Austin Dermatologist recommended Creams for Dry Skin, Eczema, Burns0

Part 2: Specific creams and how they can help Dry Skin, Eczema, burns, and more:

Other skin barriers try to mimic what was on your own skin before it got damaged.    These creams have phospholipids and ceramides that trap water and hold it to your skin by binding it osmotically, and they also mimic the kind and concentrations of lipids (fats) normally found on your skin surface.   In addition, they recreate the skin pH.

All of these creams will improve your dry winter skin, but what about eczema?   Some of these creams also  have mild anti-inflammatory activity, and yet they are not steroids.    They are safe for constant every day use.   By preventing your skin from getting dry, then fissured, then subsequently infected, these creams serve a valuable purpose. Once your skin gets infected, then that triggers eczema and eczema triggers more infection – you have a vicious cycle.  Listed below are the basic creams we recommend:

For Skin Care Dr. Coverman, Austin Dermatologist, recommends:

Biosafe – This is the invisible glove that we use composed mostly of dimethicone.   We  put it on first thing every morning and each time after we wash our hands.

Elta – This is a Swiss product made of just three simple ingredients and nothing else!  No color; no fragrance; no preservative.

EpiCeram, Eletone, Mimyx, Atopiclair, Bionect, and CeraVe – These are all very nice creams with some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory activity.  They are great if you have  eczema because you can use them indefinitely, enjoy the actual steroid-like effect but   have no long term steroid dangers because they aren’t.

Biafine – This is a very unique product that helps wounds heal and is great for burns, dry skin, cracked skin, or otherwise inflamed skin.

Silvadene – Silver sulfadiazine.  We use this liberally on inflamed eczematous skin because it is the same cream used for burns.   If it can heal and soothe a burn, it can  certainly heal and soothe your dry winter eczema.  Often, this product used alone is virtually miraculous.   Patients love it, we never get complaints, and it is instantly          soothing.   You may use this even if you are allergic to sulfa!

Well,  thanks for reading all of that, and next month we are going to talk about the proper use and application of sunscreens.

Posted: Dry Skin, Home, Wrinkles

How Important are Oils and Moisturizers for Dry Skin?1

Dear Readers:

This will be the first of monthly blogs that you will be able to read on my website and on my Facebook page. Most of the time I will addressing general dermatologic issues pertinent to the season, but I will occasionally diverge into other general medical issues (how much vitamin D should you really have?). Although winter is almost over, I am going to speak about dry skin.

Reason for Dry Skin, Wrinkles? Understanding: Oils, Creams, Moisturizers and Water…

Dry skin is that way because of the lack of water, not because of the lack of oil or creams! Soft plump skin feels that way because there is plenty of water in and between cells. The reason oils, creams, or skin barriers are necessary is to prevent the evaporation of that water. Once that water is lost, the skin will indeed feel dry and become parched and cracked. Dry skin doesn’t cause wrinkles, so moisturizers won’t fix wrinkles. Moisturizers may fix the “appearance” of wrinkles, and there is nothing wrong with that, but long term there are better things you can do for wrinkles that truly work. (To be discussed on another blog issue.)

Dimethicone–Professional Moisturizer

Any emollient will prevent evaporative water loss: olive oil, vaseline, and so forth. The problem with some of these is they are simply not elegant: too greasy, too smelly, too hard to apply or too hard to get off. That is when the elegance factor comes into play. You want a barrier that smells good, looks good, feels good, and actually works. One of the best and simplest to use, is dimethicone. This is a neutral bland emollient that not only traps water in your skin, but protects your skin from the outside environment. It is often wonderful for people who work with their hands: apply just before going to work. This is best used by chefs, cooks, auto mechanics, construction workers and even teachers who handle a lot of art products and so forth. In fact, we use these products in our own office because we wash our hands so often. The dimethicone almost never stings or burns, there are absolutely no unneeded chemicals or fragrances added, and it really works as intended. We call it the “invisible glove.” Once it is applied, it melts into your skin and you can use your hands freely. The brand that we carry in our Austin clinic is called Biosafe. I will continue with more specific brand names and products next month.

Posted: Dry Skin, Home, Wrinkles

Is Botox Safe?0

“Botox Can Kill!” There has been a recent large press play about Botox killing people.  This was a huge and unfortunate media play intended to catch your attention during prime time.   In fact, millions of people worldwide have received Botox for medical and aesthetic purposes, and there are 75 countries around the world who have approved the use of Botox.  In the United States alone, more than 13 million aesthetic procedures have been performed with Botox Cosmetic since the product was first approved in 2002.   In its entire history, there has never been a single reported death where a cause or link to Botox Cosmetic was established.  

In the cases you heard about in the media, these few cases were reported in otherwise very ill children who received very large doses of Botox for juvenile cerebral palsy and other large muscle and lower limb spasticities.   In the latter, this use is not even approved in the United States.  Some of these doses were 100 times greater than what we would use for normal wrinkles:  Some of these patients were frankly overdosed.   In addition, other patients in this study died of other causes including pneumonia, and although they had received Botox to treat their underlying disease, it was the pneumonia that killed them and never the Botox.   Nonetheless, it had to be reported.   

One patient told me she heard that “Botox causes botulism.”   Botulism is a disease wherein one is inadvertently exposed in massive doses of botulinum toxin accidentally.   Botox injected cosmetically for wrinkles is placing a very tiny amount of this protein into specific muscles that cause wrinkles on your forehead – not muscles that control breathing.  One is uncontrolled and massive – the other is controlled with minuscule doses in non-critical areas (your wrinkles).  There is no relation -  Botulism as defined in medical textbooks is not caused by cosmetic injections of Botox.  

Posted: Home

Dr. Coverman’s New Blog1

Welcome to my new Blog!  Each week I will try to comment on something that has made the news:   Perhaps a new procedure, a new medical warning, or exciting new research. Those of you who know me well, will hopefully appreciate my continued candid responses, tempered with judgement and insight. I will keep the blogs short, relevant, and to-the-point.

Posted: Home