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My skin hates yogurt

My skin hates yogurt. I used to eat yogurt every day for breakfast. I thought Greek yogurt was the perfect food. High in protein and I could add a dab of honey to the plain variety and it tasted like dessert. But my skin didn’t like it. It took me years to figure it out. My skin wasn’t horrible, but I always had a few rosacea bumps and my nose was a little too pink. When I figured it out and changed my breakfast routine, my skin cleared up (with the continued daily medicated creams and gentle products).

Every day people ask whether their skin condition is caused by something they are eating. Everyone (myself included) wants to cut out one food and their skin will magically clear up. It isn’t that easy. I wish it was. Skin conditions (such as acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis) are usually not caused by specific foods but they can be triggered or exacerbated by foods. The challenge is figuring out which foods are triggers for you.

My rosacea is not caused by eating specific foods. My rosacea (and yours) is a complex condition caused by genetics, hormones, environment, stress AND nutrition, leading to skin that can be sensitive, reactive and breakout prone.

Nutrition can play an integral role in helping keep your skin healthy and vibrant. In general, healthy diets (whatever that means for you) will result in better skin. But there is not one answer for everyone. A vegan diet may be helpful for one person and cause breakouts or worsening of psoriasis for another. It takes time and an awareness of your skin and body to develop a nutritional regimen that works for your skin. While I never did this myself, sometimes it can be helpful to keep a food diary to determine what foods your skin responds to- positively or negatively.

Some foods that I have found increase inflammation and lead to breakouts for me:

  • Red wine (I switched to white and it was all good)
  • Yogurt (this was a bummer)
  • Too much peanut butter (I can have a little but not too much)
  • Asian food at restaurants- I have not figured out what ingredient it is-. This one is hard living in Seattle with so many great restaurants
  • Too many nuts

This is a list I have compiled over almost 20 years of having acne-rosacea prone skin. I know there are probably additional trigger foods (coffee or chocolate would kill me) and my body is constantly changing. I don’t always avoid these foods. If friends are going out for Thai food- I join them. But knowing I might have a bad skin day is empowering- if I know that my skin is going to be reactive and bumpy the next day and I can be (mentally) prepared.

Hopefully this post will help you optimize your nutrition so that every day is a great skin day. Please post comments of foods that are good and bad for your skin condition so others (myself included) can learn more.

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Acne, Uncategorized

Adult acne- what’s the deal with that?

Acne is one of the most common reasons for visiting a dermatologist. Everyday I see several patients with acne, and many of these are adult women. It is a myth that only teenagers suffer from acne. About 35% of women will suffer from acne at some point in their adult life- which just isn’t fair- to be fighting acne and wrinkles at the same time!

Why do we (I say we because I am part of the unlucky thirty five percent) get acne as an adult? The theory is that most adult female acne is related to fluctuating hormones. If you think about it- our hormones fluctuate as adults frequently. There are normal monthly fluctuations and then you add fluctuations due to birth control, pregnancy, post pregnancy, pre-menopause and menopause, it is a wonder that anyone has clear skin! 

Fortunately there are many treatment options for acne. When considering treatments in adult women it is important to remember that our skin is aging and traditional acne medications may be too harsh. 

One category of topical treatment, Retin A (also called tretinoin), is very good for light acne and is also anti-aging, win-win! With Retin A I am very careful to prescribe the appropriate strength, as it can be drying and irritating to the skin. I usually prescribe a low strength and recommend applying a small amount (such as a fingertip) over a moisturizer and starting application every other night (or even every third night).  It is important to use Retin A at night because it is in-activated by sunlight. It is also VERY important to use sun protection if you use Retin A because it will make your skin very sensitive to the sun.

Other topical treatments that are commonly used for acne are topical antibiotics and medicated washes (salicylic and glycolic are my favorite for mature skin).

If your acne is cystic (those big deep, red ones), scarring and more severe then we consider oral medications. Oral antibiotics can be used to clear the skin and then creams are used to keep the skin clear as oral antibiotics are not meant to be used long term. If someone needs a longer term treatment, an oral medication called Spironolactone can be very helpful. Spironolactone is a blood pressure medication that is used off label for acne, it works by blocking the effect of male hormones (women have male hormones too and they are part of the reason we get acne) at the level of the skin. Spironolactone works very well for some women- but it is not a cure- it only works when it is being taken. 

Which leads me to our most powerful medication for acne, Isotretinoin (commonly called Accutane). Accutane is our only cure for acne. Most people who complete a course of Accutane are cured of acne. Accutane can be a difficult medication to take due to lab testing and office visits, but it can be life changing for people whose acne is severe, scarring, resistant to other treatment or just persistent for many years. I prescribe Accutane frequently for both teenage and adult patients.

I recommend calling your dermatologist if acne is a concern for you, there are many treatment options to help you achieve clear skin!

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Uncategorized

My daily skincare routine

Wow- two posts in one day, a record for me! This post is for Miranda who requested an outline of my daily skincare routine. My routine is fairly simple and it changes depending on the season and if I have had (or planning) a peel or other treatment (microneedling and Resurfx are my go-to maintenance treatments).

The products are in the order of application unless otherwise stated. In general you should apply thinner (serums) products first and use moisturizers last. The exception are medicated products – which should be applied first (except Retin A can be put over other products to decrease intensity).

My Daily Routine

Early AM (Pre workout)

Splash water then Skinceuticals Retexuring Activator serum OR Elta AM Moisturizer

Morning (Post workout)

Splash water in the shower,  Finacea foam (for rosacea prevention), Neocutis Journee Bio-restorative Day Cream with Broad spectrum SPF 30 (workday) OR EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 (weekend). If my face is feeling dry I will add Neocutis Biocream after the Finacea. If my complexion needs a little smoothing I’ll add a little Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation.

My morning routine involves 2-3 products. I wait a few minutes between applying the products. In general you want to put on medicated products or serums first.

Evening

Wash with Perfect Cleanser or Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser , Finacea foam, Neocutis Lumiere Eye Cream, Neocutis Biocream.

2-3 days per week I use Skinceuticals retinol (.5 or 1 %) OR Perfect A (prescription strength Retin A with Vitamin C). I apply retinol under the moisturizer because it is not as strong. I apply the Perfect A over the moisturizer to decrease intensity.

For body cream I use Cetaphil (in the tub). For hands I use Cetaphil or Neutrogena Norwegian Hand Formula. I use Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser as body cleanser.

This routine changes occasionally when I am trying a new product or after a treatment (then I use only Cetaphil cleanser and biocream or even vaseline).

If you have seen my purple product sheet in the office- be assured I have tested/used all the products.

Hopefully this is helpful, thanks for the idea Miranda!

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Uncategorized

Birthday botox special

Life has been busy and I am behind on posts (so many ideas and too little time). I was asked to post cosmetic specials on my blog and I am late on this one!

Birthday botox special May 12 and 13 (Thursday and Friday) 2016.  $12/unit (regular is $15/unit). Most people need 16 units or more.

Polyclinic Madison Center, 904 7th Ave Seattle WA

206-860-4605

Stop by for a cupcake or just to say hello!

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Uncategorized

Zit happens

Everyone gets a zit once in awhile, even dermatologists. I seem to get a nice one on my chin (and it is always on the chin) every 1-2 months. Sometimes I try to hide it or use spot treatment- either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid cream (available without a prescription at the drugstore), but when my six year old starts asking about my new mole I know it is time to bring out the big guns. A kenalog injection,  also known as a steroid injection. Now this is not the type of steroid injection that bodybuilders use, it is a VERY dilute and tiny amount of corticosteroid  which quickly takes that monsterous zit from a mountain to a molehill in mere hours. It sounds too good to be true, right? It’s not, the very small amount of steroid puts out the inflammation under your skin causing that nasty bump.  For most people, kenalog is a magic zit eraser. There is a small risk that the injection will cause atrophy (a small divet in the skin), but  it is temporary (resolves in a couple months) and not very noticeable (I know from experience). Afraid of shots? I don’t like them either, but it is virtually painless and MUCH less painful than the zit on my chin. So keep your dermatologist on speed dial for the next time you wake up with huge pimple. Below,  for your viewing pleasure, my own photo journal of a zit succombing to kenalog.

 

Day zero. Zit happens. Good thing I have easy access to kenalog.

Zit Happens. Day 0.

 

24 Hours after the emergency kenalog session. No makeup.

24 hours after an emergency kenalog session. No makeup.

 

48 hours after kenalog. No makeup. I can show my face at work.

48 hours after kenalog. No makeup. I can go to work with wearing a mask.

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Uncategorized

Botox Special

Disclaimer: the purpose of this blog is to provide information for patients, friends and  anyone else who happens upon the site. It is not my intention to solicit or promote my practice. However, a patient requested that I post on my blog about Botox and other cosmetic specials.

Valentines Botox special: $12/unit (regularly $15/unit). Minimum 16 units

Thursday February 12 & Friday February 13 2016

The Polyclinic Madison Center 904 7th Ave Seattle 98104

Call 206-860-4605 for information or appointments

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Uncategorized

To Clarisonic or not?

Four years ago I bought my first Clarisonic at a conference. After enjoying the facial the reps gave me in the middle of the expo I drank the koolaid and bought one. That trusty device lasted three and a half years! This summer it finally gave up, and I didn’t replace it. I didn’t replace it because I wasn’t sure it was doing anything. At that same conference four years ago I also bought into the “cosmeceutical” world and started using retinols, hyaluronic acid, vitamin c and vitamin E. My skin did look better, but I wasn’t sure what was really making a difference. So I decided to ditch the Clarisonic and save two minutes in my nightly routine.

Fast forward to this January, I had noticed over the past month that my skin had been looking more dull.  I had not changed anything else in my routine, still using the same products and trying to squeeze a peel in every few months. I decided it was time time to try the Clarisonic again. Instead of the “Pro” that I got last time I picked up a Mia 2 (meaning two speeds) in last seasons color at Nordstrom Rack. It cost $99 for the device, one deep pore brush head (for my husband), a deep pore mask and cleanser (both given to my husband). I picked up a “radiance” brush at sephora for myself for $22. I usually use the acne or sensitive brush, but decided to give the “radiance” brush a try because my skin was feeling dull (again drinking the koolaid). Overall a pretty good deal.

After one week of use I can say that my skin feels smoother and looks brighter. I am hopeful things continue to improve.  I think the Clarisonic may provide some benefit, it certainly wasn’t the January weather in Seattle that made my skin brighter.

If you decide to buy the Clarisonic here are a few tips:

  1. Buy from an authorized dealer. While I love Amazon, they are not authorized to sell Clarisonic and the reviews suggest that many that are sold on Amazon are duds. If you want a good deal try Nordstrom Rack- they usually have the same model in older colors for $50-100 less.
  2. Use the brush that is right for your skin. If you have acne or rosacea use the acne or sensitive skin brush.
  3. Replace your brush ever three months minimum. The brushes can grow lots of bad stuff so keep them clean and replace them often.

This post was not sponsored by Clarisonic. I paid retail price for all products discussed in this post.

Clarisonic Mia 2

 

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