comments:
Post a Comment