Life style

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Yes, birth control pills (oral contraceptives) may improve acne in women. Birth control pills for acne are typically considered when acne doesn't respond to other treatments, such as prescription medication. How...

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Yes, birth c...

Laser resurfacing is a skin resurfacing procedure that uses a laser to improve the appearance of your skin or treat minor facial flaws. Laser resurfacing can be done with two types of lasers: A wounding (ablative) laser, which removes thin laye...

Laser resurfacing is a skin resurfacing procedure ...

How you prepare Before you have laser resurfacing, your doctor will likely: Review your medical history. Be prepared to answer questions about current and past medical conditions and any medications you're taking or have taken recently, as well ...

How you prepare Before you have laser resurfacing...

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. No — shaving hair doesn't change its thickness, color or rate of growth. Shaving facial or body hair gives the hair a blunt tip. The tip might feel coarse or "stubbly" for a time as it grows out. During th...

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. No — s...

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Research on the best foods for healthy skin is limited. Still, antioxidant-rich foods seem to have a protective effect for the skin. Consider these skin-friendly foods: Carrots, apricots, and other yellow an...

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Research on ...

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Although proper hydration is important for your overall health, it's not clear whether drinking extra water affects skin hydration in healthy people. Skin is made up of three layers — the outer layer (epid...

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Although pro...

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Tattoo removal creams are widely available online — but there's no evidence that they work. At best, tattoo removal cream might fade or lighten a tattoo. The tattoo will remain visible, however, and skin ir...

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Tattoo remov...

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Yes. The medication bimatoprost — marketed under the brand name Latisse — is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat inadequate eyelashes (hypotrichosis). Bimatoprost is also marke...

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Yes. The med...

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Sunscreens are designed to remain at original strength for up to three years. This means that you can use leftover sunscreen from one year to the next. Some sunscreens include an expiration date — a date i...

Answer from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Sunscreens a...

Insist on safety precautions To make sure your piercing will be done safely, answer these questions: Who does the piercings? Don't attempt to pierce yourself or allow an untrained friend to do the piercing. Go to a reputable piercing studio that...

Insist on safety precautions To make sure your pi...

From ears to lips to bellybuttons, piercings are popular and easy to get. Still, don't let the ease of getting piercings stop you from doing your research. Piercings carry risks and can cause complications. The decisions you make now — such as ...

From ears to lips to bellybuttons, piercings are p...

Make sure you're ready Before you get a tattoo, ask yourself whether you truly want to invest in permanent body art. If you're unsure or worried that you might regret it someday, give yourself more time to think about it. Don't allow yourself to be ...

Make sure you're ready Before you get a tattoo, a...

You could be the proud owner of a new tattoo in a matter of hours — but don't let the ease of getting tattoos stop you from making a thoughtful decision about permanent body art. Before you get a tattoo, make sure you know what's involved. Also...

You could be the proud owner of a new tattoo in a ...

Don't want to expose your skin to the sun's damaging rays, but still want that sun-kissed glow? Consider trying sunless tanning products. Start by understanding how sunless tanning products work — and the importance of applying them carefully a...

Don't want to expose your skin to the sun's damagi...

What do I need to know about sunscreen ingredients? Sunscreens contain filters that reflect or absorb UV rays. There are two main types of sunscreens: Organic. Also called chemical sunscreens, organic sunscreens absorb UV radiation and convert i...

What do I need to know about sunscreen ingredients...

What's the best way to sort through information about sunscreens? Start by remembering the bigger picture when it comes to sun safety and what you can do to protect yourself. For example: Avoid the sun during peak hours. Generally, this is betwe...

What's the best way to sort through information ab...

Don't have time for intensive skin care? Pamper yourself with the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent various skin problems. Get started with these five no-nonsense tips. 1. Prote...

Don't have time for intensive skin care? Pamper yo...