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Dermatologist Dr. Amy Lewis shares insights in repairing our skin from summer damage, as well as fall maintenance treatments.
NATIONALLY RENOWNED DERMATOLOGIST AND DOWNTOWN BOARD MEMBER DR. AMY LEWIS specializes in laser and cosmetic dermatology. As summer turns to fall, and cold temperatures not far behind, Dr. Lewis urges that it’s important to make sure our skin is ready for the drastic changes in the weather, just as much as we are.
While the summer heat and humidity will likely lead you to use a light-weight moisturizer, the same product isn’t the best for the colder winter temperatures. Dr. Lewis says, “One of the easiest changes you can make is to ensure you are using a heavier / more emollient moisturizer. If you are using a moisturizing lotion or gel, switching to a cream formulation may be better in the winter months.” Dr. Lewis also recommends exfoliating during the winter months, but not too often. “Exfoliation is always a good way to remove dead skin cells leaving a more refreshed look. But take it easy and don’t over-exfoliate during the cold months. Gentle exfoliation and no more than 1-2 times per week is best.”
Sun protection is still key even in the winter. As Dr. Lewis stresses making sure to include SPF in your skincare routine because sun damage is a year-round threat.
Speaking of sun damage, now is the perfect time to help heal your skin from any damage sustained during the summer season. “Using topical retinoids will help turn over your skin cells more quickly to reveal fresh skin.” Chemical peels at the dermatologist’s office are another option which takes much less time.
More repairing treatments include topical agents like antioxidants, DNA repair enzymes, bleaching creams, and Topical Vitamin C. One bleaching cream recommended by Dr. Lewis is Cyspera, “a newer non-irritating “bleaching agent” that can be used nightly as a 15 minute application before washing your skin.” For DNA repair enzymes, “Photozyme has DNA repair enzymes ultra rich moisturizer which can be paired with their VITC, antioxidant solution with an added DNA repair agent.”
“If you are noticing a lot of skin discoloration, brown sun-spots, or redness that does not go away, lasers or devices will most likely be needed in addition to the above to achieve skin clearance. Hot off the presses, and clearly on the cutting edge, is a new laser to the market by Acclaro named UltraClear. It is safe for all skin types, which is a major win for those with darker skin. Their 3D Miracl treatment requires no anesthesia and can be done in less than 15 minutes. Aside from some slight dryness and peeling for a few days, there is no downtime.This machine also offers 4 modalities to address those with more extensive skin damage who need a more aggressive approach to reverse the effects of sun exposure, aging or acne scars.”
One of the best ways to rejuvenate post-summer skin is through laser treatments, and fall and winter are a great time to do these procedures because you must avoid excessive tanning and sunlight afterwards.
“Using topical agents and chemical peels can improve your skin, but lasers are a much quicker and more effective way to achieve better looking skin. Persistent redness is also difficult to improve solely with topical agents,” Dr. Lewis said.
Labeled as the gold standard by Dr. Lewis are vascular lasers like the V-Beam. “Intense pulsed light (IPL) is also a good choice and can be effective in treating redness as well as brown sun- spots without any downtime. Coolpeel, Fraxel, and Yag and Piqo lasers are also very effective in reducing hyperpigmentation. SmoothGlo™ by Lumenis is a newer, innovative treatment approach that combines both IPL and microneedling RF that targets both discoloration and wrinkling or texture at the same time.”
As always, it is important to consult with your dermatologist about the benefits these procedures could have for your specific skin type. DT.
For more information, or to schedule a consultation, visit amyblewismd.com
Follow Dr. Lewis on Instagram @lewisdermatology
*Reprint from DOWNTOWN Fall 2022