Back to School Skin Tuneup Tips from a Memphis Dermatologist

George Woodbury
Aug 10
5 min read

by Cordova Dermatologist George Woodbury Jr. M.D. (08/10/2025)

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury reviews Eczema Treatment options with a patient — Memphis Dermatologist counsels a patient about Acne Treatment and Atopic Dermatitis Treatment

If you or a family member has had a long-term skin condition – like Acne, Rosacea, Eczema, Atopic Dermatitis, or Psoriasis – or many a Mole or Moles that need a Skin Cancer Screening - now would be a great time for a Back to School visit for a tune-up with a Board-Certified Dermatologist. You want the young people in your life to be in great shape health-wise, to be able to start the school year off on a positive note, so let’s take a look at some of the new Dermatology treatment options for common skin conditions, my perspective being that of a Board-certified Memphis Dermatologist, in Cordova TN, with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, since 1993.

Acne or Acne Vulgaris that's affecting a young woman — Acne Before and After Acne Treatment

Acne and Rosacea can have negative effects upon a person’s mood and self-confidence. Fortunately, Dermatologists like myself now have a growing number of promising new Acne treatment and Rosacea treatment options, customizable for people with dry skin, combination skin, or oily skin, enabling us to reduce Acne scarring, from antibiotics like doxycycline and minocycline, to prescription topicals (meaning “on top of the skin”) for blackheads (comedones), papules, or cystic acne: Tretinoin Cream, differin gel (Adapalene), benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, or topical dapsone. Sometimes we consider a five months’ course of an oral medicine called isotretinoin (Accutane treatment), therapy which dries up the oil glands and which is often highly effective, but which also entails strict avoidance of pregnancy while on treatment, and monthly labwork to monitor cholesterol levels. Sometimes Dermatologists also look at hormonal therapies, like spironolactone pills, or even birth control pills.

Acne Rosacea and Eczema in a young woman that's affecting her self-image and morale — Young Woman with Acne Rosacea and Atopic Dermatitis

Dermatologists also have promising new therapies for Acne Rosacea, also called Rosacea, to complement existing topical Metronidazole Cream and Desonide Lotion: Mirvaso® Gel (brimonidine) and Tretinoin Cream.

Management of Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema best involves both patient and Dermatologist working together as a team — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury counsels a teen about Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis Treatment

If you or a family member are looking for Eczema treatment (Atopic Dermatitis treatment), as a Memphis Dermatologist, for over 30 years, I’ve used topical steroid creams and ointments to alleviate the rash and itching of Eczema. We also have newer injectable steroid-free medications – Dupixent® (Dupilumab) and Abry® (Tralokinumab) – as well as a new steroid-free cream – Zoryve® Cream (Roflumilast). Dermatologists also have Opzelura Cream and two new JAK inhibitor pills – Rinvoq® and Cibinqo®.

Allergy Patch Testing is a way of searching for chemical triggers for flares of Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis — Young Man suffering from the itching or Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis who would benefit from Allergy Testing

Allergy Patch Testing – available in my Memphis Dermatology practice since 2004 – is a great way to check for trigger chemicals that may be causing flares of Eczema through a skin allergy to a preservative, fragrance, component of latex, or a metal. This type of allergy testing requires 3 visits in one week – so Summer is a great time to get allergy patch testing scheduled.

Psoriassis and Hand Eczema causing severe itching in a young female — Hand Eczema or Psoriasis can affect the lives of young people as in this photo

Psoriasis is a type of genetically-sensitive skin condition – which can cause both rash and itching – that can start in childhood or adulthood – and sometimes leads to Psoriatic Arthritis. Fortunately, Dermatologists have had an explosion of new treatment options in the last 15 years, with the development of Biologic therapies, from Enbrel® and Humira® to Skyrizi®, Temfya® and Bimzelx® – as well as a new topical steroid-free cream – Tapinarof Cream (Vtama®) – and oral steroid-free medications like Methotrexate, Otezla® (apremilast), and a new enzyme inhibitor – Sotyktu (deucravacitinib).

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discussing Melanoma and Basal Cell Carcinoma with a young male patient — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury doing a Skin Cancer Screening

What about your family’s Skin Cancer Screening? The youngest patient with Melanoma in my own Dermatology practice was only 10 years old, so Summer is a great time for a Mole check or an evaluation for Basal Cell Carcinoma or Squamous Cell Carcinoma, especially if one is high-risk for skin cancer – prior blistering sunburn, blond or fair-skinned, develops freckles easily,

Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury with Big River Silk Skincare staff

After 25 years of practicing dermatology, in 2016 I decided to establish a skincare products company - Big River Silk Skincare™ Inc. – to manufacture and distribute organic skincare products for people going onto prescription therapies. I incorporated cleansers and moisturizers that my family of Woodbury Dermatologists has used for years for Tennessee and Arkansas Dermatology patients: a type of Acne Wash called AmberSoy™ Soap Gel and an exfoliating moisturizer anti-wrinkle cream called GlycoShea™ Facial&Neck Lotion with Glycolic Acid – as well as two special gentle moisturizers for babies and children – made from Refined Shea Butter - HypoShea™ Moisturizer Lotion and HypoShea™ Moisturizer Cream.

AmberSoy Soap Gel can be used as an Acne Mask — AmberSoy oap Gel is a soft glycerine Acne Wash

AmberSoy Soap Gel is a great cleanser option for people with oily or combination skin. It can be used as a type of face mask, wherein it’s applied to the skin, then left on for 5-10 minutes. Available in 1 oz ($14.95), 2 oz ($22.95), and 8 oz ($74.95), it comes in Mint, Lemon, and No Fragrance Added, with no dyes, formaldehyde, nor propylene glycol.

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion contains Refined Shea Butter and Glycolic Acid — GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion contains Alpha Hydroxy Acid Glycolic Acid making it into an Exfoliating Moisturizer Acne-Wrinkle Cream

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion is a helpful fragrance-free exfoliating moisturizer that acts as a face scrub, due to its Glycolic Acid, an AHA or Alpha-hydroxy Acid originally discovered in pineapple. It also helps to even out the appearance of fine lines in the skin, making it into an effective anti-wrinkle cream. 1 oz ($45.95), 2 oz ($68.95), and 8 oz ($229.95).

A young couple applying an emulsion or blend of Glycolic Acid with Refined Shea Butter — Young Couple applying Glycolic Acid with Shea Butter as an Antiwrinkle Cream Exfoliating Moisturizer

Big River Silk Skincare’s AmberSoy Soap Gel, GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion, and HypoShea Moisturizer Cream and Lotion are available for over-the-counter purchase at our headquarters, 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018, Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. They can also be ordered at www.Bigriversilkskincare.com (shipping: $7.50 USPS ship;ping for orders under $75.00; otherwise free shipping and handling) ($12.50 handling and shipping for Canadian orders under $12.50; otherwise free shipping and handling ). 1-901-753-0168.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discussing Acne Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis with a young male patient — Memphis Dermatologist doing a Back to School Dermatology tuneup for a young male patient

If you or a family member has Acne, Rosacea, Eczema, Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis, or if you’re in need of a Skin Cancer Screening, consider getting a checkup with a Board-certified Dermatologist. I have been a Memphis Dermatologist since 1993 with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova, TN, near both Germantown TN and Bartlett TN (www.Rheumderm.com or www.Bigriversilkskincare.com) (1-901-753-0168). Or if you’re looking for a “Dermatologist Near Me,” or “Best Dermatologist Near Me,” go to the American Academy of Dermatology web site, AAD.org, then plug your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab, and you’ll find some of the U.S’ 20,000 Board-certified Dermatologists in your own neighborhood.