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

Q: I’ve had a wonderful summer. I’ve traveled to visit family, spent some time at the beach, and played some golf. I wore sunscreen every day, but I wasn’t as diligent about using my other skin products. Now as I look in the mirror, my skin looks tired and my brown spots are more visible than before. What is the best way to get my skin back in shape? A: The end of summer is the perfect time to reboot your skincare routine. In the hot and sunny summer, it’s often necessary to pause skin products and procedures that cause sun sensitivity. Sometimes we’re just busy with other things and skincare ..read more

Q: The only place on my face where I have wrinkles is around my lips. I feel that they have a very aging effect on my appearance. Also, I find that my lipstick bleeds into these lines. What do you recommend for this problem? A: The skin around the mouth is predisposed to developing lines, often referred to as the “barcode” or “smoker’s lines”, although most of our patients who have these lines have never touched a cigarette. They form due to a combination of heredity, repeated pursing of the lips such as when drinking through a straw or whistling, aging, and sun damage. It’s helpful to avoid p ..read more