Tag Archive for: sunscreen

,

Dr. G weighs in on summer skin issue: Facial Redness

Are you red in the face? The culprits that generally cause facial redness especially during the summer can be annoying but are possible to manage and/or even avoid. Certain topical skincare products as well as warm temperatures, exercising outdoors, certain foods and drinks can encourage facial redness. Dr. G breaks down the culprits with tips and tricks to try this summer.


Exercise induced redness:

  • Occurs when the small capillaries widen to send more oxygen to the muscles
  • Facial redness generally affects those with fair skin more than others
  • Occurs due to the body temperature rising as extra blood rushes to the surface of the skin as a result of working hard

Solutions:

  • Try running indoor at the gym with the AC on
  • Take a cold shower post workout. Not only does cold-water help with redness it cools your body down fast
  • Keep a cold bottle of water and towel with you and use as a compress

Product induced redness:

  • Retinol is a necessary powerhouse but absolutely has side effects. Vitamin A (the ingredient that makes up Retinol) can cause redness, dryness and sun sensitivity
  • If you want to stay on your Retinol regimen, cut back on the number of days you use these types of products
  • ALWAYS wear an SPF + HAT
  • Limit acids, Glycolic, and aggressive exfoliators (go gentle on the scrubbing)

Alcohol + Food induced redness:

  • All alcohol can cause facial redness but wine tends to be the worst due to sulfites, tannins and histamines. * try mixing in a sparkling water or skip the alcohol all together
  • Caffeine (especially if you have Rosacea) but the heat of the coffee may add insult to injury of already redness prone skin
  • Spicy food * Dr. G says “reach for hydrating fruit instead”

Dr. G says increase anti-inflammatory, cooling and soothing ingredients /foods

  • Red Tea (Rooibos)
  • Alpha Lipoic Acid
  • Green Tea
  • Oatmeal
  • Cucumbers

If excessive redness does happen, try applying a cool compress, splashing your face with very cold water, going indoors and allowing your body to cool off. Wearing a little concealer on areas that do tend to get red can help too.

by

Beach Climates

We all know the common skin culprits when it comes to breakouts what the causes including,  bacteria and oil, hormones, and certain foods or medications. Have you ever thought about where we live to be some of the main contributing factors to some of our skin woe’s?

Beach Life – The Issues

Life is a beach until you get a sun burn or sun damage. Beach climates call for high humidity and high temperatures. Do not forget that a tan in reality is the body’s reaction to sun damage. That gorgeous glow you’re hoping for is essentially your skin reacting to being attacked by damaging rays. When the skin is exposed to sunlight the melanocytes in the body become activated and produce dark pigment to protect the skin from absorbing more rays. While SPF is a must it is only 1 of 3 lines of defense against the sun.

The Solutions

Try easing up on the heavy moisturizers and protective oils. Heavy hydrating products can cause clogged pores and breakouts. Try transitioning into a hydrating serum that contains lightening agents like Alpha Arbutin or Kojic Acid. Not only will this eliminate one step from your regimen but a treatment serum can also help to protect and reverse sun damage and dark spots. Botanical oils and dry oils can also serve the purpose of a serum, treatment and moisturizer in one. Oils should never contain Dimethicone (which can clog pores) so always read the ingredients.

While exfoliation is still imperative, ditch the acid wipes and pads and try a gentle lactic acid mask once a week like Dr. Goldfaden’s Fresh A Peel. Lactic acid is particularly appropriate for sun damaged skin, dark spots and hyper-pigmentation. Lactic acid molecules are larger than Glycolic molecules so they don’t go as deep as fast, therefore targeting the top layers of the skin (where the darkness appears). Scrubs can take a back seat during beach weather too. Over scrubbing can make skin red and dry especially if skin has been exposed to the sun or sea.  If you lust cant live without your Doctors Scrub, try mixing it a refreshing, rejuvenating cleanser that gets the skin clean. Gel based cleansers that are formulated without harsh chemicals are the best for summertime.

Regardless of skin tone, ALL skin needs sun protection. Although fair skinned individuals will burn quicker, darker/olive skin tones need to be aware too. It is important to keep in mind that sunscreen does not prevent tanning, it does however help protect against damaging UVA and UVB rays. This is important for darker/olive tones to remember, just because the skin is tanning does not mean it is not being damaged.

What happens if you get sunburn?

Sun burned skin can be treated at home. Look for products that contain Organic Red Tea , which is soothing and reduces inflammation and redness. To soothe hot itchy red skin add oatmeal or baking soda to a cool bath. Topical application of aloe or a cool compress always helps. If you are really sore or swollen you can try taking Ibuprofen for inflammation. And because the sun dries the skin out, moisturizing is a must! Body lotions with avocado oil, Shea butter, coconut oil are the best for this.

“On those days you do get too much sun and skin is red, irritated, or inflamed, apply our Radical Difference antioxidant serum. Loaded with soothing organic red tea and cherry extracts to repair, rejuvenate, and reduce redness.”

Dr. Goldfaden

Shop Dr. Goldfaden’s entire collection here. 

 

 

 

by

Dry/Arid/Desert Climate

Dry and arid desert climates consistently get ranked amongst the worst to live in for the condition of one’s skin. In addition to lifestyle choices like, wearing a hat, sunglasses and sun protective clothing, proper skincare regimen is highly effective in protecting against the issues that arise from this type of environment.

The Issues:

Dry climates dehydrate skin and can invite early onset of wrinkles. With intense sun and high heat, the skin has nowhere to hide. The more sun exposure you have, the more damage you’re doing to your skin. Replenishing hydration and sun protection is extremely important in this type of climate.

The Solutions:

Chose an exfoliation product that targets dead skin cell removal, sun damage and hyper pigmentation. Chemical exfoliators and enzymatic peels target all. Look for Lactic acid (found in Fresh A Peel) as the main active as it actually draws moisture to the surface of the skin, thus preventing additional dehydration and dryness.

Because skin is so prone to dryness in these types of environments, Dr. Goldfaden recommends using anti-aging serums and super hydrating moisturizer. Ingredients such as CoQ10, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Retinol keep skin tone tight and toned, while African botanic oils, Baobob, Kalahari and Mongongo deliver Omega fatty acids for extreme hydration.

Always protect the face and body with sunscreen 30 SPF or higher. The sun can be very intense in these types of climate, so sun protection is imperative.

 

by