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Diseases & conditions
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Both the CDC and the FDA warn against treating this common childhood condition on your own with non-prescription treatments. See what they recommend.
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Find answers to questions patients ask about this newer treatment option, including, “What’s involved in switching from a biologic to a biosimilar?”
Everyday care
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Everyone's at risk for skin cancer. These dermatologists' tips tell you how to protect your skin.
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Find out what may be causing the itch and what can bring relief.
Darker Skin Tones
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Find out why dark spots appear and what can fade them.
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If you have what feels like razor bumps or acne on the back of your neck or scalp, you may have acne keloidalis nuchae. Find out what can help.
Cosmetic treatments
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You can expect permanent results in all but one area. Do you know which one?
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If you want to diminish a noticeable scar, know these 10 things before having laser treatment.
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It can smooth out deep wrinkles and lines, but the results aren’t permanent. Here’s how long botox tends to last.
Public health programs
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Use these professionally produced online infographics, posters, and videos to help others find and prevent skin cancer.
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Free to everyone, these materials teach young people about common skin conditions, which can prevent misunderstanding and bullying.
Find a dermatologist
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You can search by location, condition, and procedure to find the dermatologist that’s right for you.
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A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists care for people of all ages.
These general skin care tips from dermatologists can benefit just about everyone.
While it's important to protect infants' skin from the sun, the AAD recommends applying sunscreen ONLY to children who are 6 months and older.
Don't smoke. Smoking speeds up how quickly your skin ages. If you smoke, your wounds will also take longer to heal. And research shows that smoking worsens some skin diseases, including psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa.
Check your skin for skin cancer. Skin self-exams can help you find skin cancer early when it's highly treatable. If you notice a spot that differs from the others, or one that changes, itches, or bleeds, make an appointment to see a dermatologist.
Use skin care products that match your skin's needs. What's your skin type — oily, dry, normal, combination, or sensitive? Do you have a skin condition? Using products formulated for your skin's needs will help your skin look and feel its best.
Resist the urge to scrub your skin clean. If you've been sweating heavily or have a serious acne flare, it may seem natural to scrub your skin. Don't! Scrubbing irritates your skin, which can worsen any skin condition, including acne.
Wash your face when waking, before bed, and after sweating. Washing when you wake up removes the dirt and bacteria that settle on your face while sleeping. Before bed, you want to remove makeup and grime, such as smog, smoke, or dirt, which may have landed on your skin.
Stress less. Finding healthy ways to manage stress can help your skin, too. Some skin diseases like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (eczema) often appear for the first time when someone feels really stressed. Stress can also cause flare-ups of many skin conditions, including acne, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.
See a board-certified dermatologist if you dislike something about your skin. When it comes to our skin, dermatologists are the experts. These doctors diagnose and treat thousands of different skin diseases. They also have the expertise needed to help people safely rejuvenate and care for their skin.
Related AAD resources
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References
Alikhan A, Lynch PJ, et al. "Hidradenitis suppurativa: A comprehensive review." J Am Acad Dermatol 2009;60(4):539-61.
Chien AL, Qi J, et al. “Perioral wrinkles are associated with female gender, aging, and smoking: Development of a gender-specific photonumeric scale.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74:924-30.
van de Kerkhof PCM and Schlkwijk J. (2008) “Psoriasis.” In: Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL, et al. editors. Dermatology, 2nd ed. Spain, Mosby Elsevier: p. 115.