Stretch marks fade with time; however, treatment may make them less noticeable more quickly. What exactly is a stretch mark? A stretch mark is a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly. The abrupt change causes the collagen and elastin, which support our skin, to rupture.

You can protect your health and your skin by asking your dermatologist to recommend a skin lightener. A skin lightener can fade — or even clear — dark spots and patches on your skin, but some come with serious health risks. If your skin lightener contains mercury, it could be damaging your kidneys

Skin care in your 40s and 50s Wrinkle creams, eye serums, and other anti-aging skin care products can help diminish signs of aging. To create a truly effective anti-aging skin care plan, however, it helps to start with healthy skin care habits. The benefits of healthy skin care habits include: Prevent

It’s possible to tighten your skin without a facelift. Do you find yourself gently pulling back skin on your face when you look in the mirror and wishing it would stay there? Does the jiggle in your upper arms bother you? A surgical lift, such as a facelift or eyelid surgery, will give you the most

If age spots, wrinkly skin, or other signs of aging bother you, you can have more youthful-looking hands. Thanks to advances in dermatology, it’s possible to diminish these signs of aging safely and with little or no downtime. Age spots Many adults develop age spots on their hands. These spots tend

With the right skin care, you can make pores less noticeable. When you look in the mirror, do you feel that your skin would look more attractive if you could shrink those large pores? There’s actually a lot you can do to make pores less noticeable. Much of this, you can do on your own. Here’s

You can do something about the changes to your skin and hair that occur in menopause. Menopause, which officially begins one year after your last period, can bring with it some noticeable changes to your skin and hair. As hormone levels plummet, your skin can become dry, slack, and thin. You may notice

Butterfly rash: This rash appears on the nose and cheeks in the shape of a butterfly, skipping the skin under each side of the nose. Lupus and your skin: Overview Lupus is a disease that can affect the skin in many ways. It may cause a: Widespread rash on the back Thick scaly patch on the face Sore(s)

  Tinea versicolor: It is not harmful, but many people dislike the way it discolors their skin. Tinea versicolor: Overview Also called pityriasis versicolor We all have yeast living on our skin. When the yeast grow out of control, a person can get a skin disease called tinea versicolor. Your

  Sebaceous cell carcinoma: The growth on this man’s lower eyelid is sebaceous carcinoma. Sebaceous carcinoma: Overview Also called sebaceous gland carcinoma, sebaceous gland adenocarcinoma, or meibomian gland carcinoma. What is sebaceous carcinoma? Sebaceous (suh-bey-shuhs) carcinoma (SC) is a

Reduce the signs of aging by following these tips from dermatologists. Wear sunscreen every day since the sun’s rays can accelerate signs of aging. Use a sunscreen or facial moisturizer that offers broad-spectrum protection and has an SPF of at least 30. Be sure to apply sunscreen to all skin

  Before and after laser tattoo removal: After receiving laser treatments from her dermatologist (right), the permanent lip liner is gone. Has a tattoo lost its appeal? Does your permanent makeup look less attractive than you imagined? If you’re thinking about removing either, you should know one

Think applying sunscreen to your own back is easy? In the video above, the American Academy of Dermatology uses an ultraviolet (UV) camera to show just how hard it is to cover your own back with sunscreen. As people attempt to apply sunscreen to their own backs – the UV camera quickly reveals all the

  Seborrheic dermatitis: Despite its appearance, this skin disease is not caused by poor hygiene. Seborrheic dermatitis: Overview This is a very common skin disease that causes a rash. When this rash appears, it often looks like the one pictured above. The skin tends to have a: Reddish color.

  Severe stasis dermatitis on the lower leg and foot: Poor blood flow leads to these skin changes. Stasis dermatitis: Overview Also called gravitational dermatitis, venous eczema, and venous stasis dermatitis This condition develops in people who have poor circulation. Because poor blood flow usually

  Warts: It is common for warts to grow on the hands. Warts: Overview Warts are benign (not cancerous) skin growths that appear when a virus infects the top layer of the skin. Viruses that cause warts are called human papillomavirus (HPV). You are more likely to get one of these viruses if you cut

  Squamous cell carcinoma: This man's skin has been badly damaged by years of sun exposure. He has a squamous cell carcinoma on his face. Squamous cell carcinoma: Overview Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common skin cancer in humans. About 700,000 new cases of this skin cancer are diagnosed in

Keeping your skin healthy and looking its best doesn't necessarily mean breaking the bank if you follow these practical tips from leading dermatologists: Cleanse, treat, and prevent. Don't let a 12-hour period go by without using some sort of treatment or product on your skin (sunscreen counts).

  Generalized morphea: This type of scleroderma causes widespread patches of hard, thickened skin. What is scleroderma? When a person has scleroderma (sclare-oh-dur-muh), the body makes too much collagen. This excess collagen, the substance that holds our body together, causes hardening and tightening. Most

For people with psoriasis, a chronic skin condition, taking good care of their skin can alleviate some of the discomfort that may be experienced, such as itching, cracking, and bleeding of the skin. While managing the skin condition can be a challenge, dermatologists provide tips to help psoriasis patients

  Scalp psoriasis: When psoriasis forms on the scalp, it can creep beyond the scalp. Scalp psoriasis: Overview Psoriasis (sore-EYE-ah-sis) can appear anywhere on the skin. When it forms on the scalp, it is often called scalp psoriasis. Scalp psoriasis can extend beyond the scalp. It can appear on

Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of skin color. It is estimated that  one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. When caught early, skin cancer is highly treatable. You can detect skin cancer early by following dermatologists’ tips for checking your skin. If you notice

As summer approaches and the landscape turns greener, so too are the leaves from poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. When the oil from these plants touches the skin, most people (about 85 percent) develop an itchy, blistering rash. Although the rash itself is not contagious, the oil can spread to

Psoriasis: Overview What is psoriasis? Psoriasis (sore-EYE-ah-sis) is a chronic (long-lasting) disease. It develops when a person’s immune system sends faulty signals that tell skin cells to grow too quickly. New skin cells form in days rather than weeks. The body does not shed these excess skin

Vitiligo: Overview Vitiligo: This skin disease often forms on both sides of the body as shown here on the knees. Vitiligo (vit-uh-lie-go) causes the skin to lose color. Patches of lighter skin appear. Some people develop a few patches. Others lose much more skin color. Vitiligo usually affects

  Molluscum contagiosum: This common skin disease causes bumps on the skin and tends to be harmless. Molluscum contagiosum: Overview Molluscum (muh-luhs-kum) contagiosum (kən-tā-jē-ō-səm) is a common skin disease. It is caused by a virus. This virus easily spreads from person to person. People

  If a mole starts to grow, itch, or bleed, make an appointment to see a dermatologist. Moles: Overview Also called nevi Moles are common. Almost every adult has a few moles. Adults who have light skin often have more moles. They may have 10 to 40 moles on their skin. This is normal. You should

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.

  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

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

For people with rosacea, managing the skin condition can be a challenge since what triggers redness and inflammation of the skin in one person may not trigger it in another. Yet doing some detective work can help rosacea sufferers discover quick and easy ways to keep their skin calm. Foods and drinks

  Shingles: This disease often causes a painful, blistering rash. Shingles: Overview Also called herpes zoster Anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles. After the chickenpox clears, the virus stays in the body. If the virus reactivates (wakes up), the result is shingles — a painful, blistering

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.

  Human itch mite: This female mite, shown magnified 100 times, is full of eggs. She will burrow into human skin to lay her eggs. Scabies: Overview A mite causes this common skin condition. Called the human itch mite, this eight-legged bug is so small that you cannot see it on the skin. People get