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Articles by Dan Kern

Alternative Treatment Options for Acne During Pregnancy

Light Therapy and Laser Therapy May Be Safer, but Both Can Reduce Folic Acid Levels. Proceed with Caution and Always Consult Your Physician. The Essential Info Acne sometimes flares during pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester. However, treating acne during pregnancy with traditional medications is difficult because: Therefore, women often look toward alternative treatments that …

What Are the Best Foods for People with Acne?

Low-Glycemic Foods, as Well as Foods High in Antioxidants, Zinc, and Omega-3s Might Help. The Top Food: Oysters! The Essential Info No one knows for sure to what degree diet affects acne. However, we do have some initial evidence that points towards the possibility that certain foods might be better for acne than others. The …

How Acne Treatments Absorb Into the Skin

Topical Treatments Can Penetrate into the Skin in Several Ways The Essential Info Topical treatments for acne must first pass through the outermost layer of the skin so they can reach the area of the skin where their action is needed. The 3 ways topical treatments absorb are: Caution – Deep Science Ahead: Continue reading …

How Can You Get the Right Amount of Vitamin D?

Regular, Brief Periods of Sun Exposure Are Best The Essential Info Vitamin D is essential to both skin health and overall health, and vitamin D deficiency might lead to more severe acne symptoms. Vitamin D deficiency is common worldwide, particularly: Get Some Sun: The best and most efficient method of getting enough vitamin D is …

Does the Sun Help or Hurt Acne?

A Bit Helps But Too Much Hurts The Essential Info Moderate sun exposure may be helpful for achieving adequate vitamin D levels in the body, which may potentially help with acne to some degree. The sun’s UV rays may also help kill acne bacteria and lessen inflammation, both of which could also help with acne. …

Blade Shaving Vs. Electric Shaving–Which Is Better for Your Skin?

When Done Properly, Blade Shaving Is Less Irritating, Especially for Acne-prone Skin The Essential Info Reducing irritation is the name of the game when it comes to shaving acne-prone skin.  There have only been three studies that look at irritation caused by blade shaving vs. electric shaving, and two out of three studies show no …

What Are Demodex Mites, and What Role Do They Play in Acne?

Demodex Mites Are Tiny Creatures That Live in Our Skin and May Contribute to Some Skin Diseases, but It Is Uncertain Whether They Affect Acne The Essential Info Demodex mites are tiny, colorless creatures that live in our hair follicles and skin oil glands and usually move around only at night. Their entire life cycle …

Dry Skin: Causes and Treatments

Dry Skin Is Caused by an Impaired Skin Barrier Function and Can Be Treated with Moisturizers The Essential Info What Is Dry Skin? The skin has an outer barrier that, when working correctly, keeps moisture inside the skin. Dry skin develops when the skin’s barrier function is impaired, which causes the skin to lose water, leading …

Does the Sun Burn/Tan Your Lips, and Do You Need to Protect Them?

The Lips Burn, but Rarely Tan. Sun Protection Is Important. The Essential Info The lips make up part of the skin, and just like bodily skin, the lips are impacted by sun damage. However, compared to the body, the lips contain drastically lower amounts of skin pigment (melanin), so the lips rarely, if ever, tan. …

Caloric Intake and Acne

Avoiding Consistent Overeating May Help Reduce Hormone Spikes and Resulting Acne Breakouts The Essential Info Many “anti-acne diets” seem to work only temporarily. Why is this the case? It may come down to calories. Decreasing calories may help balance hormones and clear acne in the short term. So that “anti-acne diet” you were on might have worked at …