7 Common Skin Care Questions My Patients Ask

We can all agree that skin care can be confusing. With the constant addition of new skin care lines and updated treatment protocols, even after working in dermatology for several years, I feel I am constantly trying to stay up to date with the latest information.

I have realized over the past few years that my patients have a pattern of asking similar skin care questions. I have decided to comprise a list of the most common skin care questions I get asked as a dermatology physician assistant. My hope is it will help someone who may have a similar question but is too shy to ask.

In this article, we are going to delve into questions related to skin care routine, what type of sunscreen you should be using, how to determine if your new mole is a skin cancer or an age spot, and several more. Lastly, we will cover a very important question you may have at home. When is it time to see a dermatology medical provider?

7 Common Skin Care Questions I Get Asked Regularly At Work

In what order should I apply my skin care products?

This question will of course depend on the skin care products you are using but there are a few general rules of thumb. First, you should remove any makeup and wash your face. Next, you should apply any medicated topicals. This would include prescribed topicals, topical antibiotics, topical vitamins, and retinol. If you have multiple of these products then you start with products that absorb easily such as solutions or foams and then layer on thicker products after that such as gels, creams, and ointments. In the morning time, you would apply your sunscreen last, and at night your moisturizer would be applied last.

What sunscreen should I be using?

I recommend mineral sunscreens that have either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the main ingredients. You want at least 30 SPF and you want to reapply every 2 hours. Some of my favorite sunscreens are Elta MD, Blue Lizard, La Roche Posay, Cetaphil, and CeraVe. At the end of the day, the “best” sunscreen is the one you are willing to reapply.

I work from home, so I don’t need to apply sunscreen daily right?

This is a myth. Unless you are in the complete dark from sun up to sun down you should be applying sunscreen. You can absorb UV rays through windows at home and car windows. The short time it takes you to go to and from the car also puts you at risk for sun damage. The winter time or a cloudy day are also not exceptions to the rule. Always, always, always wear and reapply your sunscreen.

How do I determine if my new mole is a skin cancer or just an age spot?

The only definitive way to determine if a spot is skin cancer or not is through a skin biopsy, which is done at a medical office. We don’t expect patients to be able to tell if a spot is skin cancer or not, so we typically recommend annual skin exams to help differentiate between different types of lesions. That being said, there are red flags to be aware of if you are concerned you have skin cancer.

The more common types of skin cancers are basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. They like to pop up as pink or red spots that are not healing and start to become tender or bleed easily. Melanomas can arise as a new mole that looks different from the rest or as an existing mole that is starting to change. The important things to think about with melanoma are the ABCDEs of melanoma. A stands for asymmetry, B stands for border irregularity, C stands for multiple colors, D is a diameter greater than 6mm and E is any mole that is evolving or changing. When you’re still not sure if your spot is skin cancer or not, go see a dermatology provider.

What foods are worsening my acne?

The only food groups that have been clinically proven to worsen acne are dairy and foods that increase glycemic load- think high intakes of sugar. Dairy includes cows’ milk. Typically the two of these food categories are not the underlying cause of your acne but if you’re consuming them in high quantities they can worsen your acne. This information is more applicable to teenagers. Learn more about how diet can affect your acne here.

Why is my hair thinning?

This is a doozy of a question and depending on circumstances can involve a full workup with a scalp biopsy and lab work. There are many different types of hair loss. The more common types include hormonal-related hair loss and telogen effluvium which is stress-related hair loss. I wrote a more comprehensive post detailing the different types of hair loss that you can read here.

Why am I itchy?

Similarly to hair loss, there are a lot of reasons why someone may develop a rash or itching in general without a rash. The first things to look into are did you start any new medications within the past few months? What about body washes, moisturizers, laundry detergents, etc? Do you have any other medical conditions? Some internal disorders can cause itching of the skin. I always recommend starting with a hypoallergenic product routine for at least 3-4 weeks. I have an article addressing this specific concern that you can read here.

When is it Finally Time to Go See a Dermatology Medical Provider?

After doing your search on the internet and trying at-home remedies, if your skin condition still isn’t improving or if it’s worsening then it may be time to go see your local dermatology medical provider.

Similarly, if you have a concern regarding a new spot that arose and isn’t going away even after a month or two then it should probably be seen by a professional. I have a post outlying when to determine if you need a skin exam that you can read here.

The easy answer to the question: when is it finally time to go see a dermatology medical provider? is it is never too early. A big part of my job is preventive medicine. I recommend sunscreen, skin care routines, and skin checks to help prevent future skin issues. Of course, there are plenty of skin disorders like psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and certain types of hair loss to name a few that can’t be prevented and that is where a dermatology provider’s expertise also comes into play.

Did you have a similar question to any of the ones above and found this information helpful? Maybe you have a different question you’re having a hard time finding an answer to. Either way, comment below and let me know!

*Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer. Information on this website is for education and entertainment purposes only. Content is my opinion. It is not substituted for your own doctor’s medical care or advice. One should not make any health or medical-related decisions based in whole or in part on any content on this site. Content is not intended to replace the services of a licensed, trained health professional. Content may not apply to you as an individual. Although I will update my website with current information, this website is not a definitive guide to dermatology.