Skip to main content

Skin Care Tips For Every Age

Skin Care Tips For Every Age

Our skin evolves with age. Your skin isn’t the same in your 60’s as it was in your 20’s.  Should you be worried about acne or wrinkles? What can you do at your age to benefit your skin later? Your skin care routine should evolve as you age.

20’s & 30’s

Fighting acne is the main concern, especially in your 20’s. Water-based, oil-free wash is a safe staple to keep in your medicine cabinet. Keep your skin free of dirt and oil by removing makeup, washing your face and start a basic skin care regimen with a moisturizer and antioxidant every day. Wearing sunscreen every day will also help protect your skin from premature aging, even in the winter. This will help the signs of aging that begins to develop in your 30’s. Start using anti-aging lotion and vitamin A as soon as possible. Vitamin A helps smooth wrinkles and combats the signs of aging.

40’s & 50’s

The skin loses some of its texture and fullness in your 40’s. Wrinkles and age spots begin appearing as well. Products with peptides in them even out pigment and increase collagen growth. An estrogen drop in your 50’s may dry out your skin and decrease its elasticity. Combat this symptom of hormonal changes with glycolic acid, which helps increase skin cell production and turnover. Additionally, introduce a heavier treatment cream high in ceramides and natural cholesterol to replenish dry skin into the routine.

60+

Expand your skincare regimen to include all skin aspects. Apply SPF every day to keep the sun from advancing sun aging. Use cleansers that won’t dry out your skin and products with hydroquinone to help eliminate dark spots on the face hands. Keep up with your regular routine and continue to wash your face and apply your products daily.

 

Need some extra advice on what to include in your skincare routine? Visit one of our dermatologists.

It’s time to spring clean your skin routine!

Spring has finally sprung! Get your spring skin care routine down pact with these helpful hints.

Declutter

Out with the old products, in with the new products! Clean up your skin care routine this spring and throw away any old products you haven’t used recently. Chances are, you aren’t going to be using them anytime soon and could use the counter space. Also, chances are if it hasn’t been used in over a year it’s expired. 

Make the Switch

Give your skin a break and use a lighter, water-based moisturizer. During the winter, you combatted dry, flakey skin with hydration and moisturize and now it’s time to let your skin breathe. Use something less emollient and oil-free to keep breakouts at bay.

Sunscreen

Chances are, the first time you see the sun this spring you’re going to want to break out that bathing suit and try to build your base tan. Resist the urge and lather up with SPF instead. The skin isn’t used to how strong the sun is in the springtime, so it is more prone to getting sunburn. Apply SPF 30 or greater every two hours for best sun protection.

Add Vitamin C

Springtime tends to make skin more red, itchy and irritated. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that is scientifically proven to help reverse the signs of photoaging and help stimulate new collagen growth and help with skin irritation and sensitivity.

Remember, for every $250 you spend on products this April, you’ll receive One (1) entry to win a package of Four (4) HydraFacial treatments!  Visit our blog for full details.

Make Your New Year’s Resolution Healthy Skin

New year, new skin? The new year is a fresh chance for us to work towards the betterment of ourselves. Whether your resolution is to give up a certain vice or pick up a good habit, it’s important to focus on attainable goals that lead you to a better life. Many vow to lose weight or pick up a new activity, but in 2019, we encourage you to make a commitment to better skin health.

Your epidermis, or skin, is the largest and fastest-growing organ in your body. It’s a defense barrier to outside damages and is constantly producing new cells to replace the old. Although our skin is continuously growing, that doesn’t mean it will take care of itself. Our skin requires daily care to be certain it’s working to its’ fullest potential. For 2019, make the simple resolution of adding any of these skin care practices to your daily routine

Moisturizing Daily

Just because the calendar is growing another year older, doesn’t mean our skin has to. Adding a daily moisturizer to your skin care routine is the perfect way to start fighting against bad skin. Winter air and dry heat can leave the skin feeling dry and cracked. Moisturizers will leave your skin feeling smooth and hydrated. Their effects are proven to fight off skin problems like blemishes and wrinkles.

With just as many skin types as there are moisturizing products, it’s important to talk with a dermatologist to determine which is the best for you. If your skin is naturally oily, be sure to choose a moisturizing lotion with exfoliation properties versus a smooth cream. However, those with drier skin need creams due to the higher oil content that’s contained.

SPF All Year

You may be wondering why we’re talking about sunscreen in January. Although we aren’t actively trying to sun ourselves in the winter months, that doesn’t mean we aren’t receiving the sun’s harmful rays when we venture outside. While it’s cold, your arms and legs will be protected from the sun by your long-sleeved clothes. We suggest adding a facial sunscreen to your morning routine, especially if you spend a good amount of your day outside. The sunscreen you choose must be broad spectrum against both UVA and UVB rays, water resistant and have an SPF of at least 30. As the months warm up and you start exposing more skin, start regularly applying sunscreen to those exposed areas as well.

Clean Face Before Bed

This one is a tale as old as time, but somehow the hardest to follow. We all know how incredibly important it is to give our skin a clean rest during the night. Washing your face before bed with a cleanser takes off any dirt or heavy foundation that accumulates on your skin during the day. By sticking to this hard habit, your skin will surely thank you in a few decades.

Annual Mole Check

Maybe not the most glamorous resolution, but still one you’ll want to make a habit of. It’s important to visit a dermatologist at least once a year to check out any curious, new growths on your skin. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and can be deadly if left untreated. It often appears as a small blemish on you skin and can often be mistaken for something less serious.

If you notice a new mole or freckle on your skin, be sure to follow these guidelines to determine if it’s abnormal. If you aren’t sure or if you have the least bit of worry, schedule an appointment with a medical professional. They’ll easily be able to examine and test the worrisome spot to see if it’s of any concern.

Keep Up with It

We know that the hardest part of a resolution is sticking with it. If you find yourself mid-February and falling out of your new skin care habits, don’t be afraid to recommit and work for better skin. Although the first day of a new year is excellent motivation to start the things you’ve been meaning to, it doesn’t dictate as your only chance for change. Change happens daily but can only be met through persistent determination. Choosing a resolution as simple as adding a moisturizer to your everyday routine may be the start towards becoming a better you.

Need help with your resolution towards better skin? The dermatologists at Knoxville Dermatology Group have years of practiced experience in suggesting products, checking moles and creating a healthier skin to live in. To make an appointment with any of our medical professionals, visit us   or give us a call at 865-690-9467.

What’s in a good moisturizer?

Shopper deciding on lotion

There are a ton of skin products on the shelves. To ensure you’re using the safest and most effective products, you should follow two steps:

  1. Determine your skin type so you know the right kinds of products for your skin. Refer to this blog to determine your skin type.
  2. Check the ingredients to make sure the appropriate products are effective.

Here are the best ingredients to look for when determining which moisturizer to purchase at check-out.

Glycerin – As stated in our blog about winter skin, hot showers and heaters can sometimes suck the moisture out of your skin. Glycerin does the opposite – it sucks moisture in the air back into your skin. It also makes lotions silkier, allowing you to put makeup on almost immediately after application.

Lactic acid – Lactic acid should be applied just out of the shower and is another good moisturizer to treat chapped skin. It’s especially effective for healing dry legs.

Ceramides – Ceramides reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier. They seal water in so cells don’t dry out. It primarily helps to relieve dry, itchy skin and tends to leave an afterglow.

Key antioxidants – There are dozens of antioxidants that can help the skin in a variety of ways. Keep your eyes peeled for: grape extract, resveratrol, green tea extract, vitamin C, vitamin E, epigallocatechin-3 gallate, superoxide dismutase, ferulic acid, quercetin, willow herb extract, feverfew extract and licorice extract. Because they each have a different effective quality, the more antioxidants in your moisturizer, the better.

If you’re worried about an ingredient in your daily skin routine or need advice on how to treat a problem area, consult KDG. Schedule an appointment with Knoxville Dermatology Group by calling (865)690-9467.

The Secret of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera, which dates back more than 6,000 years to ancient Egypt, is a common healing ingredient for external skin problems. Known as the “plant of immortality,” Aloe vera has been used to heal cold sores, frostbite, wounds and burns.

The magical ingredient known for wound healing is the gel within the plant that is exposed after breaking a plant’s limb. More specifically, acemannan hydrogel is an FDA-approved ingredient to treat canker sores and other oral wounds. While there is no scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of Aloe vera lotion to help sunburns, the plant gel has multiple hydrating properties known to moisturize and cool skin.

While Aloe vera can provide a soothing sensation, the first treatment for a temperature burn should be cold water, rather than any kind of ointment. Always check the added ingredients in Aloe vera lotions to ensure no allergies are present. To schedule a visit with Knoxville Dermatology Group, call (865)690-9467.

The Differences Between Tinted Moisturizers, Foundations and Alphabet Creams

Learn about tinted moisturizers, foundations and alphabet creams

Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

No matter where you look in the makeup aisle, it seems every brand is coming out with its own varieties of foundation and “alphabet” creams. With everything from BB and CC creams to foundation sticks and pressed powder, it can be hard to distinguish which is which. Here’s what you should know:

Tinted Moisturizers

If you’re looking for a lighter alternative to your favorite foundation, particularly in the summer, you might want to try a tinted moisturizer. Tinted moisturizers are lighter than most foundations, and they hydrate your skin while evening out your skin tone. However, it’s important to note that because tinted moisturizers are so light, they won’t hide major acne blemishes.

Foundations

There are dozens of foundation formulas out there for every skin tone including anti-aging, oil-free, brightening and firming. Foundations are great because you can build it up for more coverage to hide imperfections and blemishes. They’ve been around for so long that there are even formulas that can adjust to your skin color and give you the flawless look you want.

BB Creams

BB creams, or beauty balms, are enhanced tinted moisturizers. These advanced creams not only hydrate and even out your skin, they also treat your skin with a dose of anti-oxidants and SPF. If you’re looking for a powerful, lightweight addition to your makeup routine, BB creams are a great option.

CC Creams

The CC in CC creams stands for “color correcting.” Unlike BB creams, which are tinted moisturizers with additional skincare benefits, CC creams are specifically made to correct redness and sallowness in your skin. These specialized creams contain ingredients like vitamin C and E to help fade dark spots.

DD Creams

Made to be the end-all-do-all cream, DD creams combine the same benefits of BB and CC creams, but focus mainly on anti-aging. These “dynamic do-all” creams will even out your skin tone and help to fight premature aging and wrinkles.

There are tons of products out there for your complexion, but figuring out what will work best for your skin type can be difficult. Set up an appointment with us today so that we can help you put your best face forward.