Astaxanthin in Skincare
The antioxidant effect of astaxanthin is as much as 1000 times higher than coenzyme Q10. It is thought to help as a supplement for...
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Erum Ilyas, MD, MBE, FAAD
Board Certified Dermatologist | CEO | Functional Textile Expert | Bioethicist | Educator | Author | Mom
Follow me @drerumilyas
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Dec 2
- 4 min
Chin hair
Some women report the development of chin hair as early as puberty while many women note these hairs poking out by their mid-30s....
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Nov 24
- 4 min
Self Tanners | Step-by-step guide for sunless tanners
Self-tanners, or sunless tanners, provide pigmentation without the need for UV exposure. Self-tanners contain dihydroxyacetone to add...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Nov 22
- 2 min
Shea Butter | Does it really offer sun protection?
Shea butter has been shown to increase the sun or UV protection offered by products. One study showed that the use of shea butter...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Nov 12
- 4 min
Moisturizers | Ingredients to look for
When looking for a moisturizer, consider looking for these ingredients to see if some of these are present to help your skin look and...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Nov 9
- 5 min
How to shop for retinol
If you are just starting on a retinol product, I recommend starting with brands found at the drugstore. The reason is simple. These...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Nov 6
- 3 min
Nicotinamide | Vitamin B3 & Skin cancer
Nicotinamide is a form of Vitamin B3, also known as niacin or nicotinic acid. Nicotinamide has been shown to play an important role in...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Nov 4
- 5 min
Night Creams | How to choose a Retinol
Nighttime is the best opportunity to help your skin repair itself from the damage it sees during the day from UV rays and free radicals...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Oct 2
- 3 min
Botox During Pregnancy
Botox has many medical and cosmetic uses. With the current data available, Botox is considered category C during pregnancy. The...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Oct 2
- 5 min
What’s in your clothing | Textile Dyes
Most textiles will have some sort of textile dye to impart a color to the garment and yes, this may trigger some skin issues that it's...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Oct 2
- 4 min
Photocarcinogenesis | Light-induced cancer development
Breaking down this word is “photo” meaning light-induced, “carcino-” meaning cancer, and “genesis” meaning origin or development. ...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Sep 11
- 5 min
Dandruff | 8 Drugstore Products & How they work
Dandruff is a term that generally applies to a constellation of flaking and itching of the scalp along with possible dryness and...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Aug 29
- 4 min
Droopy Eyelids | Anti-aging for Dermatochalasis of the upper eyelid
Droopy eyelids, also referred to as heavy eyelids or dermatochalasis of the upper eyelid, is a common change to see in the eyelid skin as...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Aug 14
- 2 min
Moisturizing Hand Soap
Moisturizing and soap in the same name can seem like an oxymoron since soap is cleaning away buildup on the skin while moisturizing...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Aug 13
- 4 min
Forehead | Pigment, wrinkles, inflammation, dryness, pores & laxity
A lot can go on with the forehead. Some of the changes our forehead experiences as we age are anticipated, while others did not have to...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jul 22
- 14 min
Natural vs Premature Aging of the Skin | What does "anti-aging" mean to you?
The conversation on the aging of the skin needs a little direction so that your roadmap for finding solutions will actually make a...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jul 17
- 5 min
Acne Face Map
It’s true that many of my patients will state that they always get acne in the "exact same spot!" They believe that the exact same...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jul 16
- 4 min
Acne Cleansers | How to choose one
Acne cleansers are great because they do not stay in contact with your skin for too long making them effective without being too...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jul 9
- 4 min
Diapers | Choosing the right diaper as a part of a skincare routine
For babies, infants, and toddlers with a tendency towards eczema or sensitive skin, one of the most important things to consider in...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jul 7
- 6 min
Mosquito Repellents | A must-have skincare essential for summer
Mosquito repellents work by making us less attractive to mosquitoes. They work by repelling insects, not killing them. There are a...
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