Perhaps you're a regular at the dermatologist and go once or more a year, but maybe you've never made a visit to the skin doctor before. Whatever the case, you can get more out of your visit if you're prepared. Here are a few points to consider so that you can make your next trip to the derm a breeze. To find out what they are, just keep reading.
Beauty marks haven't always been beautiful; in fact, for a significant part of human history, they've been considered hideous, bad luck, or even a sign of poor money management. And while Madonna may have ditched her mole back in the early '90s, for many of us, these marks are permanent features. Check out the crazy ways different cultures have interpreted beauty marks, and find out whether your moles would have netted you a good husband or a visit to the exorcist.
There are loads of acne creams, wrinkle treatments, but do they really work? A new website called SkinOfMine.com hopes to help you discover the answer by allowing you to evaluate their effectiveness. All you have to do is take a "before" photo of yourself, upload it, and follow the cropping and analyzing instructions. Later, upload an "after" photo for comparison. Software scans the photos to note changes in things like texture, tone, and appearance.
The least sexy, but most helpful, tool on the website is the mole analyzer. While it can't replace the expert advice of a doctor, it does allow you to track changes over time. You can even email your snapshots to the derm through the website. So if you're tracking the shape of your moles — which could truly be a life-saver — this makes doing so a lot easier.
I'm not too attached to my moles, but a DIY approach to removing them? Scary territory. It's not hard to find mole-removing creams and lotions on the Internet, and while it might be tempting to rid yourself of an unsightly dark spot, think twice before you decide to play doctor. These at-home treatments, some of which claim to take about 20 minutes to work, often require the use of an emery board or toothpick to scratch the mole down and then the application of "natural," herbal ingredients to essentially burn mole off. While, yes, some of these over-the-counter products can actually do what they're supposed to do, there are some major flaws to taking these skin treatments into your own hands, including accidental scarring or pitting of the skin. To find out the most dangerous side effect, keep reading.
It's not only the 60 minutes you spend at the gym that keep you healthy; it's also the little things that can take a few seconds.
I know it's been on your mind, the moles on your back or your arm, or wherever. Put your mind at ease and take a minute to call a dermatologist. Make an appointment for a general skin check-up so they can take a look at questionable moles. If you've found ones that are asymmetrical in shape, have an irregular border, have varying colors throughout the mole, or if the diameter of the mole is larger than a pencil eraser, it's best to get it checked for skin cancer. You'll feel much better knowing, and it'll be great to do before Summer comes and you start spending more time in the sun.
Fit's Tips: Even though you may not be sun bathing on the beach just yet, be sure to wear a daily moisturizer that contains SPF. Not only will it prevent wrinkles, but it's necessary in order to protect you from the sun's harmful rays that can cause skin cancer.
File this one under – "If it works for specialists it can work for you."
A recent study found that looking for the "ugly duckling sign" in moles was a reliable way to identify malignant melanoma, aka skin cancer. The ugly duckling moles are those moles that don't follow the pattern of a person's moles; these stick out in their difference in pigmentation. Unlike the age-old fable, these ugly ducklings do not turn into swans.
If you have a mole with different coloring from your other moles, go and see a dermatologist! You should have your skin screened regularly, starting at age 30. The earlier a problem is detected the better!
"One of theses things is not like the other. One of these things just doesn't belong."
These three mystery ladies have made the most of their moles. They all have gorgeous skin and smiles and have showed us that beauty marks are something to flaunt! Take the quiz to find out which beauty mark belongs to what beauty!
