Preventing skin emergencies, and getting the new Hollywood, holiday look for your hair: that's the topic of part three of our Beauty Breakthroughs for the holidays series.
So it's the day of that big holiday party, and you wake up with a skin disaster: a huge, painful pimple that doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon. Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Deirdre Hooper says you've got several options to zap those emergency zits.
First, if it's one of those underground, painful "volcanoes" Dr. Hooper likes to call them, your best bet may be a quick trip to your dermatologist for an injection. Dr. Hooper says the anti-inflamatory injection is done with a small needle, and should dissolve the pimple within a few hours (I've done this before when I had a pimple emergency and it worked!).
Other tricks Dr. Hooper recommends to reduce swelling and redness: try putting ice on the pimple, try a little original Visine on it to reduce redness, and try applying a little hydrocortisone cream.
So what happens if you wake up the morning of a big holiday bash, and you feel like you're getting a cold sore on your mouth? Dr. Hooper says you've got 4 hours to try to prevent the fever blister from forming by using anti-virals like Valtrex and Famvir. She says if you're prone to getting cold sores, your best bet is to have a prescription filled already so you have the pills on hand if an emergency strikes. If you can't get to a doctor in time, she says the best over-the-counter remedy is Abreva, which can be purchased at most drugstores for about $18. Rub on the cold sore area 5 times a day and it should at least speed up the healing time.
And finally, it's the new hair accessory that you'll see on celebs like Beyonce and some of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: Bling Strands! Bling Strands, Bling Strings, and Hair Flairs (just a few of the different brands you have to choose from) can be purchased online, or you can have them put in your hair at local salons like Albert Brown Salon. This popular hair tinsel runs between $10 and $20 when purchased online, and some are just tied in at the root, while other brands recommend also using a little eyelash glue for added security. Bling Strings can add a little subtle color for the holidays or Mardi Gras, or for any get together where you want your hair to make a statement. The hair bling can be easily removed, but if tied in correctly should last through a few blowouts, and some brands promise to hold up through flat irons and hot irons. Some companies, like Bling Strands, even offer some bling jewelry to add to the hair for a little extra flair!
Here are links to some of the most popular brands of hair tinsel:
Albert Brown Salon is one of the local salons that carries the Bling Strings, and they will apply about a dozen of them for $15.
Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Deirdre Hooper:
504-895-DERM
3525 Prytania Street, Suite 501
New Orleans, LA
