People of color: This term refers to diverse skin colors and includes people of African, Asian, Latino, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Native American descent. People of all colors, including those with brown and black skin, get skin cancer. Even if you never sunburn, you can get skin cancer. When

Athletes are at an increased risk of skin infections, which can have serious consequences. To help prevent infections, athletes, coaches and athletic trainers can follow these tips from dermatologists: Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. A cut or scrape weakens the

How you wash your hair and the products you use can go a long way toward maintaining smooth, shiny hair. Follow these simple tips from dermatologists to maintain healthy hair. Wash oily hair more frequently. How often you wash your hair should be based on how much oil your scalp produces.

Whenever your skin is injured – whether by accident or from surgery – your body works to repair the wound. As your skin heals, a scar may form, as this is a natural part of the healing process. The appearance of a scar often depends on how well the wound heals. While scars from surgery or over joints

Nails reflect our overall health, which is why proper nail care is so important. Here are dermatologists’ tips for keeping your nails healthy: Keep nails clean and dry. Cut nails straight across. Use sharp nail scissors or clippers. Round the nails slightly at the tips for maximum strength.

  Rash from poison ivy. Many people develop an itchy rash that causes lines or streaks that look like this. Poison ivy, oak and sumac: Overview Many people get a rash from poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. This rash is caused by an oil found in the plants. This oil is called urushiol (you-ROO-shee-all).

  Impetigo: Blisters and crusts on a child’s face are common signs of impetigo. Impetigo: overview Also called school sores Impetigo (im-peh-tie-go) is a common skin infection, especially in children. It’s also highly contagious. Most people get impetigo through skin-to-skin contact with someone

Ringworm: Overview   Ringworm: A rash with a raised, wavy border is a common sign of ringworm. What is ringworm? If you have ringworm, you may think you have worms in your skin or a disease caused by worms. You have neither. Ringworm is actually a skin infection caused by fungus. No worms involved.

Microdermabrasion: Overview   Microdermabrasion: This non-invasive procedure gently exfoliates the skin to diminish signs of aging. Do you ever look in the mirror and wish that your face had a more even skin tone? If you answered yes, you may want to consider microdermabrasion. This non-invasive

  Seborrheic keratosis: This non-cancerous growth can grow quite thick and have a warty surface. Seborrheic keratoses: Overview Seborrheic keratosis (seb-o-REE-ik care-uh-TOE-sis) is a common skin growth. It may look worrisome, but it is benign (not cancer). These growths often appear in middle-aged

  Rosacea: Left untreated, rosacea can get worse. Rosacea: Overview Rosacea (rose-AY-sha) is a common skin disease. It often begins with a tendency to blush or flush more easily than other people. The redness can slowly spread beyond the nose and cheeks to the forehead and chin. Even the ears,

  Sun-damaged skin: People with sun-damaged skin have a higher risk for developing AKs. Imiquimod: Overview Imiquimod (ih-mih-kwih-mod) is a prescription medicine that you use at home. It comes in a cream that you apply to your skin. Your dermatologist may prescribe imiquimod to treat: Actinic

  Merkel cell carcinoma: This rare skin cancer can appear on the skin as a hard patch (1) or firm bump (2). Merkel cell carcinoma: Overview What is Merkel cell carcinoma? Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare skin cancer. It is also an aggressive skin cancer. MCC is considered aggressive because it

  Pityriasis rosea: This common skin disease causes patches on the skin. Your dermatologist may call the large patch a mother patch. The smaller patches are daughter patches. Pityriasis rosea: Overview Pityriasis rosea: This common skin disease causes patches on the skin. Your dermatologist may call

What is psoriatic arthritis? Do you have psoriasis? If so, it's important to pay attention to your joints. Some people who have psoriasis get a type of arthritis called psoriatic (sore-ee-at-ic) arthritis. This arthritis often begins with a few swollen joints. A single finger or toe may be noticeably

  Excessive sweating: It’s normal to sweat when you get nervous or too hot. If you sweat for no apparent reason, you may have hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis: Overview (Excessive sweating) What is hyperhidrosis (hi-purr-hi-DROE-sis)? This is a medical condition that causes excessive sweating.

Melasma is a common skin problem that causes brown to gray-brown patches on the face. More likely to affect women and people with darker skin tones, melasma affects more than six million women in the U.S.  Although the exact causes of melasma are unclear, common triggers include sun exposure, pregnancy,

What is psoriatic arthritis? Do you have psoriasis? If so, it's important to pay attention to your joints. Some people who have psoriasis get a type of arthritis called psoriatic (sore-ee-at-ic) arthritis. This arthritis often begins with a few swollen joints. A single finger or toe may be noticeably

Next steps after a melanoma diagnosis Learning that you have melanoma, the most-serious type of skin cancer, can make it difficult to hear anything else your doctor says. After leaving the office, you may wonder what happens next. While what happens next varies with each patient, there is a process

How you style your hair can cause hair to look brittle, frizzy and lackluster or even fall out. Follow these tips from dermatologists to help style your hair without causing damage. Dry your hair by wrapping it in a towel after a shower or bath. Another alternative is letting your hair air-dry.

Your skin can burn if it gets too much sun without proper protection from sunscreen and clothes. To help heal and soothe stinging skin, it is important to begin treating sunburn as soon as you notice it. The first thing you should do is get out of the sun—and preferably indoors. Once indoors, these

  Nail fungus causes changes to the infected nails. You may see white spots or a change in the nail’s color. Other signs include debris under the nail and thickening nails. Overview: Nail fungus It’s easy to get a fungal nail infection. If you have a fungal infection on your foot, the fungus can

  Lichen planus: This common skin disease often develops on the wrist. Lichen planus: Overview Many people get lichen (LY-kin) planus (PLAN-us). This disease can develop on one or several parts of the body. It can appear on the skin or inside the mouth. Sometimes, it appears in both places. Lichen

There is no need to worry if chewing gum gets stuck in your child’s hair. Simply follow these steps from dermatologists: Find a jar of creamy style peanut butter or vegetable oil, such as olive oil. Cover the gum completely with peanut butter or oil using your fingers or an old toothbrush.

Has your child broken out in an itchy rash? If so, it could be a case of hives. Fortunately, hives are usually harmless and temporary. Common symptoms of hives include slightly raised, pink or red areas on the skin; welts that occur alone, in a group, or connect over a large area; and skin swelling that

If you have ever had chickenpox, or been vaccinated for it, you are at risk for getting shingles – a painful, blistering rash. This is because after the chickenpox clears, the virus stays in the body. If the virus reactivates, or wakes up, you could get shingles. Although shingles is much less contagious

Having beautiful nails is less a matter of luck and more a matter of caring for them correctly. Here are dermatologists’ top manicure and pedicure tips: Apply a cream to moisturize your nails, especially after removing nail polish since most removers contain chemicals that dry the nails.

Shaving can be a challenge for both men and women. Here are dermatologists’ tips to help you get a clean shave: Before you shave, wet your skin and hair to soften it. Taking a shower or bath is a great way to soften your hair. Next, apply a shaving cream or gel. Be sure to shave

  Hereditary hair loss: Millions of men and women have hereditary hair loss. This type of hair loss can often be successfully treated. Hair loss: Overview Also called alopecia (al-o-PEE-shah) Everyone loses hair. It is normal to lose about 50-100 hairs every day. If you see bald patches or lots of

  Head lice: This magnified picture of head lice on a fine-tooth comb shows that these bugs are tiny. Head lice: Overview Also called Pediculus humanus capitis Having head lice does not mean you are dirty. Most people get head lice when they have head-to-head contact with someone who has head

  Herpes simplex: After clearing, herpes simplex sores can return. When the sores return, the outbreak tends to be milder than the first outbreak. Herpes simplex: Overview Herpes simplex is a common viral infection. If you’ve ever had a cold sore or fever blister, you picked up the herpes simplex

When the temperature dips below freezing, it’s critical to protect your skin from cold-weather health risks. Frostbite occurs when the skin – and sometimes the tissue beneath the skin – freezes due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Depending on how long and how frozen the tissue, frostbite

More and more patients are asking their dermatologists for skin care tips that will keep a tattoo looking its best. Here are some tips from dermatologists for keeping tattooed skin healthy and vibrant: If your tattooed skin feels dry, apply a water-based lotion or cream to the tattoo. Petroleum-based

Dandruff is a common scalp condition in which small pieces of dry skin flake off of the scalp. If you have dark hair or you’re wearing dark colors, you may notice the flakes in your hair or on your shoulders. Dandruff may also make your scalp itch. Many people believe that dandruff is caused by poor

Everyone wants a happy, healthy baby, however, babies often experience discomfort from diaper rash – a condition that causes skin underneath the diaper to become red and tender. Help your baby by following dermatologists’ tips to prevent and treat diaper rash at home: Change dirty diapers as