Q: I have very dry, sensitive skin, and my face easily gets red. I’ve heard that retinol is good for wrinkles and breakouts, however, it makes my face very irritated, and I have to stop using it. Is there anything else I can use that would benefit my skin without the irritation? A: One of the most common problems we hear from our patients is skin sensitivity. Some have redness, while others have dryness, irritation, rashes, or breakouts. Some patients have sensitive skin from infancy and others have developed skin sensitivity as an adult. There is a myriad of causes for sensitive skin includin ..read more

Q: I’m turning 90 this year! My family is planning a big celebration and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone. However, when I think about the party, I find myself wishing that I looked better. I have wrinkles and sagging that make me look older and tired, even though I feel great. Can I have cosmetic treatments at my age? Will they work for me? A: Congratulations on your milestone birthday! A very common sentiment among our patients is that they feel vibrant and energetic, but when they look in the mirror, they don’t see that reflected back. Age really is just a number when it comes to aest ..read more

Q: In the last few years, the bags under my eyes have gotten larger. Now it seems that I look tired all the time, no matter how much sleep I get or how much makeup I put on. I’ve tried eye creams, tea bags, and even cucumber slices, but nothing helps the puffiness. Is there anything else that I can do? A: Bags or puffiness under the eyes are exceedingly common and bothersome because they create the impression of being tired and aged. Most often it is the result of heredity and aging changes. Over the years, skin and other tissues around the eye become weak and lax, which allows fat pads around ..read more

Q: With summer approaching, I’m excited to wear cute sleeveless tops and swimwear, but I have noticed many brown spots on my arms and am self-conscious about them. Is there anything I can do to quickly minimize their appearance before bathing suit season? A: It sounds as though you plan on having a significant amount of sun exposure this summer, so we want to be careful to not increase your photosensitivity. You can exfoliate your skin with either a chemical exfoliant, such as ZO Enzymatic Peel, or physical exfoliant, such as ZO Exfoliating Polish, Dermaflash, an exfoliating device, simply sha ..read more

Q: I’m a 38-year-old man who is self-conscious about the hair on my back. I try to avoid situations like swimming where I’d have to take off my shirt in front of people. I’ve tried waxing once to remove the hair, and really liked the results, but the hair grew back very quickly. I don’t want to get waxed all the time. I’ve heard that lasers can remove hair permanently, but I don’t know much about the process. Can you tell me about it? A: Laser hair removal has been a popular procedure for more than 20 years. It works well, however, it’s rare to not have some unwanted hair grow back. Laser hair ..read more

Sun protection – Wear a broad spectrum sunscreen every day, whether it’s winter or summer, cover up with clothing and a hat, and avoid outdoor activities between the peak sunlight hours of 10:00 and 4:00 Anti-inflammatory diet – Eat whole foods, leafy greens, brightly colored fruits and vegetables such as berries, cherries, and tomatoes, olive oil, salmon, and fermented foods.  Avoid processed foods and sugar. Antioxidant – Apply to your skin daily to improve fine lines, discoloration, and radiance.  Our patients’ favorites include ZO Daily Power Defense and SkinBetter Science Alto ..read more

Q: I have wrinkles around my mouth that make me look much older than my actual age. They are annoying for several reasons. One – my lipstick bleeds into them causing them to look messy, and two – people sometimes assume I smoke cigarettes because of the lines. I’ve tried several different wrinkle creams, but none of them have made a difference. What can I do to get rid of these lines? A: These “smoker’s lines” also known as “perioral rhytids” or the “barcode lines” are an annoyance for many of our patients, most of whom have never touched a cigarette. They are expression lines that form due to ..read more

Q: I’m 44 years old and have dark olive-colored skin. In the last few years, I’ve noticed that my face has started to sag and some lines have appeared on my cheeks. I’ve tried a number of different creams that are supposed to help, but I haven’t seen any improvement. What would you recommend for me? A: What you’ve described is what we all experience as the years go by. It’s the result of many changes that occur in our face, such as shifting and loss of facial fat, loss of collagen and elastin, and repetitive muscle movements. Medical-grade skin creams, good nutrition, and sun protection all pl ..read more

Q: As a teenager, I would have a beautiful, glowing tan at the end of summer. Now that I’m in my forties, my “end of summer” skin looks discolored and dehydrated. Is there a way to brighten up and refresh my face? A: As summer fades away, many of us find that we have more brown spots, uneven skin tone, and dullness than we did a few months earlier. This can happen even if you’ve diligently worn sunscreen due to the sheer intensity of the summer sun. Now is a great time to clean up summer, sun-damaged skin. Here are some popular options: The 3 Step Peel is a favorite of ours and our patients. O ..read more

Q: I saw a friend recently whom I hadn’t seen in a year, and she looked so good. She told me that she had a CO2 laser treatment since we last met, and she’s very happy she did it. Can you tell me about this treatment? What does it do, and would it be good for me? A: The CO2 laser is one of the earliest skin lasers, which has been used for about 30 years, and is still the gold standard for treating sun-damaged or aging skin. The treatment is essentially a laser peel, which vaporizes the damaged surface layers of the skin so that it may heal with healthy new skin.  It helps most of the comm ..read more