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Archives for November 2022

Keep Your Skin Looking Fall-Tastic With These Nutrient-Rich Autumn Foods

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We cannot stop the aging process, but we can ensure we age gracefully. Adopting a healthy diet is one of the most effective ways to slow the signs of aging. Did you know certain seasonal foods can help your skin preserve and even enhance its radiant glow? But before you dive into the pumpkin pie, it’s important to learn more about the effects seasonal foods can have and how to get the most out of them. In recognition of National Healthy Skin Month, here’s how to keep your skin healthy from the inside out. 

The air is crisp and clean, and the leaves are turning beautiful shades of gold and red, but for most of us, the month of November means festive holiday tables filled with delicious food – food that isn’t necessarily always great for our skin. However, some of the most nutritionally dense fruits and vegetables are also coming into season. 

The benefits of eating seasonal produce are endless. When your fruits and vegetables are in season, they are likely fresher and more flavorful. You can also supplement your diet with nutrients that might not be as prevalent in spring and summer produce. Many of these nutrients are particularly good for the skin. 

Fall Foods for Healthy Skin 

Limit your consumption of sugary, fatty, high-calorie foods and instead enjoy a fall harvest of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Here are some of the most skin-friendly autumnal foods you can enjoy at the Thanksgiving table and throughout the season. 

Butternut Squash 

Orange vegetables are high in vitamins that provide tremendous skin-nourishing benefits. Vitamin A is among the most potent nutrients for beautiful skin – it supports cell turnover and wound healing. It also facilitates the hydration of skin cells. One serving of butternut squash delivers the full recommended daily allowance of vitamin A. 

Some of the other nutrients in butternut squash include magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C. This powerhouse vegetable can aid in managing blood pressure and diabetes, and might even reduce the risk of certain cancers. 

Sweet Potatoes 

Sweet potatoes are also among the orange vegetables rich in vitamin A, and they are also very high in fiber and antioxidants. These nutrients promote skin health by aiding in nutrient delivery to skin cells, improving circulation, and combatting oxidative stress. These root vegetables also contain high concentrations of vitamins B3, B5, and E. 

Pumpkin

While this popular squash is commonly found in pies around holiday time, it can be enjoyed in soups, roasted on its own, and put in ravioli. Rich in vitamins A, C, and E, this high-nutrient orange vegetable is a fantastic addition to your meal rotation for its blood pressure-lowering, immune system-boosting properties. 

Bonus: pumpkin seeds can boost HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). They also contain magnesium and tryptophan, which can help facilitate restorative sleep. 

Cranberries

That cranberry sauce shouldn’t be an afterthought – cranberries contain phytonutrients that boast significant anti-inflammatory benefits. These nutrients help keep acne breakouts at bay too! 

Factors That Affect Skin Health 

Unfortunately, many of our favorite holiday foods are less-than-great for our health. You can adversely impact the health of your skin by consuming high-fat foods, processed food, and high-sugar drinks. It has been shown that eating too many processed foods containing refined sugars, carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats can trigger hormonal fluctuations that cause acne and inflammation of the skin, which contribute to the aging process. 

Although eating the right foods can mitigate many common skin issues, there are other elements that impair skin quality. 

  • Oxidative stress: An overabundance of free radicals harms your cells by causing a phenomenon called oxidative stress. This reaction contributes to the outward signs of skin aging: skin discoloration, loss of elasticity, and the development of lines and wrinkles. Smoking, stress, sun exposure, and consuming alcohol all contribute to the excessive development of free radicals.   
  • Inflammation: Skin damage can be caused by inflammation in the body. Lack of restorative sleep, stress, and a sedentary lifestyle can increase the inflammatory response, leading to rashes, hives, skin dryness, and chronic health conditions.   
  • Poor hydration: Dry skin occurs when your cells are dehydrated; the outermost skin cells shrink in size, lose elasticity, and alter the texture of your skin. While drinking sufficient water is important, dry skin tends to be exacerbated by lifestyle and environmental factors. These factors include dry weather, excessive sun exposure, harsh soaps, smoking, and heavy alcohol consumption.  

Skin-Freshening Solutions 

If you want to look your absolute best this holiday season, there are numerous rejuvenating procedures that can restore your gorgeous glow. 

  • Wrinkle Reduction: If you have deep lines or wrinkles, you can significantly diminish their appearance via injectable treatments like Botox and dermal fillers. We also offer radiofrequency-based treatments that accelerate cellular turnover and collagen production, leaving skin smoother and firmer. 
  • Acne Control: Acne struggles can be demoralizing. If you want to get rid of pimples and blackheads, we offer prescription retinoids, oral or topical medications, chemical peels, and laser therapies that can yield dramatic improvement. 

Skin-friendly lifestyle changes  

If you have skin concerns, see a dermatologist before taking corrective measures. However, there are steps you can take to improve the appearance and texture of your skin.   

Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, reduce alcohol consumption, and stop smoking. Limiting alcohol consumption means you aren’t exposed to as high a volume of free radicals, so your skin is less likely to suffer from oxidative stress. If your skin is dehydrated, increasing your water consumption could help, but ambient moisture — from a humidifier or even house plants — could also be beneficial.  

If your complexion isn’t what you’d like it to be, please don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with a qualified dermatology provider at a clinic near you. Please visit our information page to find a convenient location.

No-shave November Skin Care Tips

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Every year in the month of November, we love seeing our patients and male colleagues rocking mustaches for a good cause. That cause, of course, is Movember, the organization and movement seeking to reduce the number of premature deaths in men. Their claim to fame is asking people to grow mustaches to raise awareness about men’s health issues.

While Movember focuses on suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer, our Movember celebration (naturally) includes skin cancer prevention. Performing a monthly skin self-check also helps men prevent premature deaths. So, what does a self-check entail? Just follow the five steps below:

+ Examine your body, front and back, in a full-length mirror, paying special attention to your legs

+ Bend your elbows and examine your forearms, the back of your upper arms, and your palms

+ Look at your feet, including the spaces between your toes

+ Use a hand mirror to look at the back of your neck and your scalp

+ Examine your buttock and back with a hand mirror

As you examine your skin, how can you tell the difference between ordinary moles and ones that require attention from a board-certified dermatologist? As the American Academy of Dermatology says, you can use the ABCDE trick as your guide. Make an appointment if you see: 

| Asymmetrical moles 

| Borders of spots that are patchy and uneven 

| Colorful moles or moles that change in color 

| Diameters of spots that are large 

| Evolving moles 

If your skin check comes out clear–and we hope it does–you should still make a yearly appointment with a board-certified dermatologist to get care from an expert. With enough attention and preventative measures, you can lower the number of early deaths from cancer. That’s worth celebrating, during Movember and all year round. 

If you or a loved one is participating in No-Shave November for cancer awareness, you’ll want to make sure your beard is a beautiful conversation starter!  

In order to maintain a healthy beard, you must look after the skin underneath. Taking care of your skin can help you avoid itchiness, acne, and beard dandruff. 

Here are a few dermatologist-approved tips for healthy facial hair. 

Step 1. Cleanse your beard and face daily.  

Daily cleansing is essential for proper beard maintenance, so before your beautiful beard starts to sprout, you’ll want to prep your skin. 

Dirt, oil, and dead skin can clog your pores and increase the likelihood you’ll experience annoying ingrown hairs during your first few no-shave days. Using the right cleanser is important to achieve the best results. 

If your skin isn’t acne-prone and doesn’t become irritated easily, use a gentle, non-comedogenic, exfoliating cleanser that minimizes free radical damage and boosts hydration. ISDIN Isdinceutics Essential Cleansing Oil uses botanicals to deep-clean the skin while delivering barrier-protecting antioxidants. 

Cleansing becomes even more important after your beard begins to grow. Your facial hair can trap dirt, oils, dead skin cells, and environmental pollutants, which can build up over time and clog your pores, causing irritation and inflammation. 

Step 2. Moisturize your skin and beard. 

If you have oily or acne-prone skin, you might be tempted to avoid moisturizers. However, it’s essential for keeping your skin and beard conditioned; when your beard hairs are softer, they are less likely to irritate your skin or become ingrown. 

Apply your moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp, which helps distribute the product evenly and maximizes hydration. Work the product into both your beard and skin. An excellent moisturizer for all skin types is West Derm Antioxidant Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50, which delivers a boost of antioxidants and hydrating hyaluronic acid. 

Step 3. Detangle and groom your beard. 

Gently comb the conditioner, beard oil, or beard balm throughout your beard with your beard comb or brush. This step ensures the product is spread evenly throughout your facial hair. This stage is easier when the hair is still wet. 

While No-Shave November is a great time to explore different facial hair configurations, it’s an even better time to have a skin cancer check from a qualified dermatologist. Skin cancer is among the most common forms of cancer in the United States; approximately one-fifth of the American population will develop a form of skin cancer at some point. 

One of the best ways to protect yourself from skin cancer is to have your skin examined by a licensed dermatologist. Schedule an appointment today at a dermatology center near you. 

Women’s Face Shaving: What You Need to Know

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Women often use a variety of facial hair removal techniques to get rid of unwanted peach fuzz, but shaving wasn’t generally among the most common – or commonly discussed — methods until recently. Here is what you need to know about female face shaving. 

If you have hair that you don’t want on your face, shaving it off shouldn’t be controversial; men have been shaving their faces since the invention of razors, after all! Shaving is simple, fast, and inexpensive. Women are perfectly open about shaving their legs, underarms, and bikini lines. Why shouldn’t women shave their faces? 

Well… it depends. 

Women tend to have more fragile skin than men; daily shaving could cause irritation, effectively negating the cosmetic benefits. Also, there is a risk of cutting the skin, which could lead to infection. Of course, everyone is different, and face shaving has been a weapon in some of the world’s most famous women’s beauty arsenals for centuries. 

Seriously, both Queen Elizabeth I and Elizabeth Taylor reportedly shaved their faces. You don’t get much more glamorous than that! 

Face shaving is a perfectly reasonable grooming technique if it solves more problems than it causes. If shaving your face rids you of unwanted hair, doesn’t cause irritation, and leaves you with smooth, glowing skin, then continue to shave without shame! 

But first – what’s the big deal about face shaving? 

Benefits of Face Shaving 

Shaving – whether it is face shaving or shaving anywhere on the body – removes hair. There are two types of facial hair: vellus hair and terminal hair. Vellus hair is the very fine, soft, often translucent hair on the cheeks and forehead. Terminal hairs are the more coarser, thicker, and darker hairs associated with beards and eyebrows, as well as the hairs on the scalp. 

Shaving the face not only removes hair growth by cutting it off near the root, but it also removes the top layer of dead skin cells, dirt, and oil. When the primary objective of face shaving is removing dead skin for a brighter, softer complexion, the process is called dermaplaning. 

Dermaplaning Explained 

Dermaplaning is a type of exfoliation. While mechanical scrubbing with a washcloth or using an Alpha Hydroxy wash like SkinMedica Exfoliating Cleanser will remove dulling dead skin, dermaplaning literally cuts it away, along with vellus and terminal hairs. Because dermaplaning also removes hair, the skin appears considerably brighter and smoother than it does using other exfoliating methods. It also has the advantage of delivering instant results. 

Many women enjoy the results of dermaplaning even if they don’t have obvious peach fuzz. Not only does it rejuvenate the complexion, but the newly smooth, hair-free surface of the skin can also be an excellent canvas for cosmetics and give you that “glass skin” appearance. It also helps your skin absorb skin care products more efficiently. 

Best of all, dermaplaning stimulates collagen production and skin cell turnover, resulting in tighter, firmer skin. What’s not to love? 

Drawbacks of Face Shaving 

As previously stated, shaving is among the simplest and least expensive home skin care techniques available. However, people with the following skin conditions should never attempt facial shaving or at-home dermaplaning without having a consultation with a qualified dermatologist: 

While vellus hairs can give the skin a dull appearance and even trap dead skin cells, they are beneficial for people with certain skin types. Vellus hairs hold secreted oil away from the face, where it is less likely to clog pores. Some people find that shaving the hairs away triggers acne, even when breakouts hadn’t previously been a problem. 

Shaving the face can also lead to the following: 

  • Five o’clock shadow. Because shaving blunts the ends of terminal hairs, they can appear thicker and become more noticeable when they begin to grow back.  
  • Ingrown hairs. If you have coarse or extremely curly terminal hairs, you might be susceptible to ingrown hairs, which can be painful and unsightly.  
  • Skin damage. You may experience razor burns or facial cuts and nicks that become irritated or inflamed.  

Are There Alternative Techniques? 

Face shaving isn’t ideal for everyone (some men included). If you have sensitive skin, have thin or otherwise delicate skin, or struggle with razor burn, there are other highly effective solutions for skin brightening, exfoliation, and facial hair removal. 

Laser Hair Removal 

If your primary goal is getting rid of unwanted facial hair, then laser hair removal is your best option – particularly if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin. 

Laser hair removal involves using intensive laser energy to permanently halt the growth cycle of terminal hairs. This treatment causes no damage to the surrounding tissue, so there are no marks or scars. 

Laser Skin Resurfacing 

Laser skin resurfacing is among the best rejuvenation options for people of all skin types. This highly effective technique uses laser energy to remove the uppermost layers of skin, which allows the newer skin cells to move up to the surface. Laser skin resurfacing boosts collagen production and skin cell turnover, making skin plumper and tighter. It can also even out skin pigmentation and lessen the appearance of acne scars. 

Chemical Peel 

A chemical peel is an intensive exfoliation procedure that uses a deep penetrating solution on the skin to facilitate skin cell turnover and reveal healthy skin cells underneath. Chemical peels are often used for people with darker skin tones or who have skin conditions that could be aggravated by the heat of a laser. 

There are numerous highly effective procedures for removing facial hair and creating a brighter, fresher complexion. If you are not sure of the best technique for your skin, please don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment at one of our offices nearest you today!