Tiny Bumps Under Your Skin?

So, you have your new skin care routine down to a science and your skin looks one hundred times better.  It’s clearer and you’ve lost that angry red color, but for some reason you can’t get that smooth feel.  There seems to be these bumps that won’t go away, no matter how hard you try.  Why?

There are a few different types of acne.  There are the inflammatory and red pustules, cystic and painful acne and then there are comedones.  Comedones are bumps that are located underneath the skin and they do not respond to topical acne treatments.  Essentially, they are clogged pores, so unclogging them is the only way to get rid of them.  This can be done with a deep pore facial or microdermabrasion.

Contact McLean Dermatology & Skincare Center for the best treatment for your skin.  Remember, not all facials are created equal.  At McLean Dermatology & Skincare Center a Medical Esthetician will perform your treatment with the most advanced ingredients and devices.

Drink Up Ladies for that H2Glow!

It's not exactly new information that water is good for you. We're told to drink at least eight glasses a day for clear skin, fresh breath, and good digestion, and now there's actually photo evidence that shows just how important proper hydration really is.
People who often suffer from chronic headaches are encouraged to drink more water. One woman proved its potency from drinking three glasses of water a day to three liters a day for one month and recorded the results in a photo diary. The results are staggering as you can see here. 
After her fourth week of increasing her water intake, she said, "I genuinely can't believe the difference in my face. I look like a different woman. The dark shadows around my eyes have all but disappeared and the blotches have gone. My skin is almost as dewy as it was when I was a child. The transformation is nothing short of remarkable."

She was also able to drop two pounds without changing anything else in her diet and workout routine, and found that the minor cellulite around her legs and butt had disappeared. Those are just the cosmetic changes! Smith also noticed increased energy and mental sharpness, and her headaches disappeared.

#mcleanderm #askdrlily #headaches #drinkwater #skinmakeover

The NOTICEABLE difference between corrective makeup and camouflage makeup

Acne scars, pigmentation, melasma - if you have these, you struggle to cover them up. But instead of hiding them, why not treat them?

Be careful when purchasing makeup, however, because there is a big difference between over-the-counter corrective makeup and skin camouflage products. For example, skin camouflage products are designed to last 8-16 hours and are significantly water resistant making them harder to wash off at the end of the day. A great way to avoid that "caked on"  look is to apply an oil-free tinted moisturizer like our Avene Tinted Compact with SPF or Revision's Intellishade Matte. 

Now if you are looking to really cover up a stubborn dark spot or scar try Dermablend Cover Cream or Foundation. It's great for both moderate to major imperfections. Warning: markup should enhance your beauty, not make you look fake. We are here to not only make you look beautiful, but feel beautiful as well.

#mcleanderm #askdrlily #dermablend #makeupdoneright #beauty #healthyskin #loveyourskin

What's in your makeup? There's an app for that!

Are you worried about possible harmful ingredients in your cosmetics? Download this app on your phone!

#mcleanderm #cosmetics #makeup #thinkdirty #askdrlily

Study finds that women lose soft facial tissue faster than men...

A recent article found that "women experience a sharp loss in facial-tissue volume at the age of 30 to 60 before the rate levels off, while men experience a more gradual decline." 

Signs of aging can be prevented ladies. Call to schedule your filler appointment today! (702) 356-5111.

Introducing: Farmhouse Fresh!

McLean Dermatology is proud to announce that we now carry Farmhouse Fresh products in our office.

Each Farmhouse Fresh product is made with 90-99% natural and naturally-derived ingredients. Everything they make is Paraben and Sulfate FREE. Man

y of their products are also Vegan and Gluten FREE.

Not to mention, they smell so good you could almost eat them!

To learn more about these awesome products visit their website and stop by the office to pick up yours today!

" I Have Sensitive Skin! " But Do You Really?

Q: What exactly does “sensitive skin” mean?

A: The term “sensitive skin” is a marketing expression that really has no medical definition.

With over 60% of the population claiming they fall victim to so-called “sensitive skin,” it is easy to see why so many cosmetic companies market their products to this group.

There are three types of skin that tend to make up the population of sensitive skin sufferers: subjects with rosacea, subjects with atopic dermatitis, and subjects with cosmetic intolerance syndrome.

Tips:

1. Avoid over washing of the face.

2. Avoid products with fragrance, formulated with propylene glycol, lanolin, and paragons.

3. Moisturize 2 x a day to preserve the normal layer of the skin.

4. Avoid treatments with retinol, glycol acid or peels.

5. Test it...before you buy it.

The Epidemic of Over-Washing

“My skin is dry AND oily!”

 Do you find yourself constantly frustrated with the condition of your skin? You are not alone! There is an epidemic sweeping the nation - Over-washing.  As a dermatologist I have several patients come to me with skin issues that could easily be alleviated by actually decreasing the amount they wash their skin! Many believe washing their skin again and again is the only way to get rid of the oil and bacteria that covers their skin. Believe it or not, constantly washing is not the answer - it actually makes your skin more oily!

The oil your skin naturally produces acts as a barrier to protect your skin from the environment. When you wash your skin, especially with harsh soaps, cleansers, and hot water, it strips away all oil and leaves your skin with out any protection. Your skin then dries and cracks. Because your skin is too dry, it then overcompensates by producing MORE oil and the unfortunate cycle repeats itself.

So how do you break the cycle?

• Cleanse gently.
• Start by only washing your skin with gentle, non-foaming cleansers. If you have acne prone skin, try Glytone Mild Gel Cleanser. Dry skin? Try Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser or Avene Trixera Gel Cleanser.
• Limit time under the water.
• Water, especially when it is hot, whisks away the protective oil barrier that protects and moisturizes your skin. Limit your time under the showerhead to only 5-10 minutes.
• Rebalance your skin.
• Use an exfoliating scrub to remove the dead skin cells. This is a great way to diminish the rough appearance of your complexion. SkinKure microdermabrasion is the best product I have found and is sold in our office! Simply use once or twice a week for fantastically smooth skin.

As a rule, if your skin feels tight after you wash or if it feels “squeeky clean”, the wash you are using is too harsh. It is a hard transition to make, but one week of limiting the over-washing cycle will make a world of difference in rebalancing your skin.

Don’t fall prey to the endless cycle of over-washing! End it today!

Seven Daily Habits that are Aging Your Skin

The quest for ageless skin can be tedious and quite frankly, expensive.  Here are seven everyday (bad) habits to avoid doing to achieve the look of younger skin.

1.    Not Wearing SPF – Even though your tan looks great now, your skin will be covered in wrinkles years down the road. Wearing the proper sun protection not only protects against the formation of wrinkles, but also helps keep skin moisturized all year round. Dr. Lily recommends a daily SPF 45 or greater with UVA/UVB protection such as Elta MD. Harmful UV rays are not just present in the sunny summer months, but in the winter months too!

2.    Smoking – There are no benefits to smoking. Every time you smoke a cigarette you are breathing in carcinogens and toxins that are damaging the largest organ in your body: your skin… not to mention the wrinkles around your mouth caused by the repetitive motion of puckering your lips.

3.    Eating Sweets – A diet high in sugar leads to poor nutrition for your skin. Research shows that sugar attaches to the proteins that work to damage other proteins like collagen and elastin.  Once attacked, the ability to keep your skin firm is reduced and brittle, leaving dull, cracked skin.

4.    Not Wearing Sunglasses – You should be wearing eye protection everyday. Shading your eyes from the sunlight will prevent squinting, preventing future wrinkles in your forehead area and the area around your eyes. Unprotected sun exposure to the eyes can cause eye cancer, cataracts, and even blindness.

5.    Chewing Gum – A habit among many to cover up bad breath, chewing gum is linked to the formation of wrinkles around your mouth.  The repetitious up and down motion causes wear and tear on your skin resulting in wrinkles.

6.    Sleeping Position – We all have preferable sleeping positions that feel most comfortable to us.  Whether you’re a stomach, back, or side sleeper the position in which you sleep can expose you to sleep lines that ultimately become etched in your face. Side sleepers are more susceptible to chin, cheek, and chest lines, whereas stomach sleeps are more prone to forehead wrinkles.

7.    Stress – It’s true! Stress ages you! It weakens your immune system making you more vulnerable to oxidative damage to the skin.