Ezine 216 January 2021

Skin Care Tip

Night time vs morning skin care routine?

Time of day impacts the kinds of stress your skin has endured. Skin care routines are common in the evening, but it's important to establish a morning routine as well. As your day starts, begin by washing your face. As you sleep, your skin releases sebum, loses moisture, builds dead skin cells, and collects bacteria. Then, apply toner using a cotton round to ensure you remove leftover cleanser. Apply antioxidant rich serums such as vitamin C to boost your protection from UV damage and help reduce chances of hyperpigmentation. Finally, make sure you apply sunscreen, which not only protects you from cancers but also reduces chances of getting hyperpigmentation. If you tend to have puffy eyes in the morning, add a cooling eye treatment to the routine as well.

Night time routines, on the other hand, should be more focused on using products meant for repairing instead of preparing. Begin by cleansing to remove pollutants accumulated throughout the day. This will help open up your pores. Apply toner to provide further hydration and remove any leftover makeup. Serums targeted toward repair are best for night along with an eye serum. Products such as glycolic and lactic acid, Vitamin A and retinoids tend to be best for night, as the sun compromises their efficacy and increases risk for sunburn.

A final note regards exfoliation. Your skin type should determine when you exfoliate. If you consistently wear makeup, exfoliate at night to ensure all makeup has been removed and penetration of nightly products is obtained. Individuals with sensitive skin, however, may benefit more from exfoliation in the morning. Harsher products are typically applied overnight, you may want to break up the use of so many harsh products at once. Finally, individuals with oily skin should consider morning exfoliation to remove dead skin cells accumulated throughout the night so that other products won't end up stuck on top of the skin surface.

Anti-Aging Tip

Keep it cool - Showers should be all business, not pleasure!

Long hot showers may feel good and be relaxing but actually are not good for your skin. It's best to take short showers at a lukewarm temperature. Excessively hot showers strip the skin of its natural sebum and oils leaving the skin dry and irritated. Dry skin can cause issues such as discomfort and over time may contribute to wrinkles. Hot water brings blood flow to the surface and increases your chances of getting dilated capillaries, redness, rosacea, and sometimes hyperpigmentation.

Here are a some tips for a healthy shower:

• Close the bathroom door to trap in humidity
• Keep shower time under 10 minutes
• Use gentle fragrance free body wash that isn't excessively stripping
• Moisturize as soon as you get out of the shower; most moisturizers work best with already hydrated skin
• Turn water off while shaving or conditioning
• When washing your face, cup the water in your hands and wash that way. The water will cool down in the meantime

Plastic Surgery Tip

Hyperhidrosis & Botox are a match made it heaven.

Hyperhidrosis is the medical term used for excessive sweating of the underarms. In 2004, the US FDA approved Botox for the treatment of severe hyperhidrosis. Botox is the most studied brand of botulinum toxin. It blocks the secretion of the chemical that triggers the bodies sweat glands, which then results in no sweating in that particular area. Botox is injected just below the surface of the skin and remains in that area for up to fourteen months. Research has shown that it is safe to inject in areas that have excessive sweating not only for the underarms but also hands, feet, face and also other small body areas. Best of all, it's not surgery!

To see before and after patient pictures, please click here.

Verify: Of the 24 recognized boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the only one that can certify a doctor in plastic surgery. Call 1-888-475-2784 or go to www.plasticsurgery.org to verify if a doctor is a legitimate plastic surgeon. Next, verify membership in the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS). Call (1-888-272-7711) or go to (www.plasticsurgery.org) to verify ASAPS membership.

Get a Consultation. In private, Dr. Speron will listen to your personal cosmetic goals. Next, you'll discuss treatments, potential complications/healing time, and what benefits you can expect.

Click here to read the 7 Critical Questions to ask before agreeing to any surgical procedure.

Our office looks forward to seeing you. You will definitely enjoy your time here.

Sam Speron, MD, FACS

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon