What Are the Most Frequently Asked Questions About Skin Care?
Skin care can be a pretty confusing industry. Knowing which products are safe or effective can be a guessing game, and if you struggle with any stubborn skin conditions, you might find yourself chasing down solutions without any additional knowledge. Instead of searching for answers from sources that aren’t necessarily credible, we’re giving you the lowdown on a couple of your most commonly asked skin care questions.
Common Skin Care FAQs
What Type of Skin Care Line Should I Be Using?
The answer to this one largely depends on your age, skin type, the climate you live in, and your top skin concerns. If you’re looking for skin care products to treat your acne, you should be scanning your product labels for ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide – powerhouse ingredients that can help zap your zits.
As far as wrinkle reducing products, look for a high-quality anti-aging skin care line with ingredients like retinol, alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), which can help minimize the appearance of fine lines. You might also find that getting regular facials can also help keep your skin looking fresh, youthful, and rejuvenated.
In general, you should be using a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer formulated for your skin type – be it normal, dry, oily, or combination. Look for the words “non-comedogenic” on every skin care product to make sure the formula won’t clog your pores. You may opt for additional serums, eye creams, or heavier moisturizers – but don’t overdo it. Washing your face consistently is most important, and little product can go a long way.
How Much Sunscreen Do I Really Need?
Maybe you’ve heard that you should be wearing an SPF product on your skin every day. Or maybe you only think to apply sunscreen when you’re at the pool or the beach.
Here’s the truth: skin cancer can show up from just one sunburn over the course of your lifetime, and it often moves swiftly – and potentially fatally – to other parts of the body. Therefore, it’s crucial to wear SPF 15 or more every day, even when you’re indoors, and SPF 30-50 when outdoors (reapplying frequently). Additionally, a skin cancer screening with a dermatologist is recommended every year.
What’s the Difference Between Botox and Dermal Fillers?
When it comes to anti-aging injectables, things can be puzzling without input from the experts. First, products like Botox and dermal fillers accomplish different things and work best on different areas of the face. For example, Botox works by way of a toxin that causes paralysis to the tiny muscles responsible for squinting and frowning. Once these muscles don’t contract, the wrinkles they cause smooth out. Botox is excellent for forehead lines and glabellar lines between the eyebrows.
Dermal fillers, on the other hand, use hyaluronic acid to promote the production of more hyaluronic acid, plus collagen and elastin – all naturally occurring ingredients that give skin a plumper, smoother look. Fillers are great on thinning lips, hollow cheeks, and nasolabial folds around the nose and mouth.
Contact Louisiana Dermatology Associates
Have more skin care questions you want answered by the professionals? If you’re in Baton Rouge or the surrounding areas, contact Louisiana Dermatology Associates today for a consultation with one of our board-certified specialists.