Derm Lessons

About a month into moving to San Fran, I started having some skin issues.  My lips were cracking at the corners, and then later I developed some dry skin on my chin.  It was really awful! I tried using aquaphor and vaseline, but the dryness on my chin never went away.  My skin would become inflamed with too much sun or with certain products.  I've never had a problem like this before, so I finally went to see the dermatologist.

He pretty much diagnosed me with eczema.  I've never had eczema before, but he mentioned that it could be due to the products I'm using. He told me since most of my dry skin was on my chin, I should swtich my toothpaste also.

I'm a product junkie so I'm always trying new products once mine run out. I have a ton of different things that are in constant rotation so its pretty hard for me to tell if a certain product is causing the problem or not.

He prescribed me an ointment to use when the eczema flares up and an antibiotic for pimples and blemishes instead of using salicylic acid products you find over the counter.  I did get some good advice from the derm.  I actually think my toothpaste was causing the problem - it had some baking soda, which might have been irritating my skin. I d/c the toothpaste and pretty much since then, I haven't really had many flareups. He recommended me to switch my products to Cetaphil for cleanser and moisturizer with SPF. I actually really like the SPF moisturizer, I'm always looking for an SPF at least 30+,  and this one is very light and non greasy.

Lessons from the Derm:

1.  Condense your products, less is more!

2.  Use non-comedogenic hypoallergenic and fragrance-free products

3.  Salicylic acid can irritate skin so avoid products with this!

4.  Be aware of what products you are using for your skin

* If you do have a problem with your skin, document when it 

happens and what products you are using to narrow it down