Tag Archive for: Expert

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Your Summer to Fall Skincare Transition

 

The dog days of summer are wrapping up—and coincides with when skin has decided it can no longer take the heat, grime and sweat it’s been enduring for the past few months, going haywire. Just some of what you might be seeing in the mirror? Photo-damaged skin, discoloration, dehydration, dull or lackluster complexion, congestion. “It’s the sun, sand, beach, warm/humid climate,” explains Dr. Goldfaden. “Added with the fact that consumers are putting on loads of sunscreen to protect against harmful UVA/UVB rays, which can lead to skin congestion and breakouts.”

So what do we do about the new constellation of pimples that has suddenly appeared on our left cheek, and refuses to budge? The changes in weather, as summer transitions to fall, is already enough to shock your skin. So make sure any changes to your skincare regimen are subtle, rather than completely abandoning your previous routine just because it’s getting a little cooler outside. “Subtle changes to your regimen can do wonders for your skin and give it what it really needs. Polish and plump: this is the key. Exfoliation (either in the form of a physical exfoliator or enzyme/chemical)–ridding your complexion of dead, dry, dull cells and revealing brighter, smoother, younger-looking skin underneath is the beginning of revealing a more healthy-looking complexion followed by a corrective moisturizer/hydrating treatment, like oils and moisturizers.”

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One subtle change? Swapping out just your cleanser. Goldfaden MD has developed a new cleanser that foams, the Detox Clarifying Facial Wash. Currently the original cleanser in the line, Pure Start, is a gentle wash that helps realign the skin’s natural pH balance. Detox Wash—thanks to a hardworking combo of AHA acids—takes it a step further by fighting bacteria, clarifying pores clogged up by sunscreen, and really addressing congested skin. If your current cleanser works great—check by swiping a pad with micellar water after a wash to see there’s no grime or residue left behind—keep using it!

To treat discoloration, photodamaged skin, or a dull complexion, think about slipping a few brightening ingredients into your regimen. Vitamin C (found in Goldfaden MD’s Brightening Elixir), alpha arbutin (found in Light Treatment, specifically for dark spots) and lactic acid (found in Fresh a Peel) are all power players that can help brighten skin tone and increase radiance.

It’s not just enough to apply product to the face—aka, treating merely the visible symptoms—to treat your skin well. It’s important to balance an effective skincare routine with good choices in diet and a supportive environment. “We holistically believe that healthy-looking skin is a 360-degree approach to wellness,” says Dr. Goldfaden. He recommends eating a diet rich in fatty acids (a “hydration punch”): think avocados, salmon, leafy greens, which will “keep congestion and inflammation at bay while infusing nutrient rich vitamins and nutrients back into your system.” It also means staying clear of alcohol, white carbs and refined sugar—all of which can trigger the inflammation we’re trying to avoid.

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The understanding + best practices of Hyperpigmentation, Dr. Goldfaden reports

Our skin cells contain melanocyte cells, a cell that produces melanin, a chemical that gives skin its color. Too much melanin leads to hyper pigmented skin – including freckles, darkening of the skin in patches, and age spots. Hyper pigmentation can occur from over sun exposure, trauma to the skin (i.e. laser treatments, peels, etc.) or as a side effect of certain drugs. While hyperpigmentation is not a serious medical condition, it is one of the most common skin conditions and arguably the most difficult to treat and correct.

Picture via Total Beauty

We enlisted the expertise of Dr. Goldfaden to help us understand how hyper pigmentation occurs, what we can do to prevent it and the best and most effective treatments, both in-office and at-home.

Q: What exactly is hyper pigmentation? “Hyperpigmentation is defined as any spot on your skin that’s dark enough to effectively stand out against the surrounding area. This phenomenon is usually the result of your skin’s efforts to protect itself from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light. It occurs when overexposure to sunlight causes the melanocytes in the deeper layers of your skin to produce cells that contain a skin-darkening pigment called melanin. These specialized cells known as melanosomes are picked up by your keratinocytes that are constantly migrating upwards toward your skin surface.” Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

Q: What are the different types of hyperpigmentation one can develop? “Age spots or sun spots (sun damage), melasma, scarring, post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation.” Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

Q: What is post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation? “Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is usually temporary and can be caused by inflammatory acne, a severe burn or injury to the skin. While anyone can suffer from this, it is more common in dark skin types.” Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

Q: What is the difference between acne scars and hyperpigmentation? “This can be very difficult to differentiate. Acne scars can appear dark and be Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which should go away (as it is temporary). However, if exposed to the sun then this may become long-term hyperpigmentation. General rule of thumb, if the acne mark or lesion is still visible after 6-12 months then it is considered a scar.” Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

Q: What is the difference between hyperpigmentation, sun spots and freckles? “All fall under the umbrella of Hyperpigmentation. Sun exposure has a lot to do with the darkness and severity. If you have freckles and have sun exposure the melanin will be activated and the freckle will be darker.” Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

Q: What causes hyper pigmentation? “Hyperpigmentation occurs when overexposure to sunlight causes the melanocytes in the deeper layers of your skin to produce cells that contain a skin-darkening pigment called melanin. These specialized cells known as melanosomes are picked up by your keratinocytes that are constantly migrating upwards toward your skin surface and cause the dark spots/areas. Hormones, birth control pills can also cause this and sunlight can increase the severity.” Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

Q: Is anyone more prone to hyperpigmentation, such as different races or skin tones? “Darker skin types are more prone. All skin generally has the same amount of melanosomes , the difference in lighter skin and darker skin is the size. Darker skin has larger melanosomes(what contains/distributes the melanin) hence more susceptible to hyperpigmentation.” Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

Q: Is it preventable? If so, how? “Wearing an SPF at all times when exposed to the sun. Exfoliation can help the appearance as it removes dead, dry, dark skin cells fort he surface of the skin. Using proper actives to protect against sun damage and treat sun damage and dark spots. In office micro-dermabrasion treatments and laser treatments.” Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

Q: Can it ever be reversed completely? “Yes, but it is very difficult and takes a lot of diligence. Even laser treatments are not 100% successful and the dark spot can come back.” Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

Q: What’s the best way to treat any existing spots? “SPF at all times, sun protective gear (hat, glasses, clothing), Exfoliation, and an active treatment serum.” Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

Q: What are the best in-office treatments one can receive? “Fraxel laser and Clear and Brilliant are two of the popular and introductory laser treatments that work to combat uneven skin tone, including discoloration. Micro-Dermabrasion is also very popular choice. In office chemical peels can be very effective as well. Glycolic and lactic acid peels are recommended for at-home maintenance usage.” Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

Q: What are 3 ingredients people with hyperpigmentation should look for in daily skincare products? “Vitamin C, GlycolicAcid/Lactic, Alpha Arbutin, and Kojic Acid.” Dr. Gary Goldfaden MD

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Beauty Rehab: Detox Recovery For Your Skin

Take it from Dr. Goldfaden himself, your skin needs a little special TLC coming off of a month of parties, sugar, alcohol and little sleep. Start the New Year off with these expert tips that will keep your skin looking youthful, glowing and vibrant all year long.

Lifestyle Tips: 

  • Sleep with your head slightly elevated. Fluid retention occurs while we sleep because we are lying flat and circulation can be affected. Excess sugar, salt and alcohol will add to fluid retention. Consumption of all these pollutants can escalate swelling and puffiness to the eyes and face.
  • Drink ample water throughout the day (recommended at least 9oz) or coconut water (high in potassium/electrolyte) before going to bed as this will rehydrate your body, help flush out unwanted toxins, reduce inflammation and keep skin looking plump and hydrated.
  • Regular Exercise (3-5 times per week, even for just 30 min) Even though it my be the last thing you feel like doing, sweating will help de-puff the eyes and face, circulation will get blood pumping (and also awaken the complexion) and the release of endorphins will make you feel better internally and glow externally.
  • If your eyes are swollen, ice them with frozen Rooibos tea bags. We always keep some in the freezer. Rooibos is high in anti-inflammatory agents and is also very soothing.

Stay Clear Of:

  • Alcohol seems almost unavoidable during the holiday season. Small amounts in moderation are okay and if possible try to stick to red wine (at least you get the resveratrol bonus). Alcohol contains a ton of sugar, which causes glycation (the breakdown of the proteins in the skin (collagen and elastin), ultimately causing skin to sag and age. Glucose also causes cells to be malformed and irregular thus creating free radicals.
  • White Sugar (which is in everything) also causes glycation. When choosing a holiday treat to either eat or bake, try adding Honey or Cacao, as they are great alternatives to white sugar and they are both super foods. Cinnamon can also be substituted and it helps with inflammation!

Dr. G’s Skincare Must-Haves:

De-Puff, Brighten and Tighten

Arguably the first place over indulging appears is the eyes and eye area. Darkness, puffiness and overall sagging will improve with an appropriate brightening and de-puffing eye cream (along with sleep). The eye region gets dehydrated very quickly as we do not have oil glands for self-lubrication. Bright Eyes triple action eye concentrate will not only make the eye area look and feel more hydrated, but it can double as a makeup primer! Powerhouse ingredients, soy and rice bran peptides have been shown to reduce venous blood clotting. They have also been shown to have a localized effect on the hemodynamic properties of blood vessels and to increase blood supply to the superficial tissue of the eyelids. This means they help with circulation and distribution of blood flow, avoiding clotting and dark circles. Moreover, these two peptides have been shown to inhibit elastase and collagenase, which degrade collagen and elastin in the skin, thus helping the skin retain its natural firmness. Keep this in the refrigerator for an extra cool sensation and will also help decreases swelling!

Exfoliate

The 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/enzyme peel, removing dead viagra efectos adversos 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.

Dr. G’s January pick: Fresh A Peel – a multi fruit acid peel for hydrated and bright skin. The unique combination of Lactic acid and Multi-Fruit Enzymes provide superior rate of exfoliation while reducing the appearance of fine lines, pores, and skin imperfections (and Lactic Acid also pulls moisture to the surface of the skin which creates a plump complexion). Apply to dry clean skin for 2-5 minutes and then rinse with cool water. The finished result will be even, smooth, bright and fresh-looking skin. Don’t forget the neck and chest areas too! Hit the road dead skin cells!!

Mask Away: Detoxify your complexion

Facial Detox is a powerhouse product that reduces blackheads, pore size, redness and inflammation to reveal a healthier, blemish-free complexion. “We are extremely proud to introduce the first ever mask + spot treatment to the GOLDFADEN MD range,” says Dr. Goldfaden. “The prestige marketplace was lacking a natural solution to common breakouts and blemishes that would be effective enough to be deemed high-performance without any chemical additives or irritating medicine, and we are proud to be the brand to fill that void.”

Facial Detox utilizes potent naturals including zinc oxide, sulfur and camphor to correct and purify broken out or blemished skin. This gentle mask’s ingredients go beyond treatment of existing problem areas to heal the skin and prevent further breakouts.

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