Epiphany Dermatology

The Cost of Misdiagnosing Yourself

There are hundreds of known skin diseases in the United States. There are thousands more around the world. For every skin disease, there are a number of websites that provide information about that disease. These websites show photos and explain warning signs and symptoms with the goal of educating the public. Some of these websites are more reputable than others, and many are published by medical professionals who don’t necessarily specialize in the...

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How to Spot Skin Cancer

Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate. Anyone can get skin cancer, whether young or old, fair or dark. Like most forms of cancer, early detection is crucial. Skin cancer can be treated and cured if detected early before it spreads. Most people should have a professional skin examination once a year. However, if you’ve had skin cancer, you have a family history of skin cancer, or you have reduced immunity, more frequent exams are probably a good idea. Ta...

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Do Anti-Aging Products Really Work?

Television and the internet are flooded with anti-aging products that promise to turn back the clock. They capitalize on the natural human desire to find the elusive Fountain of Youth. But how do you know which products are legitimate? Which ones have a great gimmick but little substance? More importantly, which anti-aging products actually work? What is an Anti-Aging Product and What Does it Do? An anti-aging product, as the name suggests, is designed...

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Which Facial Cleanser Should You Be Using?

Most people clean their face for one of two reasons: 1. They have acne, and they think washing their face will make some of the acne go away. But that’s usually not the case. Acne is just the result of the way the skin is forming. It has nothing to do with having dirt on your face. 2. They want to remove makeup or some other substance, such as oil. The best makeup removers are the facial cleansers that don’t use water, like Cetaphil or Albolene. Th...

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7 Common Myths About Sun Tanning

Most of the misconceptions about tanning involve a lack of understanding about what is happening when the body tans. The truth is, tanning is a reaction to skin damage. When the sun’s energy hits the DNA in your skin cells, it causes damage and triggers a chain of events. The DNA will try to repair itself, and it’s often successful. As part of that repair process, the body’s pigmenting cells produce more pigments. These pigments are then pushed o...

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Tips for Preventing Dry Hands

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night because you feel a burning, stinging or itching sensation on your hands? Or maybe you have chapping, cracking or fissures on your fingers or palms? These kinds of skin conditions (See: How to Exfoliate Your Skin Without Drying it Out) are caused by a number of things, but the most common reason is over-washing and overusing hand sanitizers. The goal of washing and sanitizing your hands is to keep germs...

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How to Choose the Best Sunscreen for Your Skin

In previous posts, we’ve discussed the general differences between chemical and physical sunscreens, and how much SPF is enough, but how do you know what sunscreen is ideal for your skin, and what factors you need to consider before making a purchase? A Different Way To Think About Sunscreen Think about what you’re going to be doing when using sunscreen. Just like you have different clothes for different seasons and occasions, you shouldn’t use t...

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Which Sunscreen SPF is Enough For Your Skin?

There are several misconceptions about SPF. SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a measure of UVB protection in a particular sunscreen. People always want to know what the right SPF is, and they’re often mistaken about the difference between SPF 15 and SPF 30, for example. Both provide the same amount of protection, blocking 95 percent or more of sunlight, but one lasts longer than the other. Let’s take a step back and talk about how soon skin burns a...

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How to Prevent Summer Skin Problems in Sports

During the summer, a high school football player will spend a lot of time outside in a mesh jersey. Similarly, a cheerleader will wear a tight-fitting outfit in the same conditions. As these athletes get hot and sweaty, and their clothes cling to their skin, it’s common for them to develop little red bumps that are mistaken for acne. In many cases, these red bumps are actually folliculitis, an infection or inflammation of the hair follicle. Folliculi...

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