Tips of the Week

Maybe this is the year to prioritize your skin more? A couple of thoughts.

Use a sunscreen on your face, neck and chest every morning even if it's not sunny or you're usually inside. Why?... more

Here are some good sunscreens that stay on well with sweating and won't sting your eyes - ColoreScience Sunforgettable SPF 30 (a powder in a gender neutral blue applicator), Vanicream... more

We all need to cover our lips with sunscreen in the summer.  Most of the wrinkling, shrinkage, pre-cancers and skin cancers on lips are due to sun. 

We all like the Jack Black SPF 25 Lip... more

Finally!!! Some new rules on sunscreens that should be helpful. The biggest problem has been with assessing UVA coverage (important for everyone but really important for melasma). Companies... more

Remember that SPF refers only to UVB protection and doesn't help you on UVA. And buying a sunscreen that says "broad spectrum" or "UVA Protection" won't necessarily protect you much. Some... more

 Okay so I know I'm a nag, but if you really want to prevent brown spots and blotches you must use a UVA blocking sunscreen that contains at least 10% zinc or titanium or 3% Mexoryl.

I even... more

 First, you have to understand them! What kind of brown spots do you have?

Are they lentigoes (flat and light to medium dark brown) and caused by sun damage? Are they seborrheic keratoses... more

 I reminded everyone last week that we are only 2 months from the summer solstice (peak UVA season).  UVA really activates melasma.

Now is the time to step up your Triluma, or other... more

UVA is the strongest for the 2-3 months on either side of the summer solstice, which is the third week of June.   

Check your sunscreens for good UVA blockers like zinc or titanium (look... more

 Don't forget your hands when it comes to aging skin. Most people get as much sun on the backs of their hands as they do on their faces.

You can use the same products you use on your face... more

Okay - I can't help myself. I still love that ColoreScience powdered sunscreen (Sunforgettable SPF 30 - comes in tints) for anyone athletic (doesn't drip into eyes), or oily, or who just... more

 Think light screen not sunscreen.

UVA is present 365 days a year through clouds, through window glass and car windshields. That little bit of daily damage is significant because it adds up... more

 Suncreen is even more important at high altitude. Look for sunscreens with a good UVA blocker like Mexoryl 3%, zinc or titanium 5-10%. UVA becomes more intense at altitude. It's a longer... more

 Still getting sunburned?

First, get out of the sun or cover up with a thick shirt (a white tee shirt has an SPF of 3)! Here's what to do next:

• Start taking an anti-inflammatory like

 Sunburns kill some of your skin cells and damage the DNA of many other cells, both of which set the stage for skin cancers later. Sunburns damage the pigment-making cells (melanocytes),... more

Melasma:  why you need UVA sunblockers.

One key to improving melasma is your sunscreen. When I say this, most of my patients eyes glaze over and I think they only hear .......blah, blah,... more