Sugar and Your Skin

Noticing more wrinkles, fine lines or sagging skin? It may be time to put down that ritual morning latte. While aging is a natural bodily process, sugar intake can make the signs of aging more visible. Once consumed, sugar undergoes a process in the body known as glycation, or the binding of sugar with other substances in the skin. Glycation causes inflammation that brings damage to the skin's building blocks: collagen and elastin. Accumulation of damage to these building blocks can give the skin a sallow and even discolored look. This process also generates free radicals that make the skin more susceptible to other types of damage, such as sun exposure and cigarette smoke.

If your skin is prone to acne or rosacea, flare-ups of these conditions can increase in frequency and severity with the consumption of sugar due to the inflammatory response that occurs in the skin. High levels of sugar also trigger the release of hormones that increase the production of oil that can feed the bacteria responsible for acne.

Keeping track of sugar intake is hard when you consider that sugar exists in most of the food and drinks that we consume. When we hear things like 'the amount of sugar in an Arizona Green Tea is equal to about 20 Hershey's Kisses,' we begin to question our perception of just how much sugar we intake on a  daily basis. While the idea of completely cutting out sugar is a task much easier said than done, there are ways to get started. Seeking out alternatives to the white stuff, such as date sugar or coconut sugar, provides the sweetness with more nutritional benefits. A variety of beauty products in the form of serums, make up, and sunscreens contain ingredients that work to fight glycation and encourage the production of collagen and elastin.

Dr. Lily can go over your diet with you in our new skin detox program!

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! 

#ALExperts - McLean Dermatology Featured on Angie's List!

One of our blogs was recently featured on Angie's List. Check it out here!

#mcleanderm #askdrlily #alexperts #antiaging

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.

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. 

Mythbusters Edition: Q & A with Dr. Lily

Q: Do goosebumps cause hair growth?

A: No, goosebumps occur when the muscles around the hair follicle contracts causing the base of the follicle to push up and sit higher above the skin’s surface.  This results in the prickly feeling when you get goosebumps. Once the goosebumps subside, your hair will relax back to its original position.





Q: Is it true that you should only wash your face once a day?

A: Everyone envies that blemish-free complexion, but washing your face several times throughout the day may be your downfall.  You only need to wash your face with a cleanser once a day, advisable at night before bed.  Choose your cleansers well because not all face washes are one-size-fits-all.  For sensitive skin, look for cleansers that are hypoallergenic and fragrance-free like the Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser sold in our office.  And be sure to wash with lukewarm water; anything too hot will dissolve your skin’s natural oils and cause dry skin.

                                                                                      

 

Q: Does Vitamin E really help fade scars?

A: For years people have been convinced that Vitamin E helps to improve and fade scars such as stretch marks, acne scars, and help heal wounds.  There is no scientific evidence to confirm that Vitamin E helps heal scars.  It actually has been linked to acne and blemishes.  No current evidence has proven that Vitamin E speeds the healing process and improves the overall look.

Q: Does your diet have any effect on how your skin ages?

 

A: High-glycemic foods such as rice, pasta, bread, and sweets are skin enemies. These carb-loaded foods trigger the body to produce more insulin causing age-accelerating inflammation. Instead, try eating colorful vegetables that fight swelling and redness. Recent studies have shown that those who eat more green and yellow vegetables have fewer wrinkles. If that isn’t motivation to go grocery shopping, I don’t know what is.

Q: Do my facial expressions contribute to my wrinkles?

A: Yes, the muscles between the eyes, the forehead, and around the eyes (crow’s feet) form from our facial expressions.  Over the years, the lines can etch in the skin and become noticeable even at rest.  The only treatment and prevention of these is Botox.

Wrinkle Reducing Pillowcases, They Do Exist!

The very sheets you sleep in every night could be contributing to those unwelcomed facial lines.  Try swapping our your standard pillowcase for a copper one.  Copper upregulates the secretion of extracellular skin proteins and stabilizes the extracellular matrix, improving skins texture.

Pillowcases containing copper oxide have been known to progressively improve skin’s appearance and reduce facial wrinkles.  By sleeping on these copper oxide-containing pillowcases you will notice results in your skin’s overall texture and appearance as well as a reduction in the depth of wrinkles.

If you’re interested in purchasing a pillowcase that is easier on your hair, try satin pillowcases, which reduce friction and frizz!