Tag Archive for: Exfoliation

Pore refinement is one of the most sought after outcomes in Dr. Goldfaden’s practice. During the month of August we will embark on a full examination of how to achieve smaller pores, which products to choose and how to maintain.

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What are pores?

Pores are the tiny little openings in the skin where the body’s natural oil (called sebum) is produced in the sebaceous glands and are also the opening at the top of our hair follicles.

Why do we have them?

Pores allow oil to travel up to skin’s surface and lubricate it. Pores are also our hair follicles and are there for the hair to grow from.

Why can they appear large?

Large pores are genetic so you have your parents to thank, however abusing the skin can cause them to appear larger. Over time, especially if you’ve incurred a lot of sun exposure in the past—you start to lose the collagen and elastin that support the pores. Sun damage and aging also cause the skin to thicken that causes a thick rim around pores making them appear larger. This is where exfoliation comes into play and is crucial in shrinking the appearance of pore size.

Oily skin types tend to have larger pores and thus produce more oil in those pores. While this may be an annoyance during adolescence and young adulthood (due to breakouts and Acne), excess oil is beneficial as we age in keeping wrinkles and dry skin at bay.

A common question Dr. G is asked is ‘Can certain foods playing into the effect of large pores and oily skin?’. As mentioned earlier large pores are genetic but yes food can play a part in large pores. Glycation is the main enemy when it comes to the skin and the aging process of the body in general. The glycation process, which is basically, sugars (from food and alcohol) breaking down the collagen fibers in the skin and therefore speeding up the aging process. Foods that feed glycation and cause inflammation in the body and the skin are carbohydrates, fried foods, sugar, fatty meats and alcohol.

Steps to refine pores?

Exfoliation will help pore size, by removing dead dry skin cells and signs of sun damage the skin will appear smoother and less wrinkled.

Use Hyaluronic acid based products, which help to bind moisture to the skin and fill fine lines and wrinkles, making pores appear smaller.

Use products rich in Vitamin C and/or retinol, these stimulate cell renewal and collagen production, which will firm up the connective tissue around the pores.

Eat a clean diet of fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants and stay clear of fried foods, sugar and alcohol, which all cause glycation.

 

Ever wonder why a baby’s skin is so soft? It’s because babies naturally replace their skin cells every few days. As you grow older, however, the rate of skin cell turnover slows down dramatically. Dead cells on your skin’s surface hang around much longer, a fact that tends to accentuate those fine lines and make your complexion look dull and lifeless. By removing these dead skin cells, exfoliation helps make up for the gradual slowing down of your natural skin renewal process, improving the tone and texture of your skin.

Screen Shot 2016-06-20 at 3.31.33 PMThe process of exfoliation is a lot like peeling away the dry, outer skin of an onion to reveal the living layers beneath. Whether the exfoliation is done using mechanical abrasion or a controlled chemical reaction, removing dead and damaged skin cells on the surface allows the fresh new skin underneath to become visible. This newly exposed layer of skin feels much softer and smoother. Its surface reflects light better, making fine lines and other small imperfections harder to see. Age spots and other areas of unwanted pigmentation are less noticeable because the dead skin cells containing the pigment have been removed. Exfoliation unplugs clogged pores and allows for the release of natural skin oils. Regular exfoliation also helps to maintain open pores, decreases pore size, and minimizes many types of superficial scarring. In addition, removing the top layer of dead and damaged cells allows other health-promoting agents such as moisturizers, antioxidants, and collagen-boosting ingredients to better penetrate the skin and work more effectively.

DON’T OVER EXFOLIATEThis is perhaps the most important thing to remember so that you can avoid any damage and/or irritation of the skin. It’s safe to assume that exfoliating twice weekly can achieve great results and refrain from irritation or over exfoliating. Of course, there are the people who enjoy exfoliating daily, but this is personal preference and heavily based on your skin type. If you notice a burning sensation or it your skin becomes very sensitive and/or red after using a product, stop it. Ultimately, you should stay in tune to what your skin needs, feels and looks.

DO EXFOLIATE ALL OVER- Exfoliation does not store at your face. Work your exfoliation routine down into the neck and décolleté area, even your lips too as these areas can greatly benefit from exfoliation too as it removes dead surface skin cells, brightens overall skin tone and improves texture. Other areas to exfoliate: your elbows and knees.

DON’T GO SUNBATHING AFTER EXFOLIATING- Exfoliating reveals a baby-fresh layer of skin, you could be more susceptible to the

sun’s rays. Use caution when heading outdoors. Use a higher SPF in your sunscreen, wear a hat, carry a sun umbrella and try to stick to shady spots whenever you can.

DO EXFOLIATE AT NIGHT- Skin renews itself overnight

so the perfect time to exfoliate is right before bed. Use a good sunscreen with high SPF during the day, especially if your skin has recently been exfoliated. While we all want smooth and clear skin, it’s we also want to protect against sun damage.

DO CONSIDER CHEMICAL EXFOLIANTS- Physical exfoliants aren’t the only wat to shough off dead skin to reveal a brighter complexion. Ingredients that chemically exfoliate the skin include glycolic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids, lactic acid and various enzymes.

We have all experienced one of those days in which we come home after a long day and have that clogged, greasy skin or blown your nose to find a disturbing shade of black dirt from being in the dirty city; you’ll know that pollution is a growing skin care concern. We sat down with Dr. G to understand more about the damaging effects that pollution has on our skin and ways in which we can combat and protect our skin from the pollution we endure on a daily basis.

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Image via Byrdie Beauty

Why is there such a rise in popularity for anti-pollution skincare right now? “Interest in the detrimental effects of pollution continues to rise given the increasing record-breaking pollution levels across the world and in particular key major cities. Consumers are also becoming more savvy to the environmental effects around them and access to crucial information is so much more accessible today.” Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

What kind of skin issues can pollution cause? “Pollution can increase skin aging and this may be due to the microscopic specks of smoke, soot, acid and other pollutants that come into contact with your skin in areas with high pollution levels. These tiny particles are up to twenty times smaller than the size of your pores, meaning that they can penetrate the skin and bypass the protective outer layers. This can lead to inflammation in the deeper layers of living skin tissues, where wrinkles and other signs of skin ageing are formed.” Dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

How does pollution lead to free radicals in the skin? “Pollution releases microscopic particles or free radicals that can go deep into the skin and cause damage to otherwise healthy cells. The outcome is loss of elasticity (wrinkles and sagging) and Hyperpigmentation (dark spots).  Luckily, antioxidants have been clinically proven to effectively fight free radical damage, preventing them from reacting with the skin and helps to prevent dullness, fine lines, sagging and other signs of skin aging.”

What is the best cleansing method for ridding pores of pollution? Exfoliation is the best method for ridding pores of pollutants. Physical and Chemical exfoliators are able to deeply penetrate into the pores and clean them while also removing dead skin cells, dirt, oil and bacteria build up and prior damaging the cells.

What are the most important skincare ingredients for tackling pollution? It’s about creating a shield (via Antioxidants) and protecting the skin (via Sun Block) so that the free-radical damage caused by pollution cannot penetrate the skin to break down the healthy cells. Look for Anti-oxidant ingredients as they fight free radicals. A few of the most studied and effective anti-oxidants include Red Tea, Cherry Extract, Ferulic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Retinol and Resveratrol.