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Hair pain may not be the most common topic of conversation when you're catching up with friends, but it is definitely a very real condition. Scalp tenderness can get pretty uncomfortable, and it can arise for a whole bunch of reasons, from simple things like oil buildup that occur if you're not washing your hair frequently enough, to more complex medical conditions like shingles. To get a better understanding of hair pain, we spoke to dermatologists Morgana Colombo, MD who filled us in on the most common causes of hair and scalp pain, the best ways to treat hair pain, and even how to prevent it. What Can Cause Hair to Hurt? Not Washing Your Hair Enough If you don't wash your hair...
To the rescue are anti-itch creams that serve various purposes, including soothing sunburns, mosquito bites and conditions like eczema. Some formulas work better than others, depending on your symptoms and the cause behind your itch. What you want is relief — and you want it fast — so choosing the best option is key. From our research, these are the best, dermatologist-recommended anti-itch creams. 1. Best overall- Sarna Original Anti-Itch Moisturizing Lotion Containing both camphor and menthol, this lotion instantly soothes the skin while providing a cooling sensation. It also moisturizes, so it won't leave the skin feeling dry or irritated. You can safely use this product daily — and for extra comfort, she suggests putting it in the refrigerator for an enhanced...
Although COVID-29 should still be on all our radars, monkeypox has taken over headlines as the newest virus to stay informed about. Monkeypox is a contagious, human-to-human and animal-to-human transmitted disease that comes from the same family of viruses as the variola virus (the virus that causes smallpox.) Along with flu-like symptoms such as a fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion, the virus also causes a rash similar to smallpox That said, it's the disease's effect on the skin that leaves us with a lot of questions. We spoke to experts to get all the information you need to know about monkeypox's effect on the skin, from the start of the outbreak to after it's completely healed. How can you tell if your...
Those itchy red and sometimes pus-filled bumps can be a pain to deal with. According to board certified dermatologist, Dr. Morgana Colombo, MD, ingrown hair occurs when a hair that’s been removed starts to grow back and curves into the skin thanks to all the shaving, tweezing or waxing that we do. The good news is, we don’t have to stop hair removal altogether. There are a few very useful techniques and products to help us get rid of our ingrown hairs so we can show off our smooth skin bump-free. Why do we get ingrown hairs? As the hair reenters the skin, your body will react to it as a foreign body causing irritation and redness. Ingrown hairs can be caused by tweezing, waxing,...
Vitamin C: An Antioxidant Powerhouse There’s a solid chance you’ve heard the word “antioxidant” floating around both in terms of skincare and the foods you eat. But what does antioxidant even mean? Well, you know how rust can accumulate on metal? That’s a form of oxidation, and the same can occur at a micro-level on our skin via free radicals. Long story short, these pesky unpaired oxygen atoms attach to your skin and accelerate the deterioration of collagen, which leads to premature signs of aging. Specifically, they can cause sunspots, fine lines and wrinkles, and skin laxity. Vitamin C is an anti-oxidation hero that basically tells free radicals to get lost so your skin continues looking healthy for longer. Sunscreen is...
First, let’s tackle sun damage. What best skincare practices do you recommend to protect yourself while soaking up some rays? “The most important thing to do in the summer to prevent sun damage is properly using a good, broad-spectrum sunscreen,” Dr. Colombo explains. These sunscreens should have both UVA and UVB protection. Moreover, how you put on your sunscreen is just as important. “Sunscreen should be applied in a thick enough layer to cover all sun-exposed areas of the body. And, it should be reapplied every two hours you’re out in the sun,” she continued. Plus, if you decide to take a dip in the pool or ocean, that can impact your level of protection. Dr. Colombo advises patients to reapply...
The reality is that even the most diligent of SPF users can still experience sunburn. You forget to reapply in time. You miss a hard-to-reach spot on your shoulder. The sun was just too intense. Whatever the reason, that heat in your skin is increasing like an alarm on your body, signaling that you’ve gone too far. You’re burned. So, what should you do? Let’s start with what a burn is and why you must treat it. “When you get burned, the skin cells are damaged or destroyed depending on the burn severity,” explains Dr. Saurabh Singh, dermatologist and co-founder of Skintap.com. A mild sunburn means redness and some pain that resolves after a few days, while a severe burn has blisters, swelling,...
A morning skin care routine is as easy as 1-2-3 (products). 1. Cleanser 2. Moisturizer 3. Sunscreen Cleanser Dr. Colombo states that it’s essential to wash your face thoroughly with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser before applying any other products. This allows you to start with a clean slate and prevents other products from washing off. Finding the best cleanser for you can be tricky, but starting off with something that is designed for your skin type is the first step. For example, people with oily or acne-prone skin often do best with a foaming cleanser, whereas people with normal or dry skin typically prefer gentle, nonfoaming options. Colombo suggests Cetaphil Dermacontrol Foaming Cleanser for oily skin and Cerave Hydrating Cleanser for dry skin. Moisturizer...
How to Treat Mosquito Bites at Home At-home mosquito bite remedies are plentiful, the best advice is to try and leave it alone and especially avoid scratching it. Other suggestions include washing the area with soap and water, placing an ice pack on the bite, applying a calamine lotion, or taking an over the counter antihistamine. This includes Benadryl (Diphenhydramine), Claritin (Loratadine), or Zyrtec (Ceftirizine). If your kid can’t stop the scratching, there are additional overt-the-counter options. “An over-the-counter cortisone cream applied 3x/day may be helpful,” Dr. Morgana Colombo, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, tells Romper. “Sarna lotion, also sold over-the-counter, can be used on top of cortisone cream or alone 2-3x a day.” You can try to reduce the frequency of mosquito...
Let’s face it: Part of becoming an adult is realizing just how dumb you were when you were younger. What seems unimportant at 18 or 20 can suddenly seem very important at 30. Take saving money, for example, or staying hydrated. There’s also the matter of using sunscreen. Though most of us know just for how important SPF is for preventing skin damage and, more importantly, skin cancer, it’s tempting to skip sunscreen altogether when you’re feeling young and unstoppable. It also can be easy to forget another important detail about wearing SPF: Reapplication. When to Reapply When it comes to sunscreen, the most important thing to know is that you need to put it on before you go outside. Period....
Healthy hair and hair shedding is dependent on a person's life style choices as well as eating habits. Some people are not aware of health factors such as Iron or Vitamin D deficiencies that have an impact on healthy hair growth and maintenance. A way to decrease shedding and aid in healthy hair growth is taking vitamins and supplements daily. Dr. Morgana Columbo recommends a multitude of options. Prenatal multivitamins contain a higher amount of iron that aids in decreasing hair shedding. Iron supplements not only aid in healthy hair growth, but also help with a healthy immune system! Lastly, there are many hair growth vitamins available but Nutrafol vitamins are shown to help people with hair loss. For more...
Wrinkles, or fine lines, can be broken down into two different categories: Lines of Expression or Lines of Motion. Lines of motion are described as prominent lines in the skin shown by emotion, raising of the eyebrows, frowning, smiling, or really any other facial expression you can think of. Lines of motion can be treated with injectable agents that slow down or stop the motion of these muscles. They are known more commonly as Botox or Dysport. This treatment option fades or allows these lines to disappear all together. Following treatment, results can be seen as little as three to five days and results last roughly four months. Typical treatment areas are between the eyebrows, forehead, crows feet, bunny lines,...
We have touched base on female hair loss, but men suffer just as much as women when it comes to hair loss and healthy hair growth. Male pattern hair loss can be contributed to genetics as well as hormone imbalance. There are multiple oral as well as topical medications to aid in hair growth and help stop hair loss. Testosterone inhibitors such a s Finasteride slow down the progression of hair loss. Minoxidil on the other hand helps stimulate hair growth. In order to do so, this medication works as a vasodilator, meaning that it allows more blood flow to the hair follicles. More blood flow= more hair growth. We do know that hair loss is a chronic condition, meaning...
Rosacea has two main causing factors: inflammation or blood vessel dilation. Rosacea is mainly seen in females aged thirty to fifty, but can be present on anyone at any age. There are a multitude of ways to address Rosacea, ranging between oral or topical treatments, and there is even a cosmologic solution as well. Skin inflammation can be address by an oral antibiotic who's main job is to reduce systemic inflammation, or by a topical cream that not only addresses inflammation but rids the skin of bumps that accompany Rosacea. If topical or oral treatments are not working, there are laser treatments that specialize in decreasing the redness background of Rosacea. All treatment options and information can be provided...
Here at Skintap, not only do we address medical concerns: acne, rosacea, or wrinkles; we can also help clarify information and introduce you to cosmetic procedures that best fit your skin's needs. Not sure where to begin? Schedule an online consultation with one of our Board Certified Dermatologists to discuss and evaluate your skin in able to find the best treatment option for you. Whether it be Botox, Laser treatments, or Fillers; Skintap can help you find what fits your needs and find a Dermatologist for you within two weeks! If you know what treatment option suits you best, Skintap can help you find the best Dermatologist to fit your needs on YOUR time! Schedule an online consultation here at Skintap...
You have heard us go on and on about one of our top products, Spironolactone, but what is it? How can it help you get the skin you desire? Spironolactone is an oral treatment we provide to help with hormonal driven problems such as acne and hair loss. Spironolactone is an anti-testosterone medication that aids in increasing the level of estrogen, and in turn helping with hormone related problems. For acne it is provided at a lower dose, in comparison to hair loss where a higher more aggressive dose is provided. For every medication there are side effects to be aware of. Spironolactone is a diuretic, meaning that you must stay hydrated due to the increased loss of water when...
Brown spots, also known as Hyperpigmentation or Melasma, can cause the appearance of an uneven skin tone. There are many causes of brown spots, ranging from previous breakouts and rashes, to aging. Adding a few products to your daily skincare routine can make a huge difference to your skin's overall appearance. Dr. Morgana Columbo's treatment recommendations include a zinc based sunscreen to use daily to fight against new brown spots caused by excessive sun exposure. Introducing creams into your skincare routine that contain ingredients such as Hydroquinone that aids in lightening the skin, and acids such as Mysinomid, Retinoic, and Kojic acid can make a dramatic improvement to not only your skin appearance but your self confidence. If you are...
Cold Sores can appear on the lip or nose, can be triggered by stress, sun exposure, and illness; but how do we treat them and keep them gone? Eighty percent of the population has HSV that causes cold sores, but fortunately not everyone will have a flare up. When flare ups occur it is difficult to treat them in a timely and effective manner. Dr. Colombo,here at Skintap, recommends Aciclovir that not only treats an active cold Sore but can be used as a preventative treatment. If used right away Aciclovir can shorten the duration of a Cold Sore, and can keep the virus at bay to ensure there are no flare ups waiting under the skin. Here at Skintap we...
Hormonal Acne is normally seen in females aged eighteen to fifty, though there are some cases where acne and breakouts begin later in life, typically along the chin and neck area. These pimples are inflamed, red, and lie underneath the skin, and can be difficult to treat. Why breakouts now? Hormones are the leading cause of breakouts, not particularly an increased or decreased amount in hormones, but an unstable combination. Changes in hormones can happen at anytime, dealing with the results is the hard part. No worries! Skintap has found the best treatment options for your needs. Oral Treatment Versus Topical There are many treatment options available to treat hormonal acne, both topical as well as an oral treatments. Determining...
Congrats! You've gotten rid of your acne, but what about acne scars? No worries, Skintap has answer for you! There are treatment options available to get rid of acne scars. Whether your scars are superficial or deeper into the skin, there is always a way to help. The first step in treating acne scars is ensuring your acne is not active. Once your acne is taken care of you can dive deeper into helping your scars heal. Topical treatments are always a solution, Dr. Morgana Columbo recommends a topical Retinoid along with your night-time skincare routine. Adding this healing step to your skincare can make a huge impact on the healing process of scars and work to fade the lasting...
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