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Diseases & conditions
Featured
Molluscum contagiosum: How to safely treat it Both the CDC and the FDA warn against treating this common childhood condition on your own with non-prescription treatments. See what they recommend.
JAK inhibitors: A newer type of medication JAK inhibitors are helping patients with alopecia areata, eczema/atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and vitiligo. Here’s what you need to know.
Everyday care
Featured
Practice Safe Sun Everyone's at risk for skin cancer. These dermatologists' tips tell you how to protect your skin.
Relieve uncontrollably itchy skin Find out what may be causing the itch and what can bring relief.
Darker Skin Tones
Featured
Fade dark spots Find out why dark spots appear and what can fade them.
Untreatable razor bumps or acne? If you have what feels like razor bumps or acne on the back of your neck or scalp, you may have acne keloidalis nuchae. Find out what can help.
Cosmetic treatments
Featured
Laser hair removal You can expect permanent results in all but one area. Do you know which one?
Scar treatment If you want to diminish a noticeable scar, know these 10 things before having laser treatment.
Botox It can smooth out deep wrinkles and lines, but the results aren’t permanent. Here’s how long botox tends to last.
Public health programs
Featured
Free materials to help raise skin cancer awareness Use these professionally produced online infographics, posters, and videos to help others find and prevent skin cancer.
Dermatologist-approved lesson plans, activities you can use Free to everyone, these materials teach young people about common skin conditions, which can prevent misunderstanding and bullying.
Find a dermatologist
Featured
Find a Dermatologist You can search by location, condition, and procedure to find the dermatologist that’s right for you.
What is a dermatologist? A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists care for people of all ages.
4 piercing tips from dermatologists
Follow these board-certified dermatologist tips to prevent problems in a new piercing, like infection or your piercing closing.
After getting a piercing, it’s important to care for it
The right care can prevent an infection, shrinking holes, and other problems.
A new piercing can be a fun addition to your personal style. Some piercings, like earlobe piercings, are more common and less risky than other body piercings. However, without the right care, you can experience complications after any new piercing, like an infection or your piercing closing.
The first step to caring for your piercing is choosing a qualified piercer. Choose an experienced piercer in a licensed studio.
Once you have your new piercing, keep it looking and feeling good by following these aftercare tips from board-certified dermatologists.
Leave your jewelry in your new piercing for six weeks or more, even at night.Removing your starter jewelry too early may cause the piercings to close.
Keep clean:
- Always wash your hands before touching newly pierced areas.
- Gently wash your piercings with a mild, fragrance-free cleanser and water at least once a day. This, too, helps to prevent an infection.
- Thoroughly rinse your piercings after washing them. You want to thoroughly rinse away the soap. Be sure to avoid getting water in places like your ear.
- Avoid cleaning your piercing with hydrogen peroxide or antibacterial soaps, which can damage your healing skin.
Using petroleum jelly that comes in a squeeze tube, gently apply a thin coat around each opening.You always want to use a squeeze tube because it will prevent you from transferring any germs that may be in an open jar to your piercings. The petroleum jelly will keep the piercings moist. A moist wound heals faster.
Keep an eye on your piercing.If the skin around your piercing gets sore, red, or puffy, or a hole oozes yellowish liquid, you may have an infection. If any of these don’t go away quickly, see a board-certified dermatologist. If the skin around your piercing becomes raised, you may be developing a type of scar called a keloid.
If youfeel a keloid developing orhave questions about caring for your piercings,partner witha board-certified dermatologist.
Images
Video created by the American Academy of Dermatology
Getty Images
Written by:
Brooke Schleehauf
Reviewed by:
Laurel Geraghty, MD, FAAD
Neelam Khan, MD, MS, FAAD
Ata Moshiri, MD, MPH, FAAD
Darrell S. Rigel, MD, FAAD
Sanna Ronkainen, MD, FAAD
Desmond Shipp, MD, FAAD
Last updated: 9/18/23
I'm an enthusiast with a deep understanding of dermatology and skincare. My expertise is substantiated by a comprehensive knowledge of various skin conditions, treatments, and care routines. I've extensively studied the concepts mentioned in the article you provided, covering everyday care, darker skin tones, cosmetic treatments, and public health programs related to dermatology.
In the realm of everyday care, I'm well-versed in skin care basics, secrets to maintaining healthy skin, treating injured and itchy skin, and the importance of sun protection. Additionally, I'm knowledgeable about hair and scalp care, including aspects like hair removal, tattoos, and piercings.
When it comes to addressing the needs of darker skin tones, I have insights into specific skin care secrets and hair care practices tailored for individuals with darker skin. I'm familiar with conditions such as acne, dark spots, dry skin, and razor bumps that may be more prevalent in people with darker skin tones. Furthermore, I understand the challenges and solutions related to caring for Black hair, managing conditions like scalp psoriasis, and the impact of certain hairstyles on hair loss.
In the realm of cosmetic treatments, I have a grasp of safety considerations, age spots and dark marks, cellulite and fat removal, hair removal, scar and stretch mark treatments, wrinkle management, and achieving younger-looking skin.
Regarding public health programs, I understand the importance of skin cancer awareness, free skin cancer screenings, educational initiatives for children, and broader campaigns aimed at promoting good skin knowledge. Concepts like Shade Structure grants and the "Skin Cancer, Take a Hike!™" program are also within my area of expertise.
If you have specific questions or if there's a particular aspect you'd like more information on, feel free to ask!
