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Let’s Talk About All Things Sun Damage
If the sun’s rays can damage furniture over time, then our skin is certainly not immune. Sun damage to our skin is primarily caused by ultraviolet radiation (or UV) light. UV light comprises UVA (slightly longer) and UVB (slightly shorter). Different types of UV light can cause unique sun damage and are critical to our skin’s health and appearance. More extended UVA sunlight (320-400nm) has been shown to cause premature skin aging, likely due to penetration deep into the tissue. UVB is slightly shorter (290-320nm) and is often associated with sunburns and cell DNA damage. UV radiation can cause unwanted skin effects, including photodamage, wrinkles, and skin cancer.¹
There are several ways that sun damage can occur from UV light; likewise, several approaches prevent and manage the harsh effects the sun can inflict on our skin. Sun damage occurs through oxidative damage, which can be partially reversed with antioxidants in some skin care products. Another mechanism is melanogenesis, where pigment is produced by cells to protect themselves. Melanin can accumulate and cause unsightly pigmentary issues in the skin, which are difficult to treat and may require chemical peels and laser therapy. Malignant skin cancers and benign neoplasms occur when skin cells’ DNA mutate from UV radiation. Some forms of skin cancer are not caused by UV damage, but the vast majority are caused by excessive sun exposure. Other forms of sun damage can include dryness, reduced firmness, dullness, increased sagging, and wrinkles.
Hormonal & Cystic Acne – Understanding the Differences
It’s a dreaded word – acne. And treating it appropriately is very important. We mustn’t think about acne as simply pimples. Pimples are the manifestation of an underlying condition, while acne is a condition in and of itself. It’s also essential to distinguish the spot here and there from a full-on acne breakout. Most of us can deal with the occasional spot with a bit of makeup or a commercially available pimple treatment. On the other hand, acne is far more challenging to control, and the potential for scarring is real.
Let’s talk about acne breakouts, what type of acne it could be, and how we, as dermatologists, treat it to ensure the best cosmetic and medical results.
Severe acne primarily comes in two forms: hormonal acne and cystic acne.
Facial Fullness & the Realities of Wegovy® Ozempic® & Mounjaro®
By now, you’ve almost certainly heard about the shortage of diabetes and weight loss drugs, which have become the weight loss method of choice for many celebrities and others alike. Weight loss medication does have a place in the continuum of metabolic care. However, many take these medications as a quick and easy way to reduce hunger and lose weight, even if they do not have significant weight-related concerns. Not only has this created a shortage in diabetes drugs and put many suffering from diabetes in a concerning situation, but these drugs that promote speedy weight loss also have some side effects that are not necessarily on the label but a patient needs to consider.
Winter Skincare Tips
When you think about skincare, you often focus on the most visible and obvious causes of damage, like the harsh UV rays of the sun. However, while these cannot be ignored, there are several months out of the year – our winter months – that can cause significant issues with your skin if not approached properly. Proper winter skin care can contribute dramatically to a more polished look all year round. So, with that said, let’s dive right into how we can keep our skin in great shape throughout the harsher winter months.
Vitamins & Minerals That Make Your Skin Glow
With all the advances in skincare, both on the medical and aesthetic levels, we know that inflammation is one of the skin’s greatest enemies. Research has established that controlling inflammation promotes youthful, glowing skin, and this can be achieved, in part, by choosing the right vitamins and minerals. These nutritional superstars work alongside a comprehensive skincare regimen with the goal of preventing accelerated aging. Inflammation is tantamount to aging as it directly influences wrinkles and sagging, lifeless skin.
Vitamins and supplements can be skin-friendly when consumed appropriately and ideally through a proper diet.
Why Spending on Skincare Makes More Sense Than Dropping $$ On Makeup
If you have found yourself in the makeup aisle wondering if you need to try every foundation on the shelf before you decide which will best mask your skin problem, maybe it’s time to take a step back. What if the issue you are trying to cover can be treated so that you might not need to hide behind the makeup? You might need to rethink your skincare budget and routine, and with a few tricks from the pros, your makeup dollars could be better spent! Besides, the heavy foundation to conceal our skin is out of style, with current trends leaning toward fresh-faced looks while embracing some imperfections. So how can you get that glowing natural look without using excessive makeup? It starts with identifying the underlying problem.
How Do Celebrities Maintain Such Youthful Skin as They Age?
Most of us have seen our favorite celebrities in magazines and on television and wondered, how do they stay looking so young? Is it genetics, lighting, or makeup? Could they be using Photoshop to conceal their wrinkles? The truth about celebrity skin secrets is not mysterious at all! There are tried and true ways those in the know maintain their youthful skin, even as they age.
Firstly, celebrities might be working with good genes. And many stars are attractive in the traditional sense, giving them a major boost. Genetically gifted people do tend to maintain their good looks as they age. But that’s only part of the story because good genes can only take you so far in aging. Aging is a natural process; our skin will eventually deteriorate physically, resulting in wrinkles, dark spots, and even skin cancers.
Thinking About Our Skin as We Transition From Summer to Fall
With summer ending and cooler weather just around the corner, many of us spend our last weeks outdoors in the sun before the pumpkin spice and sweaters come out. And although temperatures may start to drop, it’s essential to keep practicing sun safety, even when the weather cools down. Keeping your skin safe means sun protection, even when it’s overcast or cooler outside. Fortunately, there are many options and ways we can do this. With so many different sun protection options and the overwhelming advice readily available online and on social media, it’s easy to overlook the easy, everyday approaches we can take to avoid getting excess UV exposure.
3 Simple Skin Tricks for Late Summer and Early Fall
- Seek shade, even when it’s overcast
- Sunscreen, so many new options
- Post-exposure plan
Am I Missing Out on The Power of Lasers in My Skincare Routine?
You can’t turn to an online blog, fashion magazine, or social media feed without coming across incredible images and testimonials about the power of skincare lasers. And while the research and results seem impressive, the overwhelming amount of information is often not. How do we sort through all this information, weighing each laser, their effects, and which skin types they benefit from? And, importantly, when and where you should consider doing it?
Let’s talk about these advances and where we are in this significant new era of dermatological technology.
Masseter Botox. When Is It Appropriate and What Should You Consider?
As you may know, Botox is a muscle relaxing injection therapy using a neurotoxin (botulinum toxin) to paralyze muscles and make wrinkles and fine lines look smoother and less noticeable. Millions of people employ this proven treatment as an anti-aging tool with excellent results. But, while most people think of Botox as a treatment for facial aging, there are many other uses for the injection, including for your masseter muscles – the ones that regulate your jaw’s chewing motion.