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...
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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
- Oct 29
- 8 min
Retinol | What's in your anti-aging products
Retinol gets a lot of love in the over-the-counter anti-aging skincare product world. Retinol itself is a form of vitamin A found in...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Aug 12
- 2 min
Perleche (Angular Cheilitis) | Dry cracked corners of the mouth
Patients will often describe how perleche feels as though the corners of their mouths almost crack as they open their mouths to yawn....
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
- 2 min
5 Best Acne Cleansers | Where to start your acne routine
Starting to get breakouts and cruising the aisles at your local drugstore grabbing any product that seems to promise it will clear your...
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...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jul 5
- 3 min
Sulfur Soap
Although sulfur is not widely found in acne cleansers and soap, it actually addresses each aspect of acne from excess keratin and oil, to...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jul 3
- 3 min
Sunscreen That Won't Stain Clothes
Sunscreens can either stain your clothes or leave a residue behind depending on the type chosen. In general, it can be easier to lift a...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jul 1
- 4 min
Facial Cleansers | The Basics
Facial cleansers can play an important role in your basic skincare routine and are a little different from bar soap. Facial cleansers...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jun 28
- 2 min
Peptides in Skincare
It is so hard to say if peptides in skincare are worth the cost simply because very few products disclose the precise peptides used and...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jun 22
- 3 min
Lip Exfoliation
Technically, our skin is constantly subtly exfoliating. By hydrating the skin with lip balms or petrolatum-based products, the process...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jun 21
- 4 min
Medical Grade Skincare
“Medical grade” in the skincare world is another unregulated claim that has no specific meaning. Read more... Topics What is Medical...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jun 21
- 4 min
Bamboo Towels
Towels that claim to be bamboo towels are most often a combination of bamboo and cotton. Regular towels are most often made of cotton alone
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jun 20
- 3 min
Beauty Sleep | An essential aspect of your skincare routine
"Beauty sleep" is a real phenomenon. This dedicated time is the chance our skin has to restore itself before it tackles the next day....
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jun 14
- 2 min
Best Sunscreen Sprays for 2023
Sunscreen sprays are clearly favored for ease of application. Finding the best one at the store can be like finding a needle in a...
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jun 10
- 8 min
Pillowcases and Skincare | Are silk pillowcases worth the hype?
In terms of skincare, there was a study that looked at silk-like pillowcases for acne. This was not silk, however. The study was based on a
Dr. Erum Ilyas
- Jun 10
- 2 min
Not loving that new clothes smell? Toxic chemicals and clothing
You may have noticed that when you order new clothes online, there can be a distinct toxic or “chemical-like” smell emanating from the...
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