Detox your skin... with every meal!

The best kept secret about dermatology is that many skin disorders are often triggered by the diet. At McLean Dermatology we provide dietary counseling and meal planning to guide you to healthier skin. Common skin conditions influenced by the diet include:

-Acne
-Rosacea
-Psoriasis
-Eczema
-Hair Loss
-Unwanted Hair Growth
-Perioral Dermatitis
-Seborrheic Dermatitis

The most common trigger of diet-related skin changes is inflammation of the gut. Such inflammation has also been linked to digestive disorders, heart disease, obesity, chronic fatigue, as well as other chronic health conditions. We are here to guide you to make lifestyle changes to prevent and treat such conditions while also controlling those which manifest on your skin.

We will guide you through dietary plans tailored to your needs. Detoxification diets are often used to heal the gut and are very effective in resolving chronic skin conditions. Detoxification should not be confused with "cleanses" and "crash diets" as they are healthy dietary plans customized to your health needs. Based on  your goals, nutrient-dense foods will be included into your diet while common triggers of skin disorders, such as dairy, gluten, and high glycemic index foods may be eliminated.

Schedule your skincare consult today to gain insight on how to prevent, treat, and manage your skin conditions, and ultimately, prevent long-term health conditions. 


Written by: Seville Nagia

It's All About The Arch

Having trouble achieving that perfectly arched brow? With the Lizette Mineral Eyebrow Kit, a staff favorite here at McLean Dermatology, and this simple 4 step tutorial you will be able to achieve beautifully arched brows in no time! 

Step 1: Purchase your Lizette Mineral Eyebrow Kit ($30) here at Mclean Dermatology next time you're in! It comes with everything you'll need to achieve the above look, and there is a shade for everyone. 

Step 2:  Start by holding up the stencils to your brow and find the right shape and length for you! 

Step 3: Next, holding the stencil in place, simply dab your brush into the mineral brow powder and begin to fill in your brow. A little truly goes a long way with this product! 

Step 4: Clean it up! To achieve that airbrushed look, use a brow brush to comb over the brow to insure the powder is set and your brow is flawless! 

Next time you're in the office be sure to ask for a demo! We would love to help find the right shade for you, and get you a step closer to the perfect brows! 

Bye Bye Brown Spots!

Playing in the sun is fun when you're young, but as you age you may find that what was once a smattering of endearing summertime freckles has now become radiance robbing dark spots and uneven pigmentation. In order to properly treat these pesky pigmentation issues, it is important to understand and differentiate between the different types of pigmentation and the severity of their damage. 

Melasma

What to look for: Spots can range from light to medium brown in splotchy patches that are inconsistent in shape and size. This is typically found on the cheeks, sides of the face, nose, forehead, and above the lip. These spots are typically related to hormonal changes and commonly appear during pregnancy or the start of birth control combined with sun exposure. 

Sunspots (Age Spots)

What to look for: Spots ranging from a light to dark brown and that develop as small, flat, dark spots. These spots are found most commonly on the face, chest, and hands. As the name implies, these spots are caused purely by the sun. 

Post-Inflammatory Hyper Pigmentation

What to look for: Spots ranging from pink, red, or brown in color and that develop as flat spots on the skin. These may be found anywhere on the face. These are caused by inflamed and/or irritated acne. 

Freckles

What to look for: These spots can be in a wide range of colors. They can appear to be light to dark brown or even red or black. They typically occur on the face, chest and arms in concentrated small spots. The sun is mostly to blame for this form of pigmentation as well! 

 1. IS Clinical Lightning Complex and Serum: These two products help with those pesky dark spots by providing antioxidant protection, reducing inflammation, inhibiting the production of melanin, and exfoliating the skin without excess peeling or irritation. These products both have gentle yet powerful formulas to help achieve lighter, healthier skin. 

2. 3 Step Vivatia Advanced Skincare System: This three step system visibly improves dark spots and pigmentation within four weeks! The kit includes a Gentle Cream Cleanser, Active Repair and The Gentle Cream Cleanser is designed to help restore your moisture barrier while gently cleansing your skin. The Active Repair Complex is gentle on the skin but yet powerful enough to give you younger, more radiant-looking skin. The Brightening Complex will help even out your skin tone and fade dark spots for more luminous looking skin.

3. Hydroquinone Pads: These work to lighten dark spots by inhibiting the production of melanin which gives pigment to the skin. Depending on your skin type we can provide you with the correct formulation to insure you get the best results. These can be used to help with any of the above types of Hyper Pigmentation.

4. Elta Md Sunscreen: After taking care of the appearance of your hyper pigmentation it is vital that you try to prevent it from happening again, so you need to make sure you are always wearing your sunscreen! Elta Sunscreen is definitely a client favorite here in our office!

Still have questions? Dr. Lily and our Master Estheticians are always happy to recommend treatments and products tailored to your specific goals and concerns. Call us today so we can determine the best option for you! 

MEET LAUREN!

Lauren Wurster is the lovely Family Nurse Practitioner here at McLean Dermatology. If you haven’t had the chance to meet her yet, let us tell you a little about her! 

Lauren grew up in Syracuse, NY always knowing she wanted to get into the medical field. She always had a passion for Math, science, and being around people. She truly enjoys helping people, and to this day cannot imagine being in a different field.  She completed her undergrad at Cornell University studying human development with a focus on adolescence. It was during her time at Cornell that she realized she wanted a career in nursing, so from Cornell she went on to the University of Virginia to get her Masters in Nursing. Shortly after completing her Masters Lauren decided to make the permanent move to DC where she worked as a labor and delivery RN at Georgetown University and completed her F.N.P degree.

After all of Lauren’s hard work her passion for medicine hasn’t faded but grown. She loves her job and loves Dermatology! Practicing Dermatology has given her the chance to see patients of all ages and backgrounds. What she loves most about her job is that no two days or appointments are ever the same, which makes everyday challenging and fun for her at the same time. She describes her job as gratifying because she gets to see the direct result of treatment and the impact it has on the patient, whether it’s a rash or acne!  The nursing side of her also loves the prevention aspect of dermatology. She loves educating patients about their health, and skin cancer prevention is so important and very rewarding.

Taking care of patients is Lauren’s number one priority, but she still takes time to pay attention to her own skin as well. Her favorite two products to recommend and use daily are IS Clinical Pro Heal and Active serums. She uses Pro Heal in the morning and Active Serum 

at night, and both have improved the quality and texture of her skin. Her favorite aesthetic services we offer are Dermaplaning and the Fire and Ice chemical peel. She swears your skin looks absolutely amazing and radiant afterwards!

Lauren is available Tuesday-Saturday for all your Dermatology needs and is also currently offering FREE cosmetic consultations! Call us today to set up an appointment!

Hot Hair Topics

  

1.    Healthier Hair Color

“ How can I prevent my color-treated hair from breaking and fading?”

- Hair that breaks easily is either fine or has been overly bleached. Hair color fades eventually, but to help impede this shampoo less frequently, avoid heat-styling more than twice a week, use protective products, and make sure to drink plenty of water. We recommend taking biotin supplements. Product recommendation – Moroccan Oil Scalp Treatment

2.    Building Body

“My hair is oily at the roots but dry at the ends. Why?”

- Shampooing everyday can strip away natural oils and now your scalp is overproducing oil to make up for it. Try shampooing every other day and only condition the middle to the end of your hair. Invest in dry shampoo – it’s a great substitute for shampooing everyday and is a huge time saver. Product recommendation – Big Sexy Hair Hairspray

3.    Fighting Frizz

“My thick, straight hair gets frizzy no matter what I do.”

- Invest in a frizz-fighting cream or serum. Massage a quarter size amount into damp or dry hair from root to end. Finish by blow-drying your hair with a large round brush to smooth it out. Product recommendation – Bed Head Control Freak Serum

4.    Waves Made Easy

“ How do I get those sexy, tousled beach waves every celeb has?

- For fine to thin hair, start with a volumizing mousse. For thick hair, use a spray volumizer. Blow your hair out with a round brush then separate it into sections. Spray the sections with flexible hold hairspray and start wrapping pieces of hair around a one-and-a-half-inch curling iron. Once you’re done run a finishing cream through the hair. Product recommendation – Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse

5.    Split-End Solution

“ I’m trying to grow my hair long, but my split ends are preventing growth.”

- Have your stylist trim just your split ends every 10 to 12 weeks. Don’t fall victim to the products that promise they will repair your split ends. Leave-in creams are your best option for hiding split ends. Product recommendation – Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle

6.    Hiding Grays

“ How do I cover stray grays?”

- Root touch-up pens are a great temporary solution for masking gray strands. A secret trick used my professionals and celebrities is a matte eye shadow. Just apply with a wet brush and dab on. Product recommendation – Oscar Blandi Root Touch-Up Pen

 

Don't Underestimate Your Brows...

Our aesthetician can shape and tint your brows to frame your face perfectly just like these celebs! 

Check out these amazing before & after photos: 
Click Here For Amazing Celebrity Eyebrow Before & After Photos 

Double Dips and Dirty Sticks

Have you ever had a nightmarish waxing and post-waxing experience? A common, very unsanitary, mistake that waxing practitioners may make is double dipping. We’ve all been guilty of double dipping our chips and salsa (be honest!), but a double dipped, dirty wax applicator increases your likelihood for serious infection.

Imagine if the wax being used on your lip was previously used to do someone’s Brazilian!  Double dipping into the wax introduces bacteria into the pot. You are exposing yourself to the germs of countless strangers each time the applicator is submerged into the wax and spread onto the skin. Waxing can pull tiny pieces of your skin’s outermost layer creating a door through which bacteria can easily spread. This will set the stage for skin infections including but not limited to: staph, folliculitis, and ingrown hairs.

Be sure to choose your facility carefully. Before you make an appointment, ensure that your salon or provider is properly licensed by your state and has received proper training in waxing.  Also be aware of any signs of infection. If you experience or develop redness, swelling, burning, itching, peeling of the skin, or fever, contact your doctor ASAP. Finally, SPEAK UP! If you notice that your practitioner is not taking the accurate sanitation steps, do not be afraid to say something! By keeping quiet, you could be putting your health at risk. 

At our Skinkure Spa, we are dedicated to the cleanest practices! Call us today for any waxing service! We offer bikini waxing, eyebrow shaping, and yes, even manscaping! 

Heather Hodgen

Master Esthetician

McLean Dermatology and Skincare Center