It’s Never Too Early to Treat Aging Skin

Although you may not see laugh lines or crow’s feet yet, it’s never too early to start thinking about aging skin. As we age, our skin becomes drier, thinner, and even begins to sag. By beginning an anti-aging skin care routine early, you can postpone and even reduce the effects of aging.

When you are in your twenties, you should have a skin care routine that includes acne treatment, daily cleansing, and moisturizing. You should also start using preventative aging products. Don’t forget that the sun is one of the leading causes of aging skin, so try to use a product with sunscreen. When shopping for acne products you will want to buy those containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Serum’s that include Vitamin C will also help fight damaged skin.

Once you reach your thirties, it is time to expand your skin care routine. Look for anti-aging products that firm, prevent lines, and repair your skin. Exfoliating is another good way to cleanse your skin and give you a healthier glow. Look for products that contain a retinoid to help improve the overall texture and tone of your skin.

By the time you are forty, you should pick specialized products that target your problem areas. Everyone’s skin is unique and requires different treatment, so make sure your skin is getting the attention it needs. Collagen-building ingredients like peptides are often helpful for more mature skin.

No matter what stage of life you are in, it is time to take care of your skin. Talk to your dermatologist about an anti-aging skin regiment that works for you.

Stressing Stress Relief

More than ever before, life is stressing us out!

You may be familiar with the common effects of stress such as poor sleep or insomnia, headaches and even heart attacks, but from a dermatological aspect, stress can greatly affect your skin, hair and nails, too.

It’s normal to lose hair as part of its life cycle, but stress can significantly increase hair loss. You can lose up to ½ to ¾ of your hair, which may not fall out until three months after the stressful event. It takes a while to affect your hair, but will take an additional six to nine months to grow back!

Stress also can affect your skin by aggravating pre-existing conditions such as psoriasis, acne and rosacea. It also dehydrates your skin, which lowers the skin’s ability to repair itself.

When you’re tense, cortisol levels in your body shoot up, causing an increase in oil production and possible acne flare-ups. Worse yet, higher cortisol levels have been shown to advance the growth of harmful melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

To help fight against stress-causing acne, I prescribe to my patients topical treatment that they can apply to troubled spots to help decrease flare-ups and speed up recovery. I find that when patients feel more in control about handling stress, their stress levels actually decrease.

Brittle, broken nails are another result of stress. Stress not only weakens nail beds but also may form habits such as rubbing or biting nails, which also damage or destroy your beautiful digits.

To lower your stress, figure out what is the source of your stress so you are better equipped to handle it the next time.

You can also decrease the negative effects of stress when you exercise more, lower the temperature on your showers or baths, use detergent-free soaps and sunscreen, and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

For more information or for treatment options to help lower the side effects of stress, call (864) 242-5872 today.

Probiotics- The Super Bacteria!

Probiotics are becoming increasingly popular for their ability to alleviate digestion problems such as irregularity, diarrhea, IBS and lactose intolerance. However, probiotics don’t just provide benefits internally. Dermatologists are learning the incredible benefits that probiotics offer your skin.

One main cause of acne is an overgrowth of bacteria on the skin’s surface. Probiotics taken orally help treat acne-prone skin by regulating bacteria in the stomach. They can also be applied topically to protect against harmful bacteria and restore skin’s protective barrier and normal bacterial flora to help prevent breakouts.

Not only do probiotics help combat acne but they also improve eczema by creating good bacteria that release oxygen so skin breathes easier, blood flows and skin balance is restored.

These powerful bacterial microorganisms even aid in the fight against premature aging. Sun, smoke and pollutants all speed up aging by destroying the skin’s protective barrier and increasing skin’s elasticity that eventually causes wrinkles. Probiotics work to balance skin’s moisture, boost cell function and regenerate skin cells so skin becomes softer and smoother.

Taken daily, probiotics will boost the effectiveness of the skin products you already use. Other daily supplements typically take weeks or even months to show results.

Probiotics are a great addition to your daily routine that will have you feeling and looking better, inside and out!

Myth 6: You just have to let acne run its course

Busting Myths on Acne! Myth 6 of 6
Myth 6: You just have let acne run its course. BUSTED!
There is no cure for acne, but it is treatable, which means you shouldn’t give up. From over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription products to micro dermabrasion and light therapy, there are so many ways to fight acne.

If OTC products aren’t cutting it, let’s set up an appointment and discuss a plan of attack. Every product is different, and one may work for someone else that doesn’t work for you, so we’ll keep trying until we get results you’re happy with.

Be careful not to overuse acne medication. If you use your products more than recommended on the label or by the dermatologist, you may actually cause your acne to worsen by drying out and irritating your skin.

At Greenville Dermatology, we have a wide selection of facial cleansers, topical treatments, oral medications, and cosmetic procedures to choose from. It’s time to be proactive about your acne. Start 2011 off right and call (864) 242-5872 today to make your appointment!

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from Greenville Dermatology!


Check back in the new year when we will reveal the 6th and final myth on acne.

Busting Myths on Acne! Myth 4 of 6
Myth 4: Only teenagers get acne.

BUSTED!
Thought you finally kissed bad skin goodbye along with your teen years? Contrary to popular belief, adult acne is much more common than one may think. Having skin problems as an adult can be just as embarrassing as when you’re a teen, or even more so, but you are not alone. About 25% of men and 50% of women experience some degree of acne in their adult lives. These numbers are higher for women than men because acne is hormonally related and women’s hormones tend to fluctuate with their cycles and pregnancies.

As an adult, your skin is different than it was during your teen years, so your treatment should be different as well. It may be tempting to just visit your pharmacy store and grab some over-the-counter cleanser, but what you really need is a visit to the dermatologist. There are a lot more treatment options available and as your dermatologist, I can suggest the best option for you based on your unique skin.

In addition to prescription topical or oral medications, Greenville Dermatology also offers Omnilux Therapy, an intense pulsed light designed to treat acne or rosacea. Unfortunately Omnilux is not covered by insurance companies at this time, but it is competitively priced for our clients.

Make your appointment and start treating your acne the grown-up way. Call (864) 242-5872 today!

Busting Myths on Acne: Myth 3 of 6

Myth 3: Acne is caused by uncleanliness.


BUSTED! You have been told for years that you get acne because your skin is dirty, so you scrub and you scrub multiple times a day. Acne is not caused by not washing your face enough. In fact, washing your face too often and scrubbing your face irritates your skin, which may actually worsen your acne.

You should not wash your face more than twice a day- once in the morning and once at night. When you wash your face too often, you risk drying out your skin. Dry skin will either result in redness and peeling, or it will overcompensate by producing too much oil, giving you an oily complexion. Overly dry skin irritates acne while too much oil clogs pores and causes pimples to form. Limit washing your face to twice a day and your skin will thank you!

If you can’t pronounce the ingredients in the facial cleanser, chances are your skin won’t like it. Unless you have a face wash prescribed by me, your daily facial cleanser should have simple ingredients. Many over-the-counter cleansers contain Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid to help fight acne-causing bacteria, but that is about as complex as it should be. Ingredients that aren’t natural can be quite harmful for your skin.

If your face is still very dry after limiting your cleansing to twice daily, I suggest taking it down to once daily and using an oil-free non-comedogenic moisturizer immediately after washing your face.

Lastly, don’t scrub your face! Most cleansers that advertise deep-clean scrubbing or come with their own scrubbing pad will only serve to irritate your skin. Your skin is vulnerable so wash it gently!

As a dermatologist, I have a wide selection of skincare products, including many face cleansers with key ingredients such as Benzoyl Peroxide to help kill acne-causing bacteria. Call (864) 242-5872 to make your appointment today and start cleaning your acne the right way!

Busting Myths on Acne! Myth 2 of 6

Myth 2: Tanning helps clear up skin.


BUSTED! While tanning may hide your pimples, it certainly does not help get rid of them. In fact, tanning may worsen your acne.

After a day in the sun your skin looks better because exposure to the sun helps to even complexion and dry up the surface of the skin, but the long-term damage isn't worth it. Not only are you exposing yourself to harmful UV rays that permanently damage your skin, leading to wrinkles, sun spots and skin cancer, but you are also irritating your skin when you are exposed to too much sun, which in turn aggravates acne.

Additionally, sun damage thickens your skin over time, which makes it harder to clear your pores of acne-causing bacteria. There is no evidence that sun exposure helps reduce acne, so why risk your skin's health? By wearing SPF 30 or higher every day, you are protecting your face from overexposure and the harmful effects of the sun.

If you suffer from acne, look for a sunscreen that is oil-free non-comedogenic, which means it doesn't clog your pores, or a moisturizer that doubles as a sunscreen.

It may be tempting to soak in the sun to disguise your acne, but the results are temporary at best. As I always say, sunscreen is your best ally. Not only does sunscreen protect your skin from premature aging but also prevents the sun from worsening your acne.

Schedule an appointment with me and we'll discuss sunscreen options that won't clog your pores or make you feel greasy. Call (864) 242-5872 today!

Don't forget about our Latisse® discount program going on now, just in time for the holidays! Patients who receive BOTOX® or JUVEDERM® until December 31 will be qualified to receive $100 off their purchase of Latisse®!

Busting Myths on Acne! Myth 1 of 6

Acne is extremely common and can be a very hard thing to deal with, regardless of your age. MedScape reports that more than 17 milion Americans suffer from acne, and 80-90% of adolescents experience some level of acne. There are a lot of myths circling acne and its causes, so I decided to begin a short series in which I debunk the myths one at a time.

Myth 1: Eating chocolate and junk food causes acne.

BUSTED! Eating fast food or high-fat foods does not cause or worsen acne. Doctors and scientists have extensively studied correlations between diet and acne, and have found no relation between junk food and acne.

On the other hand, studies have shown that people who consume dairy products are at a higher risk for developing acne. Similar studies have demonstrated a link between high-glycemic-index foods and acne, showing that people who ate foods with a high GI were more likely to have acne problems than those who ate foods with a low GI.

In conclusion, while dairy and foods with a high GI may worsen acne, your diet, whether healthy or unhealthy, does not cause acne. But it is important to note that while food does not cause acne, it can affect your skin, so don't start eating 10 candy bars every day! As the old adage goes, everything in moderation.