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  Over the Counter Acne Treatments or Not? What’s your secret weapon?

  By Lori Culwell

  I am always surprised when people tell me some of the crazy skin remedies they use.  One of my closest friends, for instance, puts avocado on her face every single day and swears by the moisturizing properties of the (good) fat it contains.  For the record, if I tried this I’m pretty sure I’d be in full breakout mode, if not in my dermatologist’s office, but her skin looks fabulous.  Another girl I know rinses her face with cold milk– a secret passed down from her grandmother to her mother, and now to her.  My mom swore by a tried-and-true pink face cream, which I’m pretty sure they don’t even make anymore.  I always loved the smell, but my skin is so sensitive that I couldn’t tolerate the oil.

  So, for me it’s over the counter (or prescription) products, a strict schedule, and so far, nothing home made.  Since I’ve been asking people about this I’ve heard everything from washing your face with Borax (omg! Do NOT try this at home!) to treating acne with coconut or tea tree oil to eating a lot of garlic.  What about you?  Do you have a tried and true secret to healthy skin that you’d like to share?

• Posted in Ask the Doctor |  No Comments »

  Q: I have fair skin and sun damage and some acne scarring. What will help the most?

  By ZENO Skincare Experts

  This is something I would suggest you discuss with your dermatologist to choose the right treatment, whether it’s a prescription cream like Retin-A, a peel, an over-the-counter product or some of the more advanced laser techniques that can eliminate scarring and damage.  Make sure to include a sunscreen with a high SPF as part of your daily skincare regimen to prevent further damage and worsening of your scars.

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  Need Anti-Aging Product Advice, and Need it Fast

  By Lori Culwell

  I am fully aware that any rational person above the age of 25 should be starting some kind of anti-aging regimen.  I have tried a few of these on and off, and I have to say, I have yet to find one that doesn’t aggravate my acne.  Because I try to be a thrifty beauty product consumer, I have a hard time shelling out the big bucks for something when I don’t know if it’s going to work, and unfortunately the sample sizes don’t have enough product in them for me to see if they’re going to cause a reaction.  I know that some of the products have “guarantees,” but I feel like once I’ve tried it, I’m obligated to at least finish the jar.  The result = many jars of unused anti-aging cream and / or me using these products infrequently enough to not cause a breakout, which is infrequent enough so that they’re probably not really working in any anti-aging capacity either.

  I asked my friend’s mom about this (she is in her sixties and has gorgeous skin), and she said “Oh, I use Vaseline on my face—always have!  Works like a charm!”

  Yikes!  I think I got a blemish just hearing her say these words, folks.  So—tell me!  Have you found an anti-aging system that truly does not break out your skin?  I’m determined to find something that works this year.  My face will thank you.  I will thank you.

• Posted in Talk About Beauty |  No Comments »

  My Skin is Dry, and Yet I Have Acne: The Winter Blues

  By Lori Culwell

  Oh yes, it’s that time again– the winter wind is whipping against my
  face, the internal heat is chapping my lips, and yet, every time I
  deviate from my beauty routine to try to amp up the moisturization–
  voila!  Instant breakout.   As I mentioned before, once I get my
  beauty routine down I have to really stick to it, so I have been
  trying to figure this out for winter, when obviously my skin
  needs extra hydration to avoid getting super dry.

  Here are a few things I have figured out, in case you share my winter
  skin dilemma:

  1.  Super hydration!    Yes, it is a drag, but I’ve found that drinking
  extra water helps.

  2.  Facials.   For some reason, the hydration of a facial followed
  by a non-comedogenic moisture treatment has really been helping to
  keep my skin balanced.  This doesn’t have to be expensive.  I’ve found
  several at-home treatments that are very effective and super affordable.

  3.  Trial and Error.  Since dry skin can show wrinkles and
  imperfections, I have had to break out of my comfort zone and start
  trying more heavy-duty (though still oil-free) moisturizers.  Stay tuned
  for updates on my favorites!

  So– what about you?  Do you have any secrets for surviving the winter
  with healthy skin?  If so, please share!

• Posted in Talk About Beauty |  1 Comment »

  Acne Breakouts: Hold Everything!

  By Lori Culwell

  I have this little problem—any variation from my standard beauty routine makes me break out. I’m talking about eyebrow waxing (thank goodness for threading!), new foundation of any kind, or if I go to bed without washing my face. Or if I use something like Vaseline to take my eye makeup off. Or if the moon is in Cancer. I don’t know what causes it. It’s annoying!

  I guess I should be grateful that I can even keep it under control, but really? One eyebrow wax and it’s all over. I don’t mean to turn into “Mr. Monk,” but I can’t even use someone else’s soap when I travel. I’m sure you can only imagine the amount of stuff I carry when I travel. What about you? Can do you whatever you want like my (annoying) friend Kara, who washes her face every other day with soap and eats greasy food, and yet never gets a single blemish? Or are you a slave to your routine like me?

• Posted in Uncategorized |  1 Comment »

  What are the significant moments in your beauty history?

  By Lori Culwell

  I never leave the house without concealer (and haven’t since high school—I like to be prepared!).  This is the kind of “must have” staple that I consider to be a permanent part of my makeup bag.

  But—there’s always a beauty moment in your life, right?  A moment in the evolution of “you” where you discover something and think “why was I not always doing this?” For me, this was the eyelash curler and the liquid eyeliner—two things that take maybe two minutes, and make a night and day difference between “you look tired” and “wow, you look great—what’s your secret?”

  I don’t know why, but these two little things make a huge difference not only in the way I look, but also in my outlook.  I know it’s subconscious, but I feel like if I took a minute to pull myself together, I can probably handle whatever life throws my way that day.

  What about you?  What’s your beauty must-have, and when did you discover it?  Do you never leave home without your red lipstick like Gwen Stefani?

• Posted in Ask the Doctor |  No Comments »

  Q: I break out much worse the week before my period—what can I do to stop the hormonal insanity?

  By Dr. Gerstner

  A: We’ve all noticed the side effects of the monthly cycle—whether your main complaint is PMS, skin problems, or weight gain, there are things you can do to keep yourself in balance during the month so that symptoms don’t have to bother you as much.  Strive for balance all month long, and those hormonal breakouts (i.e. on your chin) will be less severe.

  • For one, try to limit the amount of hormones you consume, whether through dairy or meat products.  Many women find that hormones in foods can aggravate their own hormones, contributing to monthly outbreaks.   Almost all grocery stores stock organic or hormone free meat and dairy products now, so give them a try and see if it makes a difference.
  • Get some exercise.   Your hormones (and your brain) will stay more balanced in general if you set up (and stick with) a regular exercise routine.  Time spent outdoors in the sun (with sunscreen, of course!) will also help your body regulate itself.  The goal is for you to be as healthy as possible, and any enjoyable activity that gets your body moving will contribute to that.
  • Reduce your sugar intake.  I know, this is a hard one for everyone, but sugar also contributes to making your hormones get out of whack, which in turn can lead to breakouts.  Too much sugar puts a burden on your system, and the older you are, the less of it you can handle.  Cut it out little by little so that it doesn’t hurt as much.  While you’re at it, you might also want to cut out white flour, rice, and all processed foods.  Caffeine might also be exacerbating your breakouts.
  • Reduce stress.  High stress levels make cortisol high which leads to  acne. The sugar and especially the caffeine don’t help the cortisol levels.

  These little changes will go a long way toward putting you back into balance and curtailing hormonal breakouts.  If nothing is working, be sure to ask your doctor for help!

• Posted in Talk About Beauty |  No Comments »

  Out With the Old…

  By Lori Culwell

  One thing I’m trying to do this year is get rid of old things.  2010—new decade, less clutter!  My goal is to rid myself of half of my stuff by the end of the year, and I’m starting with my makeup drawer.

  First thing on my list—anything over one year old, or that I haven’t used in a year.  I figure if I haven’t used it by now I’m never going to—plus, the older makeup gets the more bacteria can accumulate – and as we know, bacteria is the enemy of healthy skin!

  So far, I’ve tossed two old bottles of foundation and replaced them with one sleek mineral makeup kit (my skin can breathe!), replaced old powder puffs, thrown away a nub of a lipstick I was clinging to for dear life, and given everything in my makeup bag a thorough washing.

  What about you?  What are you cleaning out to ring in the new year?   Are you loving anything that you got for the holidays, and has it replaced any of your old stuff?  Will you join me in the “throw stuff away for 2010” challenge?

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  New Year, new skin?

  By Lori Culwell

  One of my New Year’s resolutions was to stop making New Year’s resolutions and just try to be better about things all year.  That way I can’t really “break” resolutions, but I do have to develop some new habits, right?

  When it comes to skincare, one thing I’ve noticed is that consistency is key, and yet variety does seem to also be necessary, just to have room for improvement.  Here’s what I’m striving for this year:

  1. Wash face twice a day, or at LEAST at night.   Experts agree that you should never go to bed with makeup on, plus you have to wash the day off your face, just to start the new day blemish-free.
  2. Take note of what foods help or hurt.  I hate to admit this, but dairy of any kind gives me terrible acne.  Once I started paying attention to this and cutting it out, I realized I could’ve saved myself a fortune in acne products over the years.  So, no milk for me!
  3. Hands off!  I am also noticing that the less I touch my face, the less blemishes I get.  Probably a no-brainer, but this year I am going to keep my hands off my face to limit the amount of dirt and bacteria I have to wash off.  This one might take some training!

  So, all in all, more paying attention to what works and what doesn’t, and a more consistent beauty routine.  This is the year I’m going to tame the breakouts once and for all.

  What about you?  Any routines you’re going to establish, or habits you’re going to kick?  If you’re still smoking, maybe make that your # 1!  Let us know—we are here for you!

• Posted in Ask the Doctor |  2 Comments »

  Q: Is it ever okay to pop my pimples? I only do it every once in awhile, and it doesn’t seem like that big a deal.

  By Dr. Gerstner

  A:  Sorry, the answer is still no.  I can’t tell you how many patients I see with out of control pimples who were “just doing it once in a while.”

  Popping your pimples is unsanitary, spreads bacteria (which can contribute to more breakouts in the surrounding area), and can lead to scarring.   Try a hot compress or a heat-based product like the Zeno Hot Spot to kill the bacteria, and if you absolutely cannot help yourself, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before touching a blemish, and to use the least amount of pressure possible.