Dr. Bev's Blog

Skin Protection for Spring and the Great Outdoors

Spring is finally here, and for those of who are anxious to shed our winter wardrobe, it means getting back into shape, not only our bodies but our skin. I love the warmth of the sunlight, and the beauty of the reflected light, but I worry about the long term effect of the ultraviolet rays on my skin. I have very light skin, a result of my northern European heritage, so I lack the natural protection of melanin, a pigment normally found in the skin that allows someone to tan, but more importantly prevents them from sustaining some of the damage caused by the sun. I am not so lucky, in that my skin is not thick and oily-not a bad thing because this actually protects against fine lines-and that my skin is not naturally dark.

So, what can I/we do? I have already blogged about hydration, diet and exercise, and sun screens but there is more. We need to maintain our skin health which is an ongoing process. We talk about skin rejuvenation because we are restoring more youthful parameters to our skin, but how do we do it? Well it's pretty simple. Since I wasn't born with natural skin protection, I need to supply it to my skin, but first I need to understand what my skin needs.

Let's start with the fact that all skin products are not created equally. Despite claims of efficacy through marketing, we need to look for scientifically proven products. That is products that have been scientifically tested and demonstrate repeatedly and consistently that they are beneficial on all skin types. For example, all sun screens are not the same. They have different protection levels-SPF's, that protect against UV-A but not UV-B or vice versa (both are bad for you), they may contain chemicals which may be irritating, or they may contain physical sun blocks such as Zinc oxide.

Many women ask for a moisturizer because their skin feels dry or they have fine lines. They don't realize why their skin feels dry. It is because the skin cells have lost their volume and need to be rehydrated. This is a restorative function that starts inside the cell, not on the surface. Moisturizers are simply emollient crèmes that coat the surface but fail to act where they are needed most, inside.

Another common misconception is that all retinoic acids (Retin A -Tretinoin) are the same. Retinols are chemically different from retinoic acids (Retin A -Tretinoin). Retinols are derived from Vitamin A and are used by the body, but only Retin A, is absorbed through the skin, increases the rate of skin turnover, and stimulates collagen production establishing a more youthful appearance. Collagen production and hydration are complimentary and are needed for youthful healthy skin. Using products that contain retinols does not produce the same result as retinoic acids(Retin A-Tretinoin). As we get older (that means 40's are for most and 30's for some) we lose collagen in our skin and the rate of cell turnover decreases. We are not producing new cells as rapidly, and the older cells are hanging around longer. This can manifest itself as patches of uneven pigment or dry skin. Retin A stimulates cell production and collagen production restoring a more youthful baseline.

Some women apply heavy foundation to cover irregular pigmentation. Certain skin care products can reduce the irregular pigmentation associated with melasma and sun spots. Again, not all products are created equally, so they don't all work the same. It's like putting something in the oven and forgetting to turn it on, it's not that the oven is bad, it's just that we forgot a key step. For products to work, they need to be compatible.

As a Baby Boomer, I have seen an explosion in the cosmeceutical industry. This strange word is the blending of 2 words, cosmetic and pharmaceutical, and indicates that the product is intended to do more than just camouflage, that it has a medicinal effect as well. Unfortunately, having been born between the years of 1946-1964, I understand firsthand what our "aging" population is facing. By no means are we old, but we, and the generations that have come after us, are facing the need to restore and to prevent ongoing damage caused by the environment. What is required, is a system that addresses the needs of the cellular metabolism - to increase cell turnover, to increase collagen production and to increase cellular hydration -not just the effects of the cellular metabolism-dry skin, uneven skin color and fine lines.

It can be difficult to mix and match different systems or products from different manufacturers. Doing so may be counterproductive in that we may unknowingly irritate our skin. Since it is difficult for a consumer to understand all of the potential interactions of myriad of products that are available, I find it best to stick with one product line and maximize all of its benefits.

Our skin needs several things to maintain a healthy appearance. First and foremost is hydration. That comes from the liquids we drink and from basic metabolism. We need sun protection to prevent further damage and we need a means of lifting and erasing existing damage.

Younger individuals require sun protection and not much more because their skin is functioning normally. Ideally, cleansers (not soaps), sunscreens and antioxidants such as Vitamin C (not all Vitamin C products are alike). Once we hit our 40's we need to start thinking about restoration, in addition to protection. Since our natural protective skin mechanisms are working more slowly, we need to add 1) alpha hydroxy agents to help exfoliate or remove the old skin, 2) Vitamin C which reverses some of the damaging effects of the sun, 3) agents which will help to even out skin color and 4) agents which stimulate collagen. Collagen is a protein naturally found in the cell that helps to create a youthful appearance. We have known this for years, and in fact Collagen was the first filler used to restore facial volume (but more about that in another Blog).

The Obagi Skin Care products provide all the ingredients for healthy skin. I would encourage you to learn more about them and about the importance of maintaining healthy skin and the benefits of a youthful appearance that comes with it and take advantage of my Spring is Here promotional offer.

If you are interested in learning more about skin care, you can go to DoctorBev.com. This and many other tips for maintaining a youthful appearance will be coming soon.

Female Plastic Surgeon - Beverly Friedlander

Leading a Healthy Lifestyle the Beautiful Way

Spring is just around the corner. Most of us are chomping at the bit to get outside and feel the warmth of the sunshine. Even when the days are short and the temperatures still require a light wrap, the sun and "heat" can have an adverse effect. My friend, Mark Dobies (www.newgenerationfitness.net) and I have been discussing the merits of this, and he asked me to put together a few words for him. I have excerpted some of my comments below.

Your body is a finely tuned organism. All parts of it are integral to looking good and leading a healthy lifestyle. From a holistic perspective, everything that we do is intertwined and acts together to create harmony. Beauty-being healthy- is a concept that is ageless. To the ancient Greeks, beauty was perfection and was portrayed by young physically fit men and women with perfect form and shape. One of the many places that health awareness can begin is with protecting your skin. Your skin is your body's first line of defense. It is also the most visible and vulnerable organ. So what can you do to protect your skin that fits into your lifestyle?

First and foremost is preventing dehydration by drinking lots of water. Activity stimulates fluid loss, that we can see as sweat and that we can't see as "insensible" losses. We lose fluids during sedentary activity as well. Replacing these fluids by drinking water ensures that the body is able to revitalize itself by helping to remove toxins that accumulate when we are active. Dry skin and a flat color can be signs of dehydration as well, and may be an ongoing problem that can be improved with greater fluid intake.

Secondly is eating a healthy diet. Please don't think of diet as a four letter word. Diet is simply the food that we eat. It can be "healthy" or "unhealthy". It is not my intention to discuss empty or excessive calories here. It is however to remind you that the body and skin needs foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals to function properly and to look good. Typically these foods are fruits and vegetables which are also high in fiber (products that the body cannot digest such as complex carbs). The lack of these products can lead to lead to poor skin health.

Thirdly is stopping smoking if you haven't done so already. Smoking causes lung problems, it interferes with circulation to the vital organs and it causes premature aging by drying out the skin.

Finally, protect yourself against sun damage. Ultra violet radiation found in natural sunlight stimulates the formation of "free radicals" which are damaging to the skin and may lead to skin cancers. It damages the structural elements of the skin making it less elastic and thinner creating a dry leathery look and stimulating age spots. Use sun screens when outside and try to limit your sun exposure. Protecting against sun damage goes back to the concept of looking good and feeling good. The sun can cause irreparable harm to your skin, and then you really will need a Plastic Surgeon.

If you are interested in learning more about healthy living, you can go to DoctorBev.com.

This and many other tips for a healthy lifestyle will be coming soon.

Female Plastic Surgeon - Beverly Friedlander