Q&A with Top Doctors

Can sulfur soap relieve itching?

In general, sulfur soap can relieve itching to some extent. However, if the itching is severe, prompt medical treatment is recommended.

Sulfur soap, a special type of soap containing sulfur, has certain applications in dermatology. Sulfur possesses antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and keratolytic properties, and its use in sulfur soap can serve as an adjunctive treatment for specific skin conditions such as acne, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis. Among its effects, itch relief is a common benefit of sulfur soap.

However, sulfur soap is an irritating product and therefore should not be used for prolonged periods or too frequently, to avoid causing unnecessary harm to the skin. Individuals with sensitive skin, in particular, should use sulfur soap cautiously. It is recommended to first conduct a patch test on a small area of skin to check for possible allergic reactions. Additionally, if intense itching or other severe symptoms occur on the skin, prompt medical consultation is advised, and treatment should follow the recommendations of a qualified physician.

When using sulfur soap and other daily skincare products, it is important to maintain good personal hygiene habits, such as bathing regularly and changing clothes frequently, to help protect skin health.

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Dr. Liu Wenmin
May 30, 2025
Is purpura itchy?

In general, purpura itself does not directly cause noticeable itching. If skin itching occurs, prompt medical consultation is recommended to determine the cause and implement appropriate treatment measures.

Purpura is a condition characterized by bleeding under the skin and mucous membranes, typically appearing as purple or red spots of varying sizes. These spots form due to increased fragility of blood vessel walls, platelet dysfunction, or reduced platelet count, which leads to blood leakage into the skin and tissues. Purpura itself is not accompanied by itching.

However, purpura may be accompanied by other skin symptoms such as rashes or papules. These skin manifestations may cause mild itching during the resolution phase, but this is not directly caused by purpura itself. Additionally, patients with purpura may have weakened immune systems due to their condition, increasing the risk of skin infections, which can lead to skin inflammation and subsequent itching.

In daily life, patients should maintain clean and dry skin and avoid using harsh skincare products to minimize skin irritation and damage.

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Dr. Liu Wenmin
May 30, 2025
Does eating spicy food cause acne?

In general, eating spicy food may lead to acne breakouts, but not everyone will experience acne after consuming spicy food, and individual differences exist in the relationship between spicy food and acne development.

Components in chili peppers, such as capsaicin, can stimulate the human body. After chili consumption, the body's blood circulation may accelerate, potentially enhancing the sebaceous glands' secretory function. Excessive sebum production can easily block hair follicles, providing a favorable environment for the proliferation of microorganisms like Propionibacterium acnes, thereby increasing the likelihood of acne. After spicy food enters the body, the body may respond to this irritation with a stress reaction, potentially causing hormonal imbalances—for example, relatively increasing the levels of androgens. Androgens enhance sebaceous gland activity, promoting increased sebum production. Hormonal imbalances may also affect the balance of other hormones, further disrupting the normal metabolism of the skin and increasing the likelihood of acne outbreaks.

For individuals whose skin already has mild inflammation or who are in the early stages of acne, eating spicy food may exacerbate the inflammation. Inflammation can make acne more red, swollen, and painful, and may prolong the duration of the inflammatory response. This reaction can also damage skin tissue, delay the skin's healing process, and make acne more likely to leave behind dark spots and scars.

It is recommended that individuals struggling with acne moderately control their intake of spicy foods in their daily diet, especially when the skin is in an unstable condition. At the same time, maintaining good lifestyle habits, such as regular sleep patterns, balanced nutrition, sufficient sleep, and moderate exercise, can help maintain healthy skin.

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Dr. Liu Wenmin
May 30, 2025
Is psoriasis itchy?

In general, psoriasis may be accompanied by itching symptoms.

Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent autoimmune disease primarily characterized by red patches and scaling on the skin. Patients often experience varying degrees of itching, although not all patients feel significant itching. The intensity of itching varies from person to person; some patients may only experience mild discomfort, while others may suffer from severe itching that affects their daily life and sleep quality.

The itching sensation in psoriasis is typically associated with skin inflammation, excessive proliferation of the keratin layer, and increased sensitivity of nerve endings. During skin inflammation, various inflammatory mediators are released, which can stimulate nerve endings and cause itching. Additionally, patients with psoriasis frequently experience rapid epidermal cell proliferation and thickening of the keratin layer, which may also exacerbate itching.

In daily life, patients should maintain clean and moisturized skin, avoid irritating behaviors such as scratching or washing with hot water, and prevent aggravation of skin lesions and itching. Maintaining a positive mindset and healthy lifestyle habits can also promote recovery from psoriasis.

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Dr. Liu Wenmin
May 30, 2025
Will closed comedones turn into pimples?

In general, closed comedones refer to closed-type comedones, which may develop into pimples but not necessarily. Their progression is influenced by multiple factors.

Closed comedones are one of the early stages of acne, formed due to abnormal keratinization of the hair follicle opening, leading to sebum blockage. They are characterized by small visible bumps on the skin surface, without redness or openings, and with a rough texture; sebum and keratinocytes accumulate within the follicles, forming closed cysts. Closed comedones may develop into inflammatory acne due to the following factors: proliferation of Propionibacterium acnes within the comedones引发炎症反应; 激素水平变化导致皮脂腺活跃,闭口内压力增大;挤压、摩擦或不当护肤导致闭口破裂,细菌侵入引发感染。

对闭口的治疗,除了要减少皮脂分泌和改善毛囊角化,还需要注意控制细菌感染,避免炎症的发生。常见的治疗方法包括使用含有水杨酸、果酸、维A酸等成分的护肤品,这些成分有助于促进角质层代谢,减少角质堵塞;同时,保持面部清洁,避免手部频繁接触面部,减少细菌传播的机会。在严重情况下,可能需要医生开具口服或外用抗生素进行治疗。

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Dr. Liu Wenmin
May 30, 2025
Does pseudowarts cause itching?

In general, pseudocondyloma acuminatum may cause itching, but the likelihood is relatively low.

Pseudocondyloma is not caused by a virus and is not contagious. It typically appears around the vulva, vaginal opening, or urethral opening in women, presenting as small, smooth or slightly raised skin-colored or white papules of varying sizes. These lesions generally do not coalesce into large patches. Therefore, most patients do not experience significant subjective symptoms, although a minority may feel mild itching due to local irritation, such as from vaginal inflammatory secretions.

Although pseudocondyloma acuminatum is not contagious and does not require specific treatment, if patients feel concerned about its presence or experience other symptoms such as pain or bleeding, it is recommended to seek medical advice promptly. Under a physician's guidance, appropriate anti-itch medications or physical treatments such as laser therapy or cryotherapy may be used to relieve symptoms and promote lesion resolution.

In daily life, it is advisable to maintain genital hygiene and avoid adverse irritations to help reduce itching.

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Dr. Liu Wenmin
May 30, 2025
Is hand, foot, and mouth disease itchy?

In general, hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) may cause a sensation of itching, although this symptom is usually not prominent.

HFMD is a contagious disease caused by intestinal viruses and mainly affects infants and young children. Its typical symptoms include fever, oral ulcers, and rashes or blisters on the hands, feet, and buttocks. These rashes or blisters may sometimes cause mild itching, but not all patients experience this sensation. The rash associated with HFMD usually does not cause severe itching; rather, it tends to produce a mild physical discomfort due to skin changes caused by the virus.

If a child experiences significant itching during the course of HFMD, it may indicate a secondary bacterial infection of the blisters. In such cases, parents should pay special attention to the care of the blisters, keeping the affected areas clean and dry to prevent rupture and secondary infection. It is also advisable to seek medical attention promptly, so that doctors can provide appropriate treatment recommendations based on the child's specific condition.

During the illness, it is recommended to provide the child with easily digestible food and avoid spicy, excessively hot, or hard foods to reduce the pain caused by oral ulcers.

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Dr. Yang Ziqi
May 30, 2025
What fruits are good to eat for dry skin?

Skin dryness is usually caused by excessive loss of skin moisture or impaired skin barrier function, leading to reduced ability of the skin to retain water. It is recommended to consume fruits such as apples, oranges, kiwifruits, strawberries, and blueberries. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Apples: Apples are rich in pectin, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. Pectin helps regulate intestinal flora, promotes intestinal motility, aids in the elimination of toxins from the body, thereby reducing toxin-induced damage to the skin; vitamin C has antioxidant properties, can inhibit melanin formation, making the skin fairer and more radiant, and also promotes collagen synthesis, enhancing skin elasticity.

2. Oranges: Oranges are rich in nutrients such as vitamin C and flavonoids. In addition to its skin-lightening and collagen-promoting effects, vitamin C also enhances the skin's resistance; flavonoids have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, helping to reduce skin inflammation and improve dry, rough skin conditions.

3. Kiwifruit: Kiwifruit contains relatively high levels of vitamin C. Additionally, it contains various nutrients such as vitamin E, potassium, and magnesium. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant that works synergistically with vitamin C to better protect skin cells from free radical damage, delay skin aging, and maintain skin hydration and luster.

4. Strawberries: Strawberries are rich in vitamin C, fruit acids, minerals, and cellulose. Fruit acids can increase skin elasticity, promote skin metabolism, remove aged keratinocytes, making the skin smoother and finer; at the same time, the water and nutrients in strawberries can replenish moisture and nutrients to the skin, alleviating dryness.

5. Blueberries: Rich in antioxidants, especially anthocyanins, which help reduce skin inflammation, promote cell repair, and effectively alleviate skin problems caused by dryness.

It is recommended to consume these fruits in moderation daily, while also drinking plenty of water to ensure adequate hydration, and to develop good living habits, such as regular sleep patterns and avoiding excessive skin cleansing, which can better improve dry skin conditions.

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Dr. Liu Wenmin
May 30, 2025
Does eating oranges make your skin turn yellow?

Under normal circumstances, eating large amounts of oranges may cause yellowing of the skin, but this condition is generally temporary. If skin yellowing is accompanied by symptoms such as yellowing of the sclera, fatigue, or nausea, prompt medical attention is advised to rule out liver disease. Detailed explanation is as follows:

Oranges are fruits rich in vitamin C, carotenoids, and other antioxidants that are beneficial to human health. If large quantities of oranges are consumed within a short period, the body may be unable to fully metabolize and convert the carotenoids in time, leading to an increase in carotenoid levels in the blood. This can result in deposition of carotenoids in the skin's keratin layer and mucous membranes, causing yellowing of the skin.

Carotenoderma typically begins on the palms and soles and gradually spreads to areas such as the face and nasolabial folds. In severe cases, the entire skin surface may appear orange-yellow. This condition is usually temporary and does not cause long-term health effects. It differs from yellowing of the skin caused by jaundice, as the sclera typically remains unaffected.

It is recommended to limit daily orange consumption to 2-3 fruits to avoid excessive intake of carotenoids. If yellowing of the skin is observed, consumption of oranges should be stopped immediately, and changes in skin color should be monitored.

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Dr. Liu Wenmin
May 30, 2025
Is it good for the skin to use face masks every day?

In general, applying face masks every day is usually not good for the skin.

Although face masks can provide moisture and nutrients to the skin, the skin's ability to absorb these is limited. Frequent use of face masks keeps the skin in a moist condition for extended periods, causing excessive hydration of the stratum corneum, which can make the skin fragile, sensitive, and more susceptible to external irritation and infection.

Additionally, face masks typically contain rich nutrients. If used daily, the skin may be unable to fully absorb these nutrients, potentially leading to over-nourishment, which can cause clogged pores, pimples, and acne. Long-term overuse of face masks may also damage the skin's barrier function, making it more vulnerable to environmental aggressors.

It is recommended to use face masks 2–3 times per week, which ensures the skin receives sufficient moisture and nutrients without being overburdened. Each application should not last too long—generally around 15–20 minutes—to prevent the mask from drying out and subsequently drawing moisture from the skin. After removing the mask, wash your face with clean water and apply a moisturizing lotion or cream promptly to help lock in moisture.

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Dr. Liu Wenmin
May 30, 2025