Dr. Daniel Behroozan's tips on how to get great skin

I recently had the opportunity of meeting with the lovely Dr. Behroozan of http://www.dermsurgery.net/ in Santa Monica to get advice on how to treat different skin types/problems and also to get a prescription for Latisse http://www.latisse.com/  (I'm just starting it so I'll let you know my progress as time goes on).

Here are his suggestions on how to look after and what specific treatments there are for your skin type:

Oily Skin --- Most people have oily skin due to an excess of “sebum” on the skin surface. Procedures like Photodynamic Therapy with V Beam Laser can greatly reduce the production of oil on the skin. Also, topical skin care products containing: retinol, salicylic and glycolic acid can help to dry up excess oil. Skinceuticals Simply Clean Cleanser is a glycolic acid cleanser that is very effective on oily skin types.

Acne ---- Acne is a result of many factors. Most common culprits are hormones, bacteria, and clogged pores. Photodynamic Therapy is a great option for those that want a “holistic” therapy to treat acne without oral medications. Topical creams can also help in the right combinations. Skinceuticals Clarifying Cleanser is a non irritating salicylic acid acne cleanser that can help to unclog pores. Skin Medica’s Retinol Complex is a Vitamin A derived topical similar to Retin-A, that can be used to keep pores unclogged, smooth out the surface texture and improve discoloration caused by acne pimples.

Dryness ---The obvious and best relief for dry and dehydrated skin is moisture. Using Vitamin B infused products like Skin Medica’s Hydrating Complex can greatly improve and hydrate dry skin.

Beginning signs of aging --- We should become familiar with the basics—the A,B,C’s of good skin care (Vitamin A (Skin Medica Retinol Complex) Vitamin B ( Hyluronic Acid, B5, Skin Medica Hydrating Complex) Vitamin C ( Skin Medica C+E Complex). These three basics are a strong army to fight against the early signs of aging: brown spots, fine lines, decrease in skin elasticity.
Non-ablative, fractionated laser procedures, like the Fraxel Laser, are the exciting trend for those who want to maintain and enhance their skin tone and texture. These procedures build new collagen so results are visible and permanent as long as skincare habits are consistent and sun exposure is avoided.
In addition to skin care, Botox and Dysport treatments have become “industry standard” for those fighting the early aging signs mentioned. Botox or Dysport is easy, affordable and effective, which is why it has become the most popular cosmetic procedure in the world.

Deep lines and wrinkles --- Treatment for deeper lines, folds and wrinkles often require a bit more advanced intervention. Facial fillers like, Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane, offer great results but have to be done a few times a year to maintain. More aggressive laser procedures might be recommended such as, fractionated C02, to resurface and lift the skin. These options require some “downtime” from several days to several weeks.

Rosacea --- Rosacea is an inflammatory skin disorder that causes skin to become red, irritated and/or sensitive. Broken capillaries are often visible on the skin around the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. Sunscreen is the most important product for Rosacea sufferers, as sun exposure can make symptoms worse and should be avoided whenever possible. V Beam Laser treatment is the “gold standard” for treatment and suppression of blood vessels on the skin surface. This treatment has very little downtime, mild redness and swelling for 24-48 hours after treatment, and can be done every 3-4 weeks until desired results are achieved.

To book an appointment with Dr. Behroozan please call: 310 392 1111 or go to http://www.dermsurgery.net/
Daniel Behroozan, MD, FAAD, FACMS
Diplomate, American Board of Dermatology
Fellow, American College of Mohs Surgery
Director, Dermatology Institute of Southern California
Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, UCLA

Day 10....eyelashes

I'm obsessed with my eyelashes and so are most women I know. It is the one thing that I always do - wear mascara. Now there are treatments out there that can grow them thicker, longer and darker, and others to keep them that way. Read on for some products recommendations and tips to keep yours looking good.

Firstly it is important to make sure you remove your mascara throughly but gently every night before you go to sleep. Leaving mascara on all night can cause lashes to become brittle and break. Use a good eyemakeup remover such as Talika's http://www.talika.com/ Lash Conditioning Cleanser. As the name suggests, this not only removes eyemakeup but conditions weak or damaged lashes. I also like Liz Earle's http://www.lizearle.com/ Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion which takes off light eye makeup and is extremely gentle. You can also use it as a compress to soothe tired eyes.

To maintain or enhance your eyelashes without I love B.Kamins http://www.bkamins.com/ Eyelash Fortifier which conditions thinning lashes and brows to help them grow stronger. Revitalash http://www.revitalash.com/ is another good option for sparse lashes, helping them regain their vitality.

If you can go without mascara sometimes to give your eyelashes a break, do so and just wear a lash conditioner instead a couple of days a week. If you are like me and don't want to to leave the house without it, Cargo's http://www.cargocosmetics.com/ Lash Activator is great. It's a black mascara that boosts the appearance of your lashes and helps prevent lash loss with it's marine algae extract.