As tough as it is to admit it — all those days spent by the pool may have taken their toll. If you spent the past three months enjoying the sun, your skin might need a little TLC as we head into cooler weather. We spoke to Dr. Gilly Munavalli and Dr. Payman Kosari at Dermatology, Laser and Vein Specialists of the Carolinas about the good, better and best steps we can take to help our skin recover from summer.
Here are their suggestions:
1) Check out your spots
GOOD: Thoroughly check out all your moles and freckles to see if any new ones have popped up or if any of the old ones have changed. Keep in mind the ABCDEs of skin cancer when checking your spots: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter greater than a pencil eraser and Evolving over time are all potential warning signs of melanoma (but that doesn’t mean they are the only signs or that even one of these signs has to be present for a spot to be dangerous).
BETTER: Have a family member check your back, legs or any other sun-exposed body part you can’t easily see. If you have lots of spots, ask your designated spot-checker to keep an eye out for new moles or those that look different from the rest. These can be red flags and should be checked out by a professional. For a helpful video on at-home skin checks, click here.
BEST: Make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist for a full-body mole check. Dr. Kosari told us some scary stats from the American Academy of Dermatology: skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and 1 in 5 people will develop it in their lifetime. Even scarier: one person dies of melanoma every hour. The good news is it’s highly treatable if caught and removed early. That’s where your dermatologist comes in. The experts at DLVSC suggest coming in for a full-body exam to evaluate your overall skin health, identify possible risk factors and learn signs to watch for closely. A baseline check sometime in your mid-to-late 20s (if you haven’t already done so) is strongly encouraged. If you have a family history of melanoma or have especially fair skin (this often applies to people with red or blonde hair and light eyes) you should go early and often.
2) Clear up the brown spots and freckles caused by sun damage
GOOD: Use an over-the-counter product. product. If you were fairly consistent with your SPF this summer and you’d like to start with an OTC option, Dr. Munavalli suggests grabbing a topical product with retinol, which will help increase skin cell turnover (meaning your brown spots will fade more quickly). However, they can take several months to produce a noticeable change and likely won’t be as effective if you need to tackle years worth of sun damage.
BETTER: Get a chemical peel or prescription topical treatment from your derm. Dr. Munavalli said physician-grade chemical peels could definitely help resolve uneven facial pigment when performed by a doctor or licensed medical esthetician. He added that dermatologists often regard retinoids as the gold standard in topical treatments based on their long-standing, proven results. Prescription retinoids are great for brown spots but they also help with fine lines and wrinkles, collagen production, acne breakouts and evening out your skin tone.
BEST: Consider a laser or light-based treatment. DLVSC offers several different options, many of which are great for clearing up brown spots and freckles, improving texture and some can even soften fine lines and wrinkles. Dr. Munavalli says that fractional resurfacing and/or intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments are excellent options if your skin has had several years worth of sun damage and if you aren’t a “product-person” who will be diligent with a topical routine. He added that some devices can also be used on the neck, chest, arms and legs. The best time to do these types of treatments is after the summer when the sun’s rays are less intense and you won’t be outdoors as frequently. Contact DLVSC to see which treatment is right for you.
3) Control those post-summer breakouts
GOOD: Treat at home with a product that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Dr. Kosari said it’s common for to notice increases in acne and pore size right after summer thanks to increased sweating and oil production, and these problems are often treatable at home. It won’t happen overnight though, so be sure to be consistent with your skin routine. He also suggests cleaning your skin as quickly as possible after sweat-inducing activity like hanging out in the sun or working out.
BETTER: See an esthetician to get a facial. A professional will be better able to safely perform blackhead extractions and other treatments on your summer-shocked skin. DLVSC also offers complimentary product consultations: bring in the products you’re using and she’ll talk to you about what you need (and don’t need) to keep your skin looking its best.
BEST: Talk to a dermatologist about prescription-strength cleansers and oral antibiotics. Dr. Kosari says that if your dermatologist recommends an oral prescription for treating your acne, you likely won’t need to take them for the long-term — and oral antibiotics may be a necessary step to get your skin under control. DLVSC also offers a wide range of topical cleansers and treatments in their Skin Secrets store that they can recommend.
4) Prevent future damage
GOOD: Wear sunscreen (SPF 30 or more) daily on your sun-exposed skin, and reapply every two hours. Even though it’s not as hot outside, you’re still being exposed to the sun through your car window, when you’re dashing from store to store, etc.
BETTER: Know what’s in your bottle. Dr. Kosari says not all sunscreen is created equal — you’ll want to make sure yours is broad-spectrum so it’ll protect from both UVA and UVB rays. If you’re going to be sweating or doing anything around the water, make sure the sunscreen bottle says it’s water-resistant. And don’t trust your makeup to protect you … if it doesn’t have SPF 30 or higher, you’ll need to layer it on top of a moisturizer that does.
BEST: Talk to a professional. We mentioned earlier that it’s important to have a dermatologist do a full-body skin check to establish a baseline assessment of your moles and spots. But your derm can also recommend sunscreens that will work for your skin type, and many can be purchased right at DLVSC’s Skin Secrets Store.
SPECIAL OFFER FOR SCOOP READERS
Get a FREE cosmetic consultation with Dr. Munavalli or Dr. Kosari by mentioning this story when you book. The offer is valid through the end of the year, excludes medical office visits and applies to new patients only.
1918 Randoph Road
Suite 550
704-375-6766
www.carolinaskin.com
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