It's a new year.  Time to detox, reflect, and re-new.  Many of us make the most common resolutions, such as working out/losing weight, saving money, and working harder.  Even though we start out strong in January (check out how many people are at the gym this week), resolve can wane by mid-March.  Here are a few resolutions that you actually may enjoy keeping!

Resolution # 1: Drink More Coffee
Hello, Starbucks.  Women who drink three cups of caffeinated coffee a day can reduce their risk of basal cell carcinoma by up to 20 percent, compared to those drinking less than a cup monthly.  These results are based on a large population study: over 113,000 adults who took part in the U.S. Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. A lesser decrease in risk was seen among coffee-drinking men.

Resolution #2: Drink Red Wine
This is not permission to finish a bottle of malbec.  A small glass of red wine a day contains resveratrol, which is a potent antioxidant found in grapes.  And yes-- like the SkinCeuticals Resveratrol that we carry at Premier Dermatology, MD!  Antioxidants fight free radicals in our skin and body, which are harmful and play a role in skin cancer and aging.  A moderate amount of alcohol has also been found to be heart-healthy and raises levels of "good" cholesterol, or HDL.  Of course, women who are pregnant/nursing or those with medical conditions should not drink alcohol. 

Resolution #3: Eat Dark Chocolate
In a recent study, German researchers gave 24 women a half-cup of cocoa enriched with flavonoids daily. After three months, the women's skin was better protected, less red, and had a smooth appearance after exposure to ultraviolet light. The researchers think the flavonoids, which absorb UV light, help protect and increase blood flow to the skin, improving its appearance.  Plus dark chocolate contains more of those good antioxidants!

Resolution #4: Wear Your Sunscreen
I have to throw this one in: I've said it before and I'll say it again: sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen to prevent skin cancer and the signs of aging. 

Happy 2016 and here's to a year of great health and gorgeous skin!

With falling temperatures and travel up north comes the smell of firewood burning, holiday lights, and dry, chapped skin. Coming in from the cold and facing blasting heat doesn't help, either. So what's the best way to keep your skin in top shape?

Ban the fragrance. Great smelling soaps mean dry, irritated skin. Look for cleansers that are fragrance free and for sensitive skin, like Cetaphil, Cerave, or unscented Dove.

Turn down the heat - in the shower, that is. Hot water zaps moisture from skin. It's better to take a cooler, shorter shower.

When your skin is still damp from the shower, put on a moisturizing cream - not lotion. Again, no fragrance here either. Some good ones are Eucerin or Cetaphil cream.

Special spots: slather Aquaphor on hands and feet before bedtime for extra moisturizing. Creams that contain alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids, such as SkinMedica's AHA/BHA cream (available at Premier Dermatology, MD) also help with extra thick rough patches.

And pay attention to clothing, too. Avoid dryer sheets and make sure detergent is also fragrance free. Wool clothing can be irritating to skin.

Remember, even though the weather is cool outside, the sun's rays are still strong. A broad spectrum sunscreen needs to be applied every single day.  At Premier Dermatology, Md, we love EltaMD's physical sunblocks and SkinCeuticals matte sunblock.

Keep your skin healthy and jolly all season long!

Thanksgiving is in two days.  Hurry up!  Make the turkey, eat eat eat, then rush to shop black Friday, cyber Monday, Hanukkah and Christmas-- gifts family relatives visitors returns mall mess stress and what are we doing for New Year's-- AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! 

Step 1:

Inhale.

Hold.

Exhale.

Step 2:

Book a soothing, relaxing, restorative facial at Premier Dermatology, MD with our wonderful aesthetician, Krystal.  She will cleanse, steam, moisturize, masque, peel, and ease your stress to get you through this holiday season. Your mind will be clear and your skin will look radiant!  Have a happy thanksgiving! 

With so many choices for injectable filler treatments today, it's easy to keep a youthful and natural appearance.  But what steps can be taken to ensure these procedures go smoothly with minimal side effects?

At Premier Dermatology, MD we offer the following suggestions to our patients:

Before your treatment:
Bruising is common after treatments.  But there are some things that can help minimize it: avoid taking blood thinners such as aspirin, naproxen (Aleeve), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), vitamin E supplements, fish oil, garlic tablets, ginko biloba, and ginseng for 7-10 days prior to treatments.  Caveat: if a physician has prescribed these for you, do not stop them without checking with the physician first.  Arnica tablets, starting on the day of the treatment, may help prevent bruising, as may bromelin (found in pineapples).  And it goes without saying to have the treatment done with a board certified core physician (dermatologist, plastic surgeon) with cosmetic experience.

During treatment:
Topical anesthetic cream is applied 30 minutes before the procedure to numb the skin.  Since most fillers are pre-mixed with lidocaine (and the ones that aren't can be mixed in the office), the injections themselves should cause minimal discomfort.  Applying ice during and after the procedure helps with discomfort and minimizes swelling.  Using smaller needles and injecting more slowly helps as well.  Proper placement of the filler and physician massage should prevent lumps from forming.

After treatment:
The arnica can be continued to help reduce bruising.  It is usually recommended that patients avoid exercise the day of a filler treatment, to help reduce swelling.  Sleeping on two pillows helps, too.  It's normal to see some swelling for a few days after treatments, especially following lip injections.  It's a good idea to follow up with your physician two weeks after the treatment for an evaluation.  If there are any concerns, always call your physician.  Dr. Bilu Martin's patients can reach her cell phone anytime.       

Even though minor side effects can't always be completely avoided, with a little care and planning, they can be minimized.  A little bit of filler can make a big impact - with little to no downtime! 

Happy Halloween! Time for candy, decorations, and cute little painted faces. What could possibly be wrong with painting your little one’s face?

According to a 2009 report titled "Pretty Scary: Could Halloween Face Paint Cause Lifelong Health Problems?" by the U.S.-based Campaign for Safer Cosmetics, many kids' face paint products labeled as “non-toxic” actually contained toxic products. Ten out of ten face-paint products tested contained lead. Six out of ten contained metals such as nickel, cobalt and/or chromium at higher-than-recommended levels, which commonly cause allergic contact dermatitis. Lead poisoning, we all know, is harmful for brain and nervous system development.

Face paint may cause other skin problems, as well. For children prone to acne, thick makeup may exacerbate or trigger breakouts and clog pores. Other ingredients in the makeup may irritate the skin or cause allergic reactions.

So what’s a health conscious parent to do? Check ingredients of face paint carefully. If you’re unsure, skip it. Many websites have homemade makeup recipes using natural ingredients.

Have a safe and fun Halloween filled with treats!