Keeping your skin healthy may seem like a simple task, but in truth it’s actually an art that can require help, or at minimum, advice from a skin care expert.
Perfecting Your Skincare Regimen
The two most important building blocks to a proper skincare regimen are moisturizer and sunscreen. According to Dr. Victoria Moss Negrete, board-certified dermatologist with Forefront Dermatology, “sunscreen should be a daily part of your regimen to help protect your skin from sun damage and ultimately cancer. Your skin is exposed to damaging ultraviolet rays every single day, regardless of the season or weather conditions. For the most effective protection, choose one that is SPF30 or higher and contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.”
The second building block, moisturizer, is the key to maintaining youthful skin. “Apply moisturizer regularly morning and night, and as needed throughout the day. Look for a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid – a sugar molecule that absorbs 1,000 times its weight in water, making it the ultimate moisturizer,” stated Dr. Moss Negrete.
Rounding out your skincare regimen should be products containing tretinoin and antioxidants. Tretinoin, a prescription medication, is the gold standard for anti-aging that is shown to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, help with overall skin texture, and thickens the outermost layer of your skin. Antioxidants, on the other hand, help absorb free radicals from UV sun exposure and protect your skin from chemicals in the environment.
Enhance Your Natural Beauty
While a proper skincare regimen helps maintain your natural beauty, sometimes we choose to enhance our natural beauty and improve self-esteem through cosmetic treatments. There are many different cosmetic procedures out there that can treat any number of skin concerns, but there are two treatments trending for 2018.
Vivace is a brand new treatment that is virtually pain-free and requires no downtime. Vivace combines radiofrequency with microneedling, making it the most innovative way to stimulate collagen production. Vivace improves a number of skin issues including fine lines and wrinkles, scars, stretch marks, pore size, loose skin, and overall texture and tone. Vivace requires three treatments, spaced a few weeks apart. While you will see immediate results after each treatment, continued results will be noticed after three months.
The second trending treatment for 2018 is one you may have heard of. Celebrities around the world, including Debra Messing and Khloe Kardashian, have seen the positive results from CoolSculpting. Currently the world’s leading procedure for non-surgical fat reduction, CoolSculpting destroys fat cells through a 35 minute treatment process called Cryolipolysis. An applicator with vacuum suction is placed onto the desired area and forms a snug seal around the tissue being treated. Through Cryolipolysis, a cold temperature is applied, freezing the fat cells causing them to die. CoolSculpting safely treats most areas of the body including love handles, upper and lower abdomen, inner, outer, and back of thighs, arms, neck and double chin. A single treatment destroys an average 20-25 percent of fat cells in the desired area. Optimal results show between three and six months as the body eliminates the destroyed cells from your body over time.
Educate Yourself
Regardless of whether you need assistance perfecting your skincare regimen or are looking to enhance your natural beauty, it is important to educate yourself. Spend time researching the treatment options available and learn more about the individuals offering the treatments. Look for an expert with an educational background in skin health, such as a board-certified dermatologist. Ask questions about their background and experience providing the procedure you are considering.
Skin Struggles?
If you are struggling with skin issues and don’t know where to turn, the skin health experts at Forefront Dermatology are ready to help. To find the Forefront dermatologist nearest you, visit the locations page today.
