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Jeffrey Benabio

Bio

Dr. Benabio is a board certified dermatologist at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, CA. He's an expert on social media and health as well as in telemedicine (using technology to practice medicine remotely).

He's been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, CNN.com, Fox.com, The Wall Street Journal, Details, Glamour, Elle, Self, Martha Stewart, and many others. 

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  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Dermatology:
    Revised Sunscreen Labels Should Help Consumers Make Wiser Choices

    MONDAY, May 20 (HealthDay News) -- Dermatologists are saying that new federally mandated labeling laws for sunscreens should help Americans make smarter choices when it comes to products that provide the best sun protection.

    The new labels required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Dermatology:
    Look for New, Improved Sunscreen Labels

    FRIDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- New labeling laws for sunscreen will help American consumers choose the product that provides the best sun protection, experts say.

    The new labels must provide information about whether a sunscreen will protect against skin cancer in addition to sunburn,...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Dermatology:
    Dog DNA May Yield Clues to Human Eczema

    FRIDAY, May 10 (HealthDay News) -- A gene associated with eczema in dogs has been identified, and that might one day lead to better treatments for people with the skin disease, a new study contends.

    The skin of patients with eczema -- whether canine or human -- ...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Dermatology:
    Red Hair Pigment Might Raise Melanoma Risk: Study

    THURSDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- The red in redheads' hair is thought to put them at increased risk of the dangerous skin cancer melanoma, even if they don't spend a lot of time in the sun, according to a new study.

    Study co-author Dr. David Fisher and his research team first uncovered...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Dermatology:
    Temporary Tattoos May Leave Permanent Damage

    TUESDAY, March 26 (HealthDay News) -- As thousands of college students head to sunny spots for spring break, getting temporary tattoos may seem like a fun thing to do. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that they can cause blisters and permanent scarring.

    While the ink used ...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Dermatology:
    With Acne, Bacteria Strain on Your Skin May Be Culprit

    THURSDAY, Feb. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Your odds of having acne may depend on whether the "good" strain of a particular type of bacteria lives on your skin, a new study suggests.

    "People never think of wanting to have good bacteria on their skin," said lead author Huiying Li, an assistan...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Dermatology:
    Fans of Reality Beauty Shows Twice as Likely to Tan: Study

    THURSDAY, Jan. 10 (HealthDay News) -- People who tune in to reality beauty shows on television are much more likely to use tanning lamps and to tan outdoors than those who don't watch such shows, a new study finds.

    Indoor and outdoor tanning increase the risk of skin cancer, experts note....Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Dermatology:
    Synthetic Skin Heals Itself With a Touch, Study Shows

    WEDNESDAY, Nov. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists say they have created a touch-sensitive plastic "skin" that can heal itself when torn or cut.

    The synthetic skin includes a plastic polymer with molecules that can reorganize themselves and restore the structure of the material after it is...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Dermatology:
    Redheads May Face Higher Risk of Melanoma, Even Without Sun Exposure

    WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- New research in mice suggests that redheaded people may be more susceptible to the dangerous type of skin cancer known as melanoma, even if they don't spend a lot of time in the sun.

    The findings haven't been confirmed in humans. Still, researchers d...Full Article

  • Jeffrey Benabio
    Jeffrey Benabio answered:
    What happens if my child scratches an eczema rash?

    Unfortunately, scratching makes eczema worse. Eczema is damaged skin and scratching does further damage. The tiny tears in the skin that result from scratching allow for bacteria and other contaminants to penetrate. This increases inflammation, worsening the eczema. 

    It's not the child's fault, though.

    ...  Full Post
  • Jeffrey Benabio
    Jeffrey Benabio answered:
    In people who have vitiligo, does the hair turn white?
    Yes, sometimes the hairs turn white as well as the skin. In vitiligo, the immune system attacks the pigment cells in the skin. Some of those pigment cells are in hair follicles and are attacked as well. White hairs don't have pigment cells, so they are unscathed by the autoimmune assault.   Full Post
  • Jeffrey Benabio
    Jeffrey Benabio answered:
    What does the chickenpox skin rash look like?

    "A dew drop on a rose petal" is the classic description of a chickenpox rash.

    Tiny fluid-filled vesicles form on pink spots from head to toe -- just like the description. It is usually preceded by a fever and becomes terribly itchy once the rash develops.

    Fortunately, most children are vaccinated against

    ...  Full Post
  • Jeffrey Benabio
    Jeffrey Benabio answered:
    What are the different types of UV rays?

    UVA, UVB and UVC.

    UVC is extremely dangerous, but fortunately it's absorbed by our atmosphere, so unless you're in the space station, it's of no concern.

    UVB is the second most potent. It is responsible for sunburns (remember "B" for burns). It's also responsible for making vitamin D in your skin -- so

    ...  Full Post
  • Jeffrey Benabio
    Jeffrey Benabio answered:
    What are the different types of UV rays?

    UVA, UVB and UVC.

    UVC is extremely dangerous, but fortunately it's absorbed by our atmosphere, so unless you're in the space station, it's of no concern.

    UVB is the second most potent. It is responsible for sunburns (remember "B" for burns). It's also responsible for making vitamin D in your skin -- so

    ...  Full Post
  • Jeffrey Benabio
    Jeffrey Benabio answered:
    Is laser hair removal safe?

    Yes. Laser hair removal is a common and effective way to permanently remove hair. It is safe, but remember these tips:

    1. Hair removal lasers target the pigment in hair (that's how they work). Hair lasers can damage darker or pigmented skin as the laser will target both the hair and the skin,
    ...  Full Post