If you’re looking for a Utah dermatologist, there are some things we recommend you take in to consideration.

First off, how long have you been researching your options?

Consumers are often perplexed about whether or not they really require a dermatologist. They’re just not convinced their skin care issue is bad enough to require dermatologist in Utah. Taking advantage of this guide should provide you with a better idea if a dermatologist is necessary for you.

• You’re seriously affected by your skin abrasion. No matter how bad your problem may appear, if you find that it falls into your every day processes, makes you think twice or be self conscious when talking to people, you must approach a dermatologist. This is unfortunate but there is really little you can do about it besides go to a professional and get the issue eradicated.
• Harshness of your problem. If you have acne, but only a few pimples, you probably do not have to have laser treatment with an expert. However, if your acne envelops your head and is a large factor for your lack of self esteem or unhappiness, seeing a dermatologist for an assessment is a smart idea.

• A permanent skin issue. This is where dermatologists are a necessity. If you have a scar, tattoo, birthmark, stretch mark, etc., dermatologists are experts at taking off or seriously decreasing the concern and breaking it down significantly.

• You have insurance and cash to spare. Dermatologists are not necessarily overly costly, but they are still in the medical industry, and expenses can mount up. You must have the resources to utilize to make sure that you can afford a surgery or procedure that is not definitively needed for your well being.

As you think about these issues, make sure to contact Aspen Dermatology. We’ll be happy to answer any questions and take care of your skin care needs.

To many, this question may seem ridiculous.

However, if you are NOT guilty of popping a pimple EVER, we salute you.

Picking at acne can be really dangerous to your skin.

Have you been told popping an occasional zit is a healthy thing?

Have you ever heard the never-ending cleanliness sermon from your mom, “Don’t pop your pimples, you’ll only make your acne worse…Blah, blah, blah… That’s why your skin looks awful now. Stop that!” We’ve all heard it.

At the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, dermatologist Alexa Boer Kimball, MD, decided to place pimple popping into the skin malarkey category, as scientifically unfounded acne aggravator.

Yet still with this categorizing, the question remains, “Does zit popping make acne worse and what evidence is there to prove it?”

The Real Issue: Why People Pop Zits in the First Place

To solve this issue, first, you need to know why you pop zits. The clear-cut answer is because zits are ugly and make you feel ugly and depressed.

Research supports this finding. For instance, a study published in the 2006 edition of the Journal of the American of Dermatology found that out of 387 dermatology patients who completed the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, 37 patients (9.6%) suffered from major depression.

Similarly, in 2000, a report in the same journal found that of 268 dermatology patients, 11.9% suffered from body dysmophic disorder (BBD), that is, they had a preoccupation with feeling ugly or having a nonexistent flaw in their appearance.

Another study published in Dermatologic Surgery in the June 2004 that examined facial scarring that resulted from acne excoriée concluded facial scarring could be controlled by first removing the underlining psychological disorders to control the impulse for desire to squeeze pimples.

Collectively, this data tells us that people pop zits because pimples the make them feel ugly and in order to stop bursting zits, you need to control the impulse to correct a bodily flaw.

This can be done by reminding yourself that your zit does not look as big to everyone else as it looks to you. Here lies the crux of the problem. Never let a zit make you feel like the village freak.

Even if that self-esteem booster does not work and you go ahead and pop the zit, will it make your acne worse? At first glance, that zit you targeted embodies a number of traits including compromised skin shedding, blockage of the pores and inflammation.

There Is a Time to Squeeze and a Time Not to Squeeze

Long answer short, pimple popping can aggravate acne because your skin contains a community of pores and what you do to one pimply-puss infested pore will affect the neighboring pore. The key is to time the popping of your zit right. Not all pimples are ideal for popping. Pop-ready zits are puss filled and above the surface of the skin. Such pimples are easily extracted with a sterile needle.

Acne-inducing pimple squeezing happens when you attempt to pop a pimple that is still beneath the surface of the skin and bordered by healthy, non-infected pores. Such pimples need time to rise to the upper layers of the skin and in some instances, may require medical extraction.

So, listen to Mom and please do not pop your pimples prematurely. Nevertheless, if pimple popping is an uncontrollable problem for you, a report published in Dermatologic Therapy found that hypnosis does help control the impulsive behaviors that can lead to pimple popping. The next time you are gazing into the mirror and that zits looks grossly humongous, but truly should not get squeezed, remove your hands from your face and just repeat after me, “I will let my zit to heal, I will let my zit heal, I will let my zit heal…” Good luck.

Sources:

American Academy of Dermatology, The Stubborn Truth About Acne: Myths and Misconceptions February 15, 2005.

Bowes L.E.1; Alster T.S. Treatment of Facial Scarring and Ulceration Resulting from Acne Excoriée with 585-nm Pulsed Dye Laser Irradiation and Cognitive Psychotherapy. Dermatologic Surgery: Volume 30, Number 6, pp. 934-938(5), June 2004,

Cohen, Arnon D, Andr’e Ofek–Shlomai, Daniel A. Vardy, Zeev Weiner, MD and Pesach Shvartzman, MD. Depression in dermatological patients identified by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview questionnaire. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology: Volume 54, Issue 1, Pages 94-99, January 2006.

Shenefelt P.D. Biofeedback, cognitive-behavioral methods, and hypnosis in dermatology: Is it all in your mind? Dermatologic Therapy: Volume 16, Number 2, pp. 114-122(9), June 2003.

What is a skin care myth you’ve heard recently?

Did you believe it?

People have a lot of concepts about skin care in Utah County.

Many of these skin care myths are quite a bit out there.

False skin care concepts cause a lot of bad skin health decisions and horrible monetary choices.

Thankfully, there are ways to avoid these difficulties without too much problem.

5 Skin Care Myths to Be Aware Of

1. Skin care problems can be erased swiftly. Unfortunately, some conditions are chronic, meaning that their healing process is sluggished and methodical. Luckily, they can still be take off, so commitment and control will help explain these evils.
2. Dry Skin creates wrinkles. Although crumpled skin looks nicer when moisturized, there is zero proof that shows that the moisturizer will actually stop old wrinkles.
3. Males do not have as many skin problems as girls. GuysMen have just as many wrinkles as ladies and get other skin care difficulties just as often. It is more common that women are more fretting about their appearance, so they speak about and spread these myths a lot more.
4. Acne is generated by your food. Acne is created by oils and clogging of the pores. Food products can not create these issues, unless you massage your face with the grease from tons of these products. However, consuming these products directly will not create the skin difficulties you presently are faced with.
5. Tanning is safe. All the gorgeous girls with awesome tans would like to know that tanning is risk free. Unfortunately, the UV rays can actually be fatal and hugely damaging, especially to your skin. This can create early wrinkles, cancer, and infection.

How many of these skin care myths have you heard?

• What makes my acne worse or better?
• What treatment options do I have for acne?
• How can I keep my acne under control?
• What specific things can I do to take care of or prevent acne?

This is part 2 of a 2 part series on the basics of acne.

What factors make acne worse?

Acne lesions can come and go. These factors can cause acne to flare:

• Changing hormone levels in women 2 to 7 days before their menstrual period, during pregnancy, or when starting or stopping birth control pills
• Oil from skin products (moisturizers or cosmetics) or grease in the workplace (for example, a kitchen with fry vats)
• Pressure from sports helmets or equipment, backpacks, tight collars, or tight uniforms
• Environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity
• Squeezing or picking at blemishes
• Hard scrubbing of the skin

What are the treatment options for acne?

Almost all cases of acne can be effectively treated. Treatment goals are to heal existing lesions, stop new lesions from forming, and prevent scarring.

Acne treatments aim to control one or more of the underlying causes of acne. For instance, topical retinoids, such as Differin or Retin A Micro, may help unclog sebaceous glands and keep pores open. Antibiotics may be used to fight the P. acnes bacteria. Accutane or hormonal agents, such as birth control pills, may be used to reduce sebum (oil) production.

Your doctor will recommend a treatment based on these factors:

• Severity of your acne. Mild acne may respond well to a topical retinoid alone. Moderate acne may respond better to a combination of topical retinoid with an antibiotic or other medication. Severe acne with scarring may need treatment with an oral retinoid (Accutane, Sotret).
• Results of previous treatments. Medications may be added in a step-wise fashion, only if previous treatments are found to be ineffective.
• Degree of scarring. More aggressive therapies may be started earlier if acne scars have already started developing.
• Gender. Some treatments are available only for females, such as birth control pills.

Whatever your treatment plan, it is important that you give it enough time to work. This may mean waiting 6 to 8 weeks to see results. While the older acne lesions are healing, the medication is hard at work keeping new lesions from forming. Staying on your medication is the most important step to getting acne under control.

How can I keep my acne under control?

After your acne clears, your doctor may recommend that you continue therapy with a topical retinoid to keep it under control. It is always a good idea to maintain good skin care and use skin care products labeled as “non-comedogenic” (do not promote acne)

What about self care and prevention?

For ongoing acne skin care and prevention of acne, follow a few simple guidelines:

• Clean skin gently—Use a mild skin cleanser twice a day, and pat skin dry. Harsh cleansers and astringents can actually worsen acne.
• Do not pop, squeeze, or pick at acne lesions, as this can promote inflammation and infection. Keep hands away from your face and other acne-prone parts of the skin.
• Limit sun exposure—Tanning only masks acne at best. At worst, sun exposure can lead to skin damage, especially if you are using an acne treatment that makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight and UV rays (this includes tanning booths).
• Choose cosmetics with care—As mentioned above, choose non-greasy skin products, and look for words like “non-comedogenic,” “oil-free,” and “water-based.” Some facial products contain active acne-fighting ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, to help keep mild acne at bay.
• Be patient with your treatment—Find out how much time it should take for your acne treatment to work (generally 6-8 weeks) and then stick with it. Stopping treatment early may prevent you from seeing good results or even cause a relapse of symptoms. Your skin may look worse before it begins to improve. You may need to try more than one type of treatment.

Do you have questions like these?

• What causes acne?
• What are the different types of acne?
• Why do I get acne?
• What makes my acne worse or better?
• What treatment options do I have for acne?
• How can I keep my acne under control?
• What specific things can I do to take care of or prevent acne?

If you do have these questions, you’re definitely not alone. These are questions we are asked all the time as Utah dermatologists.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll answer these questions in depth for you.

Acne is a skin problem that is very common. It shows up as outbreaks of bumps called pimples or zits. These usually appear on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Acne can be a source of emotional distress, and severe cases can lead to permanent scarring.

What causes acne?

Acne begins when the pores in the skin become clogged and can no longer drain sebum (an oil made by the sebaceous glands that protects and moisturizes the skin.) The sebum build-up causes the surrounding hair follicle to swell.

Hair follicles swollen with sebum are called comedones. If the sebum stays beneath the skin, the comedones produce white bumps called whiteheads. If the sebum reaches the surface of the skin, the comedones produce darkened bumps called blackheads. This black discoloration is due to sebum darkening when it is exposed to air. It is not due to dirt. Both whiteheads and blackheads may stay in the skin for a long time.

Bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) that normally live on the top of the skin can enter the clogged pores and infect the sebum. This causes the skin to become swollen, red, and painful.

Infected sebaceous glands may burst, releasing sebum and bacteria into the surrounding skin, creating additional inflammation. In severe cases, larger nodules and cysts may form in the deeper layers of the skin.

What are the different types of acne?

Acne can be categorized by its severity:

1. Mild acne: a few scattered whiteheads or blackheads with minimal inflammation.
2. Moderate acne: a denser collection of whiteheads or blackheads as well as red, inflamed, pus-filled lesions.
3. Severe acne: also called nodular or cystic acne, describes widespread and deep lesions that are painful, inflamed, and red. This form of acne is likely to lead to scarring if left untreated.

Why do I get acne?

Anyone can get acne, but acne in teenagers, whose surging levels of androgen (a type of hormone) create larger and more active sebaceous glands. Acne may continue for people in their twenties and thirties, and even women over forty. Acne also appears more commonly in people whose parents had acne.

More to come on Acne Basics

These are the topics will cover next time about acne causes and treatments in Utah.

• What makes my acne worse or better?
• What treatment options do I have for acne?
• How can I keep my acne under control?
• What specific things can I do to take care of or prevent acne?

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Attention Utah Women!

Interested in waxing, pedicures, facials, and makeup?

MyAspenDerm.com is having a Girls Night Out!

When:

March 4th at 6:00p.m. to 9:00p.m.

Where:

Aspen Dermatology
114 E 800 N
Spanish Fork, UT 84660

What:

Waxing, pedicures, facials, and makeup $35, must R.S.V.P.

Bring a friend!

Food and beverages will be provided.

Post a comment with any questions.

Call 801-794-1490 to R.S.V.P.

Did you know that SKIN is the largest organ in your body?

Surprised?

Because of the dry air, it’s important to understand the basics of dry skin care in Utah County in order to revive the skin and give it the proper protection it needs.

Skin is all over you, providing a protective covering to your muscles and tissues. In today’s dry Utah environment where the weather and air quality change on a daily basis, our skin needs protection from harmful UV radiation, pollution, and dust.

Unfortunately, our skin takes the beating and protects our muscles, tissues, and various organs from getting directly impacted. This direct impact can lead to dry and itchy skin.

When we talk about dry skin care in Utah, most of us are reliant on only moisturizers because we think it’s logical to moisturize. Before we even go there, let’s first understand what causes dry skin.

Cause of Dry Skin in Utah

Our body produces natural oils and moisturizer to maintain a balance. If this oil is lost for any reason our skin becomes dry. The loss of oil could be because of cold weather, pollution in the environment, and exposure to dirt. This oil is used to keep the skin moist and also helps our skin maintain natural nutrients. When this oil is lost our skin becomes dry and itchy.

Dry skin care in Utah is not a very complex process to follow.

5 Natural Ways to Help Dry Skin in Utah

1. Stay away from skin care products that are not natural. 
These products might be manufactured using harmful chemicals or harsh chemicals that can further make your skin dry. Instead use natural skin care products
2. Use natural ways to moisturize the body. 
Drink ample amount of water to provide natural moisture
3. Avoid dry and harsh weather. 
Protect your skin from weather. Cover it properly if you are going out.
4. Avoid unnecessary prolonged hot showers. 
Long exposure to hot water washes the natural oils of our body.
5. Work with a Utah County dermatologist. We had to put this one in

Dry skin care is very easy if you follow these tips.

Are you looking for a Utah Dermatologist?

Dermatologists in Utah are often consulted for conditions such as acne, rashes, questionable moles or cosmetic procedures. Acne is often bothersome and can make you feel self-conscious. It is in your best interest to consult a dermatologist to help alleviate the symptoms and avoid unnecessary self-consciousness.

Dermatologists are doctors that treat skin conditions and often will take biopsies to get further answers. A Utah dermatologist should always be sensitive to your fears regarding the treatment, and be willing to explain just how his treatment will work. He will also let you know how long it will take, and what you should expect.

Usually, people who look for dermatology treatments are those who have a bothersome skin condition or wish to improve their appearance with a wrinkle reducer or collagen filler application. For acne the problems can include blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, and pimples. A dermatologist will examine the problem and decide on a treatment. Rashes can require a number of follow up visits as they may be difficult to diagnose right away, require biopsies and possibly allergy testing.

Utah Dermatologist: Factors to Consider

• The level of comfort you have when speaking with the doctor.
• The doctor should treat you with respect.
• The doctor should be willing to listen to all of your issues to come up with a solution that will make you happier.
• You want a doctor that will promptly return your calls and answer all of your questions.

For those with a rash, it can be difficult to show the problem to someone and if it is in private areas the patient can feel awkward.

Other Things to Consider

Ask about the dermatology fees at the beginning, as many doctors are willing to make adjustments for those whose needs outweigh their ability to pay. A friend of mine went to a dermatologist for a few shots of botox to enhance her appearance. The dermatologist a few minutes later asked her if she wanted a few additional injections. My friend assumed these were free, but in fact she was charged for each one. This is something to clarify at the time of appointment as you need to know what you are spending and what is included in the treatment. Because she was given an initial estimate for the injection spots, she assumed his additional botox sites that he added during treatment were not going to cost her anything additional. Speak with the office manager before the appointment to avoid any misunderstandings.

Are you wondering about whether or not you need a Utah dermatologist?

How long have you been researching your options?

Consumers are often perplexed about whether or not they really require a dermatologist. They’re just not convinced their skin care issue is bad enough to require dermatologist in Utah. Taking advantage of this guide should provide you with a better idea if a dermatologist is necessary for you.

• Harshness of your problem. If you have acne, but only a few pimples, you probably do not have to have laser treatment with an expert. However, if your acne envelops your head and is a large factor for your lack of self esteem or unhappiness, seeing a dermatologist for an assessment is a smart idea.

• A permanent skin issue. This is where dermatologists are a necessity. If you have a scar, tattoo, birthmark, stretch mark, etc., dermatologists are experts at taking off or seriously decreasing the concern and breaking it down significantly.

• You’re seriously affected by your skin abrasion. No matter how bad your problem may appear, if you find that it falls into your every day processes, makes you think twice or be self conscious when talking to people, you must approach a dermatologist. This is unfortunate but there is really little you can do about it besides go to a professional and get the issue eradicated.

• You have insurance and cash to spare. Dermatologists are not necessarily overly costly, but they are still in the medical industry, and expenses can mount up. You must have the resources to utilize to make sure that you can afford a surgery or procedure that is not definitively needed for your well being.

People have a lot of concepts about skin care in Utah County.

Tons of these skin care issues and myths are miscommunicated.

These skin care concepts cause a lot of bad skin health decisions and horrible monetary choices.

Thankfully, there are ways to avoid these difficulties without too much problem.

1. Tanning is safe. All the gorgeous girls with awesome tans would like to know that tanning is risk free. Unfortunately, the UV rays can actually be fatal and hugely damaging, especially to your skin. This can create early wrinkles, cancer, and infection.
2. Dry Skin creates wrinkles. Although crumpled skin looks nicer when moisturized, there is zero proof that shows that the moisturizer will actually stop old wrinkles.
3. Skin care problems can be erased swiftly. Unfortunately, some conditions are chronic, meaning that their healing process is sluggished and methodical. Luckily, they can still be take off, so commitment and control will help explain these evils.
4. Males do not have as many skin problems as girls. GuysMen have just as many wrinkles as ladies and get other skin care difficulties just as often. It is more common that women are more fretting about their appearance, so they speak about and spread these myths a lot more.
5. Acne is generated by your food. Acne is created by oils and clogging of the pores. Food products can not create these issues, unless you massage your face with the grease from tons of these products. However, consuming these products directly will not create the skin difficulties you presently are faced with.

How many of these skin care myths have you heard?