I get these little white bumps over my cheeks when I use my scrubs. Why do I break out?

by | Jul 23, 2010


We are the first to say that exfoliation is a key to looking younger, but it is possible to get too much of a good thing. Being too aggressive can remove the protective barrier of the skin and begin a cascade of irritation.

The skin has a delicate lipid barrier that holds in moisture and keeps out irritants. If this barrier is distressed from too much exfoliation, it will alert you by appearing dry, feeling tight, and becoming red/rashy. Small fissures can form and allow bacteria and toxins in that irritate skin. Small white “milia” bumps appear as a result of the skin forming a cocoon around bacteria and toxins.

Initially, exfoliation is tricky. There should be enough cells shed to signal skin renewal but not so many that the skin becomes dry, tight or irritated. The secret is not to overdo it. If your skin looks red and angry, becomes painful or sensitive, or you see small white “pimples” after exfoliation, give it a rest and use a bland cleanser, hydrocortisone 1% and moisturizer for a few days while your skin recovers.

Stripping Your Face with Harsh Astringents

by | Jul 20, 2010

As someone who had terrible acne and scarring as a teen and as an adult,  I would use the most unbelievable things on my face in order to get it to clear up.  Now I know better…using an astringent with a high percentage of alcohol to get that “deep clean” feeling is actually hurt my skin. Unfortunately, these harsh astringents remove much more than dirt and oil from your face. They will also strip the skin of essential moisture, compromising the barrier. In response, your skin actually produces MORE oil to compensate for the dryness and the vicious cycle never ends. We recommend using a treatment toner containing beneficial ingredients like salicylic acid to gently clean pores while protecting your delicate moisture barrier.

The ABCD’s of Melanoma

by | Jul 15, 2010

Use these tips as a guideline to determine whether you may have melanoma.

A:  Asymmetry – the spot isn’t symmetrical and may have an odd shape

B:  Border – look for a border that isn’t sharp or defined

C:  Color – the color is not uniform and may have different shades of red, brown, or black

D:  Diameter – the spot is the size of a pencil eraser or larger

1.3 million people will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year.

There are more new cases of skin cancer each year than breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers combined.

The risk of developing melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, has more than doubled in the past decade.  Yet melanoma is one of the easiest forms of cancer to prevent and early detection and treatment are critical.

More than 90% of all skin cancers are caused by sun exposure, yet fewer than 33% of us routinely use sun protection.

So if you notice any changes, please go to a dermatologist immediately.  It could save your life

Sensitive skin got you seeing red?

by | Jul 15, 2010

There are many reasons why the skin becomes sensitive. A small percentage of people have underlying skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis, while a larger percentage are likely to have a genetic pre-disposition making them more susceptible to the impact of the environment, including stress, climate change, travel, sun exposure, cosmetic overuse, and mechanical irritation (friction or rubbing).

For some, skin sensitivity may produce dry, red, itchy patches, while in others it may cause sensory symptoms such as burning, stinging, tenderness, and itching without any visible changes. Studies consistently tell us that more than 50% of people experience sensitive skin at some point in their lives.

  • Use SOOTHE Sensitive Skin Treatment to quiet dry, chapped, wintry skin, including hands. Our OTC actives, dimethicone and allantoin, will help strengthen your skin’s barrier while the optical diffusers will leave your skin looking creamy and luminous.
  • If you forgot to reapply your sunscreen and find yourself with a sunburn (shame on you), SOOTHE Sensitive Skin Treatment will help reduce the inflammation.
  • Use SOOTHE Sensitive Skin Treatment to quiet dry, chapped, wintry skin, including hands. Our OTC actives, dimethicone and allantoin, will help strengthen your skin’s barrier while the optical diffusers will leave your skin looking creamy and luminous.

How to Buy SOOTHE:    https://debi.myrandf.com/Shop/Soothe