It's something every woman fears: Waking up on the day of a big event with a skincare dilemma.
How many women have cancelled that first date because a cold sore erupted? How about cystic acne on your chin that appears the day before your wedding?
But fear not, there are solutions! Our friend Dr. Rebecca Baxt, a Manhattan and New Jersey board certified dermatologist is not immune to these skincare 911s and gave us her expertise on what can be done to fix various conditions:
Problem: Cold Sore
Solution: Dr. Baxt offers cortisone injections to patients who want to look better faster. "Very diluted cortisone into the cold sore, this can bring the inflammation down quite rapidly," she told us.
"If you are afraid of needles, call your doctor and ask him/her to call in a prescription for Valtrex, Famvir, or Acylovir," Dr. Baxt said. "You can also pick up Abreva, an over-the-counter medication."
And if you can't make it to the pharmacy? Dr. Baxt says try some old-fashioned remedies. "Visine will help take the red out. You can also use a cold compress and Tylenol or ibuprofen," the expert revealed.
Solution: The key to reducing the puffiness of puffy eyes is having something cool applied to them. "A cool compress or cooled cucumber slices applied for 5 to 10 minutes can constrict blood and lymph vessels," Dr. Baxt explained.
"You can also use cool tea bags, which contain tannins that will help reduce swelling. And since puffy eyes can be caused by a high salt diet or alcohol, try to cut out both before an important occasion," the pro advised.
This article was originally published on Fashion Times.