Skin Republic

Dear Dr. Jen, I have red spots on my legs a few days after I shave. How can I get flawless skin on my legs? I cannot NOT shave. I am very hairy.

Bessi

Dear Bessi, Shaving, epilating, plucking, waxing can all cause folliculitis. This happens when the hair is either pulled out or the uppermost protective layer of the skin is removed (via shaving). Bacteria can then easily enter the hair follicle.

Permanent hair removal with laser is readily available nowadays. The newer machines are more advanced, with painless sessions and quicker results. Just make sure that the machine being used is FDA approved and is operated by a doctor. If this is not an option for you, you can apply an anti-inflammatory lotion (like desonide) along with an antibacterial cream (like mupirocin, fusidic acid) daily for a few days after shaving.

Dear Dr. Jen, I’ve been having falling hair for some time now and I think I may have a bald spot. My doctor told me it might be due to stress. How can I tell if my hair loss is due to stress?

Marissa

Dear Marissa, Stress, whether physical or mental, can indeed contribute to hair loss. If you have bald patches already, this is called alopecia areata. Physical stress in the form of fever, cough, colds, pregnancy, lack of sleep in the past few months can lead to falling hair. Mental or emotional stress can also cause falling hair. However, also take note that the hair does cycle in stages where it can fall or grow in groups within the year.

It is important to have the bald patches treated, as this can expand or increase in number. Treatment will be faster by doing intralesional cortisone injections. This entails directly putting the medicine underneath the bald patch. Using creams takes a longer route because the scalp is such a thick medium to penetrate. Other pathologic conditions of the body like anemia or thyroid problems should first be ruled out by laboratory exams. Lastly, if stress is indeed the cause, it is imperative to find ways to handle it better.