Recently in Beauty Doc Category

       

Before and after results after facial rejuvenation peels

Everyone talks abut peels these days, everything including cleansers now claim to be a peel of some sort. I recently sat down with cosmetic surgeon Dr. Alex Liu who I barraged with a list of questions. The most important being how it works. Once we reach the age of 20, our collagen stops growing on it's own. Collagen is the layer of the skin below the dermis, so the top layer is the epidermis, then the dermis and below that is the collagen. The collagen keeps everything in shape, which is what we are after. After years of exposure to the elements as well as making expressions on your face, the skin begins to break down and even develop creases and cracks (like forehead and laugh lines) because of the lack of collagen. The only time collagen will grow is after trauma, in an effort to repair itself. That's where the peel comes in to our lives. The acid in peels penetrates the epidermis and the dermis and reaches the collagen to traumatize it in a controlled manner so that it is "stimulated" to tighten. Remember, the skin has rejuvenation abilities but only after it is forced to by some sort of trauma. The peel also removes the upper layer of the skin to reveal the "new" skin.

An apple a day won't really keep the doctor away but could certain foods actually make your hair look and feel younger? Graying hair as well as hair loss can age even the youngest looking faces. According to Suki Duggan, owner of DonSuki Townhouse Salon in Manhattan, just eating foods with different nutrients can help to fight aging of the hair. Really? I eat a lot of crab, almonds and oysters but am starting to see gray hair. "Often the reason people's hair starts to gray hair does not have to do with genes but because of copper deficiency. Eating foods that are high in copper, like sunflower seeds, could be beneficial." Don't like sunflower seeds? Crabs, oysters, cashews and almonds are also high in copper. And here we thought oysters were only good for the libido. " Biotin, which is generally found in soy products, as well as liver and eggs, can promote hair re-growth," said Duggan. Tofu is great. I don't know how valid these claims are, my uncle eats lots of tofu, crab, and almonds but he's as bald as they come. What do you think?

I am pleased to introduce you to my dermatologist (one of the best in the biz in my opinion!)-- Dr. Rick Wilson. Dr. Wilson has agreed to be our resident Beauty Snob Beauty Doc and will answer any questions you may have about your skin! Please post your questions in comments and I will submit them to him each month. To make an appointment for a magnified full-body skin cancer scan call (972)-560-6360 for an appointment.

Sun Exposure: Is the Risk Worth the Pleasure?
By: Rick K. Wilson, M.D.
Director, Preventive and Cosmetic Dermatology, Cooper Clinic at Craig Ranch.

The golden tan that people love is actually an injury response to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) damage. Combine that with multiple dark moles and your risk of skin cancer—possibly fatal melanoma—increases dramatically. Fair-skinned individuals have an even higher risk of skin cancer at a younger age. Yet, you can control many of the cancer risks by getting a meticulous skin examination.

Malignant melanoma, or black mole cancer, is now the No. 1 fatal cancer in young women 26-28 years of age. And, the overall risk of melanoma has risen dramatically from one in 1,500 in 1920 to one in 63 at present. More than 1 million skin cancers are detected annually in the U.S. with 10,850 deaths from skin cancer—8,110 of those from melanoma—according to the American Cancer Society. An estimated 60,000 new cases of melanoma are anticipated for 2008. That’s why early detection is life saving.