Healthy skin begins with a visit to skin care authority Dr. Peggy Fuller at Esthetics, Center for Dermatology.  Look and feel your best.

ESTHETIC TIP # 1 – DRY SKIN

On cold mornings you want to warm up, so you jump into a steaming hot shower and follow it up with a hot cup of coffee. Feels good. Must be good for you. No, not for your skin.

Coffee, taking hot showers, even heating your home can cause your skin to become dry. Heated air has less humidity. This leads to dry skin. Caffeine compounds the problem because it literally pulls water from your body. During those hot showers, if your bathroom mirror is steamed, the water is too hot.

Here is a quick, easy solution to soothe dry skin: bathe in lukewarm water with a mild soap formulated for dry, sensitive skin. Then, apply a moisturizer containing humectants and emollients to help prevent moisture loss. And remember to use it throughout the day. Combine these tips with healthy eating and plenty of water to drink and your body will radiate the results – hello happy skin.

 

ESTHETIC TIP # 2 – SKIN PROTECTION

The sun, the wind, even time can take a toll on your delicate skin. The result can be age spots, freckles or wrinkles. Exposure of your skin to environmental stressors over time is commonly referred to as photoaging. The ultimate treatment for photoaging? Prevention.

Prevent sun damage and the resulting wrinkles by using sunscreen every day. With careful application, you’ll protect your skin from molecular damage caused by the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays, and deflect free radicals that eat away at the skin’s precious collagen and elastin (which make your skin supple, plump, and smooth).

A healthy diet can also protect your skin from environmental damage. Power foods like spinach, blueberries, tomatoes, and broccoli help protect the skin from

UV and other environmental damage. One last thing to consider: switching from popular but unhealthy diet sodas to green tea can help reduce cellular inflammation associated with aging.

Prevent damage to your skin by carefully applying sunscreen every day and by eating the super foods that help provide additional protection for you precious skin. To see a full list of foods that protect your skin, view our Super Foods Addendum.

 

ESTHETIC TIP # 3 – KINDER, GENTLER LASER FACIALS

Did you know that stubborn sunspots, freckles and even warts can be treated with lasers?

Non ablative lasers produce a gentler type of skin resurfacing without a lengthy healing time. These gentle treatments skim the surface of the skin and cause very little discomfort. Varying colors and strengths of light (in the form of the laser) are sent through the skin which in turn stimulates the production of new collagen. Collagen is the all important substance that provides the plumpness in our faces (think of a baby’s chubby cheeks). The non ablative laser can improve skin tone, texture, and wrinkles; it can even brighten dull and lackluster skin.

One of the most versatile skin fixes, there are many types of lasers used to treat a variety of dermatologic issues. Remember, not all non-ablative lasers are safe for all complexions. Talk with your dermatologist to determine the right treatment for you.

 

ESTHETIC TIP # 4 – INJECTABLE WRINKLE FIGHTER

You stare in the mirror and see frown lines between your brows and crows feet around your eyes. Today, dermatologists use a special class of injectables to ‘erase’ those lines and give your skin a more youthful supple appearance.

One of the most common injectables on the market today is Botox ®. This purified protein relaxes specific facial muscles that create wrinkles and deep folds yet produces results that allow for some natural movement without diminishing the desired results on wrinkles and furrows. This injectable wrinkle fighter is generally used around the eyes, between brows and on the forehead.

Also worth noting is that often one or more injectables may be combined with a filler (see tip #5 below) to achieve optimal results. This combination approach of using two or more treatments together is common in dermatology and gives the best results. No two patients are alike and every face is unique.

 

ESTHETIC TIP # 5 – INJECTABLE FILLERS

As we age, our faces change. The youthful building blocks that give babies chubby cheeks disappear. Skin loses elasticity. We develop wrinkles. Deep furrows may form between our brows or around our mouths, diminishing an otherwise healthy, youthful appearance.

Dermatologists can help you reverse the process. Injectable fillers plump up the skin’s structure, restoring volume and the suppleness of youth. The fillers can plump the pout (i.e. enhance the lips) or smooth away unwanted lines and wrinkles, creases, and craters from old scarring by plumping up the contour irregularities resulting in a more uniform appearance.

Hyaluronic acid, collagen and fat are all injectable fillers that dermatologists use on different areas of the face. Derived from both natural and synthetic compounds, soft tissue fillers are considered temporary, semi-permanent or partially permanent since the results will diminish over time. Temporary fillers such as collagen and hyaluronic acid, which last about four to six months, allow treatment adjustments by your dermatologist as your skin changes. It takes a well trained physician to properly evaluate and treat you because every face ages differently.

 

ESTHETIC TIP # 6 – HAIR MATTERS

Hair loss is a very common problem among both men and women. For women, hair loss can begin during the child bearing years and peak again during early menopause. Some men are predisposed to male pattern baldness and begin losing their hair in their early twenties.

Hair loss can be subtle at first; a professional that is acquainted with your hair patterns can notice small changes. Additionally, consider the effect of medications and co-existing medical problems such as lupus, anemia, or thyroid, vitamin and dietary deficiencies which can masquerade as hair loss.

For women, dermatologists recommend examining lifestyle and hair styling habits. Excessive combing, coloring, and blow drying can wreak havoc on delicate hair. The addition of chemical straightening can compound at risk or vulnerable hair and aggravate existing hair loss. A word of caution for women: avoid tight pony tails and hairstyles that create tension by pulling on the hair. An absolute must – have coloring and usage of other chemicals performed by a professional.

Men take notice. If there is a known history of early hair loss or receding hairlines, be aggressive. Minoxidil, commonly known as Rogaine ®, can be started early and produce good results. Coupled with Propecia ®, an oral medication which can be prescribed by your dermatologist, these two medications used together may produce even better results. Side affects are minor but both medications should only be initiated after consultation with your dermatologist.

Sometimes there’s no way to stop hair loss completely. A good treatment regimen can slow it down. Your dermatologist will play an important role in making a diagnosis and determining the correct treatment.

 

ESTHETIC TIP # 7 – FRESH PEELS

Throughout the ages, people have searched for ways to look their best. Cleopatra bathed in milk to benefit from the exfoliating qualities of lactic acid. Ancient Roman, Greek and Indian documents mention various salves used for lightening and toning the skin.

Today, the simplest way to reduce fine lines and wrinkles is to get rid of the outer layer of skin and expose the fresh new skin underneath. Dermatologists use chemical peels to improve clarity, tone and skin texture. Your dermatologist can choose different peels depending on the problem you want to correct. All are quick and minimally invasive, but some do have mild side effects like mild redness, peeling or flushing.

Lactic, glycolic, lipoic, kojic, salicyclic and others are all a natural means to exfoliate and renew the skin without friction. As a result they can improve moisture retention, soften fine lines, unclog pores and generally promote clearer, healthier and more luminous skin.

 

ESTHETIC TIP # 8 – PHOTOFACIALS

You’ve enjoyed the results of facials you had before. Leaving the clinic or spa, your skins probably felt soft and smooth and had that ‘just pampered’ glow. Now consider the idea that today’s modern facial could do all that and more.

Several new techniques being used by dermatologists today use light to create more dramatic results. Pores become smaller, veins less visible, irregularities in the complexion even out.

Using short bursts of light called intermittent pulsed light (IPL), a photofacial helps to erase uneven pigmentation, improve age spots, freckles and other unsightly discoloration using pulsed light energy. Photodynamic therapy involves the application of a special topical enhancement combined with laser and light therapy. The treatment can shrink glands that produce oil, reducing acne flare-ups, and decrease the size of pores for a more even complexion. The light boosts the production of collagen, making your skin more plump and your complexion more luminous.

Photofacials can be done in combination with microdermabrasion, injectables, or chemical peels as your dermatologist deems appropriate.

 

ESTHETIC TIP # 9 – CLEAR COMPLEXIONESTHETIC

Pimples. Blemishes. Acne. If you thought you were in the clear after your teenage years, guess again. Hormonal changes, stress, even those workouts at the gym can wreak havoc on the skin for both men and women of all ages.

But pimples aren’t the only blemishes that can mar a perfect complexion. Maybe you have a bit of unwanted facial hair, suffer razor bumps from tweezing and shaving, or just started to notice some irregularities in your skin.

Dermatologists are using new formulations containing glycolic acids and vitamin A enriched creams to treat complexion issues. By unclogging pores, these new products clear and prevent whiteheads and blackheads from forming. Keeping the skin cells fresh and new are an important part of having a glowing complexion. The goal is a smooth look and feel combined with a more uniform skin tone. Now who doesn’t want that?

 

TIP # 10 – GET A HEALTHY GLOW

It’s almost springtime and your skin has that dull and lackluster appearance. Here are some quick and easy suggestions to recapture that healthy glow.

Start with a good night’s sleep. Experts recommend seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep nightly. Try to go to bed and wake up at a consistent time daily.

Add a good moisturizer to your morning routine – there are several on the market or available through your dermatologist that contain hydroxy acids that remove and exfoliate dead skin.

Wear sunscreen every day.

And finally, watch what you’re putting in your mouth. The results of drinking lots of water and eating a healthy diet full of super foods will show up on your skin. See our Super Foods Addendum for more information.

 

***Medical Disclaimer
Esthetics, Center for Dermatology, (ECD) maintains this web site to provide information of a general nature about the specialty of dermatology. Any information in the publications, messages, postings or articles on the web site should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified dermatologist to address individual medical needs. Your particular facts and circumstances will determine the dermatologic treatment which is most appropriate for you. All information contained within the ECD web site is the copyrighted property of ECD. Reproduction, redistribution or modification of the information for any purpose is prohibited without the express written permission of ECD.