Zoe Diana Draelos, MD

There is no doubt that shaving cream is important in preventing pseudofolliculitis barbae. The purpose of shaving cream is to reduce friction between the blade and the skin, prolong the life of the blade, soften the hair, and improve shave aesthetics.

How many times weekly does the dermatologist get asked about nail splitting? A lot. Most patients ask about fancy vitamins and nail polishes that claim to improve nail health. Remember that nail health is an appearance claim without substantiation, as the nonliving nails really cannot be healthy because they are dead!

The medical world is changing; this is fact. Exactly how these changes will translate into practice and affect dermatology is unclear. So unclear, in fact, that many are scrambling to address issues that may or may not be relevant as the model for healthcare delivery is debated on national, state and local levels. This leaves dermatology at the apex of a trisection between science, art and policy that warrants further inquiry.

It is amazing that hair grows fervently in mature men's ears and not on their heads. Ear hair is particularly challenging because it does not respond well to laser hair removal.

At present, organic skincare products can be anything the manufacturer wants them to be.

Custom-matched self-service facial foundations are based on the concept of color and tone and requires the use of two products.

Nail exfoliation is an idea adopted from skincare to nail care. The concept in facial exfoliation is to remove the desquamating corneocytes creating softer, smoother, more attractive skin.

Have you ever examined what is left in your exam rooms at the end of the day? The staff is gone and the patients have all left, but something very important is left behind. What is it? Your trash!

Dapsone has been an important antibiotic in dermatology, especially historically, in the treatment of leprosy. It has been used for both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory purposes orally, but no topical preparation was ever available. This is because dapsone is neither water- nor oil-soluble, presenting a formulation challenge.

Antioxidants function to donate an electron to an unstable, highly energetic oxygen species. Thus, they prevent damage. In order to determine the value of a certain antioxidant ingredient, it is necessary to have an evidenced-based, validated method for comparison.

While reading a manual on EMR navigation code lingo for knowing which button to push on a computer to properly use an electronic medical record (EMR), I was watching the recently popular animated movie featuring Wall-E and EVA.

What are ectoines? Nutricosmetics and how do mascaras increase eyelash curl?

The short answer is "yes," sunscreens are able to penetrate the skin. This fact is proven by the ability to recover sunscreen chemicals in the urine, but the amounts are extremely small.

loe vera gel can be obtained in commercial burn preparations or by cutting open the leaf of this succulent plant. The gel that oozes from the cut leaf is considered a mucilage - a thick, viscous, clear liquid. The mucilage is 99.5 percent water, with mucopolysaccharides, choline and choline salicylate making up the remaining 0.5 percent.

Powder cosmetics are the simplest formulation and least likely to cause problems in sensitive-skin patients.

Q What is the mechanism of action of lip plumping cosmetics?

Numbers can mean many different things to many different people, and are used for many different purposes.

Q How do the "no nick" razors work?

Q What is the best way to remove false eyelashes without damaging the natural eyelashes?

Water loss from the skin is scientifically referred to as transepidermal water loss, abbreviated TEWL.

In dermatology, we are losing products more quickly than we are gaining products.

Q. Why do so many topical moisturizing products claim to have effects similar to botulinum toxin A injections?

I have grown accustomed to thinking that I probably know more about myself than anyone else. After all, I am me, and, as such, I am the foremost expert on myself. How could anyone possibly know more?

Q. What is the dermatologic value of the new soy proteins that seem so popular these days?

Q. What is the difference between an azelaic acid gel and an azelaic acid cream?

HIPAA is finally in effect! I must say this has been a momentous day in my office, as we have been busily preparing for the ultimate in patient privacy protection for the past year. Even though my office had to file an extension, as did all other dermatologists and governmental agencies, I assure you we have a plan that will "knock your socks off," as we commonly say in North Carolina. Prior to this time, I used to lay awake at night wondering who was going to break into my office and steal patient charts. Why, one of my recurring nightmares was opening the office door, only to find a completely bare chart rack. Can you imagine the horror of having to report this catastrophe to the police? But worry no more, I sleep at night knowing that my office is under 24-hour surveillance by a security guard and my HIPAA

Q. Is vitamin E allergenic? This is an important question, since there is some confusion regarding this issue. Vitamin E can be an unstable substance prone to oxidation in the presence of light and air. It is a potent antioxidant and in the process becomes oxidized itself.

Should I continue to allow my male patients with seborrheic dermatitis to use bar soap for hair cleansing?

As physicians who care for large volumes of patients of all ages, dermatologists develop bedside manners and communication skills to a high level