While the COVID-19 pandemic is nowhere near being over, we are starting to get our footing around a “new normal” of our daily existence. We are finding safe ways to get back into the swing of socialization after months of being cooped up at home. So, you just made plans with your friends for a weekend brunch…and then this happens.

Causes of Cold Sores

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, or HSV-1. It is a highly contagious virus that never leaves your body. Most people contract HSV-1 in childhood, but you can also contract it as an adult.

Generally cold sores start with a tingling, itching, or burning sensation on the lip. It may develop into a small, raised bump that can turn into a blister. If it creates a blister, it may break open and drain clear fluid that dries into a crust.

Once the crust has dried and fallen off, it is just about gone. Once the area is completely healed (about 10-14 days), the spot where the cold sore was will return to normal.

Cold Sore Precautions

Cold sores are very common and mostly harmless, but they are easily spread from person to person because of how contagious the virus is. You can become infected with HSV-1 by kissing, touching your skin with unwashed hands, and by sharing infected items like toothbrushes. Some people have an outbreak once or twice in their whole life and it never comes back again. But for some, they can keep coming back repeatedly. Unfortunately, once you are infected with HSV-1, the virus does not leave the body. You may never even know that you have the virus until something “triggers” a cold sore outbreak.

The ultimate cause of cold sores is the HSV-1 virus, but we need to concentrate on what triggers them to appear. Sun exposure, along with fatigue/stress and the common cold are the top three triggers for a cold sore outbreak. However, cold weather and certain food groups can also play a role in causing cold sores to appear.

Because sun exposure is one of the main triggers of cold sore outbreaks, it is especially important to ensure that you are adequately protected from the harmful rays of the sun. Make sure that you are using a broad spectrum, physical sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30. You should also use a lip balm with SPF 15 sunscreen or more daily. If you are constantly licking your lips, you need to ensure that you are reapplying.

Fatigue and stress just run the body ragged, which lowers our immune system making our bodies vulnerable to all kinds of viral infections and colds. If our immune systems are not functioning properly, it creates an environment where the cold sore virus can activate and form a blister. It is important to ensure that you are achieving adequate rest for your body to repair itself, as well as incorporating relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga to help slow the body down.

Cold weather can activate a breakout because of the change in air temperature and moisture levels, leaving skin dry and susceptible for a cold sore to form. It is important to protect your face against the cold and wind while you are outdoors. Continue to apply sun protection lip balm and stay indoors to avoid drastically cold temperatures if possible. Even though it may be cold and cloudy, the sun can still break through the clouds!

While generally poor diets will leave your immune system in a weakened state and vulnerable to any infection, certain foods (some healthy ones) can be troublesome in trying to avoid a cold sore outbreak. We all want to focus on eating healthy by ensuring that our diets are full of fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and lean proteins to fuel our bodies. Some foods that people look to incorporate into their diets to make them “healthier” can be adding in foods that may be troublesome to those prone to cold sores. Arginine, an amino acid that is found in a variety of different foods can play a role in outbreaks. Studies have shown that arginine has viral growth properties, which means it may increase the rate at which the HSV-1 virus multiplies in your body. If you are experiencing a cold sore outbreak, you should avoid foods like turkey and chicken breast, nuts (especially peanuts), chickpeas, dairy products, and lentils. It is also recommended to avoid foods that are spicy or salty, as these foods are likely to irritate the lips.

Since we do not want these oozy scabs on our lips for up to two weeks, how can we treat cold sores? One of the most important things to do while combating a cold sore outbreak is not to pick at the sore. I know it is tempting, but you can potentially spread the sores to other parts of your face and body as well as potentially creating an environment for an infection. Be sure to keep your hands clean and off your face! One of the most effective ways to get rid of a cold sore is with oral antiviral medications. They must be prescribed by a doctor and work best within the first day or two of a cold sore developing. If you wait too long, they may not work. It is best to get an appointment when you first feel the tingle or burn coming on. If you cannot get an appointment with a dermatologist, there are over the counter antiviral creams that can help treat a cold sore. They are less effective than oral antiviral medication, but it can reduce pain and the duration. As the same with the oral medication, it works best when you feel the cold sore coming on.

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“Vitamin C has been known to improve skin for years, but it didn’t get the same amount of attention that other skin care ingredients did until recently,” said Dr. Shveta Sharma, a certified Dermatologist.

“I think vitamin C serum is popular now because more information is surfacing on how it boosts the skin’s natural protection against sun damage, fights inflammation and produces a great cosmetic advantage.”

How vitamin C serum works

Vitamin C improves skin’s appearance in several ways. As an antioxidant, it protects against damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. Sun exposure increases free radical production. While your diet provides some vitamin C, using a vitamin C serum increases the concentration of the vitamin in your skin. And unlike sunscreen, it can’t be rubbed off. In fact, once vitamin C is absorbed, the protection it offers seems to last for days.
The vitamin also helps the body synthesize collagen and increases skin cell turnover. This means that dead and damaged skin cells are replaced by new ones more quickly, making skin look brighter.
Vitamin C serum can help address:
• Hyperpigmentation. Increasing cell turnover can lighten sun spots (also called age spots), dark spots caused by acne, and dark patches caused by melasma. “One of the great things about vitamin C is that it’s safe for pregnant women, who are vulnerable to developing melasma,” Dr.Shveta said.
• Fine lines and wrinkles. Faster cell turnover combined with increased collagen can make wrinkles less noticeable.
• Sun damage. By neutralizing free radicals, vitamin C reduces and helps prevent sun damage. It also works to prevent the sun’s rays from suppressing the immune system. This immune suppression is thought toplay a role in the development of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.

Choosing the best vitamin C serum

Vitamin C serums range in price and the amount of vitamin C they contain. You don’t have to choose one of the pricier options if it’s not in your budget.
“Any vitamin C serum, as long as it’s a “stabilized” vitamin C, is going to be beneficial, and expensive doesn’t always mean better,” Dr.Shveta explained.
The amount of vitamin C in serums typically ranges from 5% to 20%. While vitamin C is generally well tolerated, it is acidic and can therefore irritate sensitive skin. Dr.Shveta recommends starting off with a lower concentration. Move to a higher concentration if you’re not seeing results and if your skin can tolerate it.
Packaging is also key. Vitamin C degrades quickly, particularly when it’s exposed to light. So, an opaque container is a must.

Application and storage tips

If you have sensitive skin, start by using vitamin C once a day. Apply it in the morning to take advantage of the added protection against sun damage. (Sunscreen is always a must.) For people with sun-damaged skin, Dr.Shveta recommends gradually switching to a twice-a-day routine.

Apply vitamin C serum after washing your face and before applying moisturizer and sunscreen. Don’t apply too much serum or you’re wasting your money — three to five drops are plenty.

“It’s normal to feel a brief tingling sensation when you use it. This usually dissipates after a couple of weeks,” said Dr.Shveta. “Anything beyond that may mean the serum is too strong for you. It’s also possible that you’re allergic to one of the ingredients.”
To prevent vitamin C serum from degrading, keep it stored in a dark place and replace the cap tightly after use. You can tell when it has degraded by its color. Most serums are pale yellow and turn orange or brown when they spoil. If yours has degraded, it’s time to throw it out.

For best results, apply vitamin C serum every day, Dr.Shveta advised. “The protective antioxidants immediately shield your skin. It can take about two months of regular use to start seeing cosmetic results, but it’s definitely worth the wait.”

The post Vitamin C Serum Benefits appeared first on Dr. Shveta Sharma.

For most people, dry, red, itchy skin is the annoying byproduct of cold weather, hot water, or irritating products like soap or body products—or maybe even grandma’s knitted wool sweater. Apply a little moisturizer, and boom! Gone! But when should you start to worry if you are still scratching all day looking redder than a tomato at the state fair even after lathering yourself with the thickest cream you can find? Unfortunately, there are so many different things that can cause your skin to become red, inflamed, and itchy. It is time to take a trip to the dermatologist.

Types of Eczema and Skin Condition

Dermatitis is the medical term for extremely dry skin, but there are several different types. Most types can be remedied with topical prescription steroids and some lifestyle modifications. The most common form of dermatitis is atopic dermatitis, or eczema. Eczema is one of the most common skin conditions that is treated by dermatologists and is also the name for a group of conditions that cause the skin to become inflamed and red. Millions of patients from birth to adulthood are diagnosed every year with eczema, and it can range from mild to severe. The most common appearance of eczema is when the skin becomes itchy and inflamed; it has the appearance of a red rash. It is not contagious so do not worry! While the exact cause of eczema is unknown, research has found that it occurs because of an aggressive immune response to environmental triggers.

Eczema can occur anywhere on the body. Children with eczema usually have a rash along their arms, in their elbow folds, behind their knees, or on the face and scalp, particularly the cheeks. In adults, eczema can also appear on the face, backs of the knees, wrists, hands, or feet. The most important thing to remember about eczema is that it is different for every person and may appear in different areas of the body at different times.

Causes of Eczema

One of the most common triggers to eczema is just plain dry skin. When the skin is not retaining optimal hydration levels, it inevitably dries out and becomes scaly or rough, which can lead to a flare up. It is incredibly important to ensure that your skin is properly hydrated to avoid an eczema flare. Important steps to take include avoiding hot water; shower rather than bathe; patting the skin dry with a towel instead of rubbing; and using a ceramide-based cream to retain water in the skin. Different irritants in products can also aggravate eczema. These include certain metals, soaps and fragrances, household cleaning and disinfecting products, and chemicals contained in glues, dyes, and personal care products.

Eczema Remedies

While there is no cure for eczema, it can be treated and managed. Most patients can manage their eczema by implementing lifestyle changes like adjusting bathing habits and using non-irritating soaps and detergents, as well as incorporating recommended over the counter and prescription treatments to manage flares. More severe cases of eczema may require stronger prescription therapies like biological injectables and oral immunosuppressant medications to stop or limit the immune response that triggers an eczema flare.There are also other conditions that are related to eczema. Have you ever heard of the term “comorbidities”? It means that two chronic illness can live in the body at the same time. The most talked about common comorbidities are diabetes and hypertension. However, people with eczema are found to have several comorbidities that can contribute to flares of dry, itchy skin, most commonly asthma and allergies (either environmental, food, or both).

The most important things to remember about treating eczema is that you are not alone! Over 30 million Americans are living with some form of eczema. The most important goals of treating eczema are controlling the itch, healing the skin, lessening flares, and preventing infections. Your dermatologist will help you to create a plan to know your triggers so you can avoid flares, implement lifestyle modifications to provide comfort, and manage symptoms with consistent use of over the counter and prescription medications.

You do not have to live scratching away all day! Make an appointment today.

While we are doing our best to protect one another, it is important that we take the time to take care of ourselves. Call or go online today to schedule an appointment to achieve healthy skin.

The post Why Is My Skin Red and Itchy appeared first on Dr. Shveta Sharma.