Dermatologist Dr. Amy Wechsler gives you the facts on the most common skin issues, and how to deal with them.

PROBLEM: DARK SPOTS ON THE FACE AND BODY
WHAT CAUSES THEM?
It's not only sun exposure, a small pimple or a slight scratch can heal and cause PIH, post inflammatory hyper pigmentations of the skin. The darker you are the more likely you are to heal darker.

WHAT'S THE TREATMENT?
Bleaching creams (hydroquinone) are available over the counter in 2% options. Philosophy makes one with a great name, "A Pigment of Your Imagination," for $30. Porcelana Serum is only $6.29 and it's also a 2% option. For better, faster results you need a higher concentration of at least 4%, which is only available by prescription. The HUGE thing is to use sunscreen anytime you go outside while treating your skin. One day in the sun will kill all the work you've done bleaching the spots out, and they'll come back darker than before.

PROBLEM: STRETCH MARKS
WHAT'S THE CAUSE?
Personally, I think that 50% is genetics and the rest is a result of losing and gaining weight/mass rapidly. You're most susceptible after you've had a baby, when you're a teenager and growing, and if you're weight training. These marks are created because you have thinned the skin in these areas, resulting in a loss of skin and pigment.

WHAT'S THE TREATMENT?
You only have a fighting chance to treat them when the marks are red or purple. In the office the fix is a laser treatment. With one treatment you will see results in a few weeks, but generally people need two or three follow-up treatments to get rid of them. When stretch marks turn white there isn't a lot you can do. Doctors and plastic surgeons talk a lot about treatments that help create skin, neo collagen. However, I think it's a lot of B.S. and I haven't seen any good results. Tanning does not help because stretch marks won't tan like the rest of your other skin, but they'll take a self- tanner. I strongly believe in Dermablend makeup. It's waterproof and intended for full coverage, and they will custom match a color to your skin color.

PROBLE: HAIR BUMPS
WHAT CAUSES THESE?
The bump is a reaction to an ingrown hair. I've seen women that have them not only on their bikini line, but also on their neck because they've shaved the area.

WHAT'S THE TREATMENT?
People use a pin or a needle and sometimes tweezers to dig at the hair. Stop! It makes it worse, not better because you are not skilled at removal. The pin needs to enter the skin parallel to the surface; please save this for a professional. Prevention is key. Don't use multi blade razors. It's a marketing ploy. They are not good for sensitive areas because they are actually pulling the hair from under the surface making it more likely to bend and curl under the surface. Shave with a single blade and only go over the area once. I know it's not popular but I truly recommend using scissors and trimming very close to the skin, but not under it. You will have to do it more than shaving, but you'll minimize the potential for these curling hairs to do their damage under the skin. If you have scarring, Curad Scar Therapy Clear Pads are only $17 and work well when applied daily for eight weeks. They are silicone sheets that you cut to size and stick on. They're not good for active inflamed areas, but good for a scar over time. If it's an area people can see, wear them at night and sleep with them on.

PROBLEM: DRY, ITCHY, ASHY SKIN
WHAT PREDOMINATELY CAUSES THIS?
Surprisingly, water and soap are often the problem, not the solution! People are in the bath or the shower WAY too long and use way too much soap. People also over exfoliate with their shower puff!

WHAT'S THE TREATMENT?
Re-evaluate your routine. I recommend ten-minute showers with warm water, not scalding hot, and only use soap at the end of the shower and not all over your body! Contrary to what ads tell you, you do not have to be squeaky clean to be clean. It's a ploy so you'll buy more soap! If you are, you're basically stripping your body of its natural oils. Your arms and legs don't get dirty on a daily basis unless you're rolling around in dirt. Soap your under arm, groin, neck, chest, feet. I like cheap fragrance-free soaps, like Dove for sensitive skin, Purpose, and Lever 2000. The fancy soaps that smell nice are VERY drying. Also do NOT use a facecloth unless you're using a fresh one every day, and who does that? I'm not a fan of exfoliating puffs if you have dry skin. You don't need to exfoliate every day, because you're not just removing dead skin, you're also removing the live skin. You should moisturize twice daily and I love Cetaphil in the tub, not the pump. There are prescription ointments for excessively dry skin, but good skin starts with good habits.

ARE EXPENSIVE MOISTURIZERS BETTER? (I.E. LA MER?)
No. People equate cost with worth and goodness. If you paid a lot for something you want it to work, and in your mind you will make it work because you've just spent all this money. The problem is these creams are not regulated. Manufacturers don't have to put percentages on the label, therefore you have no real way of knowing what's in the expensive cream other than a lot of marketing.

IS SUNSCREEN OVERRATED?
You should always wear sunscreen! Even some foundations come with sunscreen added, so there's no excuse. Keep an eye out for Anthelios SX from L'Oreal, available this fall. L'Oreal has FDA approval to market a this new over the counter sunscreen, which is the first sunscreen product in America to contain a chemical called ecamsule that has the ability to block both UVA and UVB rays.

For more information about Dr. Amy Wechsler, visit www.dramywechsler.com