Tag: Skin Care

Your skin is your largest organ and it’s also a reflection of your overall health. Your nutrition affects the health of your skin, which means you literally are what you eat. Vitamin deficiencies and skin conditions go hand-in-hand.

Ensure that you are getting enough of the following nutrients and your skin will glow:

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is very good for your skin. Not only does it help maintain overall health, it helps produce collagen – the structural protein that keeps your skin looking firm and young. It prevents you from developing scurvy – a condition associated with skin lesions and pirates.  Good sources of Vitamin C include citrus fruit (oranges, grapefruit, etc.), bell peppers (red, green, yellow), strawberries, kale, and brussel sprouts.

Vitamin E
Together with Vitamin C, Vitamin E is particularly important when it comes to reducing sun damage. Fair-skinned individuals benefit most from the addition of Vitamins C and E to their diets in conjunction with regular use of sunscreen. Good sources of Vitamin E include leafy greens (spinach, kale, etc.), nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios), avocados, shellfish and fatty fish, and plant oils. 

Vitamin D

Your epidermis–the outermost layer of your skin–uses sunlight to synthesize Vitamin D. One of the many benefits of Vitamin D is its ability to protect and repair UV damage–a major cause of skin cancer. “As a dermatologist, I don’t recommend exposing your skin to undue rays just to up your Vitamin D levels,” says Betsy Wernli, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Forefront Dermatology. “Not only can it lead to skin cancer–including squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma as well as the potentially deadly melanoma–it can also have cosmetic effects like wrinkles and premature aging. If you’re deficient in Vitamin D, seek out other sources like Vitamin D-rich foods or plain old supplements.” Good sources of Vitamin D include high-fat fish (trout, salmon, swordfish, etc.), mushrooms, tofu, and dairy products.

Your Local Skin Experts at Forefront Dermatology are Here to Help

Establishing a relationship with a board-certified dermatologist is an important step you should take to keep your skin healthy, especially if you suffer from an itchy, painful, or irritating skin condition. If you or a family member have a skin concern, have questions about nutrition, or would like to schedule a consult, find the Forefront dermatologist nearest you to schedule an appointment or to learn more.

As the cooler temperature and lower humidity of winter have been present for a couple months now, you are probably noticing some unfavorable changes to your skin’s appearance. According to Betsy Wernli, a board-certified dermatologist with Forefront Dermatology in Manitowoc, WI, “Winter is rough on the skin, with low humidity and freezing temperatures. Create an overall healthy lifestyle and daily skincare routine to positively impact your skin.”

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, here are some tips to counter skin dehydration and keep your skin looking radiant and feeling fresh and full of L-O-V-E.

L is for lotion. With the dry winter air wreaking havoc on your skin, you will need to modify your moisturizing regimen. Your skin needs richer, creamier lotions that will keep the skin hydrated. Create a daily skincare routine by focusing on skin hydration both morning and night. After a daily shower, pat dry and immediately apply a thick cream moisturizer.  Repeat the moisturizer at night before bed to ensure skin hydration even while you sleep.

O is for oily skin. The first step in developing a skincare routine is to determine your skin type — dry, oily, combination, normal, or sensitive. Based on that, you can tailor your regimen to meet your specific needs. Oily skin is shiny and greasy, often with enlarged pores; it can be prone to pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. If you have Oily skin wash it twice daily with a salicylic acid cleanser to help keep pores unclogged; however, the skin should not be scrubbed. After cleansing, apply an oil-free moisturizer. Look for products that say “non-comedogenic,” meaning they won’t clog pores.

V is for vegetables (and fruits too!). Load up on leafy greens. Foods such as kale and spinach contain Vitamin A, which is essential for keeping skin smooth and wrinkle-free. Eat more carotenoid based foods, such as carrots and pumpkins, to give your complexion a healthy, natural glow. Finally, give kiwi a try. This fruit is packed with vitamin C, which stimulates collagen synthesis, keeping skin taught and free of fine lines. Vitamin C also fights free radicals that can damage cells, resulting in skin that is less dry and with less noticeable wrinkles.

E is for exfoliate. Dehydrated skin can show signs of dryness, including flaking, scaling, and cracking. Dead skin cells can prevent moisturizer from absorbing completely, so use a mild exfoliator once or twice a week to prevent buildup.

Avoid using harsh peels, toners, and astringents which can remove oil from the skin. Instead of foaming scrubs, use hydrating scrubs to gently remove old skin cells without stripping the skin of its moisture.

Your Local Skin Experts at Forefront Dermatology are Here to Help
If you have concerns about the health or appearance of your skin, schedule a visit with your local Forefront board-certified dermatologist or esthetician to discuss how we can help.

Have you been caught in a makeup rut or does your beauty regimen need a boost for 2017? Do you have products on your bathroom counter that have been collecting dust since the last decade? Do you find that some of the products you are using on your skin sometimes seem to cause more harm than good? Whether you need a complete beauty and skincare overhaul or would just like to make some small changes to brighten up your skincare routine, the following tips can help to bring some sparkle back to your skin.

1. Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Makeup brushes are a breeding ground for dirt and bacteria. Be sure to clean your brushes weekly to avoid this build-up. There are products specifically designed to clean brushes, or you can also use very hot water and face soap.

2. Moisturize your Hands and Treat Your Cuticles

Hands and cuticles become very dry in the winter, so it is important to protect them with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and thoroughly moisture them with a rich and creamy lotion at least twice a day. If your cuticles are in need of extra attention, try a specialized cuticle cream that relieves dryness, repairs, and protects cuticles with its blend of raspberry stem-cell extract, shea butter, and vitamins A, C, and E.

3. Update Your Makeup Routine

Have you recently looked in the mirror and realized you’ve had the same makeup routine since your freshman year of college? Or perhaps your concern is not this dramatic and you just need a small update to your look? Try selecting a few new products, such as a new lipstick shade or eyeshadow to change up your look. If you need more advice on how to select the best products for the look you would like to achieve, consider schedule a consultation with your local Forefront Dermatology esthetician. They can provide product recommendations that will help you develop a new customized routine to get you looking current and glowing!

4. Replace Old Makeup and Skincare Products

Old skin care products and make-up not only work less efficiently, they can also do damage to your skin. There are a few different reasons for this. First, the active ingredients become ineffective over time. For example, after a foundation with SPF has expired, the sun protection may not be as strong as it was when the product was first purchased. Second, the efficiency of active ingredients also become compromised over time. Finally, your expired makeup can start to grow bacteria. When you apply these products to your skin, this can cause irritation and bumps that look like acne. And when it comes to your eyes, this bacteria buildup can actually cause infections and pink eye. Look through your make-up and other skincare products, such as moisturizers and cleansers, and replace products that are more than 12 months old or lipsticks that are more than eighteen months old.

5. Use a Foundation with More Coverage for Uneven Skin Tone

Look for a foundation that provides ample coverage for uneven skin tone, dark spots, and fine lines that is at least one or two shades lighter than your current skin tone. It should also offer repair elements such as evening and brightening skin tone and minimizing and treating the appearance of fine lines to gradually repair the impact of sun damage while providing a base for your make-up to make you look radiant.

Your Local Skin Experts at Forefront Dermatology are Here to Help

If you have concerns about the health or appearance of your skin, click here to find a dermatologist near me.

The start of the New Year is a time we all think about making resolutions to improve our lives, like eating healthier and getting more exercise, but what about protecting our skin and keeping it healthy? Even the most beauty and health-conscious of us occasionally forget the sunscreen or sleep in our make-up. There are many simple steps you can take to keep your skin looking and feeling its best. Review the following tips below and make a resolution to get your skin in its best shape ever for 2017!

1. Do Not Skip the Sunscreen, Regardless of the Season
   Always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. If you are taking a winter ski trip or spend a lot of time outdoors in a snowy climate, be aware that the snow can reflect the sun’s rays, so it is especially important to use and reapply sunscreen.
2. Avoid Stress and Get Exercise
   Stress has been proven to increase breakouts, so try to find natural ways to decrease stress and find time to exercise. Exercise can help you both reduce stress, as well as sweat out toxins, oil, and dirt in your skin that can cause trouble with your complexion. Try a yoga class or sign up for a 5K in the spring to get yourself motivated.
3. Eat Healthy
   Skincare experts agree that eating certain foods and avoiding others can significantly improve your skin. Culprits that have been linked to skin problems are sugary foods, dairy products, and unhealthy fats. Instead, add healthy foods to your diet such as those rich in omega-3 fatty acids and healthy greens like salmon and kale, which can help your skin look and feel its best.
4. Limit Alcohol and Drink Plenty of Water
   Drinking alcohol, especially in large amounts, can cause existing skin conditions, such as psoriasis, acne, and rosacea, to flare up. Drinking alcohol can also dry out the body and the skin, which can cause your skin to look flaky, dry, and dull. Drinking plenty of water and avoiding heavy drinking can help you avoid these issues.
5. Avoid Smoking
   The inhalation of more than 7,000 chemicals produced by burning cigarettes can also cause damage to your skin in many ways. Smoking decreases the oxygen in the blood, constricts the blood vessels, and will lead to visible signs of premature ageing, such as wrinkles, discoloration, red capillaries, and dullness. Smoking also weakens the immune system, and this can lead to an increased risk for psoriasis and other auto-immune disorders.

Your Local Skin Experts at Forefront Dermatology are Here to Help
If you have concerns about the health or appearance of your skin, schedule a visit with your local Forefront board-certified dermatologist or esthetician to discuss how we can help.