Skin Care Beach Bag Survival Guide

Heading down the shore can be stressful for your skin, especially if you’re prone to breaking out or burning, but thankfully, there are ways to protect yourself and look good while doing it!

We all know the basics of a beach bag:  towel, sunscreen, magazine, sunglasses, etc; yet this isn’t enough if we want to rock our beach bunny persona.  I’ll admit, I’m guilty of taking 1/3 of my bathroom with me, and if I had a bigger beach bag, I’d take more.  Hey, I like to be prepared…I also like to be the savior at the beach when one encounters a skin dilemma.  Everyone I go with knows I’m an aesthetician, so the question is always “Teresa, what do I do?”  Well let me tell you!

Scenario #1:  Sunscreen vs. Sunblock

Written by Teresa Zawada

Who knows the difference?  In my experience, not many.  We know baby sunscreen, sport lotions, oil vs. dry oil, even brand names, but when I ask my already sensitive skinned clients who tell me they can’t use sunscreens due to reactions, the answer I most commonly get is “I didn’t know there was a difference!”  There is…a big one!  Let’s picture our front doors, we have our screen door and we have our solid, nobody’s getting in door!  Sunscreens are just that, screens!  They absorb into your skin, let the rays flow through, and they’ll give you a bit of color without giving you the “I just took a trip to the sun” look.  They’re usually sufficient for most people without any problems, but if you have reactive skin…beware!  

Sunscreens are chemical protection, they can aggravate acne and rosacea, sometimes even your eyes.  Sunblocks, on the other hand, sit on top of the skin and give sun rays a solar punch.  You won’t get a lot of color, but you will be protected.  And if you have rosacea, go for a block with an antioxidant.  Avene’s new line of sunscreens/sunblocks gives you all that and more…protection, sun-stable antioxidant vitamin E, and thermal spring water to cool and calm the skin; it’s like a 3 in 1!  Plus, if you feel more comfortable on the beach without a naked face, their sunblocks come in two shades of compact foundation that covers blemishes, are water resistant, mineral based, and completely beach friendly!

Scenario #2:  I break out from beach days

Skin is fragile…sure, it’s one of our first lines of defense, but it still likes to be given attention.  After a day of sand, salt water, sweating, HOPEFULLY re-applying sunscreen, moments of dehydration, and meals dominated by boardwalk food (although tasty, but lacking in major nutrition), it’s no surprise that your skin might get a little mad at you!  My advice is to pack cleansing wipes; I like the baby variety.  Not only are they multi-purpose (for your bathroom breaks), but they are super gentle on the skin; they’re meant to clean a delicate bottom!  Makeup wipes are OK, but not the best.  My reason being is that they’re meant to remove makeup… the premise remains to still wash the face, and with fresh water scarce on the beach, you’re leaving behind residue and potential irritating ingredients from them, on your face.  

So, every 60-80 minutes, when you need to reapply sunscreen, don’t pack the leftover into your pores, grab a wipe, swipe your face, and viola....fresh palate for more protection!  As far as that boardwalk food goes, enjoy it, don’t stress, but also pack for yourself lots of water, and some fruits like strawberries, sunflower seeds, kiwis, and avocados for some extra vitamin C and B to naturally boost your skin’s healing abilities.

Scenario #3:  You didn’t listen, and you burned!

Avene Thermal Spring Water

Maybe you fell asleep in the sun, maybe you were playing in a paddle ball tournament and had no time to take care of your skin out of fear of leaving the zone.  Whatever the reason, sunburns happen, we’re only human.  Most of us see it (or feel it) after a shower, but sometimes you can SEE the burn as its happening.  First, run for cover.  If you don’t have an umbrella, it might be high time to call it a day.  Second, use what I frequently refer to as “miracle water in a can.”  Avene Thermal Spring Water spray is just that.  Imagine a pure water, never seeing the light of day, and constantly maintaining a temperature, that when you spray it on your skin, it almost immediately brings down the temperature of your flesh. 

Why has nobody told you about this water before?!  This is literally the #1 product in my “oh so well” packed bag that my family and friends ask for. The best part is, after you spray this water, and are lucky enough to be in front of a fan, you can feel the heat escaping with a burning/cooling icy-hot sensation.  Spray on the beach, spray at night, spray for the heck of it during the day if you want to feel refreshed! 

To further calm the skin, Avene has two at-home masks that I swear by, but the one you need right now is the Soothing Moisture Mask.  Containing the Thermal Spring Water, safflower oil for nourishing (don’t worry, this will NOT clog you), and glycols for hydration, this paraben-free formula offers instant relief for burns and redness.

A little extra:

So that covers your beach emergencies, and just as a little extra, I always recommend sample sizes of talc powders, for those unfortunate souls who are prone to chaffing, a mini-first aid kit to clean and protect any cuts from sharp shells or over-zealous seagulls, a visor or hat, lip balm with SPF, a pack of tissues, antibacterial wipes, floss, a leave in conditioner for when you get out of the water, preferably with an SPF to protect the scalp, a brush, and last but not least, a waterproof camera, because smartphones and water DO NOT mix!  With all this, you too can be the hero of the beach day!

And of course if you have any questions or want to pamper your skin schedule an appointment at 609-443-4500 and ask to schedule with Teresa today!

Healthy Skin Starts With You

By Dr. Brian Keegan

As the cooler fall weather sets in and winter weather approaches, Windsor Dermatology encourages our patients to be mindful of changes in their skin during this time. The cold, dry weather can aggravate certain skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Changes in the weather also means it’s a perfect time to schedule a skin screening with your dermatologist to ensure your skin stays healthy, especially as the holiday season approaches. In honor of National Healthy Skin Month, consider these five skin care tips:

• Wear sunscreen. Even though it’s cold out, UV rays are present year round. Your skin can absorb reflective light during outdoor winter activities such as skiing or snowboarding, which makes the sun just as intense. Even though it’s not hot outside, you should still think about wearing sunscreen. 
• Moisturize. Skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis are more common during this time of year due to the colder weather and the decrease of humidity in the air. Moisturize your skin consistently to ensure it stays hydrated. 
• Reduce stress. The holiday season can be stressful and stress can exacerbate people’s underlying skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. Try to limit the unnecessary holiday stress to help keep your skin under control and reaction-free. 
• Eat healthy. Everyone likes to indulge during the holidays, but this type of behavior can lead to a skin outbreak. Drinking alcohol and straying from a healthy diet can leave the skin swollen and create bags under the eyes. Eating healthy foods will leave your skin happy and healthy for the holiday season. 
• Quit smoking. Smoking damages your skin by causing wrinkles, premature skin aging and staining of the fingers and nails. With the new year approaching, make a resolution to quit smoking. Seek help from your primary care physician if you don’t think you can do this on your own.

These five skin care tips will help you maintain healthy skin while setting you up for success as the weather changes and the holidays get closer.

To schedule an appointment with a dermatologist at Windsor Dermatology, call +1-609-443-4500 or visit Windsor Dermatology.

Best Procedures to Help Ensure Your Skin Looks Rejuvenated at Any Age

By Teresa Zawada 

At Windsor Dermatology, we offer a variety of in-office cosmetic procedures that help patients obtain healthy, youthful looking skin at any age. 

While there are many aesthetic skincare options available, we always inform and educate our patients about what options are the best for them. Once we understand our patients’ objectives, we develop a personal skincare treatment plan. In addition to our in-office services, we also can suggest at-home options that work to complement and maintain procedures done in our office.
 

So what are the benefits of our personalized treatments? Here is a sample: 

Microdermabrasion is one of the most popular and effective anti-aging skincare treatments that can help your skin appear younger and firmer looking. This non-invasive, safe and pain-free procedure is ideal for patients looking to treat or eliminate fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, stretch marks and discoloration.            

In addition, peels can help liven up the skins appearance, and are perfect for those with visible signs of aging, sun damage or scaring. We would recommend several types of peels to improve your skins tone and texture, while helping with acne breakouts, fine lines and wrinkles, oily complexions and facial redness and blotchiness.

A Salicylic Peel is a procedure that helps to refine, resurface and revise the skin. This peel is ideal for those suffering from acne, oily skin, rosacea or frequent whiteheads or blackheads.

A Glycolic Peel helps freshen and rejuvenate the skin by removing dead and damaged skin cells from the top layer of the skin.

A Phyto-Pumpkin Enzyme Peel is ideal for patients with sensitive or intolerant skin or rosacea.

A Deep-Cleansing Enzyme Peel is perfect for patients that are unable to tolerate stronger chemical peels due to sensitivity, easily irritated or allergy-prone skin. This peel is made from bromelain extract, which is derived from the pineapple plant.

As you can see, we have a wide variety of aesthetic treatment options to help rejuvenate your skin at any age. Make an appointment with me by August 29, 2014 to receive 10% off microdermabrasion and any of our peels.

Call Windsor Dermatology at 609-443-4500 or visit Windsor Dermatology to make an appointment or to learn more about our aesthetic procedures.

Tips to Keep Skin Healthy in Cool Weather

By Dr. Brian Keegan

Do you find that your skin gets dry or itchy in the cooler months? It’s no surprise, living in New Jersey, and the surrounding states, we’re subjected to extreme temperature changes that affect our skin. The lack of humidity in the cooler months wreaks havoc on the skin. Luckily, there are several methods to prevent dryness, itching and inflammation.

To understand how to keep your skin healthy in cool weather, you need to think of it like a brick wall. Your skin cells are “bricks” that make up a significant percentage of the skin. However, if you stack a brick wall without any mortar, no matter how solid the bricks are, the wall will break apart over time.

Taking care of the “mortar” that holds the skin in place is integral to skin health in the cooler months. Amino acids, fatty acids, triglycerides and ceramides are some of the components that keep the skin cells together making the skin not only strong, but flexible. During less humid months, the skin can be dehydrated causing it to dry and crack. This often leads to itching and rashes.

When the temperature drops, I suggest moisturizers and/or barrier creams to help keep the “bricks and mortar” performing at its best. Some of the brands I find most effective at keeping the skin hydrated are CeraVe, Cetaphil and Aveeno. If the skin is really dehydrated, there are prescription barrier creams we can use to help get the affected areas under control, such as Hylatopic Plus and EpiCeram.  If necessary, we can also prescribe topical anti-inflammatory medication to help with the itch and irritation.

Here’s another tip for the cooler weather: Use sunscreen when you’re outside, especially if you’re participating in winter sports. Just because it’s cool outside doesn’t mean that the sun can’t dry out or even burn the skin. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that when applying sunscreen, the SPF level should be 30 or higher to protect the skin from the sun’s rays.

It’s really easy to take good care of your skin in the winter months now that you know what to expect when the weather changes.

If you’re suffering from dehydrated skin, call Windsor Dermatology at 609-443-4500 or visit Windsor Dermatology to make an appointment.