How Your Sleep Affects Your Skin

Just like your brain goes into recovery mode during sleep, so does your skin. While you sleep, your body is working hard to rebuild healthy cells that will replace damaged ones. Only while you are asleep, can your body regenerate human growth hormones and collagen, which are both crucial to younger, healthier looking skin.

PROBLEM Sleep deprivation causes cell recovery to slow, leading to wrinkles and fine lines, therefore sleeping less than the recommended seven hours a night, can result in advanced premature aging.

VISHA SKIN CARE SOLUTION

ADVANCED CORRECTING SERUM Apply the all in one anti-aging power serum designed to treat fine lines and wrinkles, to your face, at least once a day. The antioxidants in the formula will also help protect skin cells from free radical damage, smoke, and other environmental pollutants. *click product image to shop

PROBLEM Too little sleep makes blood vessels start to expand causing blood pools to settle under your eyes resulting in dark and puffy under eye circles.

VISHA SKIN CARE SOLUTION

BRIGHT EYE BOOSTER Use the booster to help stimulate micro-circulation underneath and around the eye area, and dramatically reduce puffiness and visibly minimize the appearance of dark under eye circles in 6 minutes or less. *click product image to shop

PROBLEM Without enough sleep the body becomes stressed, causing it to produce increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol, resulting in inflammation and potentially dry, flaky skin and a dull complexion; even worse, eczema.

VISHA SKIN CARE SOLUTION

SUGAR SHRINK BODY SCRUB The pure sugar cane crystals help to gently slough away dry skin cells while the cold-pressed grape seed and avocado oil nourish and deeply moisturize your skin. *click product image to shop

Bonus: For an added layer of moisture apply Bump 2 Baby after a shower. The body balm will encourage skin's natural elasticity, soothe and relieve dry skin and eczema, help minimize emerging stretch marks, moisturize, and help protect and strengthen delicate skin.

PROBLEM Sleep deprivation leaves your body in a dehydrated state often producing redness and breakouts on the skin, as well as decreased levels of collagen and hyaluronic acid in the body, causing your skin to lose its healthy glow.

VISHA SKIN CARE SOLUTION

ADVANCED PURIFYING CLEANSER Use the cleanser twice a day, morning and night. The high-performance ingredients in this cleanser help to address redness and irritation caused by conditions such as rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis. Zinc combined with mild alpha and beta acids help decrease the inflammation restoring skin’s natural glow. *click product image to shop

- Dr. Visha Board Certified Dermatologist, MOHS and Cosmetic Surgeon, University of Tennessee Professor, Owner of Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Associates and Creator of Visha Skin Care

10 Ways to Treat Dry Winter Skin

1.     Exfoliate More (or less) – If you notice your skin becoming dry and flaky, it’s time to increase your exfoliation. If your skin isn’t flaking and just seems more damaged than normal, ease up on the exfoliating. Winter weather can really throw your skin a curve ball, so adjust your exfoliants as needed.

2.     Apply Sunscreen - It may be cold out, but you still need your sunscreen. The best way to do this is to double up by using a thick, moisturizing, lotion with an SPF of 30 or higher on your skin every day.

3.     Stay Hydrated – Your skin needs hydration inside and out. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water in conjunction with warm winter beverages.

4.     Add Healthy Fats & Oils - Eat foods that are rich with healthy fats like nuts, fish and avocado to help add essential oils and nutrients back into your body. If need be, take supplements like fish oil and vitamins C, E and B complex to keep skin healthy through the winter. You may also consider adding aromatherapy oils to your body wash to help nourish dry skin.

5.     Rotate Beauty Products- Step up your beauty products to formulas that are more moisturizing than your summer products. Use a heavy cream like the B2B to keep your skin soft and non-flaky.

6.     Stick to Warm Water – It may be tempting to take hot showers, especially when it’s cold outside, but try taking warm baths and showers instead. Hot water will only further dry out your skin.

7.     Get a Humidifier (or two) – Winter’s best friend! Use humidifiers in your home to put moisture back into the air.

8.     Routine – Before bed apply thick lotion to both your hands and feet, and then cover them with socks, yes, your hands too. This will help seal in moisture overnight, so you wake up with soft hands and feet.

9.     Cling to Eye Drops – Dry winter eyes? Have eye drops on hand all winter long to keep dry eyes at bay.

10.   Stock the Lip Balm – No one likes chapped lips so, use lip balm like there’s no tomorrow.

Download Dr. Visha's Ways to Treat Winter Skin below: 

Beyond The Hair: Showing Some Love to Your Scalp

Sometimes we are so concerned about the skin that people see every day that we forget about the skin they might not see. The upkeep of the skin on your scalp is just as important as the skin on your face, arms and legs. Below are some topics of concern when it comes to scalp heath:

Sun Exposure/Heat

Over exposure to UV rays is dangerous for any area of skin, and your scalp is no exception. Because most scalps are covered with hair, the skin often lacks the protective resistance built up by skin in other areas. Hair does act as a barrier in some capacity, but it does not protect the skin from all harmful UV rays. The best way to protect your scalp from the sun is by wearing a hat. People who are balding or who have thinning hair should be especially conscious of the sun’s effect on their exposed scalp. Protect exposed skin on your scalp with sunscreen if possible.

Along the same line as sun exposure, excessive heat can negatively affect the skin on your scalp. Avoid holding styling tools that use heat, like hairdryers, curling irons and straighteners, too close to your scalp. Excessive heat deprives your scalp of moisture and strips it of natural lipids. Without moisture and natural lipids, your scalp can become dry and itchy.

Hair Products

Dyes, relaxers and washes can help your hair look the way you want it to, but they can also damage the skin underneath. Whether you are using these products at home or seeking out a professional’s skills, you should always test the product you are using on a small patch of skin first to see how your will skin react. A burning, itchy reaction is a clear sign to not use the product.

You may not have a reaction to harsh hair products at first, but be aware of the effects on your scalp after repeated use. Continuous use of harsh hair products can result in long-term effects like dry or raw skin, along with redness and hair loss.

Diet

Although diet doesn’t play a large factor in scalp health, it can still affect it. Niacin, biotin, zinc and vitamins A, B6 and C all are nutrients that have been shown to positively impact scalp health. Incorporating fish, nuts, seeds, whole grains and dark leafy greens into your diet will help ensure a healthy intake of all of these nutrients.

Dandruff

All of the above topics play into the most common scalp health concern: dandruff. Dandruff is not contagious and in most cases is easy to treat. For mild cases, try shampooing with a gentle cleanser daily in addition to taking all the preventive measures discussed above. If the dandruff still persists, consider consulting a dermatologist about the issue. You may need a medicated shampoo.

It may seem daunting to remember the upkeep for skin care, but key topics repeat themselves. Sun protection, product usage and diet are factors that affect the health of your skin no matter where it is on your body.

Next time you have a concern about your scalp health, consider what measures you are taking to ensure the health of the skin on your face, arms and legs. Are you giving your scalp the same attention?

Have any questions not addressed in this post? Leave it in the comments and I’ll try to help!

See Sun Spot, Run!

What are they?
 Solar lentigines, more commonly referred to as sunspots, age spots or liver spots, are lasting patches of discolored skin. These usually appear on the skin as brown or gray splotches and vary in size and shape. Sunspots tend to show up on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun most often, such as the face, hands, shoulders and chest. They are usually accompanied by other signs of sun damage, such as wrinkles and dry, thinning skin. Although sunspots usually develop on older people after years of sun exposure, young people can get them as well. With the rising trend of tanning beds, the early exposure to UV rays can sometimes cause skin to spot prematurely.

What causes them?

• Overexposure to UV rays from sunlight or tanning beds is the most common cause of sunspots. Fair-colored skin is more susceptible to sunspots than darker skin tones. UV rays cause the skin to increase melanin production, which is the pigment in hair, skin and eyes.
• Excessive melanin production can cause certain areas of the skin to become darker than the surrounding areas. Melanin is the tan color in the skin associated with sunbathing. The true purpose of melanin is to consume UV radiation and protect new cells in deeper layers of the skin, not to create an “attractive” appearance. Older skin is more prone to sunspots because it has a harder time clearing melanin from the system.
• Sun allergies may cause white spots to appear after sun exposure. These spots can be caused by sun, but may also develop due to exposure to other outdoor elements that agitate skin, such as fungus. Be mindful of these fungal infections that can cause these white spots, as they will likely spread to other parts of the body.
• Severe sunburns can also cause white spots to develop after the burn heals. The spots appear because the burn damaged the skin’s pigmentation.

 Should I be worried?

Except for the inherent cosmetic issue, sunspots are relatively harmless and are not a direct indication that you will get (or already have) skin cancer. However, having sunspots is an indication that the skin has been sufficiently damaged by the sun, which puts you at a greater risk for developing skin cancer. See your dermatologist yearly for a spot check to make sure your spots aren’t actually moles that can change into a cancerous lesion.

Treatments and remedies

• Applying aloe vera gel on affected areas twice daily can help heal sun-damaged skin. For best results, apply sooner rather than later.
• Medical creams containing corticosteroids may also help return the skin to its original state.
• Apply a slice of fresh lemon or lime directly onto the sunspots for 10-15 minutes daily. The acid helps in lightening the spots and removing dead skin cells. Results are usually seen after daily use for two or more weeks.
• Squeeze a used green tea bag onto a cotton ball and rub it over the spots. The tea contains antioxidants that can help skin repair itself.
• Break open a vitamin E capsule and apply the gel directly to the sunspots. The same vitamin E properties that can help fade scars will also help fade sunspots.
• Professional options are also available, such as laser resurfacing, chemical peels and cryotherapy.

Prevention

Protect your skin from the sun and UV damage by avoiding indoor tanning, staying out of direct sunlight as much as possible and wearing a hat or light-colored clothing outdoors.

If you have to be in the sun, use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen.

Have any more questions? Leave them in the comments below or make an appointment  with Advanced Dermatology.

The Glowing Skin Effect

Do you find yourself coveting the airbrushed skin of models on TV, billboards or magazine covers? We all yearn for radiant skin, but can you get movie star skin naturally? How do you avoid crossing the line of natural shine to having greasy skin? Beauty may only be skin deep, but the importance of skin health goes much deeper. Here’s the skinny on how to keep your skin young and healthy while maintaining a sensible amount of its protective moisture. 

Do

• Protect skin from sun damage by using SPF 30 sunscreen every day and avoiding prolonged exposure.  
• Wash your face in the morning and at night.
• Moisturize twice daily. Be sure to change your moisturizer twice a year to adapt to seasonal changes. In the fall and winter, you should use a heavier moisturizer due to the dry air; while in spring and summer, use a lighter moisturizer with SPF for sun protection.
• Exercise regularly. Cardio can be especially helpful as it stimulates blood flow.
• Drink six to eight glasses of water each day to help flush out toxins from your body.
• Maintain a healthy diet. Fruits will help hydrate and rejuvenate your skin, and foods rich in vitamin C will help collagen production to keep your skin looking youthful and smooth. Some common foods containing vitamin C include oranges, guava, kiwi fruit, leafy greens and red peppers. For more information on the best foods for your skin health, read my blog post here. 
• Exfoliate weekly to buff out imperfections and remove dead skin cells, revealing a stunning new layer of skin. Use a loofah pad or facial/body scrub (sugar, salt, beads or crystals) gently against your skin in a circular motion. (Hint: This blog post will help you with at-home exfoliation.)
• Take a multivitamin daily that contains vitamins A, D and C.
• Switch from using pressed powder to loose powder, as pressed powders contain oil as an ingredient.
• Be patient. Most people start seeing their desired results in about two to six weeks.

Don’t

• Bathe in very hot water or take long, hot baths – Bathing in hot water strips skin of its moisture and washes away protective oils.
• Rub the wrong way – Rubbing your skin hard or aggressively can result in peeling, breaking small blood vessels and stretching the skin.
• Touch your face – Touching thousands of surfaces daily makes your hands magnets for dirt, germs and oils. While most of us are guilty of touching our faces throughout the day, doing this can spread these unwanted germs and oils on your skin, resulting in clogged pores.
• Smoke – This nasty habit can cause wrinkles, unwanted skin color and texture, and potentially skin cancer.

What to Use

• Mild, non-detergent cleansers – These include gels, foams or cloths. Using heavy-duty cleansers can dry out your skin and sometimes worsen a prior condition.
• Fragrance-free products –Fragrances cause most common skin-related allergic reactions.
• pH-balanced products – Make sure any acid-laced products are pH-balanced, meaning the pH is in sync with your skin. This will help remove makeup without robbing your skin of natural oils.
• Multi-tasking moisturizers – Look for moisturizers that will hydrate and protect.
• Toner – There are tons of mixed signals floating around about skin toners, and rightfully so. Toner is used to clean deep into the pores of your skin, but depending on your skin type, it may further dry out your skin. If you have found an appropriate toner for your skin type, be sure to apply a moisturizer afterward. Your dermatologist can help determine if toner is right for your skin and the best toner for your skin type.

Have more questions? Leave them in the comments below, and I’ll try to help you out! If you need an appointment with Advanced Dermatology, click here.