Your Most Embarrassing Beauty Problems, Solved

By Stephanie Saltzman with additional reporting by Allure staff 

(Photo: Delphine Achard)

BODY BREAKOUTS
Yes, pores that aren’t located on your face can get clogged, too. To treat bacne (or, even more fun, buttne), use asalicylic acid body wash, like Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash Pink Grapefruit, says dermatologist Ranella Hirsch. For the most effective treatment, apply it to dry skin, wait 15 minutes to let it go to work exfoliating and declogging pores, and then rinse it off in the shower. To heal cystic outbreaks (blemishes and sore bumps deeper under the skin), try a spot treatment, like Renée Rouleau Anti-Cyst Treatment, which reduces inflammation and exfoliates with lactic acid.

INGROWN HAIRS
Salicylic acid can also help minimize the redness, swelling, and bacteria associated with ingrown hairs. “Gel formulas adhere to hair-bearing areas better than creams and go on clear so you’re not left with a white film,” says dermatologist Jeannette Graf. We also love Bliss Ingrown Eliminating Pads, which contain salicylic and glycolic acid to exfoliate, plus oat extract, witch hazel, and lavender oil to soothe skin. If you have really sensitive skin, salicylic acid might be a bit too harsh; instead, Neosporin or Bacitracin can help kill the bacteria and reduce inflammation.

EXCESSIVE SWEAT
Try a superstrength deodorant, like Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response Antiperspirant/Deodorant, which has 20 percent of the active ingredient that stops wetness. Apply it at night for the best results. If you’re still noticing excessive sweating, you may have hyperhidrosis. Ask your doctor about prescription antiperspirants, such as Drysol, which have a more potent form of the active ingredient. Another option? Botox. It’s not just for wrinkle prevention; it can also stop perspiration by blocking signals between nerves and sweat glands. Ten to 12 pricks per armpit, repeated about every seven months, can cut sweating by as much as 75 percent, says Dee Anna Glaser, a professor of dermatology at St. Louis University in Missouri.

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CELLULITE
Despite what the packaging on the many, many anticellulite creams out there would have you believe, there’s no way to truly get rid of your cellulite (short of losing weight or getting surgery, but even those don’t always help). But there is a way to make your cellulite less noticeable—at least for a little while. Scrub cellulite vigorously with a washcloth, loofah, or brown-sugar exfoliator (we love Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish and the MicrodermaMitt Body Mitt). “When you irritate the skin, you draw water into it, and that fills in those little crevices for a few hours,” says dermatologist Amy Wechsler. Self-tanner can also help mask cellulite (try Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer).

THINNING HAIR
By age 50, about half of women will have noticed hair loss. “A lot of women notice it when they see their scalp through a ponytail,” says Neil Sadick, a dermatologist in New York City. But there are a few treatments that may be able to help: Minoxidil is a topical serum that “spurs new hair growth and increases the diameter of each hair in about 50 percent of women,” says Paradi Mirmirani, a dermatologist in Vallejo, California, who specializes in thinning hair. Massage a 2 percent formula, like Pantene Expert Hair Regrowth Treatment or Redken Cerafill Retaliate, into your scalp twice a day. If you don’t see a difference, graduate to Women’s Rogaine Hair Regrowth Treatment 5% Minoxidil. On the supplement front, “both biotin and zinc have been shown to strengthen the hair shaft, making hair appear fuller, but they won’t create new hair growth,” says Sadick. They only work if you’re deficient in the vitamins to begin with. If you find your results are less than what you’d hoped, you can try LEDs: Red light stimulates hair follicles to help increase hair count and thicken the shaft, says Sadick. Weekly ten-minute treatments at a doctor’s office cost up to $200 and yield results in three to six months.

DANDRUFF
Rest assured that if you’ve experienced flakage, you’re not alone: According to a Proctor & Gamble study, 50 percent of the population has had dandruff. Try an over-the-counter dandruff shampoo every day for two weeks (we like Head & Shoulders Damage Rescue Shampoo). If you still notice flakes, visit your dermatologist, who can prescribe a stronger treatment.

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NAIL FUNGUS
Nail fungus is contracted from unsanitary tools at the salon, so prevention is pretty simple: Bring your own nail kit. A full set of Sally Hansen nail products (including clippers, a groomer, an emery board, and cuticle nippers) will cost you less than $30 (totally worth it to avoid yellow, fungus-y nails). If you think you’ve already contracted a fungus, see your doctor, since a prescription is the only way to get rid of it.

ACNE
Breakouts are more common than you probably think—and not just among teenagers. According to one Harvard Medical School study, more than half of women between the ages of ten and 70 get acne. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo helps clear skin in two ways: Benzoyl peroxide penetrates pores to destroy acne-causing bacteria and regulate oil, and lipohydroxy acid gently exfoliates to increase cell turnover.

PEELING POST-SUNBURN SKIN
“The skin that’s going to peel is going to peel; you can’t make it not peel,” says Doris Day, a dermatologist in New York City. “But you can make the peeling less noticeable by using a lot of moisturizer.” Day recommends CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for the body and Olay Professional Pro-X Hydra Firming Cream for the face. And avoid your urge to reach for the nearest scrub, since you might actually cause more damage. “It takes the skin cells about a week to turn over, so you should wait for that long before you gently exfoliate,” says Day.

COLD SORES
Prevent them first: If you’re prone to cold sores, your doctor can prescribe Valtrex, an oral medication that stops them from forming. “Take one whenever you’re exposed to the triggers that cause herpes. For most people, it’s being in high-stress situations and spending the day in the sun,” says Wechsler. If you already have one, here’s how to help it heal faster: “Keep it moist,” says Day, who recommends using an ointment, like Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment or Carmex Cold Sore Treatment, under lipstick and concealer so your makeup won’t dry out the sore. You can also try a topical prescription drug—"Sitavig is a patch that sticks to your gum and delivers medication right to the cold sore,“ says Day. "It works a day or two faster than other topical medications.”

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