West Dermatology

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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! 

The Skinny on Thinning Skin: The Causes and Treatments for Skin Volume Loss

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Is thin skin a normal part of aging? Can you prevent thin skin? Can thin skin be made thicker? Yes, yes, and yes! Here’s what you need to know about how to keep your skin plump and healthy in your 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. 

Don’t take this the wrong way, but you might be a little thin-skinned.

No, we don’t mean you don’t know how to take criticism – we mean that your skin is literally getting thinner every day.

Not only is thin skin a cosmetic concern for many people, but it’s also a significant medical concern. Skin is our first line of defense against pathogens, toxins, ultraviolet rays, and extreme temperatures. When it becomes thinner and more fragile, it loses some of its ability to protect the body from environmental stressors. It also becomes less sensitive to different sensations, making us less receptive to touch.

Thin skin is extremely delicate and prone to injury. It is very common for older adults with thin skin to cut, bruise, and scrape themselves after an impact that they don’t even feel. This can raise the risk of infection and subsequent health challenges. 

Fortunately, it is possible to slow the thinning process. While skin that is already thin cannot be restored to its teenage glory, you can adopt lifestyle habits that enhance collagen production, increase skin volume, and preserve skin health. There are also extremely effective topical products and dermatological treatments that can help accelerate skin cell turnover, strengthening and rebuilding your skin’s outer layers. 

What Causes Thin Skin?

Normal, healthy skin loses roughly 30,000 dead skin cells every minute. (Fun but gross fact: Roughly 50% of the dust in your home is actually human skin!) Every year, we lose nearly 10 pounds of dead skin cells. 

When we’re young, we regenerate skin cells quickly. Skin regeneration is a natural exfoliation process known as desquamation (skin peeling). New skin cells are generated within the epidermal layer called the stratum germinativum, and by the time they travel up to the top layer – the stratum corneum – they have reached the end of their life cycle, and they are sloughed away. This complex biochemical process reveals the newer, fresher, and healthier skin cells underneath. 

Unfortunately, the aging process slows skin regeneration significantly. Moreover, a lifetime of not-so-great habits – drinking alcohol, tanning, smoking cigarettes, and eating junk food – can reduce the skin’s propensity for regeneration even further. 

The skin regeneration process occurs approximately every 28 days in young adults. After the age of 40, the turnover cycle starts to slow, sometimes dramatically. After the age of 50, skin cell turnover can take as long as three months. Hormonal fluctuations and changes can also affect skin thickness; thinning skin and elasticity loss tends to accelerate after menopause. 

How Can I Prevent Thin Skin? 

If you haven’t yet noticed signs of thin skin, you can nip the aging process in the bud. Start by immediately eliminating all activities and lifestyle habits that can compromise dermal health and adopting practices that preserve and enhance your skin’s youthful volume. 

Avoid:

  • Tanning 
  • Alcohol consumption 
  • Smoking 
  • Recreational drug use 

Embrace: 

  • Wearing sun protection daily 
  • Staying hydrated 
  • Exercise 
  • A heart-healthy diet with lots of colorful fruits and vegetables 
  • Moisturizers 
  • Gentle skin cleansing 

Your skincare routine can also have a dramatic effect on your skin’s ability to repair itself. Schedule an appointment with a dermatologist to discuss the best skin-preserving products and techniques for your skin type. 

Are There Treatments for Thin Skin?

If you already have delicate, paper-thin skin, you are probably not going to restore the volume and elasticity you had in your 20s. However, you can strengthen your skin and enhance its brightness and clarity by improving your overall health and being vigilant about skincare. 

If your skin is becoming delicate and susceptible to injury, here are a few things you can do to keep it protected and strengthen it over time. 

  • Improve your circulation. Maintaining optimal blood circulation is essential to preserving the health and elasticity of your skin. If your skin is becoming dull and dry, make sure your heart and circulatory system are functioning properly. Have a medical evaluation to check for any issues that could be inhibiting optimal blood flow to your skin and organs. If you are medically cleared to exercise daily, make sure you work up a sweat! 
  • Protect your skin from the sun. Not only should you wear sunscreen on your face and neck, but you should also make sure your clothing offers sun protection, too. Check your clothing labels for a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) rating, which tells you what percentage of UV rays can penetrate the fabric to your skin. 
  • Keep moisturized, lubricated, and hydrated. Moisturized skin is more supple and less susceptible to tears and breaks. Keeping your skin hydrated and protecting your moisture barrier can keep it from succumbing to further environmental damage and facilitate your skin’s ability to repair itself. The right moisturizers will both introduce hydrating ingredients into your skin while preventing moisture loss with an occlusive ingredient. 
  • Eat your protein. According to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, reduced protein consumption is associated with greater skin fragility in older people. 
  • Ask your doctor about hormone replacement therapy. Postmenopausal women are particularly vulnerable to thinning skin. Estrogen replacement has been clinically shown to enhance skin thickness. 

There are also numerous cosmetic products and treatments that can significantly improve skin texture and volume. 

What Topical Products Treat Thinning Skin? 

Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) 

There has been a long-standing internet rumor that products with AHA cause skin to become thinner. Actually, the opposite is true! 

Skin products containing AHA have demonstrated significant efficacy in combatting thinning skin. A study published in 1996 found that the application of a lotion containing a 25% concentration of glycolic acid for six months led to a 25% increase in skin thickness in the study group. 

Retinols 

Retinols accelerate skin cell regeneration. The topical application of retinol was found to facilitate significant skin repair when applied to photo-aged skin, increasing dermal thickness, enhancing elasticity, and reducing lines and wrinkles. 

What Cosmetic Procedures Treat Thinning Skin? 

Microneedling

Microneedling is a minimally invasive in-office procedure that delivers controlled micro-injuries to the skin that initiate a wound healing cascade. This process causes the connective tissues to activate growth factors within the epidermis, stimulating a dramatic increase in collagen and elastin production and skin cell activity. 

Laser Skin Resurfacing 

Laser skin resurfacing enhances collagen production by directing beams of intense energy deep into the epidermis, accelerating the growth of collagen fibers, and increasing skin volume and firmness.

The best treatment for your skin will depend upon your unique skin type, your lifestyle, and the degree of skin thinning. If you have concerns about thinning skin, please don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment for a full consultation about your treatment options at a location near you. 

You Don’t Have to be a Ghost This Halloween! 👻

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Summer might be long gone, but your glow doesn’t have to be!

Transitioning into cloudier, cooler months can be challenging – especially for those who love a good tan! But let’s face it, that summer glow isn’t worth the risks…especially when there is such an easy alternative!

Make this fall an excuse to switch things up and substitute baking in the summer sun with self-tanning or spray-tanning. Your skin will thank you!

Not only will your self-tanner give you that bronzed look your friends will envy, but it also has lots of other benefits:

  • Get a natural-looking tan in minutes
  • Self-tanners and spray tans do not expose you to dangerous UV rays
  • Your skin won’t age as fast
  • Conceals blemishes, varicose veins and stretch marks
  • Creates a smooth and even tan
  • Can be customized to the color/tone of your choice

Self-tanners seem like a no-brainer, right? Ask your dermatologist about their recommended lotion and spray-on tanners today.

Autumn Leaves Can’t Shield You from the Sun Fall Sun Care Tips

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As summer draws to an end, we might be tempted to stop slathering on sunscreen as aggressively as we did only a month ago. But while the temperatures aren’t as high as they were during the dog days of summer, the UVA and UVB rays are every bit as potent – and as dangerous. 

Sun damage can cause a wide variety of cosmetic and medical issues in any season. Not only does sun exposure accelerate aging and lead to sunspots, but it also raises your risk of carcinomas and dangerous melanomas. Here are a few tips for integrating sun protection into your fall routine. 

Use Thicker Sunscreen 

It seems counterintuitive, but you might need more – not less – sun protection during the fall and winter. 

The humidity decreases as the weather cools down, leaving skin drier and more vulnerable to sun damage. Your light, oil-free summer sunscreen might not offer the same level of protection during cooler months. Boosting the hydration in your sun care products helps protect the skin barrier and keep your skin moisturized longer in the dryer climate. A great product is our own WestDerm Antioxidant Moisturizing Sunscreen with hyaluronic acid. 

Don’t Forget to Protect Your Lips 

Even if you wear sunscreen religiously, it’s easy to forget that our lips need sun protection, too. Every year, roughly 40,000 lip cancer cases are diagnosed, making up about .6% of all cancer diagnoses in the U.S. 

Make sure you apply a lip balm with sun protection after you apply your sunscreen, and make sure you carry lip balm with you throughout your day so you can reapply it after you eat or drink. If you want to plump up your pout, WestDerm Plumping Lip Treatment with SPF 30 is an excellent option, offering hydrating ceramides that encourage moisture retention while protecting the skin barrier from environmental aggravators. 

Incorporate UPF Clothing into Your Wardrobe 

When the weather is hot, wearing long sleeves and long pants outdoors is just flat-out uncomfortable. But the lack of UV-absorbing clothing means you must repeatedly apply sunscreen on your exposed limbs. Sun protective clothing, labeled as UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor), is a convenient sun shield that you don’t have to reapply – you just put it on and forget it. 

When selecting your sun protective clothing, make sure the fabric is tightly knit and can either effectively absorb UV rays or reflect them. Natural cotton materials are effective absorbers of UV rays, while shiny polyester materials can reflect UV rays away from the skin. 

It’s also important to find clothing that fits somewhat loosely, because tight clothing might stretch the fibers and lower the effectiveness. If you want to take the guesswork out of choosing sun-protective clothing, look for a tag that gives you the UPF rating. 

The UPF rating of your clothing matters. A UPF 50 rating indicates that the fabric shields you from approximately 98 percent of ultraviolet rays. But what’s the difference between UPF and the SPF on sunscreen? 

UPF Vs. SPF 

UPF differs from the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) rating on liquid sunscreens because SPF measures the amount of solar energy the product can effectively block before the skin begins to burn. For example, if you tend to burn after spending 15 minutes in direct noon sunlight, a sunscreen of SPF of 30 indicates that you can multiply that time by a factor of 30 before your skin starts to react. 

However, it is critically important to note that solar energy changes throughout the day, and the amount of solar energy differs in different environments. So, noontime sun at sea level with slight cloud cover will expose you to less solar energy intensity than noontime sun at a high altitude with no cloud cover. 

Also, be on the lookout for broad-spectrum sunscreen. Unless your sunscreen is labeled “broad spectrum,” it will only offer protection against UVB rays, not UVA rays. While UVB rays cause sunburn and skin cancer, UVA rays can cause sun damage and premature aging. 

If you want to make sure your skin stays healthy year-round, make sure to have your skin checked regularly by an experienced dermatologist. Please visit our information page to find a clinic near you.

Understanding Your Skin Type & How To Care For It

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Knowing your skin type is the first step to caring for it. This knowledge lets you put together the skin care routine that’s best for you. So what kind of skin do you have, anyway? A dermatologist can answer that question at your annual checkup. But if you can’t wait until then, here are some guidelines that will help you make an informed guess.

Normal Skin? You’re Lucky 

Are your pores barely visible? Is your skin not too dry or too oily? Do you have almost no skin imperfections? If you answered yes to these questions, then your skin is normal—and we’re jealous. Normal skin is one of the five basic skin types and is characterized by balance. It needs regular cleansing, moisturizing, and a vitamin c serum or a retinoid. Either a chemical or a mineral sunscreen is a good choice for normal skin types. 

Do You Have Oily Skin?

Oily skin is the type where your pores are large, and your skin is shiny all over. This extends beyond the center of your face and includes your cheeks, too. Oily skin is often acne-prone and needs special care. 

· Cleanse your face morning and night. 

· The best way to moisturize oily skin is with an oil-free product. We recommend you go for a moisturizer with salicylic acid to keep acne under control. 

· A retinoid can help keep pores clear and reduce breakouts. 

· Choose a mineral sunscreen because it won’t clog your pores. 

How To Know If Your Skin Type Is Dry

You might have dry skin if your pores are almost invisible and you have more lines than other people your age. Other clues that point toward dry skin include red patches and dull, rough skin. Dry skin needs the following hydrating skin care regime: 

· Wash your face at night. In the morning, just splash it with water and gently pat it dry. 

· Reach for a moisturizer that’s oil-based and thick. 

· Add a layer of moisture on top of your retinoid at night. Consider using retinoid every other night to keep your skin from getting too irritated. 

· Use a sunscreen and moisturizer combination during the day. 

You Have Combination Skin If…

Combination skin means your skin is only shiny in your t-zone (the center of your face) and not along the sides. In this case, your pores will usually look large on your nose and forehead. But your pores will be less visible on other parts of your face. 

· Wash your face morning and night unless it becomes too dry and then you can skip washing it in the morning for a day or two until it regains its balance. 

· Consider using a thicker moisturizer on the dryer parts of your face and an oil-free product in the center of your face. 

· You’ll benefit from a retinoid at night but might need to layer moisturizer on top of the dryer parts of your face. 

· Reach for a non-comedogenic mineral sunscreen.

Is Your Skin The Sensitive Type?

Redness, itching, burning, and dryness are all signs that you might have sensitive skin. Sensitive skin needs extra gentle care, so remember to: 

· Use a mild facial cleanser and consider washing your face only at night. 

· It’s helpful to moisturize sensitive skin with a fragrance-free product. 

· Ask your dermatologist before you use retinoid. 

· Sunscreen is vital, so already-sensitive skin doesn’t become even more irritated. 

Your Skin Type Can Change

It’s important to know that your skin type doesn’t always stay the same throughout life. It can change as you age or undergo significant changes like pregnancy or menopause. It can also vary based on the season. For example, most people experience more dryness during the winter. 

Understanding your skin type is the first step to care for it. If you’re not sure what category your skin falls into, schedule an annual checkup with one of our board-certified dermatologists. They’re happy to answer all of your skin care questions.  

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5 Ways to Honor Skin Care Awareness Month

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The largest organ in our body, surprisingly, is our skin. This big surface does so much for us: it keeps germs out; it cools; it lets us feel sensations. So, how about treating our skin right this month and celebrating National Skin Care Awareness with these five ideas: 

Protect Your Skin

Old sunscreen that’s expired loses its ability to protect our skin. So, check your expiration date and if it has passed, toss the old bottle and buy yourself a new sunscreen this month. Sunscreen is the most potent product we can use to protect our skin from the sun’s damaging rays and maintain our youthful, dewy glow. 

Rub A New Moisturizer Into Your Skin

It can be light and thin or rich and creamy. Whatever your preference, the key is to hydrate your skin with something that feels nourishing to you. Go beyond moisturizing your hands and slide lotion all over your body, including your feet. We recommend you try ISDIN Uradin Lotion 10 for intense hydration. 

Give Your Skin A Laser Treatment

Whether it’s wrinkles, sun spots, acne, or unwanted hair, expect all your skin worries to fade when you book yourself in for a laser treatment. Lasers give instant gratification for anyone looking to treat their skin this month. West Dermatology offers laser hair removal and laser skin resurfacing. 

Feed Your Skin Antioxidants

Eat vegetables and fruit to neutralize free radicals with antioxidants. Harmful things like alcohol, fried foods, and inflammation bombard our skin daily from the inside. Air pollution and UV rays bombard it from the outside. Help your skin regain its balance by eating the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables each day this month. And remember to eat all the other skin-benefiting foods, too. You can go nuts with almonds, spice it up with cinnamon, and amend your skin with avocado. You can also try this Sun ISDIN Softgel Capsules Antioxidant Supplement. 

Take Your Skin To Its Annual Exam

You’ll be surprised at just how easy it is to get your annual skin check-up. Your dermatologist will start by asking you a few simple questions about your skin. Then, they’ll gently examine it. There are about twenty square feet of skin on your body, and only one square foot of that is on your face. Although your face is the most visible part, other areas are more hidden but still essential to check, like your back. Your dermatologist will pay special attention to the spots and moles on your body. They’re looking for things like the size of moles, irregular borders, and specific colors. Expect them to ask you if you’ve noticed any changes to your moles over time. Our dermatologists can answer any other questions you have about your skin at your annual check-up. 

Our skin organ is massive at twenty square feet. All that skin needs protection and nourishment. September is the month to raise our awareness and start taking even better care of our skin. Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment or treat your skin to one of the fabulous products from our online shop.

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Back-2-School Skin Tips for the Busy Bee

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There is a major trend in self-care right now. Our Instagram feeds are crawling with images of yoga poses, bubble baths, and hammock selfies with good reason – we are all in need of a little relaxation these days. 

So, what are busy parents to do?  

A constant on-the-go lifestyle can leave you physically drained and can also take a toll on your skin. Now that the school year is starting again, you might have more time to focus on your physical and emotional wellness, which can work wonders for your body and spirit. 

If you’re feeling a bit strained after spending the summer running around with the kids, here are a few simple strategies to help you unwind and get your skin back into tip-top shape. 

Get some sleep. 

Sure – easier said than done, right? But sleep is the most important element in any de-stress routine. If you struggle to fall asleep, cut off your screen time (TV, laptop, tablet, phone) at least two hours before bed. LED lights can trigger a neurological response that makes drowsiness difficult. 

Here are a few more quick tips for falling into a restful sleep: 

  • Cut back on the afternoon coffee. Avoid stimulating foods or drinks containing sugars, nicotine, alcohol, or caffeine at least two hours before bedtime. 
  • Lower the temperature. A cool – not cold – bedroom is critical for achieving optimal sleep. Try to keep the temperature between 60° and 65°. 
  • Dim the lights. Ambient lights from electronic devices and digital clocks can make falling asleep difficult. Maintain a dark room, if possible. Sleep masks are highly effective if reducing light sources isn’t practical. 
  • Create a regular bedtime routine. A consistent end-of-day routine can help you fall asleep faster and achieve deeper sleep. Taking a warm bath or shower one or two hours before bedtime has been shown to significantly improve sleep quality.  

Including a regular bedtime skincare routine can both help you unwind and improve the texture and luminosity of your skin. The act of pampering yourself is inherently relaxing, helping you fall asleep faster and achieve deeper, more restorative sleep. Additionally, your skin is better able to absorb the active ingredients in your skincare products during sleep than it is during waking hours.

Our skin’s permeability is enhanced at night during sleep. One of the best tools for rebuilding and preserving collagen while protecting barrier function is a product rich in hyaluronic acid, green and white tea polyphenols, and pentapeptide-4. WestDerm Ceramide Dermal Repair Cream offers a blend of these valuable compounds and an intense boost of antioxidants which can neutralize the free radicals that accelerate aging. 

Get a move on! 

That’s right, the key to relaxation is exercise! While that might sound counterintuitive when you only want to crash on the sofa and binge-watch Stranger Things, working out helps your body wind down, improves your mood, and facilitates deeper, more restful sleep. 

Before you head out for a run or to the gym, cleanse your face of dirt and makeup with one of our favorites, EltaMD Foaming Facial Cleanser. Exercise can cause pores to open, making it easier for makeup to get inside. You should also apply a healthy amount of sunscreen to any part of the body that isn’t clothed when you’re outdoors. 

Additionally, it’s important to gently cleanse your skin after your workout to remove sweat and bacteria. (However, you should consult your dermatologist if you have sensitive skin so that you don’t trigger any inflammation from too-aggressive cleansing.) Follow up with your normal daytime or nighttime skin routine for your skin type.  

Get hydrated. 

Did you know that dehydration might contribute to mood fluctuations? 

Hydration and relaxation are deeply interconnected. While drinking 6-8 glasses of water per day won’t automatically cure stress and anxiety, dehydration has been shown to increase cortisol (stress hormone) production. Several studies have found evidence that improper hydration can impair the body’s ability to self-regulate its biological systems and might increase the risk of anxiety and depression.  

Self-care should involve proper hydration. It is critical for cellular repair and healing, and could help you regulate your mood. Ensure you are always hydrated by sipping water throughout the day. Especially if you’re a busy parent always on-the-go, this is an easy tip that can make a big difference in not only your skin, but your energy levels. 

Your skin needs to be hydrated, too. WestDerm Peptide & HA Hydrating Serum offers a healthy boost of antioxidant power and humectant moisture, helping skin to stay plump and hydrated all day. 

Get a facial! 

Of course, giving yourself a periodic home facial is great for your skin and your mood, but let’s face it – there’s nothing like the real thing! If you CAN carve out some time in that busy schedule, indulge in a little self-care and schedule a facial. 

A professional facial can yield dramatic results for numerous common skin issues that require management or correction. In our clinics, our team of qualified dermatologists and aestheticians can custom design a series of services that will address your unique concerns. Not only will you feel fabulous, but your skin will also be brighter, clearer, and more radiant. 

Now that summer is coming to a close, and kids may be back in school, it’s time to shift the focus back on you. If you have any concerns, or simply want to get your skin checked out, schedule an appointment with us today. 

The High Cost of Free Radicals

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August is the unofficial Free Radical Damage Month when the majority of free radical skin injuries occur. Several skin care treatments and products can help protect your skin from the ravages of free radicals. Here’s what you should know about the compounds that wreak havoc on your complexion and leave you susceptible to significant medical concerns.

It’s summertime, and the livin’ isn’t easy on your skin. With temperatures throughout the United States skyrocketing to unprecedented highs, ultraviolet (UV) exposure is an ever-present threat to the health and comfort of your complexion. While sunscreen is critically important and can offer significant protection, the sun isn’t the only element that causes long-term problems. 

You only need to spend an afternoon in an urban area to fully appreciate the extent of the pollution we absorb simply by breathing while outdoors. While you can cleanse away much of the external grit and grime, environmental pollutants are insidious, and they can’t be showered away. These pollutants can be absorbed into your cells and trigger a chemical response that can have a negative effect on your health and appearance. 

But what about free radicals? What does pollution have to do with free radicals?

Pollution and sun exposure are two of the major contributors to free radical damage. Other conditions that contribute to free radical damage include: 

  • Smoking 
  • Alcohol consumption 
  • Ionizing radiation (exposure to X-rays or other radioactive elements) 
  • Poor nutrition 
  • Physical and psychological stress/trauma 

The presence of free radicals is found everywhere, like pollutants, but their effects are not immediately apparent. Nevertheless, the harm resulting from them can be quite serious. 

What are free radicals? 

Free radicals are unstable oxygen-containing molecules or atoms. They are unstable because they contain an uneven number of electrons, leaving something called an unpaired electron. This unpaired electron causes a reactive response in the atom or molecule, causing it to seek other molecules or atoms with unpaired electrons. 

When molecules seek other molecules with unpaired electrons, it causes a series of chemical reactions, a process known as oxidation. The presence of molecules called antioxidants helps manage the chemical response because antioxidant molecules can spare an electron without destabilizing. 

When the number of free radicals and antioxidants is balanced, the oxidation reaction doesn’t yield negative health effects. In fact – free radicals are necessary to ward off infection. When there are too few antioxidant molecules to balance the free radicals, however, oxidative stress occurs. 

Oxidative stress can cause changes to your DNA, which can lead to inflammatory diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and even cancer. It is also a major factor in premature aging. 

What is free radical skin damage? 

Free radical skin damage has numerous presentations. Dark spots, wrinkles, skin laxity, and fine lines are all common examples of free radical skin damage.  

How do we protect ourselves from free radical damage? 

We are exposed to free radicals from our environment, but we also create free radicals through normal cellular metabolic processes. Needless to say, it’s impossible to avoid free radicals entirely (and we shouldn’t, even if we could). However, we can balance them by consuming antioxidants. 

Foods rich in antioxidants are among our greatest allies in the fight against free radical supremacy. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the foods with the highest concentration of antioxidants include: 

  • Dark, leafy green vegetables 
  • Apples 
  • Black Beans 
  • Kidney Beans 
  • Plums 
  • Blackberries 
  • Strawberries 
  • Avocado 
  • Green tea 

An antioxidant-rich diet can help reduce your risk of oxidative stress from exposure to environmental free radicals. However, you can absorb antioxidants topically, too. 

Do antioxidant skin products help prevent free radical damage? 

Antioxidant-rich skin care products can help you fight oxidative stress and free radical damage in your skin. Here are some of the most effective products for combatting environmental stressors. 

West Derm Gentle Antioxidant Soothing Cleanser 

Your skincare routine starts with a cleanser. West Derm’s Gentle Antioxidant Soothing Cleanser gently lifts makeup, dead cells, and impurities from your skin while delivering the antioxidant benefits of green tea polyphenols, Vitamin C, and other botanicals. 

SkinCeuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair 

Don’t neglect your pout! SkinCeuticals’ Antioxidant Lip Repair offers a boost of hydration from natural humectants and free radical-neutralizing Vitamin E and Silymarin. 

West Derm IPL Bundle Botanical Serum + Antioxidant Sunscreen 

The final stages of your skincare routine should include an antioxidant serum combined with an effective sunscreen. West Derm IPL Bundle Botanical Serum and Antioxidant Sunscreen combines a great boost of antioxidant support with the highest level of UV protection. 

The best weapon against free radical damage is regular visits to a qualified dermatologist. Keep your skin healthy with an annual skin check with us. Find an office today!