“Good skin quality” can mean different things to different people, creating confusion during aesthetic consultations. Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, has introduced the Skin Quality Index, or SQI, a research-backed framework designed to give patients and providers a shared vocabulary for discussing skin concerns and treatment goals. Why Is a Shared Vocabulary Needed? Research supporting [...]
Hydroquinone is commonly used to treat melasma and hyperpigmentation. However, prolonged or unsupervised use can rarely cause exogenous ochronosis, a condition in which the skin becomes darker instead of lighter. What Is Exogenous Ochronosis? Exogenous ochronosis causes blue-black or slate-gray discoloration, most often on the cheeks, temples, or neck. It is an acquired skin condition [...]
Perimenopause and menopause bring a long list of well-known symptoms, including hot flashes, mood shifts, and sleep disruption. What gets discussed far less is what happens to the skin during this transition. As estrogen levels decline, the skin undergoes real, measurable changes. The personal care industry has gradually started responding with products designed specifically for [...]
If the skin on your arms, under your eyes, or along your neck has started to look thin and finely wrinkled, almost like crepe paper, you're dealing with what dermatologists call crepey skin. It's an extremely common part of aging, but understanding why it happens can make a real difference in how you approach prevention [...]
The Hidden Dangers of Secondhand Beauty Products, Including Used Lip Gloss Between makeup-sharing culture on social media and the rise of resale sites for secondhand cosmetics, buying, borrowing, or trying "gently used" beauty products has become surprisingly normal. But dermatologists agree: when it comes to makeup, secondhand almost always means higher risk. Just How Dirty [...]
Blisters 101: How to Prevent, Treat, and Heal Them Fast Why Blisters Form A blister is the skin's response to repeated friction. When skin rubs against a shoe, sock, or another surface over and over, the top layers separate and fluid collects in the gap to cushion the area underneath. This creates the fluid-filled bubble [...]
What Saddle Sores Actually Are "Saddle sores" is a general term for several different skin concerns that can develop in the saddle area during cycling, and they are not all the same problem: Friction irritation: Raw, chafed skin caused by repeated rubbing against a saddle or cycling shorts Folliculitis: Inflamed and sometimes pus-filled bumps around [...]
Race Day Is Hard on Skin Between hours of sustained sweat, sun exposure, chafing, and gear rubbing against the same areas for miles, race day places more stress on the skin than a typical workout. Most of these issues can be prevented with a little preparation before the start and a plan for immediately after [...]
Sweat and Skin Reactions: Why It Happens and How to Manage It Why Sweat Causes Skin Problems in the First Place Sweat itself is not the enemy. The problem begins when sweat sits on the skin, mixes with oil and bacteria, and becomes trapped beneath tight clothing or workout gear. That combination is responsible for [...]
Chafing 101: How to Prevent and Treat It, According to a Dermatologist What Actually Causes Chafing Chafing happens when skin repeatedly rubs against skin, fabric, or damp material, breaking down the outer skin barrier and leaving behind raw, stinging, and sometimes burning irritation. It shows up most often on the inner thighs, underarms, bra line, [...]
