Dermatology and skin-related issues

Dr. Leslie Baumann

Dr. Leslie Baumann is the Director of the Baumann Cosmetic and Research Institute in Miami Beach. She founded the University of Miami Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute in 1997 and was a Professor of Dermatology at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine for 12 years. She earned her medical degree from Baylor University in Houston, Texas, and completed her residency at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine in 1997.

Dr. Baumann authored Cosmetic Dermatology: Principles and Practice (McGraw-Hill 2002) which is the bestselling cosmetic dermatology textbook in the world. The new edition which published in April 2009 will be in 8 languages.

Over the last 8 years, Dr. Baumann has developed a new skin typing system consisting of 16 skin types that is described in her New York Times bestselling book The Skin Type Solution (Bantam Dell 2005). The Skin Type Solution is published in the US, UK, Australia, Brazil and soon China and Korea. Dr. Baumann is currently studying the role of genetics in determining skin type.

Dr. Baumann is involved in many clinical trials (including those on Botox, Dysport, Hylaform, Sculptra, Juvederm, and Tri-Luma) and lectures frequently throughout the world on cosmetic dermatological issues. She runs a training program for international dermatologists who are interested in expanding their cosmetic dermatology skills. She recently formed the Global Cosmetic Dermatology Alliance which consists of worldwide dermatology experts who meet annually and discuss new products and procedures.

She authors a twice weekly Yahoo Health blog at www.Skinguru.com that has over 3 million readers, and a twice monthly column in the Miami Herald. Visit her website at www.Skintypesolutions.com to sign up for free monthly newsletters on various skin concerns and procedures.

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Solutions to your skin-related issues

Most Recently Answered Questions

Questions 36 - 55 of 196 (Page 3 of 11)

Submitted by Lori from Brisbane, Australia

Q: Hi doc, another question i have is about vitamin C and retinol. On your book you recommend retinol for my ORPT skin type. You also mentioned vitamin c for OSPW skin type saying it works for both pigmentation and wrinkle. As a ORPT can i use vitamin C as well? eg vitamin serum sorts of thing to help my pigmentation. And what's the different effect between vitamin c and retinol, can i use them at the same time?Thank you.

Answered 03/20/09 12:09:20 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: yes you can use them at the same time. They work very differently. Yes they are good for your skin type.

Submitted by Michelle from Miami, Fl

Q: What would you suggest for a blonde with lots of exposure to the sun in West Texas (Lubbock)?

Answered 03/20/09 12:08:36 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: I am from Lubbock too! It depends on your problems. Fine lines? deep wrinkles. dark patches? freckles? For sure you need a retinoid like Atralin, Tazorac, Differin or Ziana.

Submitted by Christine from Fort Collins, CO

Q: If one is going to use a moisturizer together with retin-a,does it make a difference which one goes on the skin first. I read at an Atopalm site,that you should apply Atopalm first & then apply the retin-a. Do you agree? Or should the Atopalm go on afterwards...or does it not make a difference either way. Also,if the Atopalm goes on first...should one wait for the 30 min after cleansing,as is advised when using retin-a.

Answered 03/20/09 12:05:52 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: It depends on your skin type. In my book The Skin Type Solution (It is $9 on amazon.com) I explain what to do for each skin type. Basicaly- use AtoPalm first in the beginning and after you get used to the Retin A then use the Retin A first. My favortie Retin A is Atralin for wrinkles and Ziana for acne.

Submitted by Carolina Rivera from Los Angeles, CA

Q: I have a skin condition called melasma(brown spots on the face, cheeks), and I was wondering whether there is some kind of medicine for this condition rare skin problem.

Answered 03/20/09 12:04:08 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: Yes- ask your doctor for a prescription for Tri-Luma. You are a pigmented skin type. Check out my book The Skin Type Solution (It is $9 on amazon.com) Take the quiz in chapter 3 to find out your skin type. It discusses melasma.

Submitted by tia from nj

Q: i am a african american women in her mid 20's. my hair stops at the middle of my back and lately, as i have been noticing, i have dark blotches on my neck and back right by were my hair stops. i am caramel in complexion so these unsightly marks are an embarrassment. a friend introduced me to something called bio-oil which i have been using for the past three days. i havent seen improvement yet. what would you suggest???

Answered 03/20/09 12:02:52 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: Is it where the hair touches? if so- it may be a hair product you are using that is making the skin sensitive to sun. Is this in sun exposed areas? You have a great dermatologist close to you that specializes in skin of color. Jeanine Downie is in Montclair NJ 973-509-6900

Submitted by Lucille from Belleville, NJ

Q: I wash my face with aveeno foaming cleanser no perfume suppose to calm been using it for a while now, recently my skin's been breaking out only on one side of my face and it itches. Is it the cleanser or maybe food allergies what can I use for it?

Answered 03/20/09 12:00:08 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: Maybe you are allergic to something in the Cleasner. Try the Eucerin redness relief instead. have you read my book the Skin Type Solution? its $9 on amazon.com. It would help me to know your skin type.

Submitted by sara from fort lauderdale, fl

Q: Hello Dr. Baumann- I read your book and appreciate all of the wonderful information! I was wondering what your thoughts are of Lifecell cream. Is it safe? Is it worth the $$$$? Thank you, Sara

Answered 03/20/09 11:58:53 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: No! You can tell by the web site that they have no data. In the after pictures- the people have makeup on. Where are the peer reviewed publications. I cannot belive that dermatologists would put their name on this stuff!

Submitted by melissa from SLC, UT

Q: A skin care line I have liked uses butelyne glycol in almost every moisturizer. I have DSPW skin, and their products seem to be very gentle. But I would like to know if that ingredient is safe and effective for my skin type. Any recommendations for a dermatologist in SLC would also be appreciated! Thanks.

Answered 03/20/09 10:45:33 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: I do not know anyone in Salt Lake City. You can look at www.aad.org.

Submitted by Olga from Fresno Ca

Q: How safe is Derma-Wand and does it really help the skin?

Answered 03/20/09 10:37:53 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: The Derma- Wand emits a stream of low level micro-current impulses up to 168,000 cycles per second. The claim is that it massages and rejuvenates skin. It is safe but I have never seen convincing data that it is effective. Some wound healing research implies that electrical current may stimulate skin cells to make collagen but we do not know what kind of current and how much is best so I would not waste money on this type of devcie at this time. Wait for the technology to get better.

Submitted by Linda Grohman from Conroe, TX

Q: How do I find out my skin type according to the Baumann Skin Type scale?

Answered 03/20/09 10:32:49 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: Hi Linda. I am a Texan! I grew up in Lubbock texas. You can find out your type by taking the questionnaire in my book The Skin Type Solution. It is $9 at www.Amazon.com. The questionnaire is in chapter 3. Once you know your Baumann Skin type you go to the corresponding chapter to see what to do for your skin. You can also visit www.skintypesolutions.com to speak to others of the same skin type and ask them questions.

Submitted by shumi from perris,ca

Q: in my face and neck i have a dark pigmentation,and when i go outside few hours later my skin become so oily.i always use sunscreeen. what i should do?

Answered 03/20/09 10:30:28 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: You may be taking medications that make you sensitive to the sun. Blood pressure medication is a common cause.

Submitted by lucy karanja from El-Sobrante, California

Q: Dear Dr. Baumann, I have had a nail fungus since 1994 when I accidentally slummed the door of a car on my fingers. My middle finger has been infected and has spread to my ring finger also. I saw my dermatologist who prescribed me some pills which I took once a week for 9months and there was no improvement whatsoever. Three weeks ago I saw a different dermatologist and she advise me to use over the counter cream and there was nothing else to be done. Can you please advise what to do cause I cannot grow my nails anymore since the two fingers look horrible. Sincerely lucy

Answered 03/20/09 10:29:22 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: It is hard to know without seeing them. Have they done a culture to prove it was a fungus? They can culture it and find out which antifungals work best. I recommend seeing a specialist. Call the dermatoloogy Dept at whatever medcial school is closest to you and see if they have a nail specialist. I doubt the topical creams will have any effect. In some cases they remove the nail. Some new technologies may be coming so do not despair.

Submitted by Your Name from Your Location (City, State)

Q: hi dr.baumann i read your book and came out as OSNT.i have not been diagnosed with rosacea since im in the military and having a hard time to get a doctor to send me to a dermatologist, but it is pretty obvious that i do have it.acne and the severe flushing are my problems right now and i got it sort of under control by folowing your books recommendations.using panoxyl morning and night,aveeno ultra-calming spf15 in the morning and aveeno ultra-calming cream night and help me retinol treatment at night. heres the thing;i read on the internet that benzoyl peroxide breacks down the components of tretinoin if used together and make the tretinoin uneffective. is this true and if yes,am i making a mistake by using the BP cleanser and retinol together?

Answered 03/20/09 10:26:58 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: If you used a BP lotion it would be a problem but using the cleanser shold be OK because most of the BP is washed off. However, a salicylic acid wash such as the Neutrogena Acne Wash may work better for you- so try that. Thanks for all you are doing for our country! We all appreciate it!

Submitted by Mary from St Paul

Q: I'm Asian and my skin is DRPW. It's extremely sensitive to the sun, which is why I use a very high SPF (at least SPF 70). What brand sunblock do you recommend and do I really need to use this high of an SPF? How much do you need to put into your face and neck to get the full SPF benefit? Also, I heard that if you use a chemical blocker that you should wait at least 5 min after cleansing to put this onto your face, but if you use a physical blocker, you should put this on ASAP. Is this true? Thank you for your help!

Answered 02/12/09 17:51:05 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: You can put all sunscreens on immediately. You can find a newsletter about sunscreen at www.skintypesolutions.com. use 1/2 teaspoon of sunscreen to face and another for neck. Yes you need a high spf. On days that you do not get sun i think Aveeno positively radiant is enough. if you are going to be in sun- have you tried la roche posay anthelios?

Submitted by Sara from CA

Q: Hi Dr. Baumann. I got your book, The Skin Type Solution few days ago. My skin type is DRPW. I am highly pigmented and my dermatologist recommended hydroquinone. I read that using it could affect the way your face tans and that you should only put it on the spots. I have spots all over (cheeks, nose, below my eyebrow), so can I spread it all over my cheeks and nose area or only on each individual spot? How often should I use hydroquinone--twice daily?

Answered 02/12/09 17:49:00 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: Use all over the face twice a day. Try Aveeno Positively Radiant face lotion with spf.

Submitted by Lynea Cochran from Miami

Q: I will be moving to Colorado this year and I was wondering how to care for my skin out there. I have combination skin and I noticed that my skin is less oily when I am out there. I do worry about my eye area. It appears to get very dry in Colorado. Would you recommend some products for my eye area as well face that might work for me?

Answered 02/12/09 17:48:16 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: You need a stronger moisturizer. I like AtoPalm MLE cream and for an eye cream i like Kinerasre Ultra rich eye cream. In Boulder there is a great dermatologist named Dr Pachecho.

Submitted by kazumi from new zealand

Q: hi there i'm kaz i have a heaps of pimples and dry skin.. i've tried so many products to get rid of them but they're all not working..please help me how to get rid of them..(+_+) thanks

Answered 02/12/09 17:46:56 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: Please read my book. Take the test in Chapter 3 to find your skin type. It is sold by Penguin publishers in New Zealand so ask your bookstore. It is called The Skin Type Solution. Visit www.skintypesolutions.com for info.

Submitted by Lynn Bayers from Bellingham, WA

Q: Hi Dr Baumann. Is there any way to use a 10% glycolic acid cream as well as my Tazorac 0.1 cream, or somehow use glycolic acid in my regime (as a facewash or something) or are they contraindicated? I use Taz since there seems to be more solid science behind it. Am I right? However I miss the glow I used to get from my Neostrata 10% glycolic cream, but when I try to use it on my face (not with the Taz), it turns red and burns. If I irritate my skin too much can it cause aging or is that a myth? I'm really interested in what you have to say about this irritation/aging subject. Thanks!

Answered 02/12/09 17:45:38 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: Irritation does lead to aging. However, why dont you use a 5% glycolic first and then once you adjust switch to the 10% cleanser? You must use the glycolic in the am and the Taz at night- dont use at the sane time- it will inactivate the Taz.

Submitted by vaishnavi from bangalore-karnataka

Q: hai mam, please solve my problem, past 4 and half years i am using cosvate for face but some of my friends suggested that it is harmful to use longrun and then i stoped to use after 3 to 4 days the irritation started and small water bubble in my entire face,burnign and itching started, i consulted the dematalogist they referred me demanax insteat of cosvate because they suggested no madicine can be stopped all of a sudden, now i am using demanex but dematologist says slowly stop this demanex also but nearly 7 months over i am sincerely trying to stop the dermanex but when ever i stop for two days the third day the irritation started with water bubbles what is the permanent solution for this apart from this i have whiteheads on my nose and around the nose, i am very depressed with my face i am working woman please give me correct madicine to get rid from this, i am in bangalore -india, suggest me the medicine which is availabe in bangalore. actually i stated the cosvate when i was having pimples in my face with the advice of dematologist.

Answered 02/12/09 17:44:04 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: Go see Dr. Muktah Sachev in bangalore. She is a great dermatologist! She trained wiht me.

Submitted by Jane from Miami FL

Q: Dr. Baumann, What do you think of Meladerm as far as lightening hyperpigmentation? Can it safely be used on the legs as well as face? I was born a redhead and have freckles/age spots on my legs from years of sun damage when I was younger. I also have some light patches of hyperpigmentation on my face. Do you still think hydroquinone, such as the 2% type in Skin Effects, is safe? For how long, and over what amount of skin surface area? Is it better than Meladerm? I read your book 2 years ago, and it's all underlined and highlighted! Really changed my whole approach to taking care of my skin! Thank you!

Answered 02/12/09 17:42:54 by Dr. Leslie Baumann

A: I like Tri-luma the best. It s4% hydroquinone. You can use it for 2 years safely but usually 4 months is enough. An IPL treatment is perfect for you. They are about $500.

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