YOUR SKIN: BEAUTIFUL

Cellulite: the Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

2012-02-15T06:09:00.000-08:00

Summer will be here before we know it. The steps we take now to reduce the appearance of cellulite will help insure that those short shorts, bathing suits and sun dresses look as awesome as the Summer sun feels. For many women with body cellulite on their arms, stomach or legs, the thought of baring it all can be a little daunting. Don’t worry! Read on for ways to reduce the appearance so you can stop worrying about the view from behind and start focusing on the fun ahead!

What is Cellulite?

Cellulite is actually a fancy name for collections of fat that push against the connective tissue beneath a person's skin. This makes the surface of the skin pucker and look lumpy. Whether or not one will get cellulite during their lifetime depends on factors such as genetics, diet and exercise. While there is no miracle cure, there are a few things you can do to reduce the appearance.

Anti-Cellulite Creams:

According to research studies conducted by the University of North Carolina, the active ingredient found in most anti-cellulite creams has little to no effect on reducing cellulite. Aminophylline is a derivative of theophylline that relaxes smooth muscle and is used mainly to dilate the airways in the treatment of asthma and emphysema, but has not been proven to directly affect cellulite.

In-Office Cellulite Treatments:

Many doctors use the latest in laser technology to treat cellulite. The specifics of the technology may vary from machine to machine, but most use a combination of laser and suction to reform the tissue beneath the skin. Dr. Beer uses SmoothShapes in his offices, which targets the bumpy appearance of cellulite by restoring enlarged fat cells, resulting in smoother skin. It also treats the dimpling cellulite by remodeling collagen for tighter, more flexible skin.

Liposuction:

Think this invasive procedure will cure your cellulite woes? Think again. The surgical removal of fat actually does nothing to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Why, you ask? Liposuction removes deeper layers of fat than those that cause the puckered effect of cellulite.

Diet and Exercise:

That’s right. The two words most women dread. The truth is, even thin women can have cellulite. The best way to reduce cellulite is to eat a healthy diet and exercise at least three times a week.

For more information on in-office procedures or to view before and after pictures, please visit www.palmbeachcosmetic.com.

A New You in the New Year

2012-01-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

Each New Year we begin thinking of ways to better ourselves. What could we change in the New Year to improve our health, our appearance and our lives in general? Considering the first thing people generally notice about someone is their face (and subsequently their skin), why not make your skin care a priority for 2012?

Wash the Day Away!

No matter how tired you are from the bustle of your busy day, take time to cleanse and hydrate your skin before slipping off to sleep. And we don’t just mean sweeping some soap and water over your mug, either! Failure to cleanse your skin well before bedtime can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. Use a cleanser with glycolic acid to help exfoliate dead skin cells. We love Scientific Skin by Dr. Kenneth Beer’s pH Balancing Cleanser. Not only does it help exfoliate the skin, but 13 Botanical Extracts nourish the skin to help restore luminosity and leave the skin soft and supple while helping to unclog pores and prepare the skin for additional products and treatments.

Bedtime Bacteria?

Most of us change our sheets once a week…right? If you haven’t gotten into the routine of changing your pillowcases weekly, it’s time to start. Bacteria can build up on the material and can transfer right to your face, causing major acne breakouts. So resolve to change those sheets more often in the New Year and enjoy healthier, clearer skin for years to come!

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

Did you have a few too many merry cocktails over the holidays? Even those of us who usually eat an antioxidant rich diet tend to forgo the blueberries for sugary snacks during the holidays. Alcoholic drinks and treats can leave us dehydrated and can cause skin to look dry and dull. Boost your water intake and use a good moisturizer to bring back a plump and youthful complexion. We love Scientific by Dr. Kenneth Beer’s Intensive Repair Serum. Hyaluronic acid spheres carry moisture deep into the skin, helping to restore elasticity, while squalene regenerates and protects the skin from the earth’s harsh elements and forms a barrier to maintain moisture in the epidermal layer. It’s all very…Scientific? Oh, and start eating those blueberries again! The antioxidants you eat help fight off free radicals and environmental pollution.

New Year. New You.

Whatever your New Year’s resolutions are, resolve to treat yourself better. Eat better, get more rest, do more exercise and use better skin care.

Eat Your Way to a Healthier Complexion

2012-01-10T07:10:00.000-08:00

When we think about how to best take care of our skin we usually think in terms of what serum or moisturizer will give us that coveted glow. While what you use on your skin is important, supplementing your skin care with a healthy diet will do wonders in helping you put your best face forward.

Water: Drink up!

Few things can rival water in terms of what it can do for your skin. Our bodies are made of up to 60% water, so keeping hydrated isn’t just about what you put on your skin, it’s about what you put in your body. Water keeps skin hydrated, reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps cells take up nutrients and get rid of toxins. Getting up to pour yourself a glass right now? Go for it, because water also helps circulation and blood flow, giving you the coveted dewy glow we all crave.

Selenium: Boost Your Immune System

Selenium is a trace mineral that is essential to good health. The antioxidant properties of selenium help to prevent cellular damage from free radicals. In case you’re not in the know, free radicals are natural by-products of oxygen metabolism that may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Selenium can also help regulate thyroid function and play a role in boosting the immune system. So how do you get your fix? Foods such as shrimp, lamb, snapper, halibut, tuna, and salmon are all excellent sources of selenium. Those foods not on your favorites list? Don’t worry. Beef, oysters, sardines, crab and whole wheat pasta are also good sources of selenium.

Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is a powerful antioxidant made naturally in your body. That’s great news right? Sure, but the problem is that production decreases with age. CoQ10 protects sin and other body cells from the damage caused by…you got it…free radicals. CoQ10 can be found in a variety of topical serums and creams, and is reported to improve the appearance of wrinkles and the signs of aging. Rich sources of CoQ10 include fish, poultry, and whole grains. Dr. Beer is currently developing new products loaded with CoQ10, so stay tuned and check here often for information on new formulations and exciting breakthroughs in skincare.

Vitamin A: Repair Your Skin and Slow the Signs of Aging

Vitamin A is used in many forms to help with a variety of skin issues from repairing tissue to helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Topical creams such as Retin A help with acne while retinols, vitamin A derivatives, help to reduce the signs of aging. We love Scientific by Dr. Kenneth Beer’s Daily Hydrating Cream, which helps the tone, texture and pigment of the skin. When you’re looking for foods rich in vitamin A, grab an orange, carrots, leafy greens, eggs, and low-fat dairy.

Vitamin C: Protect Your Skin

Vitamin C helps protect skin from the sun. It also helps to undo damage done by free radicals, which destroy skin-firming fibers such as collagen and elastin. Excellent sources of vitamin C include red bell peppers, citrus fruits, papaya, kiwi, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Of course, eating Vitamin C alone won’t protect your skin from the Sun’s harmful rays. Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sun block for optimal results. We like Shelter Broad Spectrum SPF 30 by Philosophy. This antioxidant-rich, broad-spectrum sun protection formula incorporates the anti-aging benefits of peptides as it moisturizes and soothes the skin. EltaMD UV FACIAL SPF 30+ is another favorite that Dr. Beer recommends often to patients.

Essential Fats for Your Skin

Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids. They are necessary for human health but the body can't make them, you have to get them through food. help produce your skin's natural oil barrier, keeping dry skin and blemishes at bay. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish such as salmon, tuna, and halibut as well as in algae, krill and nut oils.

To get skin that really glows from within the solution is simple: put good products in and put good products on. What do we mean by that? We mean eat well and use products with good ingredients on your skin. Ingredients such as selenium, CoQ12, vitamin A, vitamin C, and omega-3 fatty acids. Beauty starts from within, so go ahead and eat your way to healthy, glowing skin.

Winter Skin Care Tips for Beautiful Skin

2012-01-03T06:39:00.000-08:00

It’s officially Winter. If you’re lucky enough to live year round in a tropical or warm-weather climate, this could mean only minor changes to your skin care regime and the best skin care products for you. But for many people, winter means drier skin that is exposed to increasingly extreme weather elements. How will you keep your skin healthy all winter long? Read on for tips on how to maintain healthy, glowing skin even in the harsh Winter months.

Get Hydrated: Inside and Out. For much of the world, drier, cooler air results in dry, flakey, red, irritated skin. To maintain beautiful, healthy, glowing skin despite mother nature, it’s critically important to hydrate both your skin and body. Use a moisturizer each time you cleanse your skin. We like Scientific by Dr. Kenneth Beer’s Daily Hydrating Cream. In addition to providing a skin barrier from environmental stressors and pollutants, this incredible formula draws in and retains moisture to help keep your skin hydrated. With daily use, ferulic acid (a potent anti-oxidant) helps stop oxidative damage while retinol helps improve the tone, texture and pigment of your skin, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. While keeping your skin hydrated on the outside is important, it’s equally important to hydrate from the inside as well. Drink plenty of water and make sure to eat foods that hydrate you as well. “What’s that?” you ask? “Foods can hydrate you too?” Oh yes! Check out this article in MensHealth Magazine for a list of foods that let you “eat your water.”

Pucker Up and Hydrate Your Pout! One of the most neglected areas of the skin is the lips. To keep them kissable this season, make sure to don a lip treatment with SPF often. We like Burt’s Bees Sun Protecting Lip Balm SPF 8. Winter already nipped at your lips, leaving them dry and flakey? Try an ultra moisturizing lip treatment like Deep Renewal by Blistex. Ingredients such as coenzyme Q10, hyaluronic filling spheres, and SPF 15 make this product the perfect on-the-go solution to chapped lips.

Exfoliation= Hydration. Already beginning to see the flakey, dry skin you dread? Not to worry, just remember this: exfoliation=hydration. When you exfoliate the skin it allows products to penetrate deeper. We love Scientific by Dr. Kenneth Beer’s White Bamboo Exfoliator. This clay-based scrub for all skin types warms upon contact with water. This deep-cleansing formula helps purify skin, minimize pores and balance excess oils. Microsifted White Bamboo crystals gently resurface the outer layers of skin while four powerful antioxidants (Acai Fruit Extract, Green and White Tea as well as Ferulic Acid) aid in correcting daily environmental damage. Once your skin is exfoliated, use your favorite moisturizer and feel the difference.

Ante up on Antioxidants. Antioxidants are always important, but in the winter when we tend to eat less fresh fruit and vegetables containing antioxidants and vitamins, getting an extra boost from your skin care products can help keep skin healthy. We like Scientific by Dr. Kenneth Beer’s Brightening Serum. Seaweed Extract and Hyaluronic Acid promote hydration and Emblica Fruit is a powerful antioxidant that all work together to help reduce oxidative stress and create a more even skin tone and brighter complexion. It’s essential to continue eating seasonal fruits and dark green vegetables, but augment the delivery of antioxidants to your skin with topical skin care products.

Get your block on! While many of us think of sun block or sunscreen as a summer skin care essential, the sun doesn’t entirely disappear in the winter! In fact, winter can often mean double damage thanks to direct UV rays from the sun plus reflected or diffused UV rays from the snow. Make sure when choosing a sun block that it contains broad-spectrum protection. This means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. We like EltaMD UV FACIAL SPF 30+. Sun damage happens as frequently in December as it does in June, and the effects on your skin are just as lasting.

Winter is a beautiful season for spending time with family and friends, but it can also be hard on your skin. Stay healthy, happy and glowing by following the tips above.
Click here to learn more about Scientific by Dr. Kenneth Beer’s best skin care products, including the White Bamboo Exfoliator, Brightening Serum, and Daily Hydrating Cream.