West Dermatology Rancho Santa Margarita

When most people think about acne, they often first associate it with puberty but this is not always the case. Many adults are still affected by acne well beyond the teenage years (about 50 million Americans), and the experience is different for both men and women from various factors. MALE ACNE For men with acne, hormone levels are usually the main trigger. Men produce more of the hormone testosterone than women, which results in thick and oily skin. The production of sebum, or oil, is also higher in males because their sebaceous glands are more active (from the testosterone), which can lead to clogged pores, causing breakouts. Lastly, while those beards may look cool, facial hair can trap oil and act as a breeding ground for the bacteria that exacerbates pimples and acne. In addition to the face and neck, men are more susceptible to acne on the chest, back, upper arms, and shoulders. Sweating may increase the severity, especially during the warmer months and after exercising, especia

Summer is finally here and with it the smell of freshly cut grass, backyard barbecues, and sunscreen lotion. We’ve transitioned into a new season with its own skincare rules. They revolve around the sun and, protecting us from its UV rays. Summer puts extra stress on our skin, and using sunscreen with a high SPF is essential. Here are our favorite tips for getting you summer skincare ready. Slip, Slap, Slop, and Wrap! According to the American Cancer Society, we’re most protected from the sun’s harmful rays when we layer several types of protection. So, slip on a shirt, slap on a hat, slop on sunscreen and wrap on sunglasses. These all work together to supplement the protection we get from sunscreen, which is often not enough on its own. Remember The Two-Hour Rule We all need to be extra careful about reapplying sunscreen every two hours. Clearly, if you’re spending most of the day indoors, this isn’t necessary. But for those days where you’ll be outside all day, reapply sunscreen ever

J une is an important time for men because it's Men’s Health Month! Its main purpose is to bring awareness to health issues and diseases prevalent among men and encouraging early detection and treatment. This also includes skin health! And with it being a time where we are all out in the sun more, it’s very important to consistently check your skin for abnormal moles that could be cancerous or precancerous, especially if you’re over 45. As we age, the risk for developing skin cancers and other skin concerns increases. And according to a UK study , if you’re diagnosed with a non-melanoma skin cancer between the ages of 45 – 59, your risk for other types of cancer, not just another form of skin cancer, goes up by 74%. Because of this, your health check routine should start by making sure your skin is healthy first. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends you perform a skin check monthly to help identify any changing lesions that might be cancerous or precancerous. If you do find somet

Get to Know Rachelle Pons, Licensed Aesthetician…. “invest in your skin. Its’ going to represent you for a very long time!” Rachelle Pons is the newest addition to our team at West Dermatology in Rancho Santa Margarita . She comes to us after successfully completing an Associates of Arts Degree in Beauty Industry Merchandising and Marketing from Fashion Institute of Design and Merchanting in Los Angeles, California, and completing her Esthetic Licensing from Golden West College and Cosmetology License from Fullerton College. Rachelle is also working towards her Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications and is expected to graduate in 2021. Skincare has always been a passion for Rachelle, and she has a lengthy background working closely with aesthetics. She believes that a person's skin can be a source of health and confidence. In her experience, she has learned that once a person sees their skincare results come to fruition, they radiate more confidence, and that sprea

"Bunk" is a slang term for nonsense, and in honor of June Acne Awareness Month, let's debunk the nonsense of acne myths and aim for blemish-free skin. Myth #1 Tanning Clears Up Acne We're calling "bunk" on this myth. The sun's UV rays do nothing to zap acne. Instead, your skin dries out, inflames, produces more oil, and gets worse. It may feel at first like the sun is drying your acne, but it's not healing it. We know this because we see tanned people all the time who still have acne. Plus, sun exposure increases your risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers. Myth #2 Dairy Causes Acne We've all heard that dairy causes acne, but this is definitely a myth. There's been some speculation that an increase in insulin growth factor-1 leads to acne because it activates sebum production and that milk proteins inflame acne. The truth is that no scientific study yet has been strong enough to prove a correlation between dairy and acne. Myth #3