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Topics On My Desk This Month: TOP of PAGE Skin Care Creams Primer Confused about skin care creams? You are not alone. Many of my patients come in asking for products based on strong marketing instead of what is actually in the cream and how it works on your skin. As we grow older, the outer layer of our skin which is called the" epidermis" becomes thicker, and, as our oil glands produce less oil, our skin becomes drier & less smooth. In addition, cumulative sun or actinic damage can result in poikilodermatous changes such as blotchiness, discoloration light and/or dark spots) and age spots. Also, the aging process causes the middle layer of the skin called the "dermis" and which contains the collagen and elastin fibers, which give structural support to the skin, to lose their elasticity. This, of course, can eventuate into loose, sagging skin, wrinkles, and a marked tendency towards easy bruisability. Although there are many products on the market today, both prescription & over the counter, promoted as rejuvenating the skin through improving fine wrinkle lines, reducing discoloration, and restoring a more youthful look or better "light reflection," if you will, I have chosen to discuss the following: 1. Products containing vitamin A such as tretinoin ("Retin-A","Renova") are keratolytic or peeling agents meant to stimulate the growth of a smoother skin & reduce discoloration. Tazarotene marked as" Avage" and "Tazorac" is also in this family. These products are dispensed only by prescription. 2. Alpha hydroxyacids derived from fruit sugars such as glycolic acid (sugar cane), lactic acid (milk sugar), malic acid (apples), tartaric acid (grapes)are very effective. Glycolic acid- containing products are among the most popular as skin exfoliants which help to shed old skin cells, reduce blackheads, reduce fine wrinkle lines & discoloration & moisturize the skin. 3. The botanical hormone called "kinetin " which helps to keep plants green & healthy by protecting them against sun damage & cellular aging, is especially helpful for those with the most sensitive & delicate skin to increase moisture retention & reduce signs of aging. It is non-prescription. 4. Topical antioxidant-containing products which both improve & prevent skin damage caused by "free radicals, "molecules that injure cellular DNA. The better skin antioxidants also improve skin care by stimulating "fibroblasts," skin cells that produce collagen and elastin, thereby firming the skin and diminishing wrinkles. Skin antioxidants include: (a) Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), which technically is citric acid (see alphahydroxyacids above), but is also a potent antioxidant. However, when combined with acetyl tyrosine and zinc sulfate, it is found to also stimulate fibroblastic activity. This helps reduce fine lines & wrinkles. It is non-prescription. (b) Studies of Idebenone found in non-prescription products show that this antioxidant moisturizes dry skin & helps to reduce fine lines & wrinkles by smoothing the skin. (c) Copper & peptide (a collection of amino acids)-containing products which stimulate collagen & elastin production and foster the formation of "glycosaminoglycans,(GAS)" the glue between cells which helps to thicken the dermis and thereby reduce sagging and wrinkling skin. These are also believed to increase blood vessel formation and oxygenation for a more youthful-looking skin, i.e., a better "light reflection," as in a child's skin". To pick the right cream or treatment for your anti-aging regiman, make an appointment with our Patient care cooridinator, Shawn Wiesen. TOP of PAGE Fun in the Sun Everyone looks forward to summer and outdoor activities. However, you must, while enjoying the outdoors, take good care of your skin. Proper care includes avoiding excessive sun exposure, and preventing insect bites, heat rashes and poison plant rashes, such as poison ivy, oak and sumac. Let's discuss each of these subjects in further detail. Suncare and Skin Cancer: The sun injures your skin with ultraviolet light. These invisible wavelengths from the sun are most intense during the summer, particularly during the middle of the day. Excessive exposure to these rays causes suntans and sunburns that are evidence of injury to the skin. Repeated suntans and sunburns over a lifetime damage the skin causing premature aging (wrinkles and irregularities of pigment) as well as various benign and cancerous growths (basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and the especially dangerous melanomas). The effects of ultraviolet injury are difficult to notice at first because they happen slowly over a long period of time. You can enjoy time in the sun without unnecessarily damaging your skin by avoiding sunburn and minimizing suntans. Remember a dark tan is never healthy. 1. Avoid mid-day sun (from the hours of 10:30am and 2:30pm). 2. Wear appropriate cover-up clothing, including a hat. 3. Protect your eyes with sunglasses. 4. Apply sunscreen liberally and frequently. We recommend a SPF (Skin Protection Factor) of at least 15. There are waterproof sunscreens that will remain effective even after heavy sweating and swimming. However, it never hurts to re-apply. Insect Bites: Insect bite reactions can be painful and cause annoying itch. More importantly, however, is the fact that certain insects transmit potentially dangerous diseases to humans. Examples include Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and West Nile Virus. Lyme Disease: This dangerous disease affects many internal organs as well as the skin. It is transmitted by the bite of the tiny Deer Tick. The ticks bite sick deer and transmit the infection to the humans that they bite as well. Learn more about Lyme Disease. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (also called Spotted Fever): This illness is transmitted by the common dog tick. It is a serious and potentially fatal illness. In spite of its name, it is particularly common in this region. Learn more about Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. West Nile Virus: This serious infectious disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. It has been reported up and down the Eastern Seaboard. Learn more about West Nile Virus. Your best protection against these unwanted insect bites, besides staying indoors, is liberal use of insect repellants containing the chemical DEET. DEET is found in many commercially available products. Studies show DEET to be safe and very effective. In addition to repellants, protective clothing will discourage insect bites, as will careful examination after outdoor activities for the presence of ticks. Heat Rashes: Summer time heat and sweating will, in some patients, cause intensely itchy, red bumps. Covered skin is especially likely to be affected. While not dangerous, these rashes are very uncomfortable. Heat rash can be avoided by wearing loose, light clothing and refraining from heavy exercise on very hot and humid days. The best treatment for heat rash is to remain indoors for several days in the air conditioning until the rash subsides. Poison Plant Rashes: Exposure to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac may cause an allergic reaction that usually appears several days after contact with the plant. In the Eastern United States, the most common of the poison plants is Poison Ivy. Poison Ivy is a weed that grows in areas of partial sun and partial shade. It is not found in a well-kept lawn or bright sun. The plant itself has three leaflets per stem ("leaflets three, let them be"). Remember that the vine itself can cause the reaction too. Poison ivy loses its leaves in the fall, but contact with its vine can still cause the rash. Learn more about these plants.. The rash from all three plants is identical. The reaction is an allergy, and is not contagious to others. The idea that the rash can be spread to others is a common misconception. As soon as the oil from the plant has been washed off skin and clothing, there is no further risk of spread to others. In fact, if you suspect that you have come in contact with poison plants, you should immediately wash the exposed skin. In doing so, you may avoid the allergic reaction entirely. While not dangerous, these rashes are extremely uncomfortable. Once a patient has been exposed, and develops a rash, a dermatologist has several medications available for effective treatment. . TOP of PAGE
ASK DR. MASH: Do I have Rosacea? Dear Dr. Mash, If you would like me to address a question or discuss a new (or current) procedure or product that you have read about or heard about, now is your chance! Simply click on and you will receive an emailed answer. If the concern or topic is of general interest, I will respond from my desk and it will appear on this page. TOP of PAGE Bad Skin Habits To Break Here is our list of the top 8 to break: #1 Smoking Smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your health and to your skin's look as well. Cigarettes are the major cause of the early aging of your skin. If you don't break this habit, it will seriously damage your skin and you will develop deep wrinkles and spots on your face. #2 Overexfoliation Exfoliation is healthy for your skin. It cleans out your pores and refreshes your face. But using exfoliating scrubs in excess can do more harm than good to your skin. It can actually intensify the oil production thus leading to acne and frequent breakouts. Therefore always follow the instructions on the product packaging. #3 Not Washing Your Face Before Going to Bed Neglecting your face and leaving makeup on your face overnight is a horrible habit you should quit. Makeup can clog the pores and lead to frequent breakouts and acne problems. Besides this, makeup can easily get into your eye, leaving you with eye-irritations or serious infections. Skin cell renewal takes place at night, therefore you should clean your face properly to let your skin breathe and aid the renewal process. #4 Eating Junk Food A proper diet can do wonders to your skin, providing it with all the minerals and vitamins that are necessary for a healthy skin. Junk food is high in sugars, fats, oils and carbohydrates that are responsible for acne breakouts. Cut your junk food consumption, and in a few weeks you will see a significant improvement in your skin. #5 Popping Pimples Of course, popping your pimples is tempting. But when you squeeze a pimple you push and spread the bacteria deep into the follicles, which can easily cause inflammations and infections on your skin. Squeezing the zits can result in the apparition of nasty acne scars as well. If you cannot resist popping your blemishes, before you start, always make sure that you wrap your fingers in a clean tissue. If your have more severe acne problems, pay a visit to a cosmetician to help you solving this problem. #6 Tanning Too Much Too much sun exposure can cause the premature aging of the skin, and increases the risk of the apparition of skin cancer. When going out in the sun, always make sure that you use a proper broad-spectrum sunscreen product to protect your skin from the damages of the UVA and UVB rays. Never exaggerate with tanning, because it is your skin that will suffer the consequences. #7 Staying Up Late Sleep is essential for having a perfect, healthy skin. It is also the time when your body repairs the cell damages caused during the day so it is very important to get enough sleep every day. #8 Using Dirty Makeup Brushes Dirty makeup brushes can do a lot of harm to your skin. If you neglect cleaning them, you can end up with clogged pores and infections and even more acne problems. To avoid this, wash your makeup brushes once or twice in a month with shampoo, rinse them well and let them dry. TOP of PAGE  For Email Marketing you can trust
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