Victoria University

Victoria University (VU) was founded in 1916 as Footscray Technical School. After successive mergers with TAFE colleges across Melbourne's western suburbs, Victoria University of Technology was established in 1990, and renamed Victoria University in 2005. Today, VU is one of the largest and most culturally diverse education institutions in Australia, and one of only five multi-sector universities offering vocational education (TAFE) and higher education courses. VU now has more than 48,000 enrolled students, which includes more than 13,400 international students studying our courses onshore or with our partner institutions offshore. More than 2,400 academics, teaching and general staff join with the University’s students to make VU a university that is excellent, engaged and accessible.

VU maintains strong links with local communities, government and industry, and is distinctive because of its transformational role in improving the lives of people and communities, especially in the western metropolitan region of Melbourne. In 2016, we will be celebrating a Centenary of opportunity. This significant milestone marks 100 years of delivering high quality, accessible education in the west of Melbourne.Victoria University (VU) is well known for preparing our students not just for a career, but for life.

Through our strong industry connections and leadership in sport education, we provide opportunities for every individual to achieve success on their own terms. As one of only a few Australian universities to offer both vocational training (TAFE) and higher education with direct pathways between the two, our range of courses includes apprenticeships, certificates, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate programs. There are more than 45,000 students from around the world studying at one of our ten campuses in Melbourne’s west and the CBD – as well as an international campus in Sydney. In 2016, we will be celebrating a Centenary of opportunity. This significant milestone marks 100 years of delivering high quality, accessible education in the west of Melbourne. No matter where you are in life, we believe that victory is yours for the making.

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Stanford University School of Medicine

Welcome to the Department of Dermatology at Stanford University. Our mission is to provide sustained leadership in scientific investigation, patient care, and in training leaders of our specialty in an environment that fosters creativity and synergy.

Our faculty is committed to the highest level of basic and clinical research in dermatologic science. In particular, we are focused on translational medicine; bringing scientific results from the bench to the bedside.

Our faculty practices medicine at a world-class hospital; and are internationally recognized for the medical and surgical dermatologic care they provide to their patients.

Our vision is to train future leaders in dermatology, whether in scientific investigation or patient care. The competitiveness of our residency program speaks to the commitment our faculty has to our residents and medical students.

Research in the Department of Dermatology span a wide range of efforts, ranging from clinical trials to molecular translational medicine to fundamental studies in epithelial biology, as embodied in the Stanford Program in Epithelial Biology.

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University of Michigan

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center's mission is the conquest of cancer through innovation and collaboration. Our Center is one of only 41 U.S. centers to earn the National Cancer Institute's "Comprehensive" designation by meeting strict guidelines for:

Extensive, interactive and innovative clinical and laboratory research;

Participation in NCI testing of new therapies;

Significant cancer prevention and control research;

Provision of patient education, community service and outreach as well as training for health professionals.

At the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, our mission is the conquest of cancer through innovation and collaboration.

Nowhere is that mission more apparent than in our groundbreaking approach to clinical care. We combat the hundreds of diseases known as cancer one patient at a time, bringing together the top experts and the brightest ideas to develop complete cancer diagnosis and treatment plans personalized to the needs of each individual patient.

The University ofMichigan Comprehensive Cancer Center was one of the first to adopt a multidisciplinary, or team, approach to cancer. In our clinics, doctors and nurses provide ongoing care, and additional specialists are involved as needed. Teams also work with medical professionals in our patients' local communities, and with experts at other leading cancer centers across the country. This allows us to use a wide variety of advanced methods to detect cancer early and treat it aggressively.

Our commitment to cancer research also benefits the patients we treat. Because many of our doctors are also researchers or work closely with researchers, they know cancer at its most basic, molecular level. This knowledge helps to shape the care they provide.In fact, more than 350 U-M faculty members provide care to patients in the Cancer Center while working together on laboratory, clinical, prevention or outcomes research.

Providing the right support for cancer patients and their families starts with treating them like part of our own family. That's the commitment of the Patient and Family Support Services (PFSS) Program at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Cancer affects not only the organs of the body, but the whole person and the whole family. That's why the PFSS Program is fully integrated into each patient's multidisciplinary treatment plan. A patient's support team includes not only the finest doctors and nurses, but cancer specialists in psychology, social work, art therapy, nutrition, finance and many other areas.

From helping new patients find their way to clinic appointments, to managing the physical side effects of chemotherapy, to assisting families in locating affordable lodging during extended stays, the goal of the PFSS Program is to reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families and develop strategies to address them.

Our Patient and Family Support Services Program is one of the most comprehensive of its kind in the nation. We currently offer more than 30 different services, including:

PsychOncology

providing professional education, support and counseling assistance to help patients cope with the many negative social and psychological effects unique to cancer

Complementary and Creative Therapies

using music, art, journaling, meditation and other practices to enhance treatment

Symptom Management and Supportive Care

offering nutrition services; help with pain, fatigue, nausea and wound management; rehabilitative therapies and more

Patient Education Resource Center (PERC)

a full-service, multi-media library housing a comprehensive collection of resources on all aspects of cancer

Support and Educational Programs

including Families Facing Cancer, which helps children understand and cope with their adult loved one's cancer

Skills Lab

an interactive area that equips patients and caregivers with the tools needed to participate in their own treatment and recovery at home, including managing catheters and chemotherapy pumps, changing dressings, administering injections and more

Spiritual Counseling

using the tools of faith, religion and spirituality to help patients and families find strength and maintain hope

Grief and Loss Program

offering support and information for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one to cancer

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The University of Chicago Medicine

Experts in the Section of Dermatology specialize in treating patients with a wide range of skin conditions, from common issues such as acne and psoriasis to complex skin problems affecting those with weakened immune systems.

Our dermatologists are also widely regarded for their expertise in using the most promising advances to prevent and treat skin cancer. At the University of Chicago Medicine, skin specialists work side by side, using their combined knowledge to develop individualized treatment plans for patients.

We also offer an extensive range of effective cosmetic treatments for those who want to improve the appearance of their skin. This includes therapies that are not widely available at other skin care clinics.

The University of Chicago Medicine offers these classes, screenings, and support groups--both on- and off-campus--to help you lead a healthy, happy life. In addition, our Office of Community Affairs provides programs across the Chicagoland area. 

Clinical trials at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center:

• Cancer (adult and pediatric cancers)
• Advanced Solid Tumor Clinic (clinical trials for patients whose cancer is no longer responding to standard treatments)

Clinical trials at the University of Chicago:

Anesthesia and Critical Care

Medicine: cardiology, dermatology, emergency medicine, endocrinology, diabetes, metabolism, gastroenterology, general internal medicine, genetic medicine, geriatrics and palliative medicine, infectious diseases, nephrology, pulmonary and critical care, rheumatology, hospital medicine

Neurology: ALS, diabetic neuropathy, dystonia, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders/Parkinson's disease, myotonic dystrophy, peripheral neuropathy, stroke neurology, Alzheimer's disease/dementia/memory loss, ataxia

Obstetrics & Gynecology: general OB/GYN, family planning

Ophthalmology and Visual Science

Pediatrics: general, advanced health care services, allergy and immunology, cardiology, child protective services, chronic diseases, critical care, developmental and behavioral, emergency medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hepatology, nutrition, infectious disease, mental retardation, neonatology, nephrology, neurology, pulmonary medicine, rheumatology, sports medicine, sleep medicine.

Psychiatry: general, child and adolescent, genetics and molecular, translational and neuroscience.

Radiology: general, interventional, computed tomography.

Surgery: general, cardiac and thoracic, neurosurgery, ophthalmology and visual science, orthopaedic surgery, head and neck (otolaryngology), pediatric, plastic and reconstructive, transplantation, urology, vascular/endovascular therapy.

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University of Mississippi Medical

University of Mississippi Medical known for The Face & Skin center

As a part of University of Mississippi Medical Center, we are over 9,500 people who don't have ordinary jobs. We have a mission to deliver world-class medical care for every patient, every day.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center has three missions: education, research and patient care. UMMC includes five hospitals and University Physicians (the faculty physicians’ practice plan). We are dedicated to improving lives through quality healthcare, cutting-edge research and education of tomorrow’s healthcare leaders.

UMMC includes Mississippi’s only Level 1 trauma hospital. With a total of 722 beds, it is the largest diagnostic, treatment and referral care system in the state. Inpatient stays total about 29,000 annually with more than 209,000 outpatient and emergency visits every year. University Physicians providers see approximately 584,000 patients each year in 170 locations in 38 counties.

At Mississippi’s only academic medical center, something newsworthy is always occurring. Our organization includes five health sciences schools, five hospitals and a 450-plus physician multispecialty practice united by a common mission: to train the medical professionals of tomorrow and ensure the future of healthcare in Mississippi.

An academic medical center is more than a hospital. It’s hospitals and clinics, medical schools, and research programs working together. It’s nationally recognized doctors who set new standards of excellence. It’s where the next generation of healthcare professionals study.  It's where medical research thrives and breakthroughs are made. University of Mississippi Medical Center provides vital services. We are home to the state's only Level I trauma center, only Level IV NICU, only hospital dedicated to caring for children, only organ transplant program, and many other programs unique to the state's only academic medical center.

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Newcastle University

Pathogenesis, molecular and signalling mechanisms of inflammatory skin disease, skin cancer and ageing.

Cell signalling mechanisms activated by physiological and pathological environmental signals – including ultraviolet radiation, wounding/mechanical stress and genetic mutations

Genetic factors underlying inter-individual cutaneous responses

Clinical, translational and therapeutic research (including pharmacogenetics) of inflammatory skin disease (eg psoriasis and atopic eczema) and skin cancer (eg metastatic melanoma and squamous cell carcimoma) and bio-marker development

1. Skin dendritic cells and cutaneous immunology
2. Stem cell research
3. Approaches and expertise

There is a strong emphasis on inter-disciplinary working and the integration of clinical investigation and basic research as highlighted by a close working relationship between the clinical dermatology and the academic departments, based within the Institute of Cellular Medicine and the Institute of Genetic Medicine and The Newcastle Cancer Centre .    

Encourage imaginative and multidisciplinary approaches and have particular expertise in:

1. translational medicine (in vivo studies, bio-markers, therapeutics)
2. model systems (genetically modified skin equivalents)
3. wound healing
4. stem cell biology
5. imaging (live cell, confocal, high-content, in vivo)
6. UV irradiation (dosimetry, action spectra and human exposure)

Cell signalling and the analysis of cellular, mitochondrial, nuclear responses, flow cytometry, fluorescenec activated cell sorting, functional immunology and next generation sequencing. We foster a vibrant, interactive and collaborative environment as evidenced by multiple joint grants, joint supervision of research students and scientific publications.  The group comprises Principal Investigators (PIs) from Dermatology, Pharmacology, Haematology, Toxicology and Medical Physics within ICM and IGM.  In addition, Principal Investigators have collaborations across other research institutes (eg NUIA, ICAMB, IGM, NESCI, NICR) and research groups (eg Cell Signalling, Nanotechnology).

Our research environment is enhanced by key external collaborations promoting exchange of ideas and expertise.  These include links within and outwith UK/Europe:

• University of Durham
• University of Rome
• Singapore Immunology Network
• University of Oxford
• Queens University, Belfast
• The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
• The Institute of Cancer Research, London

Researcher Training

We place a strong emphasis on postgraduate and post-doctoral training and have an active weekly programme both within ICM and dermatology (clinical and basic science journal clubs, research in progress meetings) and play a key role in running the MRes in Medical and Molecular Biosciences. 

Many of our clinical trainees pursue higher research degrees funded through external nationally funded fellowships and our PhD students have secured both prestigious fellowships (European Commission) and post-doctoral positions  (e.g. Khavari lab, Stanford; Buck Institute, San Francisco; NIH, Bethesda; Sydney University, Australia).  In 2006/2007 we were one of only three units in England and Wales to be awarded academic clinical fellowships in dermatology through a national competition and a Walport/NIHR Lectureship was recently established.  Currently, we have two Wellcome intermediate clinical fellows in post, a unique achievement amongst UK dermatology units.

Dermatology is one of six priority areas supported through a Wellcome Clinical Research Training Fellowship Scheme in Translational Medicine and Therapeutics at Newcastle University which provides up to four fellowships per year for the next five years.   This scheme is designed principally to provide training for clinicians in translational research to PhD level in Newcastle.

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Skin Cancer Treatment at University of Miami Hospital

Distinguishing benign moles from melanoma:

To prevent melanoma, it is important to examine your skin on a regular basis, and become familiar with moles, and other skin conditions, in order to better identify changes. According to recent research, certain moles are at higher risk for changing into malignant melanoma. Moles that are present at birth, and atypical moles, have a greater chance of becoming malignant. Recognizing changes in moles, by following this ABCD Chart, is crucial in detecting malignant melanoma at its earliest stage.

Melanomas vary greatly in appearance. Some melanomas may show all of the ABCD characteristics, while other may only show changes in one or two characteristics. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

What is a risk factor?

A risk factor is anything that may increase a person's chance of developing a disease. It may be an activity, such as smoking, diet, family history, or many other things. Different diseases, including cancers, have different risk factors.

Although these factors can increase a person's risk, they do not necessarily cause the disease. Some people with one or more risk factors never develop the disease, while others develop disease and have no known risk factors.

But, knowing your risk factors to any disease can help to guide you into the appropriate actions, including changing behaviors and being clinically monitored for the disease.

What are the risk factors for melanoma?

Skin cancer is more common in fair-skinned people - especially those with blond or red hair, who have light-colored eyes. Skin cancer is rare in children. However, no one is safe from skin cancer.

Prevention of skin cancer:

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has declared war on skin cancer by recommending these three preventive steps:

Wear protective clothing, including a hat with a four-inch brim and sunglasses.

Apply sunscreen all over your body and avoid the midday sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Regularly use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, even on cloudy days.

The following steps have been recommended by the AAD and the Skin Cancer Foundation to help reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.

Minimize exposure to the sun at midday - between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Apply sunscreen, with at least a SPF-15 or higher that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, to all areas of the body that are exposed to the sun.

Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days. Reapply after swimming or perspiring.

Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand - they reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase the chance of sunburn.

Wear clothing that covers the body and shades the face. Hats should provide shade for both the face and back of the neck. Wearing sunglasses will reduce the amount of rays reaching the eye by filtering as much as 80 percent of the rays, and protecting the lids of our eyes as well as the lens.

Avoid exposure to UV radiation from sunlamps or tanning parlors.

Protect children. Keep them from excessive sun exposure when the sun is strongest (between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.) by having them play in the shade, wear protective clothing, and use sunscreen liberally and frequently - for children 6 months of age and older.

Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don't seek the sun.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) approves of the use of sunscreen on infants younger than 6 months old if adequate clothing and shade are not available. Parents should still try to avoid sun exposure and dress the infant in lightweight clothing that covers most surface areas of skin. However, parents also may apply a minimal amount of sunscreen to the infant's face and back of the hands.

Remember, sand and pavement reflect UV rays even under the umbrella. Snow is also a particularly good reflector of UV rays. Reflective surfaces can reflect up to 85 percent of the damaging sun rays.

How to perform a skin self-examination:

Finding suspicious moles or skin cancer early is the key to treating skin cancer successfully. A skin self-examination is usually the first step in detecting skin cancer. The following suggested method of self-examination comes from the American Cancer Society:

(You will need a full-length mirror, a hand mirror, and a brightly lit room.)

Examine your body front and back in mirror, then the right and left sides, with your arms raised.

Bend your elbows, look carefully at your forearms, the back of your upper arms, and the palms of your hands. Check between your fingers and look at your nail beds.

Look at backs of your legs and feet, spaces between your toes, your toenail beds, and the soles of your feet.

Examine the back of your neck and scalp with a hand mirror.

Check your back, buttocks, and genital area with a hand mirror.

Become familiar with your skin and the pattern of your moles, freckles, and other marks.

Be alert to changes in the number, size, shape, and color of pigmented areas.

Follow the ABCD Chart when examining moles of other pigmented areas and consult your physician promptly if you notice any changes.

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Skin care and incontinence at University of Maryland

Using diapers and other products may actually make skin problems worse. Although they may keep bedding and clothing cleaner, these products tend to keep the urine or stool in constant contact with the skin. Over time, the skin can break down. Special care must be taken to keep the skin clean and dry.

1. After urinating or having a bowel movement, clean and dry the area right away.
2. Clean the skin with mild, dilute soap and water. Rinse well, and gently pat dry.

Look for soap-free skin cleansers that do not cause dryness or irritation. Be sure to follow the product's instructions. Some of the products do not require rinsing. Some people may have allergies to the fragrances used in these cleansers, which can cause skin irritation.

Moisturizing creams can help keep the skin moist. Avoid products that contain alcohol, which may irritate the skin. If you are receiving radiation therapy, ask your health care provider if it is okay to use any creams or lotions.

Consider using a skin sealant or moisture barrier. Creams or ointments that contain zinc oxide, lanolin, or petrolatum form a protective barrier on the skin. Some skin care products (often in the form of a spray or a towelette) can create a clear, protective film over the skin. A doctor or nurse can recommend barrier creams to help protect the skin.

Even if you use these products, you must still clean the skin after each episode of incontinence. Reapply the cream or ointment after cleaning and drying the skin.

People who often have incontinence problems may develop a yeast infection on the skin. An itchy, red, pimple-like rash appears. The skin may feel raw. There are several products (both over-the-counter and prescription) that can be used to treat a yeast infection.

If the skin is moist most of the time, you may use a powder with antifungal medication (such as nystatin powder).

A moisture barrier or skin sealant may be applied over the powder.

If severe skin irritation develops, see your health care provider.

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University of Minnesota Physicians giving Dermatology (skin care)

From hives to hair loss, laser procedures to light treatment (phototherapy), University of Minnesota Physicians dermatologists have it covered. Adults and children alike benefit from our thorough approach to diagnosis and our innovative treatments.
You can see our doctors at our Dermatology Clinic on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus or at Fairview Maple Grove Medical Center. Children and teens can have procedures performed at a sedation center designed especially for young people.
As researchers and educators for the University of Minnesota Medical School, our dermatologists bring in-depth knowledge to their clinical practice, providing you and your family with comprehensive, coordinated care for everything from dandruff to skin cancer.

A team approach 
For complex conditions, our dermatologists work with physicians from other specialties, such as genetics, blood disorders (hematology), interventional radiology, cardiology, neonatology, cancer, eye care, ear, nose and throat care, plastic surgery and arthritis and autoimmune disorders (rheumatology).

Leading research

Clinical trials

You may benefit from participating in ongoing studies of new drugs, devices and therapies. Our dermatologists have access to clinical trials involving such disorders as psoriasis, acne, eczema, cutaneous T cell lymphoma and alopecia areata.

Skin immunology
A better understanding of basic skin immunology can help in developing treatment for skin infection, skin cancers, and autoimmune diseases of the skin, such as psoriasis. Dan Kaplan, M.D., Ph.D. is studying how specific types of skin cells affect immune responses. This research may also lead to more effective delivery of skin vaccinations.

Skin cancer prevention
UMPhysicians dermatologists are participating in a study of the use of 5-Fluorouracil cream to prevent skin cancer in people who’ve had skin cancers and are at high risk for developing new ones.

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Dermatology at Saint Louis University

Treatment for skin diseases and conditions in St. Louis

SLUCare's skin doctors are not just top dermatologists. They are the physicians of Saint Louis University's department of dermatology, offering you the most advanced skin care in the St. Louis area and treatments only available at an academic medical practice.

Our dermatologists treat common conditions such as acne and eczema, as well as complex melanoma and skin cancer cases.

SLUCare's specialists in Mohs surgery and cutaneous lymphoma are among the nation's leading skin cancer experts while our dermatopathology laboratory provides answers and second opinions for referring physicians and their patients.

Our cosmetic dermatologists provide skin rejuvenation and reconstruction, Botox® and filler injections, and laser surgery and body sculpting.

Through our hyperhidrosis clinic, SLUCare specialists provide the latest treatments for people who suffer from excessive sweating, using a mild electric current (iontophoresis), Botox® treatments or microwave destruction of underarm sweat glands.

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Columbia University Skin and Laser Center

Columbia University Skin and Laser Center offer the latest technologies and therapies for skin rejuvenation and resurfacing while treating you in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Their services are personalized to meet the individual needs of every patient in order to produce the best outcomes – radiant and revitalized skin and appearances.

All of our cosmetic procedures and treatments are performed by board-certified Columbia University dermatologist. Their medical knowledge of the skin and its functions maximizes the benefits of our cosmetic procedures while reducing risks. Through initial consultations, patients are educated about treatment options that will work best with the health of their skin and shape of their face in order to produce a youthful complexion and a rejuvenated appearance.

The Columbia University Skin and Laser Center offers an extensive list of procedures and treatments to suit the needs of our patients. These services include:


BOTOX
Botox Cosmetic is a non-surgical, dermatologist administered treatment that temporarily diminishes frown lines producing a smoother complexion.  Approved by the FDA, Botox is a purified form of botulinum toxin that is injected in miniscule amounts into the appropriate muscle to relax and thus diminish or eliminate the dynamic wrinkle line or furrow.  Botox has been used for over ten years and is becoming the most chosen non surgical treatment to reverse signs of aging.  The injections are safe and require no downtime.

Additionally, Botox is also used to treat hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating of armpits and hands

CHEMICAL PEELS
A chemical peel is a chemical solution applied to the skin’s surface to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration of the skin such as sun and age spots and refresh skin texture and color.
At the Skin and Laser Center we use medical strength glycolic acid and Obagi Blue Peel® System. A consultation with one of our dermatologists will decide which chemical peel is right for each patient.

COSMETIC FILLERS
Cosmetic fillers are substances that are injected through small needles into the skin to smooth depressions caused by wrinkles, folds, scars or facial volume loss. Areas amenable to treatment with fillers include lips, wrinkles, folds and fine lines around the mouth and eyes, and depressed scars caused by the likes of acne and chicken pox.
Over the years a variety of filler agents have been successfully designed to create a more youthful appearance.  Each filler is composed of different materials which produce different aesthetic affects and have different durations.  By way of consultation, our dermatologists will detect the best filler option for each patient.

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Skin Care Princeton University Health Services

Your skin, the largest organ in your body, protects inner tissues and organs from the outside environment. It’s important to take good care of your skin so it will continue to protect your insides and stay healthy as you age. Aside from time, the most damaging factor to your skin is the sun. Protect your skin from harmful UV rays by wearing sunscreen (at least SPF 15, but 30 is better) and protective clothing (brimmed hats, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirts, etc.). Other causes of skin damage and premature aging include smoke and yo-yo dieting. Not only do the chemicals in smoke dry and damage your skin, but wrinkles will form on your face from pursing your lips around cigarettes and squinting to keep smoke out of your eyes. Dieting affects the skin because losing and gaining weight causes the skin to stretch and lose elasticity, making it more vulnerable to wrinkling and sagging under the force of gravity.

Moisturizing is important for healthy skin, but be sure to choose a moisturizer that won’t cause irritation. You may want to look for lotions that contain alpha-hydroxy acids to wash away dead skin cells, keeping pores clean and revealing new skin, and to reduce water loss and the appearance of fine lines. However, this product may be irritating to sensitive skin. Avoid creams or lotions with sodium lauryl sulfate which removes natural oils from the skin. You can also help eliminate dry skin by using a humidifier, bathing less frequently, drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day, and using moisture masks.

Wash your face with tepid, not hot water, and use a facecloth and mild soap to wash off dead skin cells. Choose a soap that’s suited for your skin type (oily, normal, or dry). People with oily skin may need to wash their faces two or three times a day.

Don’t wash your body with hot water or harsh soaps that will dry and irritate the skin. If you have dry skin, only wash your underarms, genitals, face, feet, and hands with mild soap.

Pat yourself dry with a towel, rather than rubbing, and apply moisturizer immediately.

For men when shaving, soften your beard area with a warm washcloth and then cover the area with shaving cream. Use a sharp blade and pass the razor over your skin only once in the direction of hair growth. Shaving in the other direction may cause irritation.

Acne is the general term for pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and cysts. About 85% of people between 12 and 25 experience acne, though to varying degrees. Resulting from clogged pores, acne typically appears on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, and scalp. A pore gets clogged when the sebaceous gland – responsible for lubricating the skin and connected to the base of the hair follicle – produces excess oil that combines with dead skin cells to form a soft, white plug. Within the clogged pore, bacteria that naturally live on the skin multiply, causing an infection. In response to bacterial growth, the immune system sends white blood cells to combat the invaders. The combination of oil, dead skin cells, bacteria, and white blood cells causes the wall of the plugged follicle to bulge, producing a whitehead or blackhead. The difference between these two is whether the plug remains below the skin or is pushed to the surface. When the pressure of the hair follicle pushes the oil and dead skin cells to the surface of the skin, a blackhead forms. A whitehead is a clogged pore below the surface of the skin. If the follicle wall breaks down and spills its contents into nearby skin, a lesion or pimple will form.

Acne is the combined result of three factors: build-up of oil, abnormal shedding of dead skin cells, and bacteria growth. Scientists aren’t sure exactly what leads to these changes in the skin, but certain factors have been found to play a part. Hormones, heredity, bacteria, and medication are among the causes of acne. Additionally, environmental factors, such as pollution or high humidity, and touching your skin with your hands or other bacteria-laden objects can promote pimples. Some say stress causes acne, others disagree, but it’s a good idea to reduce stress for other health reasons anyway. Surprisingly, food has nothing to do with acne.

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