Back-to-School Q&A from the Beauty Shrink Dr. Amy Wechsler

Dr. Amy Wechsler is a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist and psychiatrist (one of two doctors in the country certified in both areas) who has been quoted in People, Us, Allure, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and many more. Here, she answers a a couple quick questions about summer skin problems that might affect kids once they’re back in school.

Dr. Wechsler,
At camp I got poison ivy; how do I get rid of it before school starts?

PRESCRIPTION – It’s hard to speed up the healing process of a poison ivy rash, but by following these tips, it will help with your discomfort. Relieve itching and dry out blisters by applying a wet compress or soak the area in cool water. Zyrtec, Benadryl and Claritin, which are antihistamines, can also help the itching. If your rash is more severe, go see your doctor. He/she may prescribe corticosteroid pills or give you a cream, ointment or gel which may help clear up the rash more quickly. One complication of the rash is infection, which is common. To prevent this, don’t scratch the rash. Also, keep you fingernails short to minimize the possibility of opening the skin and spreading bacteria. Next time you think you may have come in contact with poison ivy,immediaely wash the affected area with soap and water (within 10 to 15 minutes after contact). You might be able to avoid the rash completely.
 

Dr. Wechsler,
I’ve managed to get athlete’s foot after running around barefoot all summer. How can I get rid of it?

PRESCRIPTION – Step one is to try over the counter creams or powders like Lamisil AT Cream or Zeasorb AF Powder. If the athlete’s foot is still bad after two weeks, go see your dermatologist for a prescription cream.
 
To prevent athlete’s foot in the future, wash your feet with soap and water and thoroughly dry them afterwards (especially in between the toes). Do not borrow other people’s shoes, and always wear shoes that are made out of leather or canvas because they allow the feet to breathe. Wear sandals when it’s hot outside; always wear flip-flops in public showers. Change your socks and using antifungal foot powder to absorb excessive moisture and to keep your feet as dry as possible. Following these tips should help to keep athlete’s foot away.
 
 
Dr. Wechsler,
I have the worst sunburn and we have school pictures soon; how can I ease the redness quickly?

PRESCRIPTION – Cucumbers have natural anti-inflammatories to calm and soothe sunburned skin. Place cold thin slices on your face, starting around your nose and spreading out onto your cheeks or anywhere there is redness. After lying down for 15 minutes, remove the cucumber slices and apply a light moisturizer. Milk can also help soothe skin that is chapped, windburned, sunburned, has eczema or other skin irritations. It contains fat, amino acids, protein, lactic acid and vitamins A and D, all of which calm dry skin. You can use a compress dipped in cool, whole milk for irritations like sunburn and eczema. Be sure to use whole milk; skim doesn’t contain fat, one of milk’s most soothing components. If you want a full-body effect, a milk bath gives you some relief…add 2-4 cups to a warm (not hot) tub and soak for 20 minutes. Apply light moisturizer while your skin is damp right after you get out of the tub. If you don’t want to use your milk from the kitchen, you can buy products that contain milk – based ingredients for the same effect. On your face, a green-tinted concealer can help hide the red while your skin is healing.

About Dr. Amy Wechsler

(from her website) Dr. Wechsler is a member of The American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the Women’s Dermatologic Society, the American Psychiatric Association, the Independent Doctors of New York, the Physician Scientific Society, and The Skin Cancer Foundation.

Dr. Wechsler is the author of The Mind-Beauty Connection (Free Press, 2008), and appears in the media to explain and demystify complicated dermatological topics. She’s been featured on the Today Show, the Dr. Oz Show and The Tyra Banks Show, as well as extensively in print, including Marie Claire, Self, O Magazine, Lucky, W Magazine, the New York Times, Health, Allure, InStyle, Shape, Prevention, GQ, Redbook, Better Homes & Gardens, People, Stylewatch, and others.