Things I didn't know

I don’t know about you, but I feel like every day I’m bombarded with TV and infomercials with new tips and techniques to make my skin look “flawless” or “perfect.”  Truth is, nothing in this world can make your skin look like the airbrushed supermodels in your monthly Cosmo.  And, like all of you, I am tired of companies trying to persuade me to purchase their very expensive products in order to attain this so-called “perfection.”  So here is a list of things that you’ve probably not heard that are relatively easy (and cheap) to do.  While they won’t make your skin perfect, they will definitely help to improve!

1.       Even the cheapest lotion will work.

Afraid to use that lotion from your hotel room?  Don’t be.  Any emollient will not only temporarily plump up fine lines but also help prevent skin aging.  Any lotion containing glycerin, Shea butter, or any other basic hydrator will help your skin by moisturizing it, increasing elasticity, and helping to decrease flakiness.  That being said, do you want to use your hotel lotion every day?  Probably not.  For everyday use, Dr. Fanny recommends a cream or lotion that contain ingredients such as glycolic (to help with cell turnover), peptides (to stimulate collagen growth), or antioxidants (to fight against DNA-damaging free radicals.

2.       Relax your face while working out.

Everyone knows that exercising regularly is great for your skin.  But are you conscience of the facial expressions you’re making when you lift those weights?  Clenching your teeth, clenching your jaw and throat can make the cords in their neck pop out and become more prominent, as well as pull down the face.  Instead, try to relax your face as much as possible.

3.       When we say wear a daily sunscreen, we really mean daily.

I can’t tell you how many patients have told me they don’t wear a daily sunscreen.  Why?  Because “it’s dark when I leave for work, and it’s dark when I get home.” Don’t assume you aren’t going to have ANY exposure to the sun on a daily basis. Unlike UVB light, UVA rays travel through windows in the office, home, and car.  UVA rays are the long, aging rays, and have been discovered to be carcinogenic.  SPF 30 in a broad-spectrum sunscreen needs to be worn daily in order to protect your skin.  No ifs, ands, or buts.

4.       Don’t sit too close to that space heater.

With winter and cooler weather coming, women (even on our office) are breaking out the space heathers!  All the SPF and sun avoidance in the world can't protect you from the space heater next to your desk or the fireplace in your living room.  Redness, flushing, broken capillaries, and breakdown of collagen are all caused from sitting to close to direct heat.  So what’s too close?  Experts advise sitting at least 10 feet away from the heat source.

5.       Don’t over-fill.

Women are beginning to realize that fuller faces look younger, and have started getting filler injections to help reverse the years.  Radiesse, Juvéderm, Sculptra, and other volume fillers are more widely available than ever.  But don’t overdo it.  Eyes, mouths, and jawlines can become dwarfed by filling in the cheeks and naso-labial folds to the extremes.  Instead, ask your doctor to just fill in the places where the fat had gone away with age – the temples, front of the ears, and chin.  By making your face fuller from the outside, the softness of your face increases without looking overdone or unnatural.

6.       Banish those straws!

Water, water, water.  We all know water is one secret to great skin.  However, how you drink the water can also have an effect.  Women who drink from straws or out of plastic water bottles with small openings are the most common to suffer from unwanted peri-oral wrinkles and fine lines.  The constant pursing can aggravate the current lines, as well as even create new ones!  When drinking your water, opt to drink from a glass or carry a reusable bottle with a spout so you can squirt the water in.  New reusable water bottles have been designed with large openings to prevent this as well.

 

7.       Sleep position can cause wrinkles.

When we sleep on our sides or stomach as night, the skin on our face is pressed into a pillowcase all night.  There are two potential problems with this.  First, pillow cases need to be washed once a week.  Oil and dirt, as well as makeup (if you don’t wash your face at night) can get trapped in the pillowcase and transfer onto your skin as you sleep, causing acne and blackheads.  Keeping the case clean protects against this.  Second, the smoother the pillowcase, the better.  The skin in pressed against the wrinkles of your pillowcase as you sleep, causing them to transfer.  The best way to avoid this is sleeping on your back. However, if this is not an option, we recommend satin or silky pillowcases, or if you prefer cotton, the highest thread count available.

-Rebecca