Back to School Skin Tips from a Memphis Dermatologist

By George Woodbury Jr. M.D. (07/21/2024)

New Acne Options and Eczema Treatment offers promise — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury with a teenager patient

If you or a family member has had a long-term skin condition – like Acne, Rosacea, Eczema, Atopic Dermatitis, or Psoriasis – or many Moles that need a Skin Cancer Screening - now would be a great time for a Back to School visit for a tune-up with a Dermatologist. You want the young people in your life to be in great shape health-wise, to be able to start the school year off on a positive note, so let’s take a look at some of the best Dermatology options:

Acne treatment has many more options in 2024 — Acne can take a toll on young people's self-image

Acne and Rosacea can have negative effects upon a person’s mood and self-confidence. Fortunately, Dermatologists like myself now have a growing number of promising, new Acne treatment and Rosacea treatment options, customizable for people with dry skin, combination skin, or oily skin, enabling us to reduce Acne scarring, from antibiotics like doxycycline and minocycline, to prescription topicals (meaning “on top of the skin”) for blackheads (comedones), papules, or cystic acne: Tretinoin Cream, differin gel (Adapalene), benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, or topical dapsone.

Accutane treatment requires strict avoidance of pregnancy while on treatment — Accutane treatment or isotretinoin treatment works by drying up overactive oil glands

Sometimes we consider a five months’ course of an oral medicine called Accutane or Isotretinoin. isotretinoin treatment (Accutane treatment) dries up the oil glands and is often highly effective, but also involves strict avoidance of pregnancy while on treatment, and monthly labwork to monitor cholesterol levels. Sometimes Dermatologists also look at hormonal therapies, like spironolactone pills, or even birth control pills.

Acne Rosacea can be treated with oral antibbiotics and Retinoids — Acne Rosacea before and after photo

Dermatologists also have promising new therapies for Acne Rosacea, also called Rosacea, to complement existing topical Metronidazole Cream and Desonide Lotion: Mirvaso® Gel (brimonidine) and Tretinoin Cream.

Eczema is also called Atopic dermatiits or Dyshidrotic Eczema — Eczema can occur on the body or the face

If you or a family member are looking for Eczema treatment (Atopic Dermatitis treatment), as a Memphis Dermatologist, for over 30 years, I’ve used topical steroid creams and ointments to alleviate the rash and itching of Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis. We also have newer injectable steroid-free medications – Dupixent® (Dupilumab) and Abry® (Tralokinumab) – as well as a new steroid-free cream – Zoryve® Cream (Roflumilast). Dermatologists also have Opzelura Cream and two new JAK inhibitor pills – Rinvoq® and Cibinqo®.

Dermatologists can often distinguish between Eczema and Psoriasis by inspection — Scalp Psoriasis and Eczema can be similar

Allergy Patch Testing – available in my Memphis Dermatology practice since 2004 – is a great way to check for trigger chemicals that may be causing flares of Eczema through a skin allergy to a preservative, fragrance, component of latex, or a metal. This type of allergy testing requires 3 visits in one week – so Summer is a great time to get allergy patch testing scheduled

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Psoriasis often starts in one's teens or twenties — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury counsels a Psoriasis patient

Psoriasis is a type of genetically-sensitive skin condition – which can cause both rash and itching – that can start in childhood or adulthood – and sometimes leads to Psoriatic Arthritis. Fortunately, Dermatologists have had an explosion of new treatment options in the last 15 years, with the development of Biologic therapies, from Enbrel® and Humira® to Skyrizi®, Temfya® and Bimzelx® – as well as a new topical steroid-free cream – Tapinarof Cream (Vtama®) – and oral steroid-free medications like Methotrexate, Otezla® (apremilast), and a new enzyme inhibitor – Sotyktu (deucravacitinib).

Melanoma often presents as a changing mole or skin growth — Dermatologists often go on 'Mole Patrol' to look for Melanoma

What about a fresh Skin Cancer Screening? The youngest patient with Melanoma in my own Memphis Dermatology practice was only 10 years old, so Summer is a great time for a Mole check or an evaluation for Basal Cell Carcinoma or Squamous Cell Carcinoma, especially if one is high-risk for skin cancer – prior blistering sunburn, blond or fair-skinned, develops freckles easily,

Big River Silk Skincare is Science Simplifying Skincare — Dr. George Woodbury with Big River Silk Skincare staff

After 25 years of practicing dermatology, in 2016 I decided to establish a skincare products company - Big River Silk Skincare™ Inc. – to manufacture and distribute organic skincare products for people going onto prescription therapies. I incorporated cleansers and moisturizers that my family of Woodbury Dermatologists has used for years for Tennessee and Arkansas Dermatology patients: AmberSoy™ Soap Gel and GlycoShea™ Facial&Neck Lotion – as well as two special gentle moisturizers for babies and children – made from Refined Shea Butter - HypoShea™ Moisturizer Lotion and HypoShea™ Moisturizer Cream.

AmberSoy Soap Gel can be used as an Acne mask — AmberSoy Soap Gel is a soft glycerine acne wash

AmberSoy Soap Gel is a great cleanser option for people with oily or combination skin. It can be used as a type of face mask, wherein it’s applied to the skin, then left on for 5-10 minutes. Available in 1 oz ($14.95), 2 oz ($22.95), and 8 oz ($74.95), it comes in Mint, Lemon, and No Fragrance Added, with no dyes, formaldehyde, nor propylene glycol.

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion contains Alpha Hydroxy Acid Glycolic Acid — GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion acts as an Antiwrinkle Cream

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion is a helpful fragrance-free exfoliating moisturizer that acts as a face scrub, due to its Glycolic Acid, an AHA or Alpha-hydroxy Acid originally discovered in pineapple. It also helps to even out the appearance of fine lines in the skin, making it into an effective anti-wrinkle cream. 1 oz ($45.95), 2 oz ($68.95), and 8 oz ($229.95).

HypoShea Moisturizer Lotion has Refined Shea Butter — HypoShea Moisturizer Lotion is a best baby cream being fragrance-free

Big River Silk Skincare’s AmberSoy Soap Gel, GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion, and HypoShea Moisturizer Cream and HypoShea Moisturizer Lotion are available for over-the-counter purchase at our headquarters, 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018, Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. They can also be ordered at www.Bigriversilkskincare.com (shipping: $7.50 USPS ship;ping for orders under $75.00; otherwise free shipping and handling) ($12.50 handling and shipping for Canadian orders under $125.00; otherwise free shipping and handling ). 1-901-753-0168.

Research in Dermatology has led to many new promising treatments — Having a clear complexion tends to build self-confidence

If you or a family member has Acne, Rosacea, Eczema, Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis, or if you’re in need of a Skin Cancer Screening, consider getting a checkup with a Board-certified Dermatologist. My own Memphis Dermatology practice since 1993 has been with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova, TN, near both Germantown TN and Bartlett TN (www.Rheumderm.com or www.Bigriversilkskincare.com) (1-901-753-0168). Or if you’re looking for a “Dermatologist Near Me,” or “Best Dermatologist Near Me,” go to the American Academy of Dermatology web site, AAD.org, then plug your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab, and you’ll find some of the U.S’ 14,000 Board-certified Dermatologists in your own neighborhood.