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Confessions of a Dermatologist
By Dr. Katie Rodan
Dr. Fields and I will be the first to tell you to run from the sun. That natural, sun-kissed glow may be pretty but it is hardly worth the risks of skin cancer, brown spots and accelerated aging. Just because I slather myself in sunscreen, hide under a huge hat and sport sunglasses so large they cover half my face doesn’t mean I’ve abandoned my Southern California beach babe roots in favor of a pasty white, librarian-like complexion. I want it all—especially when it comes to my skin. So here’s how I have learned to fake it:
First: Prep your skin by exfoliating: Before applying a self-tanning lotion, I scrub away dead, dry, scaly skin on my legs, chest and arms with a gentle micro-dermabrasion stick. And for a two-for-one benefit, I leave the micro-dermabrasion product on my legs for an even closer shave and enhanced exfoliation in one fell swoop. Smooth, freshly shaved and exfoliated skin ensures a uniform application of the self-tanning product.
Second: Moisturize the driest areas over your joints: Apply a thick coat of your favorite body lotion over the elbows, ankles and knees to prevent a concentrated uptake of the self tanner in areas where the skin is thickest.
Third: Apply a gradual self-tanning moisturizer for a more natural, and streak-free glow. My favorites are made by Jergens and Dove which are lightweight, full of good moisturizers and don’t smell like your average self-tanner.
These are my best tips, what are yours?
Skin is a beautiful thing … wear it well.
Dermatology 911
By Dr. Katie Rodan
Patient Name: Janie
Gender: Female
Age: 39 years old
Concern: Deep crow’s feet, skin is beginning to look aged
Doctor’s Notes
Janie, a beautiful 39 year old woman, came in to see me for alternatives to blepharoplasty, which is eyelid surgery performed by a plastic surgeon, to correct her aging eyes. While this surgery would remove the bags under her eyes and improve the “hooding” of her upper eyelids, she was surprised to learn that surgery wouldn’t address her primary concern of crow’s feet.
Janie was delighted to find that we could correct what ailed her most right in my office and she could continue to improve the results at home.
Prescription: In the office I injected a little Botox around the eye area to decrease the repetitive muscle contraction that was causing her wrinkles and crow’s feet. Then, I padded her upper cheeks where there was visible loss of fat with the filler Restylane. These procedures, which took about 15 minutes and were performed after applying a topical numbing cream, helped her skin look younger almost immediately. While these procedures are great, they are not permanent (Botox lasts 4 months; Restylane 9-12 months). I explained to Janie that her at-home skincare routine would be a critical component to maintaining great results and improving the overall quality of her complexion. I recommended a topical regimen consisting of regular exfoliation to improve cell turnover and brighten skin, daily application of a peptide-based eye cream to support her Botox results, and nightly use of an anti-aging eye cloth that deposits powerful anti-inflammatory peptides to combat puffiness.
The Bottom Line: If Janie had come in to see me 10 years earlier, I could have saved her “mucho” dollars by explaining the importance of daily application of sunscreen, touting the benefits of a targeted daily skincare routine, and teaching her some healthy habits to keep her eyes looking young, like wearing large sunglasses to minimize squinting. Had Janie gotten on a better path even just 5 years ago, these costly procedures may not have been necessary at this early point in her life. Learn the easy way what Janie had to learn the hard way… an ounce of prevention truly is much better than a pound of cure.
Derm RF
Mary Radford, RN
Dr. Katie Rodan
Dr. Kathy Fields
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