Social Media and the Increase in Perceived Need for Cosmetic Surgery

Social media is becoming more and more important in our lives as a way to connect and share with family, friends, professional associates, and our favorite brands. Our use of our mobile devices has grown too, and now that most are photo and video capable, we are capturing photos and videos of our selves more than ever. This includes the wildly popular “selfie” trend that is so big that “selfie” was named the word of year in 2013.

This trend in social media has led to an interesting trend in cosmetic surgery. As more people are seeing their image shared across multiple platforms, many are seeing a perceived need for cosmetic surgery. A 2014 survey conducted by Glamour magazine found that 64 percent of the women surveyed said that looking at pictures of themselves on social media sites makes them feel bad about their body. This can often lead to considering cosmetic procedures to correct those perceived needs.

Real Self, an online information-sharing community that offers information related to cosmetic surgery and dermatology among other things, recently surveyed 527 visitors to the website. They asked, “Has social media influenced you to consider or choose to have a cosmetic procedure?” Shockingly, nearly half of the respondents confirmed that social media had in fact played a role in their decision. 15.37 percent of people said “yes” and nearly 34 percent responded “somewhat, I knew I wanted a change, but photos on social media made me more aware.”

The perceived need for cosmetic procedures is not always generated by looking at a photo of one’s self. The desire for a procedure can also be generated by seeing more photos of personal friends or associates that have undergone procedures. People see the positive effects of a procedure and are more likely to consider it in their own life. People are also using social media channels to connect with their doctors and give feedback about positive and negative experiences through online reviews on websites. A dermatology practice that is very engaged with patients over social media could potentially grow their business through that channel.

Whether you are seeing a need for cosmetic procedures through your selfies or your friends’ latest activity on Facebook or Instagram, our team at Greenville Dermatology can help you determine exactly what needs you may have, especially if you are showing symptoms of a more serious condition. Call Greenville Dermatology at 864-242-5872 to schedule an appointment today.

Surprising Ways you are Aging Your Skin

Many things can prematurely age your skin. There are the usual suspects, like smoking, lack of sleep, and not enough sunscreen. But there are other, more surprising things that you may be doing every day that are also aging your skin. View this article for the complete list and read below for some of the most shocking culprits.

·         Washing Your Face Too Much: While it is recommended to wash your face daily, it is possible to over wash your face. Do not wash more than twice daily and monitor the ingredients in your cleansers. A non-soap cleanser without alkaline is a better option for repeated washing.

·         Drinking through a Straw: Repeatedly pursing your lips around a straw can cause wrinkling around your mouth. These lines may not appear until a later age when your skin is weaker but actions at a young age may contribute to this showing up in your skin later.

·         Wearing Contacts:  Contact lens users typically pull at the skin around their eyes when putting in or taking out their lenses. Over time, this repeated action can cause inflammation, and lead to wrinkling and sagging.

·         Driving: UVA rays, which can cause skin aging, can penetrate through auto glass and affect your skin even while driving. Try to remember to apply sunscreen to your exposed areas, including your face and left forearm.  

·         Sleeping on your face: Sleeping on your face repeatedly might create more facial wrinkles because of facial compression against your pillow. If you must sleep on your side, switch to a silk or satin pillowcase which will decrease the amount of wrinkles and help your skin retain moisture.

·         Slouching at work: Slouching or resting your chin on your arm can stretch the skin and lead to wrinkles over time.

·         Eating too much sodium: You may already know that sodium will suck water out of your system, so it makes sense that too much sodium will also take water out of your skin. Cut out some salty foods and remember to drink plenty of water.

Some of these every day actions will negatively affect your skin over time. While not all habits are easy to break, it’s important to think about routine changes that could help extend the life of your skin. Should premature skin aging be something you are concerned about and would like to treat, our team at Greenville Dermatology can recommend products or treatments depending on your skin condition. Call Greenville Dermatology at 864-242-5872 to schedule an appointment today.