Plenty of options are available in the battle for better skin

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Thinking about taking skincare to the next level? 

Exposure to pollution and the sun’s UV rays, lack of sleep, a poor diet and smoking take a toll on the appearance of skin. Making skin look better often is about keeping skin healthy.

First and foremost in this strategy is using sunscreens and reducing sun exposure. Retinal, a vitamin A derivative, treats dark spots, wrinkles and fine lines. It works by causing skin cells to turn over more quickly. It also dries excess oil and aids exfoliation.

Next on a must-use skincare list should be a moisturizer. Often, dull or tired looking skin is dry skin. The simple practice of exfoliation and moisturization leaves skin looking fuller, plumper and healthier.

A consistent skincare routine, combined with a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water, goes a long way but more can be done.

Dr. Jennifer D. Holman and her partner, Tori Burns, of the Center for Aesthetic  and Laser Medicine in Tyler, say consulting with a skin care professional is always the first step in the battle to improve the look and health of skin.

Holman asks her patients on the initial visit to bring all products they put on their skin, to share their concerns and to consider how much time and money they want to spend.

“Some people couldn’t care less about the wrinkle on their foreheads, but their brown spots drive them crazy,” Holman says. “We can build a plan based on what you want to invest, from a downtime standpoint, your budget, all of those things.” 

Besides a good sunscreen, she recommends using products with antioxidants and peptides as well as retinoids. “That’s where you start.”

The next options involve treatments and procedures, such hydro facials or micro-needling.

“Something that we’re really into and excited about is platelet-rich plasma, so we’re using your stem cells. And that’s kind of the way regenerative medicine is going as well,” Holman says. “It’s great for regrowing hair, injecting under the eyes for dark circles, micro-needling it in for overall rejuvenation.”

Burns acknowledges that when it comes to procedures and injections, the choices can be overwhelming. 

“If you’re going to do (only) two things … it would be laser resurfacing with something like Fraxel or Clear and Brilliant, and then your neuromodulators, which are Botox, Dysport and Jeuveau. Even just maintaining those two things will do yourself and your skin a great service.”

They also recommend that people concerned with the appearance of their skin to take pro-active measures. 

“So, you don’t wait until you have a line, you don’t wait until you have the wrinkles. You start early, so you don’t develop those things,” Holman says. “If I can get people in here by 30, it makes a huge difference in how they age. If we get people on a good skin care regimen early on, and then (on) the pre-juvenation treatments, it makes a big difference.” 

Tami Brooks is a freelance writer based in East Texas.