The most important vitamins and minerals for your skin

It is best to get these vitamins and minerals daily in your diet from vegetables, fruits, and nuts.  They are antioxidants meaning they can fight and fix harmful oxidizing changes in the skin from sun damage, pollution, and aging.  The immune system of our skin depends on these vitamins, and will better protect use from infection and cancer with these nutrients.

Vitamin A is an antioxidant that helps with skin cell function and turnover.  

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is very effective at cleaning up sun damage, important for healthy skin collagen, skin wound healing, skin hydration and moisture content, and the skin immune system.

Vitamin D is important for skin wound healing and a healthy skin immune system.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that is important for a healthy skin immune system, as well as controlling skin inflammation and damage.

Important minerals for skin health: zinc, calcium, 

Zinc protects from sun damage, and helps fight skin infection.  

Copper is an antioxidant, and helps form new collagen to fight aging changes in the skin.

Selenium help antioxidants to function to prevent skin cancer, and is good for controlling psoriasis.

What kind of sunscreen should you be applying?

 If applying a sunscreen to your face or a child over six months, then it is best to go with a non-comedogenic (does not give comedones or acne) sunblock that contains only the following two possible mineral block ingredients:  zinc oxide, titanium dioxide.  If your sunscreen/block has more than those ingredients it may be irritating or even toxic chemicals.  Toxic to both humans and the environment.  

If applying sunscreen or block to your body, you can use the same mineral blocks explained above.  

Most importantly, do not rely on sunscreen/block alone for sun protection.  It is best to also use hats and clothing and shade for protection.

Great new Book

Everyone needs to read this book!! 

It should be your home bible for all family members to maintain healthy better looking skin.

It is available for purchase on AMAZON.COM now

COVID and your skin

Stay at home skin

Sun, vitamin D and our skin

    When we are inside more than outside we may not get enough vitamin D for healthy skin.  Be sure and check that your diet is fortified with vitamin D.  It is not necessary to get it from sun, and if you do wish to get it from sun, then you must do it cautiously and should not be out exposed more than ten minutes without sunblock and clothing for protection or the harm of sun starts to outweigh the good.  If you take a supplement, then do not take more than the recommended on the bottle instructions without seeing your doctor, as there is such a thing as getting too much vitamin D.

   There have been studies done to measure how much sun we need to maintain a healthy vitamin D level.  It is controversial, due to genetic variability in how we all metabolize vitamin D, and in the end the best measure is to have your doctor simply check your vitamin D level at least annually and you can supplement as needed.  In addition, we have to be careful which studies we take to heart on sun and vitamin D because some of the researchers were paid by a tanning company. 

   There is no such thing as a safe tan!  Tanning is always damage to your skin cells at a molecular DNA level, and may put you one small step closer to pre-cancers and skin cancers.


Taking care of your skin during COVID

   It is important to maintain a healthy pH of your skin to avoid rashes and breakouts.  While at home, the best way to do this is with proper daily skin cleansing.  You should gently cleanse your face using a mild cleanser twice daily like Cetaphil, Neutrogena, Eucerin or CeraVe or other similar gentle cleanser.  I am not paid to recommend any of these brands.  You should not wash with simply water as that can worsen pH.   
   In addition, while home, take care of your skin with a healthy low-sugar, high plant diet, and regular exercise.

COVID toes and other skin stories unique to COVID

    Mainly children and young adults with COVID can get this painful eruption on the toes.  The toes may swell up and get red at the joints.  It usually shows up 2-6 weeks after COVID infection or exposure.  So there seems to be a delay.  It is being treated with anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen or prescription), blood-thinners like aspirin or ibuprofen, and elevation.  If you think you or someone you know may have this, see your dermatologist or primary doctor ASAP.

   Some children and adults with COVID are getting mottled skin rashes that look like these:

 

Beware of Dermaplaning: why to avoid it

Dermaplaning is a spa or home treatment where a fine electronic blade is used on the face to exfoliate, remove hairs and smooth the skin.  This technology is not endorsed by physicians, but ( I have seen ) is carelessly promoted by self-proclaimed skin care experts who do not have legitimate training in skin medicine or dermatology 

While the exfoliation and smoothing sounds nice in theory, I caution against this treatment for the following reasons.  The aggressive exfoliation done with dermaplaning can remove too much of our stratum corneum - which is the dead skin cell layer of skin - causing irritation, susceptibility to sunburn and sun damage, and increased risk of infection and contact dermatitis.  After this aggressive exfoliation, many people complain of their skin being sensitive and burning when they apply their usual skin products.

These complications are all what can occur when you mess around to much with your natural skin barrier.  Our skin barrier function is important for protection from so many things as I explained.  Some chemical peels, and microdermabrasion devices have a similar effect and are no better for your skin.  There are certain settings where gentle, controlled exfoliation is appropriate for your skin, but should be under the guidance of a professional.  Either a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or aesthetician who works ubder their supervision would be appropriate for safe, and helpful exfoliation.

If you are reading this and you do or have had success with dermaplaning, then you are a lucky, exception, and are still at risk of any of the complications I listed.

Lemons and midriffs

Fruity, floral prints and midriff tops with front ties are fun for this summer.   Cold shoulder tops are also everywhere.  Just remember to put sunblock on your exposed shoulders.

Beware of Burns from waxing caused by using Retinoids

One of my co-workers gave permission to share her photo so we can teach how to avoid this.  There are many retinoid skin products that have gone over-the-counter in recent years.  DIFFERIN GEL and Retinol, and more.  If you are using these skin products, you must not wax your skin or you may get a burn like this.  You are at risk of burn for at least four weeks after stopping your retinoid.  Retinoids shed the dead skin cell layer (stratum corneum) and it takes at least 30 days for that layer of skin cells to renew.

Lemons and mid riffs

Fruity and floral prints with a tie at the front and a little mid riff show.  

Spring Lavender Nikes and Nails

Common mistake: When you rejuvenate your face, BUT not the neck

Check out comedian Kate McKinnon recently playing Brigitte Bardot on SNL. 

Fillers and Botox, and surgery to the face is great, but if you do not fix the neck to it can look odd.

Stay tuned for some ideas for neck rejuvenation in my next post. 

Patient Testimonial

Great Acne Home Care Book

If you are acne-prone, you can learn crucial steps to better looking skin in this short, easy-to-read book.

Now available for purchase in the following ways:  

purchase book links on this blog

amazon.com

lulu.com

barnes&noble.com

Oral Collagen Benefits: Fact or Myth

I have seen estimates of more than 60 studies now published on the efficacy of taking collagen orally.   Most of the studies are regarding bone and joint health; however, more in the past five years are about oral collagen and the skin.  Many of the studies are industry-sponsored like the one shown above, though they claim to be randomized, placebo-controlled.  The data so far is showing a modest 15-2% improvement in skin elasticity, and increase in the important structural elements of the skin like collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).   I am excited that there seems to be some anti-aging benefit to taking oral collagen peptides, but I would like to see more unbiased non-industry-sponsored studies.

The nice thing as no significant adverse effects are being reported from taking oral collagen.  So taking oral collagen may help your skin, and is unlikely to cause harm.

How Apple Cider Vinegar Helps Acne

Recent scientific studies done by dermatologists have determined that when our facial skin pH is not slightly acidic at about 5.5, then we may get more acne breakouts.  Using a pH correcting skin product like this Apple Cider vinegar-based line “True Cider” should inprove your complexion.  

Do not think that by adding straight up apple cider vinegar to your face you will get the same results.  The pH needs to be just right, so you can over-acidify with too much vinegar.  

Candy cane eyes

Fun Candy Cane makeup for 2017/18