I’m a dermatologist – these are five things I would never do to my skin
A dermatologist has revealed the five things they should avoid to ensure they maintain healthy skin.
Lindsey Zubritsky MD, FAAD, is a US-based dermatologist and content creator on TikTok, where she is known as @dermguru.
To her 1.1 million TikTok followers, she revealed her top tips for preventing skin problems and how to keep your face and body radiantly fresh.
From using laptops to waxing, read below to find out the five things she would never do to her skin.
Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky posted on TikTok under the handle @dermguru and revealed their hacks to prevent skin problems and keep their faces radiantly fresh
1. Prick a pimple in the 'warning triangle'
Dr. Zubritsky begins her list by warning viewers not to touch the “warning triangle” from the bridge of the nose toward your upper lip.
The dermatologist says that this is because 'there is a chance that the bacteria from the skin can enter the bloodstream through a cavernous sinus, which is in direct connection with the skull and brain, and can lead to serious infections, but also to blindness or even death'.
However, some users revealed that they still went against her advice, with one commenting: 'I've been trying pimples in the triangle area for years.'
A second wrote: 'I've been popping pimples in that area since I hit puberty. I'm 33'.
A third added: 'I've been popping pimples in that area for years.'
2. Sleep with wet hair
The skin expert advises you not to sleep with wet hair, because she says this can lead to 'a moist environment that is a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi'.
She also said that hair is weakest and most fragile when it's wet, which means it's more prone to breakage, thinning, and damaged hair follicles.
A concerned response from another user in the comments read: 'I'm guilty of sleeping with wet hair. I shower right before I go to bed.'
Another comment read: 'I always sleep with damp hair; mid-fifties now'.
Another user said: 'I sleep with wet hair and then wonder why it is so thin and falls out so often.'
3. Use a laptop directly on your lap
The next piece of advice from the skin guru is about how often you're tempted to use a laptop for convenience and comfort.
Dr. However, Zubritsky warns that “prolonged exposure to heat sources such as laptops or heating pads can lead to a skin condition called erythema ab igne,” a skin rash characterized by a reticulated pattern of erythema and hyperpigmentation.
It is caused by repeated exposure to direct heat or infrared radiation and she warned that this can lead to discoloration of the affected area for a “very long time”.
4. Use retinoids as a spot treatment
The penultimate tip from Dr. Zubritsky's approach to maintaining glowing, healthy skin was to avoid retinol or retinoid treatments, especially when it comes to treating individual pimples.
She clarified the best way to use retinols or retinoids, saying that they “help prevent and treat acne, so you want to make sure you use them all over your face,” rather than applying them to areas that are individually are affected.
The NHS says vitamin A supports the body's natural defenses against disease and infection, as well as helping vision in low light and keeping the skin and lining of some parts of the body, such as the nose, healthy.
The vitamin A content of a food is usually expressed in micrograms (µg) of retinol equivalents (RE).
The amount of vitamin A needed by adults between 19 and 64 years is 700 µg per day for men and 600 µg per day for women.
5. Wax the skin when using retinols or retinoids
The dermatologist's latest expert tip also related to the use of retinol (vitamin A) and retinoids, as she warned people not to wax their skin if they use products containing these elements.
Explaining her reasoning, she said: 'Retinols lead to increased skin sensitivity, which can cause painful burns after waxing.
NHS advice says you should be able to get all the vitamin A you need by eating a varied and balanced diet.
If you take a supplement containing vitamin A, don't take too much as it can be harmful.
Liver is a very rich source of vitamin A. Do not eat liver or liver products, such as pâté, more than once a week.
You should also be aware of how much vitamin A is in the supplements you take.