Radiant Winter Skin

That's right, it doesn’t have to be a bleak midwinter for your skin!

We have had more snow this winter than we’ve seen in over twenty years and your skin is starting to show it. If you’re experiencing the typical winter dry skin, I have some advice that will help ease the irritation and itch.

You have heard that drinking eight glasses of water a day is key to keeping your body healthy and hydrated, but it is a common myth that drinking a lot of water will help hydrate dry skin.

Instead of guzzling gallons of water, there are a few things that will help and not leave you feeling bloated! For example, hot water tends to dry out skin, so when showering and especially washing your face, turn the faucet until the water is lukewarm. When finished, apply moisturizing lotion while your skin is still slightly damp so your skin will absorb it more quickly.

Not only hot water but also hot air will dry out your skin. If you have to have the heat on (and who doesn’t in this cold weather?) turn on a humidifier to keep moisture in the air.

Postpone the facial peel until the weather warms up. While exfoliation keeps your skin glowing, masks and peels draw moisture out of your face.

I have access to a wide array of gentle cleansers, masks and moisturizers that will keep your skin looking radiant even in the blistery, winter months. Call (864) 242-5872 today to schedule an appointment!

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!