Your Skincare Questions Answered

As the esthetician at Bellezza Salon & Spa, I get asked skin care questions everyday. I thought I would go through the two most asked questions, what these mysterious skin issues are and how to solve the problem!

Question: What are these white, hard bumps on my face?

Answer: If you have what appear to at first possibly be a white head, but is hardened and typically near the eyes, forehead and cheeks, it is not acne. These "bumps" are hardened bumps of calcium deposits just beneath the skin. These deposits are most commonly found in women and are not considered to be acne.

They can be tricky to get rid of, but with proper exfoliation, they can very gently be extracted. After the extractions have been done, to keep them at bay, make sure to do a gentle at home exfoliating regimen once every week.

Question: What are these red bumps on the back of my arms?

Answer: If you have rough, bumpy skin you may have a condition known as Keratosis Pilaris. Keratosis Pilaris (or KP) is a common dry skin condition that looks like goose bumps. These bumps can either appear skin-colored or red and are most commonly found on the arms and legs. KP is caused by a build-up of keratin (a protein that makes up skin, hair and nails). Keratin can form hard plugs in skin's hair follicles, which creates rough bumps. KP generally runs in families, and is more common among people with eczema.

You can reduce skin roughness and redness by taking lukewarm showers and baths, using a mild cleanser, and applying an exfoliating moisturizer every day. Also using a serum, such as Glo Minerals Renew Serum ($36) with 1% retinol can help those pesky bumps go away as well!!

Do you have a question about your skin care routine, facials, waxing, spray tan or eyelash extensions? Send me your questions at: info@bellezzasalonspa.com (Subject: Ask Rebecca)