WestDerm

The Burning Truth About Base Tans!

October 22, 2018 by WestDerm Leave a Comment

Sounds silly when we say it out loud, doesn’t it?

We’ve all been there – a tropical getaway is coming up and it has been a while since our skin has been exposed to that much sunlight (and we refuse to look like a lobster on day 2 of our vacation). So, we start preparing our skin for heavy sun exposure with…more sun exposure.

Sounds silly when we say it out loud doesn’t it? That’s because base tanning in the sun or worse, in a tanning bed, is really just exposing our skin to twice the amount of skin cancer causing UV rays. Protecting ourselves from skin cancer by tanning is like preventing lung cancer by smoking.

You aren’t fooling the sun!

Sunburns come in all kinds of colors, not just red. Your skin’s production of pigment (regardless of the color) from UV damage is simply an attempt to protect itself.

So, that bronzed tan you had been working on all summer long could have been just as harmful as a stereotypical blistery, pink one.

The more sun exposure, the more skin damage.

A base sun tan is only equal to about 2 SPF and one from a tanning bed is equal to even less, so it’s doing more harm than good.

When you have a nice tan going and your skin ins’t giving you any visible signs of sun damage, it is also easy to forget about applying and reapplying sunscreen which can then lead to even more harmful sun exposure.

We encourage you to ditch the base tanning all together and make this fall an excuse to explore healthy alternatives to baking in the sun. Click here to learn more!

🍊 You Are What You Eat 🍊…so don’t be fast, cheap, easy or fake 🍟🍔

October 4, 2018 by WestDerm Leave a Comment

Most of us have a basic understanding of what would make a healthy food choice. We understand that fast food probably isn’t the best option when it comes to our overall well-being. We’re aware that eating an apple a day really does keep the doctor away 🍎…but french friends (Correction: *FRIES) likely do not 🍟 But do we ever stop to think about how the food we eat affects the appearance of our skin? Well, cliche or not, we are most definitely what we eat! Especially when it comes to our skin!

Your cardiologist advises you to steer clear of fried chicken, but what would your dermatologist say?

Dr. Lorrie Klein, a colleague and board-certified dermatologist at OC Dermatology says “Basically, there are no specific right or wrong foods. For example, the old wives tale of chocolate causing acne is only true for a very small percentage of people. Some foods do produce inflammation in some people however, such as dairy products, fried foods and refined sugars. These should be avoided if a person notices that it flares up their acne, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, etc. Otherwise, I recommend a healthy diet in general for everyone, which is great for the entire body, not just the skin.”

In addition to that, we wanted to drop some basic knowledge on these common food products that cause inflammation and how they often affect our complexion:

Dairy 🥛

The exact mechanism in dairy that contributes to bad skin is still unclear, but one theory is that it increases a hormone that ramps up oil production in our skin. Excess oil production is an increased potential for breakouts. We’re not saying eliminate it completely, but dairy in moderation is certainly key.

Caffeine ☕

While coffee has many benefits, too much caffeine can dehydrate the body. When our skin is dehydrated, that causes inflammation and collagen loss. In addition to that, dehydration means we do not have enough water flushing our system and that toxic build up can lead to breakouts. We all need a little caffeine boost before the busy day ahead, we get it! Just make sure you’re balancing with enough water to ensure your body and skin is staying hydrated.

Refined Sugar 🍭

If it’s bad for your waistline, chances are it’s not great for the complexion either. When you ingest sugar, our bodies break it down into glucose, which raises insulin levels. When insulin levels are spoked, that leads to inflammation. Inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, a.k.a. your glowing, youthful skin.

Salty Foods 🍟

Ever wake up feeling a little puffy around the eyes? It happens to us all! It’s important to know that too much salt causes our bodies to retain water, which leads to swelling. It’s also important to realize that sodium decreases the amount of water intake of our internal organs, like too much caffeine. And when our organs are thirsty, they pull the water out of our skin. And when our skin is thirsty, well, I think you’re starting to get the picture.

It’s tricky to know or say what to eat and what not to eat, however, our expert board-certified dermatologists will all attest that a well-rounded diet will better support that glowy, dewy complexion we all strive for. “I typically recommend an anti-inflammatory diet. It has been shown to help psoriasis and acne in addition to other inflammatory conditions. Although, it is not the only treatment I recommend, good nutrition is a nice adjunct to the health of your body and ultimately your skin.” -Dr. Lisa Zaleski-Larsen, DO FAAD, ABVLM dipl in Hillcrest.

What’s an anti-inflammatory diet? We’re so glad you asked! 😉 It’s a simple swap from sugary, processed foods to whole, natural and nutrient-rich foods. What does this look like? You ask the best questions! Adding in foods is way easier than eliminating so here’s a quick list of foods you can start introducing to the grocery cart:

Dark Leafy Greens 🥗Kale, spinach, collards, basil, broccoli, arugula and more.

Antioxidants 🍒 Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, green tea and dark chocolate.

Healthy Fats 🥑 Salmon, avocado, olive oil, nuts, seeds, eggs and more!

Skin types vary from person to person so it’s important to have a Board-Certified Dermatologist assess your skin in-person so they can recommend the best treatment plan that is customized to YOU!

Request an Appointment TODAY!

Sunblock Was So 7 Years Ago!

August 31, 2018 by WestDerm Leave a Comment

Sunblock was so 7 years ago!

Although the words sunblock and sunscreen are often used interchangeably, the term “sunblock” was actually banned by the FDA in 2011.

If we really think about it, sunblock is definitely a false claim since no sunscreen completely blocks UV radiation. Sunscreen manufacturers have since been forced to modify the language they use on their sunscreen bottles, which is a good thing as it gives consumers more realistic expectations of their product’s effectiveness.

But, where did the phrase sunblock come from in the first place? Technically, the distinguishing factors were the ingredients…mineral based products being sunblock and chemical based products being sunscreen.

What do they really mean?

If my sunscreen bottle says that it prevents sunburn, doesn’t that mean that it prevents skin cancer too? We’re afraid not. A change in pigmentation (regardless of a burn or tan) is always a sign that the skin is reacting to potentially damaging UV radiation.

Water resistant, not waterpoof. Under FDA’s new guidelines, sunscreen bottles can also no longer claim to be waterpoof since sunscreens are only water resistant for a certain length of time. This means that the level of SPF mentioned on the bottle is no longer effective after the specified amount of time has passed.

Speaking of SPF…we buy an SPF 30+ sunscreen because that’s what we’ve been taught to do, but what does it actually mean? SPF stands for ‘sun protection factor’ and determines the percentage of UVB rays that it protects against. For example, an SPF 30 sunscreen protects you from 97 percent of UVB rays (the rays that cause sunburn). However, an SPF 50 sunscreen only protects you from 1% more UVB rays than an SPF 30 does so, moral of the story, no sunscreen protects you from 100% of UVB rays.

Does it say Broad Spectrum? We know SPF protects against those UVB rays that cause sunburn, but we often forget about those UVA rays that cause skin damage/wrinkles. Broad Spectrum sunscreens contain ingredients that protect from both.

Reapply, reapply, reapply. Regardless, it is so important that you apply sunscreen 30 minutes before exposure and then reapply every 2 hours (depending on what your sunscreen recommends) to maximize effectiveness.

What’s actually inside?

Let’s start with your most common, chemical based sunscreens typically found in grocery stores and pharmacies (often transparent and spray-on). Typically using a combination of UVB and UVA absorbing chemicals, these sunscreens produce a film on the skin to reduce UV penetration. These products take approximately 20 minutes to begin working and should be generously reapplied every 1.5 to 2 hours to maximize effectiveness.

Now for the mineral based sunscreens, which are sometimes not so transparent. With natural ingredients like zinc oxide, this sunscreen sits on the skin as it works to reflect sun rays and can sometimes appear as a white layer on the skin. Similar to chemical sunscreens, they should be reapplied as directed on the bottle to ensure effectiveness. Mineral based sunscreens are commonly recommended by dermatologists because they are often friendlier to sensitive skin.

As valuable as all of this information truly is, please remember…

All SPF 30+ Broad Spectrum sunscreens are better than no sunscreen!