10 Things Your Dermatologist Says You Shouldn't Do

Here are 10 things I would never do as a dermatologist.

1. Go in a tanning bed… EVER. They are a type 1 carcinogen shown to significantly increase risk of deadly melanoma. And tanning of any kind is just a bad idea. And it should go without saying that any tanning is bad. Contrary to the notion of a “healthy tan” a tan is indicative of DNA damage within the skin.

2. Skip sunscreen - Of course this is on the list but unless you are completely avoiding the sun then sunscreen is essential to protect skin from harmful UV that can cause premature aging and skin cancer.

3. Get injectable treatments from a provider who isn’t a specialist. You run the risk of results you aren’t happy with as well as more serious complications. Unfortunately I’ve seen too many patients regret a decision to go to the lowest cost provider who doesn’t have the necessary expertise.

4. Remove a skin growth at home. This is a definite no. Aside from the potential of infection and scarring, there is risk of improperly removing (or partially removing) a dangerous skin cancer without having it properly diagnosed first

5. Pick, poke or pop (your skin). While it can be incredibly tempting, it’s best not to pop pimples and pick at your skin. This can increase inflammation, swelling and redness, but it also increases your risk of scarring.  In general it is best to keep your hands off your face.

6. Use Neosporin or Polysporin. Yes we all were told to use it growing up but the reality is that it can cause allergic reactions and you are better to just use Vaseline for general wound healing. If the skin is truly infected then a prescription antibiotic such as fucidin or bactroban could be considered

7. Sleep with makeup on. No matter how tired you are, it is best to clean your face of makeup, dirt and oil at night especially if you are acne prone.

8. Pull hair tightly, especially when wet. Regularly wearing a tightly pulled hairstyle can lead to hair breakage and loss. Over time it can lead to permanent hair follicle damage and a condition known as traction alopecia.

9. Give up on your skincare too quickly. We know that skincare and “active” ingredients take time to affect change, so don’t give up after a few days of use.  For most skincare you need at least a few weeks to start to see change and for more therapeutic ingredients like retinol it can take several weeks.  

10. Forget to do self skin checks. It is estimated that 1 in 5 people will develop skin cancer in their lifetime but when caught early, skin cancer is highly treatable. If you notice a spot that is different from others, or that changes, itches or bleeds you should have it examined.