Have you ever wondered why your skin seems to break out after flying on an airplane? I used to think it was just because I was touching my face more or that airplanes were not the cleanest places. While that can play a role, it is not the full story. It does not happen to everyone, but it is more common than people think. I never really understood why this was happening until I looked into it more, and there are actually a few reasons behind it, along with ways you can preven

Teenagers today are constantly surrounded by skincare. Whether it is Rhode essence, cleansing oils, or pimple patches, it is easy to get pulled into trying the latest trends. I catch myself doing the same thing. Even when I do not fully understand why I am drawn to certain products, I still find myself wanting to try them. One thing is clear: the skincare craze is growing quickly, and depending on how it is approached, that can be either helpful or harmful. From one perspecti

Eczema is one of the most common skin conditions that people around the world deal with. Although I do not personally have eczema, I have seen what it is like through many of my family members who struggle with it. It can be uncomfortable and frustrating to manage, especially when symptoms flare up unexpectedly. Not to worry, this blog will explain what eczema is and go over some common treatments that can help. According to Cleveland Clinic, eczema is a skin condition that c

Many teenagers today wonder when is the right time to see a dermatologist. For me, that answer became clear early on. I started struggling with acne in middle school, and after reaching out for professional help, my skin improved significantly within a year through treatments like tretinoin and doxycycline. That experience showed me that dermatology is not just about appearance but also about understanding your skin and taking care of it before issues become more serious. Whi

At Troy High School, I saw a pattern that was hard to ignore. Many of my peers, including myself, struggled with acne flare-ups during the same periods when academic stress and burnout were at their peak. Between demanding coursework, extracurricular commitments, and a constant lack of sleep, it often felt like there was barely time to take care of ourselves. In a culture where many teenagers are not meeting recommended sleep levels, stress becomes almost constant, and I star

Prescribed by my dermatologist nearly two years ago, I began taking doxycycline pills paired with 0.1% tretinoin cream. Around this time period, I would often break out after spending long periods in the sun or sweating from physical activities. After a visit to my dermatologist, she prescribed this medication, which I incorporated into my daily routine. Here is what you need to know about doxycycline and how it actually works for acne. Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibioti

Throughout my school journey, my literature curriculum has been filled with numerous meaningful novels such as Persepolis, The Outsiders, The Great Gatsby, and Animal Farm. However, one of my absolute favorite novels, even after nearly seven years, is Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Narrated through the perspective of Auggie Pullman, a child who attends school with a facial difference, his story highlights the challenges of trying to fit in from an outsider’s perspective. While this

Out of all the movies I have watched, Parasite remains one of my absolute favorite films to this day. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, the movie explores the divide between social classes by highlighting the quiet ignorance of the wealthy and the reality faced by the working class. While the story centers around two families in Korea, its message goes far beyond class. It pushes us to look deeper at people’s environments and how those environments shape their lives. In our dermatolo

There is a very specific kind of quiet in the operating room. It is not actually silent. There is soft background music playing, the steady sounds of movement, and the calm coordination between everyone in the room that makes everything feel controlled and intentional. Working alongside the nurses and staff, I quickly noticed how much teamwork and communication goes into even the smallest steps before a procedure begins. Over the past few weeks, through the Troy Tech Senior I

As a popular drug for treating acne, wrinkles, and other skin conditions, you may have heard of tretinoin or its less potent cousin, retinol. These drugs, simply put, are strong derivatives of Vitamin A. Vitamin A, an essential vitamin for your skin, speeds up the skin cell turnover and stimulates collagen production. You mention tretinoin and retinol. What is the difference? As they are both similar in chemical structure and tretinoin and retinol essentially function the sa