Dealing With Common Back to School Skin Conditions
- Posted on: Sep 4 2014
There is a change in the air and back to school season is upon us. Your child’s skin from kindergarten to college is about to be bombarded with new germs and bacteria. Learn how to avoid, prevent and deal with the common skin conditions your child may face with the tips below.
Order AHA Facial Cleanser on-lineDealing with Acne: Hormonal changes, especially in the teenage years, can send the oil glands into overdrive and cause black heads, white heads and acne. Get to school with a clear and fresh face by cleansing your skin in the morning and evening with a cleanser designed for your skin type. This will help keep pores clear and open. Skip scrubbing your skin with harsh products as they can irritate your skin further and make blemishes look worse. At home: Use non-comedogenic, oil free products such as DermaSpaRx Oil Control Serum and Oil Free Moisturizer to keep skin healthy. See your Dermatologist if you are unable to manage your acne without a prescription or if it is severe enough to require treatment with Acleara.
Tough Acne and Acne Scars? If your child has scarring due to acne, Blu-U photo-facial light therapy may be a good solution. This treatment is non-invasive and effective at treating acne and actinic keratoses, as well as sun-damage on all skin types. Blue light photo-dynamic therapy works by killing acne causing bacteria, overactive oil glands and pre-malignant skin cells and pre-cancers.
Avoid skin infections : Dorm living and the return of team sports in the fall increases your child’s risk of contagious skin infections. Be aware of common skin conditions caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi to prevent infection and spreading. Teach your children to wash hands frequently and try to keep shared surfaces, sporting equipment and common areas clean and disinfected. Have your child carry antibacterial wipes or liquid with him/her if there is no access to soap and water. He/She should wear rubber shoes when showering in a shared locker room or dorm, wash clothing after participating in sports or visiting the gym and be sure all wounds are covered completely during any activity where there is contact with others. Read about common contagious skin infections such as ringworm, MRSA and herpes in a previous article by clicking HERE. If you suspect any form of skin infection head to your dermatologist for an analysis and take the right treatment.
Athlete’s Foot: You don’t have to be an athlete to get athlete’s foot. This skin condition can happen to anyone. It is a common fungal infection that you can get from walking barefoot in damp, public places like swimming pool decks or locker rooms. Athlete’s foot can result in itchiness, flaky skin and cracking between the toes and on the soles of the feet. If your child is exposed to the types of areas where athlete’s foot can spread, be sure he/she is following the steps below offered by the American Academy of Dermatology.
To reduce the chance of catching athlete’s foot, dermatologists recommend that you take the following precautions:
- Wear shower shoes, flip-flops, or sandals when walking around pools, gyms, shower or locker areas, and hotel rooms. The fungus that causes athlete’s foot may be on the floor. Even when taking a shower in a gym, it is important to wear shower shoes or flip flops.
- Even if you have not gone barefoot in public areas, keep your feet dry. This fungus thrives in warm, moist areas such as the one created inside hot, sweaty shoes. Wearing sandals or flip-flops helps when it’s hot outside. Shoes that are made from synthetic materials like plastic and rubber are more likely to cause sweating.
- Wash your feet every day with soap and completely dry them after washing.
- Wear socks made of natural fabrics or fabrics that dry quickly or wick moisture away from the skin. Also, be sure to change your socks every day and more often when your socks get wet.
- Alternate the shoes you wear each day, if possible, to ensure shoes are dry when they are put on.
- If you live with someone who has athlete’s foot, don’t share towels, linens, or shoes. Wear shoes in areas where infected feet have been.
If your athlete’s foot is not improving or is worsening, you should make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist.
Contact us at the Asarch Dermatology, Laser and Mohs Surgery to learn more about Back to School Skin Conditions and to seek treatment.
3701 South Clarkson • Suite 400
Englewood, CO 80113
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