Although it may only seem like a temporary irritation, a sunburn can cause long-lasting damage to the skin.  Skin that is sunburned is red, tender and warm to the touch.  Severe sunburned skin may even result in the formation of painful blisters.

Too much sun is especially dangerous for children.  One severe sunburn during childhood may double a child’s lifetime risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.  

It may take up to 24 hours after sun exposure to recognize the severity of your burn. For mild burns, follow these tips to relieve discomfort:

• Avoid the sun.  Spending additional time in the sun after you already have a sunburn will only worsen the negative effects and delay the healing process.
• Take a cool shower or bath to relieve any pain or discomfort. Apply a cool compress, like a damp cloth, to the skin to help reduce discomfort.
• Apply moisturizer or cream to soothe the skin. Aloe gel is a common household remedy for sunburns as it helps ease pain and inflammation.
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated as a sunburn draws fluid to the skin surface and away from the rest of the body.
• As directed by your doctor, take ant-inflammatory medications to help decrease the inflammation and reduce redness and pain.
• If blisters form, do not burst them as this will slow the healing process and increase the risk for infection.

In most cases a sunburn does not require medical attention.  Call a doctor immediately if there are signs of heat exhaustion, dehydration, fever, severe blistering or other serious reactions.

Fortunately, sunburns are completely preventable.  Remember to always wear sunscreen and limit overexposure to the sun by seeking shade and wearing appropriate clothes and accessories that cover the skin, such as hats and sunglasses.

Bottom line: prevention is better than cure, so remember to take extra precaution to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

With school in session, it’s easy for students to pick up a number of bad habits between late nights of studying and long sports practices. From poor eating habits to a lack of sleep and increased stress, unhealthy lifestyles can lead to unhealthy skin.

Whether you’re in middle school, high school or college, students everywhere can benefit from healthier skin. With a little extra care and attention, you can keep your skin blemish free all year long.

Keep your skin clean. 

This may sound obvious, but keeping your face clean is one of the most important things you can do to improve its health.  Get in the habit of washing your face twice a day with warm water and a mild soap to remove the dirt and debris that accumulate throughout the school day.  

Hands off.

Avoid touching your face with your hands throughout the day as your hands contain oils that cause breakouts.  Never pop pimples as this can irritate the skin, make acne worse, and increase the risk for scarring.      

Moisturize.

Moisturizers seal moisture into the skin to prevent skin from drying out.  Your Baton Rouge dermatologist can help you determine the best moisturizer for your skin type.

Avoid excessive sun exposure.

Protect your skin from the sun by wearing sunscreen and avoiding overexposure. Too much sun can damage the skin leading to future breakouts and even skin cancer.

Improve your physical well-being.

Your skin reflects what you eat, so remember to eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants.   Learn to manage stress as it can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems.   Get plenty of rest every night; approximately 7-8 hours of restful sleep is essential for healthy skin.

By maintaining a consistent daily regimen that includes washing and a healthy diet, you can achieve clear, healthy skin throughout the entire school year. Whenever you have a question or concern about your skin, talk to your Baton Rouge dermatologist.  Dermatologists offer a range of treatments that help prevent and treat acne and other skin conditions.  The Dermatology Clinic can help you find the treatment method that's best for you.

We all want to achieve a healthy tan. It makes us look and feel better. But that bronzed glow may not be as healthy as you think.  A tan is your skin’s reaction to ultraviolet (UV) light. This darkening of the skin cells is the skin's natural defense against further damage from UV radiation.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), nearly 28 million people tan in the United States annually. Of these, 2.3 million are teens.   Many people believe the UV rays of tanning beds are harmless, but this is far from true. Tanning beds emit UVA and usually UVB rays as well. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause long-term skin damage and premature aging (i.e. wrinkles, spots and sagging skin), and can contribute to skin cancer.

The AAD states that the risk of melanoma.—the deadliest form of skin cancer—is 75% higher among people who used tanning beds in their teens and 20s. Despite the known risks associated with indoor tanning these numbers continue to increase, as do the incidences of cancer.

Visit The Dermatology Clinic immediately if you detect any unusual changes in your skin’s appearance, such as:

• A change or an increase in the size or thickness of a mole or spot
• Change in color or texture of the mole
• Irregularity in the border of a mole

Protecting yourself from UV exposure is the best defense against premature aging and skin cancer. In addition to avoiding indoor tanning beds, you should also always wear sunscreen outdoors to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays.  Remember to self-examine your own skin as well as have your skin checked regularly by your [CIty] dermatologist. 

Whether you acquire your tan from the beach or a lamp, it’s not safe, and it’s not healthy. If you’re a regular tanner, it may be time to rethink your current stance on the standards of beauty.  There are safe alternatives to a bronzed glow without risking your health.

If you’re bothered by fine lines, wrinkles, acne scarring or an uneven skin tone, or if you are looking for a simple way to rejuvenate your skin, then chemical peels may be a good option for you.

A chemical peel is a cosmetic procedure performed by your Baton Rouge dermatologist. This in-office treatment involves applying an acid solution to remove damaged outer layers of skin, erasing imperfections and improving skin tone and texture.  As the old, outer layer of skin is exfoliated and removed, it stimulates the growth of new, healthy skin cells that are smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin.

This time-tested, non-invasive procedure is quick—in most cases less than an hour—and yields fast results.  It can drastically improve the appearance of skin marked by wrinkles, scars and other signs of aging or sun damage.

Chemical peels can improve the appearance of:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Uneven skin pigmentation
• Acne scarring
• Sun-damaged skin
• Age spots
• Freckling

Chemical peels can be applied to many parts of the body including the face, neck, chest and hands, and are available in several different strengths.  The Dermatology Clinic can help you determine the type of chemical used depending on your skin type and desired results.  The best candidate for a chemical peel is a person with fair skin and light hair, although darker skin types can also achieve good results depending on their specific problem and treatment goals.

How many treatments are necessary depends on the severity of skin damage and the patient’s goals. With each treatment, scarring and other imperfections typically diminish more and more.

At The Dermatology Clinic, we can help you achieve your most radiant, youthful skin. Visit your Baton Rouge dermatologist to learn more about cosmetic dermatology, and find out if you are a candidate for chemical peels.

While the face may be the first to show signs of aging, a person’s hands can make someone appear older than they feel.  In a person’s lifetime, the hands are exposed to sunlight, extreme temperatures and a lot of wear and tear.  It’s no wonder the skin on our hands becomes thinner, develops wrinkles and sun spots, and loses its radiance over time.     

The good news is that you can reduce signs of aging on your hands with improved care at home and the help of your dermatologist in Baton Rouge.   

Basic tips for improved hand care include:

• Keep your hands moisturized. Dry, cracked hands appear dull and older. Applying a cream periodically throughout the day will give your hands a healthy glow and a more youthful appearance.
• Protect your hands from the sun.  The back of the hands are extremely vulnerable to UV damage because they are almost always exposed to sun light. Take extra precautions by applying sunscreen.
• Wear gloves during household chores or yard work to protect your hands.
• To prevent chapping or dry skin, avoid frequent hand washing.  Use a mild soap with warm water.
• Wear gloves in the winter to protect hands from cold, harsh temperatures.

In some cases, a dermatologist may recommend rejuvenation techniques that have long been successful in treating the face.  These procedures add volume to the hand and remove discoloration, wrinkles and damage to reverse telltale signs of aging.  Visit your dermatologist in Baton Rouge to find out if these treatments are offered and recommended options for you.

Because we put so much emphasis on our facial skin care, the hands are often overlooked.  The hands can be even more susceptible to the effects of aging, which means they need extra care and attention.Today, there are many procedures available to minimize the appearance of an aging hand. Prevention is the best medicine, but your dermatologist is also an excellent source for advice and professional treatment options.