Did you know that skin is the largest organ in your body? So it is important to take care of your skin just like you take care of the other organs in your body such as your muscles, brain, or intestines! Skin health is a real thing and it doesn’t happen overnight. You have to do some daily maintenance to make sure your skin stays looking healthy and lasts you a lifetime!
The most damaging influence on the skin is the sun! Yes, you do need some sun to so that your skin can make some Vitamin D, but moderation is the key. Just a few minutes of sun exposure every day is enough. More exposure than that can be damaging. Sun breaks down the DNA in your skin cells causing permanent changes including, thinning, wrinkling, freckles (also known as sun spots or age spots), moles, and even cancer! So the most important thing you can do for your skin is limit your sun exposure. Simple things like staying in the shade, wearing a hat, and using sunscreen are critical. It is also important to remember that sunscreen only lasts about two hours so it is important to reapply when you are outdoors for multiple hours.
Smoke can also be very damaging for your skin. This includes byproducts from tobacco as well as pollution from gas-powered automobiles and planes. There is also some suspicion that marijuana smoke can damage the skin as well although research is still not clear. The bottom line is smoke is bad and will age your skin so try and avoid it if skin health is important to you.
Now that you know how to avoid damaging your skin, the next step is to try and improve it! All of us have some level of sun damage and aging. Fortunately, there are great treatments available to minimize further damage and even undo some of the damage that has been done!
The first step to skin care is to make sure you are getting your vitamins! Specifically Vitamins A and C. Vitamin C serum has been shown to act as an antioxidant and prevent damage from the sun and pollution. Vitamin C also supports collagen formation leading to improved skin thickness and elasticity. A daily serum can be applied to the skin prior to applying sunscreen. Several brands are available including SkinCeuticals, Obagi, and ZO Skin Care.
Vitamin A cream has several names including retinoic acid, tretinoin, or tazarotene. The most common brand is Retin-A. There are several strengths including 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%, all of which must be purchased at a physician’s office or purchased with a prescription. Retinol is a milder strength derivative that is available over the counter. These Vitamin A creams are the most powerful anti-aging treatments available and everyone should be using them. They promote increased cell turnover leading to thickening of the skin, tightening of the skin, reduced wrinkles, and uniformity of skin pigmentation. These Vitamin A derivatives can cause skin redness, dryness, and peeling so it is important to adjust frequency of use for each individual’s tolerance. So if you start using the cream and you get redness, dryness, or peeling, don’t give up! Just try using the cream less frequency (for example two or three times per week rather than daily). Also, the creams take several months to show results so be patient! This is definitely the best value topical treatment on the market and everyone should be using it. It wins the best bang for the buck!
Exfoliant creams and face washes will help remove the dead skin cells so that the Vitamin A and C ingredients will penetrate deeper into your skin. Exfoliants will also brighten your skin color and texture. Many companies offer exfoliating skin creams and face washes including SkinCeuticals, Obagi, and ZO Skin Care.
Hydroquinone is a great cream to add in for people with freckles, age spots, or melasma. Hydroquinone decreases production of melanin which is the pigment produced by melanocytes in the skin. Use of this cream can lighten the skin, reduce dark patches, and lead to uniformity of skin coloring. The recommended strength is 4% and a prescription is required or it can be purchased from physician offices.
There are numerous physicians that offer their own skin care line. Most simply wrap their label on an existing product line, but others actually have their own proprietary mixture. Either way, the important point is to have the ingredients listed earlier in this article included to get the best results!
Although skin care really is all about damage prevention and topical creams, it is important to mention a few other ways to get an edge. Neuromodulators such as Botox, Dysport, Jeuveau, and Xeomin are the closest thing we have to a fountain of youth. Neuromodulators are injected under the skin and they work by relaxing facial muscles, preventing frowning and scowling, both of which create permanent wrinkles. Skin care isn’t complete without a regular dose of neuromodulator! Starting when you are young is the best way to prevent those wrinkles from popping up, but better late than never! Finally, lasers and peels are additional ways to turn back the clock by aggressively removing those damaged outer layers of skin and allowing healthy new skin cells to fill in. In summary, skin care should be part of everyone’s routine! It is never too early or too late to begin. Start by avoiding further damage to your skin. Then pick up the essentials, Vitamins A and C. You can add in exfoliants, hydroquinone, and other topical creams depending on your skin type and recommendations from your doctor. Neuromodulator injections are a critical component to maintain a youthful appearance. Supplementing with lasers and peels can help if you are late getting to the skin care game. Now you have the weapons to fight looking older so don’t waste another day, you can stop aging in its tracks!
For more information on Dr. Newman visit www.drnewmanbeverlyhills.com.
