I’ve read your Tips for Facial Seborrheic Dermatitis Control and had a couple questions:

1) You mention the Replenix CF Cream as a great product for dermatitis, but other websites primarily mention it for rosacea, so I just wanted to make sure this was in fact a good product for facial seborrheic dermatitis.

2) I also planned on purchasing Calming Zinc Bar of Soap; do you have any recommendations for how to apply this soap?

I currently use a prescription product called “Promiseb” Topical Cream. It works well around my nose area, but I wear a “scruff bear” (not very long, more like 3-4 day stubble) and I find that the topical cream doesn’t work well in my chin area where the facial hair is (flaky and somewhat red at times). Any suggestions for this?

My dermatologists in the past were always trying to push me to use generic stuff. I’m the type of person that doesn’t just want cheap, I want stuff THAT WORKS. If it’s less expensive and works, fine. If it’s super expensive and works, I’m all for it!! I just want something that WORKS!

I appreciate any insight to my questions.

Thanks,
Jason

Hello Jason,

This is a great question because it’s so common for men to suffer from facial dandruff in the beard, mustache, and sideburn areas. Thicker creams don’t spread well on these hairy areas of the skin, yet dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis) loves these areas, making effective treatment a challenge. That’s why the Calming Zinc Soap is a great solution. You apply it to cleanse the skin then rinse it off. A film of pyrithione zinc is left on the skin to combat the seborrhea, but there is no visible product residue.

Regarding your question about Replenix CF and seborrhea, yes, I use Replenix CF Cream for facial dandruff too. I find that it has anti-inflammatory action for a variety of inflammatory facial skin problems: rosacea, seborrhea, and acne being the most common. My Facial Redness Relief Kit includes these two products. We are often asked about the difference between Replenix CF Cream and the Green Tea Antioxidant Therapy Cream. For the beard area, the CF Cream has a slightly lighter consistency, making it spread more easily on hairy skin, so it’s what I would recommend for the beard.

Facial Redness Relief Kit

Here are the specific instructions that I give to my patients for their facial dandruff skin care routine:

Step 1: I have them start by washing their face once a day with the Calming Zinc Soap. If after a week or so they don’t experience any dryness they can increase to twice a day. They wet their skin with warm water, apply the soap, and massage it onto their skin for a few seconds then rinse well with warm water. They can eventually apply the Calming Zinc with a Clarisonic Brush if their skin can tolerate that. The Clarisonic helps to remove scale and enhance the penetration of the soap into the pores. It can cause the soap to irritate the skin however because pyrithione zinc can be irritating to sensitive skin. If irritation develops for any reason,  I have patients wash just once a day with the Calming Zinc at night and in the morning use a gentle cleanser such as Toleriane Cleanser or Vanicream Cleansing Bar (possibly with the Clarisonic). If there is still irritation from the pyrithione zinc then we back down to using it as needed to control the seborrhea.

Step 2: Replenix CF Cream is applied twice a day every day after washing and toweling skin dry. Any other products like the Promiseb are applied after the Replenix CF. When skin flares up, I have patients apply clotrimazole (either Lotrimin brand or generic because they seem equivalently efficacious) on top of the Replenix CF. As a general moisturizer, I have patients apply either my Day Cream for Normal to Oily Skin or my All Natural Face and Body Lotion. These both seem to help stabilize facial dandruff so that there are longer periods of remission between flare ups. To be honest, I use these instead of a product like Promiseb.

One additional point is that sunscreen should be used during the day. For hairy areas of the face, my favorite product is Elta Clear SPF 46 Sunscreen. It rubs in nicely, provides non-irritating mineral zinc protection, and has niacinamide to help quiet inflammation even further.

I hope that clarifies how I use these products for men’s skin care in my dermatology practice to treat dandruff of the beard area.

Warm Regards,

Cynthia Bailey MD, Dermatologist

Disclaimer: Please realize that availing yourself of the opportunity to submit and receive answers to your questions from Dr. Bailey does not confer a doctor/patient relationship with Dr. Bailey. The information provided by Dr. Bailey is general health information inspired by your question. It should not be a substitute for obtaining medical advice from your physician and is not intended to diagnose or treat any specific medical problem (and is not an extension of the care Dr. Bailey has provided in her office for existing patients of her practice). Never ignore your own doctor’s advice because of something you read here; this information is for general informational purpose only.

The Best Treatment for Facial Dandruff in the Beard Area is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

Have you or someone you know been wanting a Clarisonic Brush but been hesitant to make the investment? Enter our drawing and you might just win the Clarisonic “Cadillac” system we’re giving away on May 29th.

Here’s all you need to do to enter:

1. Check out our Dr. Cynthia Bailey Skin Care Facebook page
2. Like our page and write “I want a Clarisonic Plus”

That’s it!

Check back on the 29th and see if you’re the winner of a FREE Clarisonic Plus Sonic Skin Cleansing Brush System.

Why do we love the Clarisonic and why does everyone in my office use one every day for their own skin care routine?

Find out by reading what my aesthetician MaLinda has to say about this high-tech skin cleaning wonder in her post What’s So Great About The Clarisonic.

To see what we’re giving away visit my product page for the Clarisonic Plus, you’ll see why this giveaway is worth entering.

Clarisonic Giveaway on Facebook! is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

Tips to spring clean the skin of your arms and legs

Use an exfoliating scrub or sponge in the shower when you bathe. Follow that by applying an alpha hydroxy acid moisturizer immediately after toweling skin dry. My favorite way to do this is with my Anti-Aging Body Skin Care Kit.

I’ve used it for over 15 years on my own skin and it works like a charm. You could also use your favorite exfoliating scrub, followed by AmLactin Lotion or Cream.

Tips to spring clean the skin on your body

In addition to using the exfoliating scrub or sponge and an alpha hydroxy acid cleanser, you may need to deep clean the pores on your chest and back. You have more oil glands there and the pores can become clogged. Consider adding a Clarisonic Sonic Skin Cleansing Brush and the Clarisonic Body Brush Extension Handle to your bathing routine.

Another quick fix is to have a professional Back Facial done by an aesthetician. At our Sonoma County office, our aestheticians are pros at back facials; the treatment is therapeutic and luxurious at the same time.

Tips to spring clean the skin on your feet

If you have rough skin on your feet, you need heavy-duty AHA exfoliation to get your feet ready for public display in sandals. My Rough Foot Skin Remover Kit works miracles!

Tips to spring clean your facial skin

Your facial skin is on display 365 days of the year, but in the spring and summer you may want it even more ready to look great with self tanner. This means that your facial skin needs to be exfoliated to prevent the tanner from going on unevenly or making your freckles and age spots really dark.

You can use exfoliating scrubs like Replenix Exfoliating Scrub before applying your self tanner.

A Clarisonic Brush Cleansing System helps gently exfoliate at the same time it cleans deeply into your pores too. Adding alpha hydroxy products to your skin care will add the “icing to the cake” to spring clean your skin. My Glycolic Acid AHA Anti-Aging Skin Care Kits have everything you need for professional-level AHA skin therapy.

Remember that your skin needs sun protection every day so always apply a broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen. This is especially true if you’re planning to use AHAs during the spring and summer as exfoliated skin allows more harmful UV rays to get under your skin where they can cause damage. The best protection is clothing. On exposed skin apply a zinc oxide product when you’re outdoors during the day. Click here to see the sunscreen products that I trust. 

Photo: thanks and gratitude to Ingridf_NL

Tips to Spring Clean Your Skin is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

Yep, broccoli sprouts. They’re easy to make, are very affordable, and give you serious health benefits. I grow my own supply for a constant source. My husband and I stuff my sprouts into sandwiches, add them to salads, and sprinkle them on soups and warm dinner entrees.

Why broccoli sprouts in particular? 

Because broccoli contains the highest plant source of the anticancer compound called sulforaphane. And, broccoli sprouts are the ultimate sulforaphane family superhero.

Sulforaphanes fight cancer and they are also an excellent phytonutrient to boost your liver’s detoxification activities. The bottom line is that they are so good for you that adding them to your diet is bound to benefit your body. They also taste great.

Want to learn more about why I’m such a broccoli sprout fan?

Dr. Michael Greger of Nutritionfacts.org did two highly motivational videos on why sulforphanes are so good for you. I bet that if you watch the videos, you’ll be sprouting in no time.

1. The first video explains results from a study done a John’s Hopkins that showed that the sulforphanes you get from eating broccoli really do reach your breast tissue in amounts that can actually help you fight breast cancer! Yep, this is a good thing that we all want.
2. The second video is about the liver detoxification benefits of sulforaphanes. Like I said, it’s motivating and it’s why there are always broccoli sprouts sprouting in my kitchen!

Click here to see the video about sulforaphanes and breast cancer, Sulforaphane: From Broccoli To Breast.

Click here to see Dr. Greger’s video on liver detoxification and sulforaphanes, The Best Detox.

I grow my own sprouts and it’s easy. I’ve always got a jar of sprouts sprouting in my kitchen. And, for those of you who don’t like the taste of broccoli, you’ll still like the sprouts because they’re much milder.

How do you make your own broccoli sprouts?

What you need to make your own DIY sprouts:

1. A medium sized jar. (I use a quart-sized canning jar but a mayonnaise jar or pickle jar would do too.)
2. A screen top.  You can buy one or you can cut fabric from a clean pair of old of nylon stockings and secure it to the jar using a rubber band to create a screen top. (I prefer this because it drains faster and I’m busy!)
3. Broccoli sprouting seeds. Get them online or at your health food store.

To make sprouts:

1. Put some seeds in the jar and soak them in water for 8 hours.
2. Drain the seeds against the screen top and then lay the jar on its side in a nice corner of your kitchen that is out of the direct sun.
3. Rinse and drain the sprouts twice a day.
4. You’ll have cheery little superhero sprouts in about 3 to 4 days!

We eat a jar of sprouts every few days which means that there’s always a new sprout jar spouting on my kitchen counter.

All you need to make your own sprouts are jars, screens, and the sprout seeds - it's really that simple!

Broccoli seeds and fenugreek seeds soaking in jars for 8 hours

Make a screen top for your sprout jars with either nylon stocking material (left) or a purchased screen top (right).

After soaking the seeds, drain the water and lay the jars on their sides, away from direct light. Rinse and drain well twice a day. Be sure that the seeds don't dry out or sit in excess water. (Note my kefir fermenting in the same kitchen corner.)

Broccoli seeds start sprouting within 24 hours.

Close up of the lentil sprouts just beginning to sprout

Spout jars full of sprouts that are ready to eat!

Sprouty sandwich, yummy AND healthy!

Once you learn to love broccoli sprouts you might want to experiment with some other sprouts too. My favorites are lentils and fenugreek sprouts. The lentils are nutty and great on salads. The fenugreek sprouts have a delicate, but exotic, flavor that’s delicious in a sandwich or on soup. Plus, for gardeners who go through winter gardening withdrawals, an indoor sprouting project gets out some of those pent up garden ya-yas!

Happy sprouting!

For more of my dietary recommendations see the related post links below.

Photo Attribution

Why Should You Add Broccoli Sprouts to Your Diet? is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

This year enjoy the sun without the damage that leads to skin cancer, thin skin, wrinkles, and age spots. Here are the resources that are out there for you this year:

The American Academy of Dermatology’s Free Skin Cancer Screening Program helps you find a skin cancer screening event near you. Click here to learn more.

The American Academy of Dermatology’s Shade Structure Grant Program, which helps fund shade structure instillation for public schools and non-profit organizations. Click here to learn more.

The Center for Disease Control has a variety of resources to for teachers and schools. 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer; by helping youth make smart choices about sun protection now can change that statistic. Click here to learn more.

SunAWARE’s blog which covers the politics, events, and new information related to tanning and sun protection. SunAWARE also has free resources for teachers too. Click here to learn more. 

Starting today, there are steps you can take to ensure that you don’t become the 1 in 5 Americans who develop skin cancer in their lifetime (or if you do, discover how can you be sure to catch it early when it’s much less serious!)

1. Know when you’re at risk. It is any time the sun is out and the rays are hitting your skin, whether directly, by reflection, or through windows. Just for fun, you can explore UV exposure with my simple and educational little UV Detecto Ring. For a little over 2 bucks, it’s quite an eye opener and will help you get the naysayers listening.
2. Especially avoid peak midday sun exposure, which is between 10am and 3pm when UVB intensity is the highest.
3. Cover up with sun protection clothing (my favorite and most trusted is Coolibar’s great line of clothing with high-tech fabric that really performs).
4. Wear a full-brim sun hat that covers the skin on your scalp and shades your face, eyes, and ears. Click here to see sun hats I trust.
5. Wear UV-blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes and give extra protection to the delicate skin around your eye area.
6. Use the right sunscreen and apply it correctly! I really only trust zinc oxide sunscreens – you want a minimum of 5% zinc oxide in your product. Use water-resistant sunscreen for wet and sweaty activities. Use a lip product to prevent lip cancer. Use a non-migrating product like Raw Elements Eco Stick for around the eyes when you are wet. See the products I trust my family’s and my patients’ skin to and get my advice for how to use sunscreen correctly by clicking here. Need help picking the right sunscreen for your skin type? See my Sunscreen Comparison Chart.
7. Get screened! Do a self exam monthly starting now. Learn what to look for by reviewing the ABCDs of Melanoma, Signs of Skin Cancer, Basal Cell Carcinoma Signs and Symptoms, Precancerous Actinic Keratosis Signs and Symptoms, and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Signs and Symptoms. If you find a suspicious spot or if you’ve had a history of tanning, sunburns, or a lot of sun exposure, I recommend getting an annual full skin exam (that means the whole Monty) by a board-certified dermatologist. This patient of mine saved his life by scheduling a full skin exam with me.
   

   Early melanoma skin cancer with a good prognosis

   He didn’t know this spot was anything to worry about. It was an early melanoma and because we caught it early, he has a great prognosis – and that’s the trick, so get screened!

For more of my sun protection tips and information please see the links below, then go have fun in the sun without damaging your skin.

Photo attribution: Thanks and gratitude Half-blood prince

May Is Skin Cancer Awareness Month is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

Now you can get the latest acne skin care advice from a dermatologist in my updated and enhanced Acne Skin Care Tips pages. Find the comprehensive information you need to get rid of your acne by learning exactly how I, a dermatologist, treat my acne patients.

As a Board Certified Dermatologist who has practiced dermatology full time for 25 years, I’ve treated thousands of acne patients. This means I’ve helped people of all ages and with an infinite number of skin types and confounding skin problems, achieve clear skin. In the process, I’ve amassed a lot of experience and that’s what I’ve used to build these skin care acne treatment recommendations for you.

Treat your own acne like a pro and get rid of your acne skin problem.

What sort of information to help treat your acne will you find on my Acne Treatment Advice pages?

You’ll find both specific product recommendations as well as information on how to build a complete (aka effective) skin care routine to treat your particular type of acne. You’ll notice that in my medical practice I use my own products to create skin care routines. I explain why those products work so that you can compare them to what you’re currently using to see if you have a similar product at home that you can use. Stop guessing about your acne treatment. Let me teach you how to pick the right ingredients to build yourself a comprehensive treatment that finally gets rid of your pimples.

Click here to see the new Acne Skin Care Tips pages on my website.

Dr. Bailey Skin Care Acne Kit Regular Strength

If you don’t have acne but think my acne tips will help someone you know who is frustrated with acne, please pass the information on.

Dermatologist’s Acne Skin Care Tips is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

Up your “grooming game” in time for summer and be ready for skin-baring summer clothes.

It has become increasingly more common in today’s world for men to spend more time and effort on their personal appearance. In fact, recent marketing research has found that approximately 38% of men between the ages of 18 to 34 have had a facial or body treatment (Skin Inc. online Magazine, “Men Spending More Cash on Skincare Services at Salons,” August 7, 2012).

So if you are a guy, and you have dreamed about getting your blackheads removed, doing something about your uni-brow, or ridding yourself of unwanted back hair, then you are not alone. Tank tops and swim suites are just around the corner. Increase your confidence and have more fun by not being self-conscious about grooming “issues.” These goals are easier than you think to accomplish when you have the right help.

Here, at the office of Advanced Skin Care and Dermatology Physicians, we offer a full spectrum of skincare services for both women and men, in a clean and relaxed environment. Clients come to us for their professional skin care from Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Petaluma, Windsor, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, and as far away as Mendocino and Lake Counties.

From now through May 31, 2013, you can come in and try out one of these specialty services designed for men, at a special price. Call 707-829-5778 to reserve your appointment today!

Men’s Summer Specialty Skin Care Services

1. Uni-brow removal: $15
2. Back Wax with Mini Relaxing Back Treatment: $60
3. Gentlemen’s Facial: $75  (Includes deep cleansing with steam, extractions, calming clay mask — with neck, shoulder, arm, and hand massage – why not?)
4. Exfoliating Back Treatment and Deep Pore Cleansing: $60

To see more of our professional skin care services, visit our Aesthetician Services Page.

Let us help get you ready for summer. We’ll give you the best men’s professional skin care treatments in our clean, professional, and gender-neutral environment. Bring on the tank tops because you’ll be ready.

MaLinda, Medical Aesthetician

My passion is helping people look and feel beautiful. I have more than nine years of experience in the skincare and cosmetics industry; having worked as a makeup artist, as a makeup and skincare product specialist for a high-end department store, and as an aesthetician.

I have a bachelor’s degree in English and history, but I have found my true calling in the world of skincare. I’ve been a licensed aesthetician since 2007. I love helping my clients achieve healthy, beautiful skin and teaching them how to get the results they’re looking for on a daily basis. Everyone is beautiful with unique attributes that make them special. Finding and highlighting these attributes in a person is my passion – and it’s what I love about my career.

Best Professional Skin Care for Men in Sonoma County is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

My readers and patients know that I’m a big tretinoin fan; I love the results you get from this powerful anti-acne and anti-aging skin care product. It’s tricky to use though. Tretinoin doesn’t combine with some other key skin care ingredients, it’s light sensitive, you have to train your skin to get used to tretinoin, and your skin has to be perfectly dry before applying tretinoin or else it will cause even more irritation.

These three recent questions from different readers show how much confusion surrounds the use of this powerful skin care medicine:

Reader #1, Lori

(My dermatologist) gave me a prescription of generic Tretinoin .025%. I’ve been using it for about 6 weeks now. My question is, is it strong enough to minimize these lines or am I wasting my time on this dose?

Reader #2, Jan

Can use the Green Tea Antioxidant Therapy product with my Retin A. (Retin A  at .05% doesn’t do anything to my face, so I just bumped up to .1%) Q–So correct me if I’m wrong, but the order to apply these at night would be: 1) Retin A, 2) green tea product, and 3)  moisturizer (do I need a moisturizer)?
Q–How much time do you need between applying 1 and 2 and 3 since I also read on your blog you should wait 15-30 minutes after you wash your face for the Retin A?  Don’t want to be up all night…

Reader #3, Anna

I started using Retin A about a month ago and have had good results as far as the acne goes. I also bought your anti-aging antioxidant skin care kit, Replenix Eye Cream, Daily Moisturizing Face Cream for oil/normal skin, and the Calming Zinc face soap.  My question is, what morning and evening routine would you recommend for me to get the best anti-aging results? I want to use the products correctly to get the best bang for my buck, if you know what I mean.

What are the essential tips for correctly using tretinoin in your skin care routine?

Tip #1:  Tretinoin goes on at night.

It’s light sensitive so apply it at night before retiring. Wash it off in the morning then apply your other skin care products.

Tip #2:  Some ingredients will interfere with tretinoin.

Don’t mix glycolic acid, vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, or salicylic acid with tretinoin cream. (Retin A Micro is less fragile, but it’s not my favorite product for anti-aging because all the really pivotal anti-aging studies were done on the cream formulation.)

You can still use these ingredients but apply them in the morning after washing off the tretinoin you applied the night before.

Tip #3:  Skin has to be totally dry before you apply tretinoin.

Apply compatible products first, one right after the other, then wait 15 minutes or more before applying tretinoin. This lets the excess surface water evaporated from your skin, and that seems to matter for minimizing tretinoin-induced skin irritation. It means that if you are using products such as Green Tea Antioxidant Skin Therapy and the Daily Moisturizing Face Cream those products are applied right after washing. Wait 15 or more minutes, then apply the tretinoin. I recommend keeping tretinoin on the bedside table and applying it right before going to sleep.

Green Tea Antioxidant Skin Therapy

Daily Moisturizing Face Cream Normal to Oily Skin

Tip #4:  Tretinoin-treated skin must be sun protected every day.

Tretinoin makes skin more sun sensitive. If you’re going to use it for all the good things you get from tretinoin treatment then you need to be committed to using broad spectrum sunscreen and a hat when you’re in the sun. I’m a big believer in mineral zinc oxide being the best sunscreen ingredient. Read more to see what products I recommend for my patients.

Suntegrity 5 in 1 Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen

Pick your product based on your skin type and skin needs. See my sunscreen comparison chart for a summary of key features in zinc oxide products.

Tip #5:  Work your way up to the highest tretinoin level your skin can tolerate.

Your skin has to be trained to tolerate tretinoin, and more is better meaning you get more benefit from higher strength levels of the medicine. I tell people it’s like a weight training program because you have to start with weights you can lift and slowly, over time, you’ll lift heavier weights as you gain fitness. It’s the same with tretinoin. You start with .025% twice a week and eventually work to 0.01% nightly. I give you more detailed information in my post on How to Use Tretinoin Correctly.

5 Skin Care Tips for Retin A Users is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

Psoriasis responds well when you take good care of your skin with a hydrating anti-psoriasis skin care routine. Conversely, it gets worse if you don’t take good care of your skin. 

When I see a patient with psoriasis, I always start our discussion about treatment options with detailed information on hydrating skin care. It really is that important for psoriasis.

If you have psoriasis you need to know that the rash gets worse when your skin is dry, injured, and unhealthy. It means that maintaining well moisturized skin is the single most important step for psoriasis skin care.

This is part 3 of my 3-part article series on psoriasis.

In part one, titled Health Concerns Related to Psoriasis, I introduced the concept of how psoriasis is now considered one piece of a puzzle that makes up a person’s overall health; there are internal diseases that we now know are linked to psoriasis. If you or someone you love has psoriasis, you need to know this information.

In part 2, titled Lifestyle Changes to Help Heal Psoriasis, I summarized my lifestyle recommendations to help control these general health conditions and support healing of psoriatic skin.

In part 3, I’m going to summarize the skin care recommendation that I give to my psoriasis patients. I consider it foundational self care information for people with psoriasis.

What I’m not going to cover in this post, or in this psoriasis series, is prescription treatment. That’s a large and personal subject that needs to be discussed individually with your dermatologist. Prescription drugs for psoriasis come in topical and internal forms and they all have side effects meaning the risk/benefit analysis needs to be weighted personally by you and your treating physician relative to the extent of your skin disease.

Dermatologist’s Skin Care Recommendations to Help Heal Psoriasis

The key aspects of psoriasis skin care are:

1. To “lock and load” water into the skin 24/7.
2. To use skin care products that contain ingredients to slow skin cell turnover, like tar products.
3. To use skin care products that exfoliate excessive scale (BHAs like salicylic acid and AHAs like lactic and glycolic acid).
4. To address facial seborrhea (aka dandruff) because it often coexists with psoriasis in the crossover variant called sebopsoriasis.
5. To look for and treat foot fungus because it’s extremely common, can look like psoriasis, and it’s just one more rash that psoriasis patients don’t need to suffer from.

Here are the details…

Step 1: Hydrating Skin Care to “Lock and Load” Water into Your Skin

Adding water to your skin is what moisturizing is all about. You have to do it from the outside; drinking lots of water won’t moisturize your skin anymore than taking a bath will quench your thirst.

You need to know the two important rules for skin hydration. First, don’t dry out your skin by overusing soap. Second, do apply an effective moisturizer to all your skin within 3  minutes of toweling off after every bath or shower. The reason optimal skin hydration is so important to your psoriasis is because of the Koebner Phenomenon whereby the rash of psoriasis flares up on injured skin  and dry skin is injured skin.

• To avoid drying out your skin with soap:
• Limit soap exposure to only those areas that need it. On the average day, those are:
• The body odor areas including parts of your skin with body odor glands called apocrine glands. These sites are the armpits, groin, and buttocks.  Feet smell too so soap them up.
• The oily areas of your skin which are the face, back, and chest.
• Use a non-drying soap:
• Modern soap substitutes called Syndets (synthetic detergents) clean with mild cleansing ingredients. I like the hypoallergenic Vanicream Bar Soapfor my sensitive skin patients.
  

  Vanicream Soap

  My favorite creamy, liquid soap-less facial cleanser is Toleriane Cleanser.

  

  Toleriane Cleanser

• Old-fashioned natural soaps can be a great choice too if you have soft water (hard water reduces lathering with natural soaps). My Naturally Best Bar Soap is great for general bathing needs.
  

  Naturally Best Bar Soap

  For the face, back, and chest I like my Calming Zinc ® Bar which contains 2% medicated pyrithione zinc to help fight seborrheic dermatitis (aka dandruff) in these dandruff-prone areas.

  

  Calming Zinc Bar Soap

• To trap and hold moisture in your skin 24/7, apply a rich moisturizer right after toweling dry from your shower or bath. Your skin soaks in water when you bathe. Before this water evaporates, cover your skin with moisturizer to lock it in. My favorite moisturizers for psoriasis are Am Lactin Cream or Lotion (with the AHA lactic acid to help remove scale too). Am Lactin is available at most drug stores. Am Lactin can be irritating so I often have patients alternate it with a deeply hydrating, but soothing, product like my All Natural Face and Body Butter Cream or All Natural Face, Hand, and Body Lotion. Another option for a soothing moisturizer is Vanicream Moisturizing Cream.
  

  All Natural Face and Body Butter Cream

  

  All Natural Face, Hand and Body Lotion

Step 2:  Use skin care products with tar

Tar products are a time-honored treatment for psoriasis of the skin and scalp. The easiest way to add tar in a reasonably convenient way is to add a cap full of tar solution to the bath and soak for 15 minutes. I have my patients use Cutar Emulsion from Summers Laboratories. Scalp psoriasis can be treated with tar shampoos in exactly the same way we use them to treat scalp dandruff. To see more of my recommendations for scalp treatment click here. (As with all tar treatments, check with your doctor first to see if this ingredient is safe and right for you.)

Step 3: Use products with AHA and BHA ingredients

AHAs and BHAs help reduce the scale on psoriasis lesions. They also help bind water to the skin for extra skin hydration. The lactic acid in Am Lactin is my preferred moisturizer for psoriasis body because it has just the right combination of these two effects, yet is not as irritating as stronger products such as Glytone Body Lotion. Many of you know that Glytone Body Lotion is my favorite body AHA product for general anti-aging body skin care but psoriasis is the one exception.

Salicylic acid, a BHA, is best added to the skin care routine as a shampoo for thick psoriatic scalp plaques. I discuss that in my post on scalp dandruff noted above.

Step 4: Control facial sebopsoriasis

I have my psoriasis patients use my Redness Relief Kit. This kit includes the same soap mentioned above (Calming Zinc) plus my Green Tea Antioxidant Skin Therapy to help fight facial redness and boost the skin’s antioxidant reserve. I’ve used these products in my practice or years. They’re also what I use for my personal skin care because psoriasis runs in my family and I’m very prone to facial seborrhea.

Facial Redness Relief Kit

For stubborn facial seborrhea (aka dandruff), see my comprehensive skin care recommendations in my dandruff post series.

Step 5: Treat foot fungus

Athlete’s foot is so common and the scaling, fissured, and itchy rash looks so similar to psoriasis that I often treat it on principle when it looks like there is psoriasis foot involvement.  Here’s the advice I give my patients: Dermatologist’s Simple Tips to Treat Athlete’s Foot Fungus.

Skin Care Tips to Heal Psoriasis is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog

Dr. Altemus is a seasoned and experienced clinician and dermatologist, and now a wonderful new member of our team. She is as much at home practicing in an academic type of medical center where the most complex dermatologic conditions are managed, as she is here in our intimate Sebastopol dermatology office.

Dr. Altemus was raised in the Midwest. She studied medicine at Midwestern University in Chicago, IL (1978-1982), with a focus on wholistic health care. While in medical school, she accepted an Armed Forces scholarship that ultimately led to her 20-year career in the US Army medical corps. After practicing general and emergency medicine for 10 years in Germany, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, Dr. Altemus began Dermatology training at Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio Texas in 1990.

Her military career in dermatology has included an appointment as the Chief of Dermatology at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI. Since leaving the military, Dr. Altemus has practiced in various private practice and academic settings. She and her family have recently settled here in Northern California and we are thrilled to have her contribute her skill and expertise to our practice.

In addition to practicing with us here in Sebastopol, Dr. Altemus practices one day a week as a member of the clinical teaching faculty at UCSF Medical Center. There, she provides dermatology care to the medically under-served at the San Mateo County teaching hospital.

Appointments with Dr. Altemus are available for your friends and family who are in need of general, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology care. Please have them call our office at (707) 829-5778 to schedule their appointment with dermatologist Dr. Debra Altemus.

Introducing the New Dermatologist in Our Sonoma County Practice is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog