Did you know that many of the products and procedures we recommend to make your skin look better actually improve your skin’s overall health and wellbeing, even reducing the development of skin cancer? It makes sense if you think about it. The dark spots, rough texture, broken blood vessels, and crepey fine lines on the surface that bother us aesthetically result from DNA, collagen, elastin, and vascular damage that get us into trouble medically with skin cancers, melasma, rosacea, and more. Continue reading to learn about our favorite products and procedures to make your skin healthier and more beautiful.

Procedures that Prevent, Treat, and Correct!

Laser for Skin Cancer Prevention:

Just this year, a clinical trial was published that showed 50% reduction in non-melanoma skin cancers in patients who had a history of skin cancer treated with non-ablative fractional laser treatments compared to a similar cohort who did not receive the laser treatment. Talk about saving your skin!

We offer Moxi Laser, a non-ablative fractional laser with minimal recovery time! Moxi is safe for all skin types, clears unwanted dark spots, improves melasma, reduces actinic keratoses (pre-cancers), and per the study above, can prevent subsequent non-melanoma skin cancers in patients. 

Interested in learning more about Moxi and how it can help the appearance and health of your skin? Request a Consultation with our Director of Aesthetics, Celia Parsifal, LA.

Products: The Treatment Triad

1. Topical Retinoids*: When it comes to improving skin health and appearance, topical retinoids are the gold standard across the literature. They treat acne, wrinkles, discoloration, and are chemoprotective against skin cancers. What more could you ask for out of a lotion or potion? There are misconceptions out there about Retinoids, and people are afraid to use them during the summer or if they have sensitive skin. There are many retinoids on the market ranging from drug store quality to prescription, and they have important differences. To improve your success with this powerful product, ask your Dermatologist to pair you with your perfect retinoid treatment.

A few of our faves listed by concerns and skin types:

• • Sensitive, Dry, or Rosacea Prone Skin: SkinBetter AlphaRet Overnight, Avene Retrinal 0.5%

• • Sensitive, Acne, Rosacea prone Skin: SkinBetter AlphaRet Clearing Serum, Obagi Tretinoin 0.05% gel

• • Normal to Oily Skin, With or Without Acne: Revision Retinol 0.5% lotion, Obagi Tretinoin 0.05% gel

• • Normal to Oily with Acne: Prescription tretinoin, tazarotene, or adapalene.

*Never use retinoids if you are or may be pregnant.*

2. Topical Antioxidants: Our skin is hit by oxidative damage from the sun’s UV rays and environmental pollutants all day every day. Oxidative damage triggers the release of toxic free radicals in the skin that damage DNA and break down our collagen and elastin. Outcome? Wrinkles, brown spots, and visible blood vessels. Antioxidants block those free radicals and protect our skin. The trouble with antioxidants is that they are unstable, and they themselves can oxidize and lose efficacy in sunlight. The good ones can be spendy, but the investment has long term pay offs your skin will love.

Georgia Skin Specialists’ Favorite Antioxidants:

• • SkinBetter Alto Advanced: Great for anyone, especially if sensitive to straight up topical Vitamin C as this product incorporates 13 plant-based antioxidants.

• • Revision Vitamin C+ Complex: At 30% vitamin C, this is the strongest one on the market and powerfully defends your skin day to day.

• • SkinCeuticals CE Ferrulic: Vitamin E is Vitamin’s C biggest support, and this product pairs them in a light serum for daily application.

• • Obagi C RX Clarifying Serum: This Vitamin C includes hydroquinone, a potent lightening agent. This is a powerful serum for patients struggling with melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or ready to get more aggressive lightening results.

3. SPF, Of Course! Rain or shine, outdoors or in, winter or summer, daily SPF is a must if you care about the health and appearance of your skin. The SPF is critical to protect from the UV, Visible Light, and Environmental damage we face daily. If you only do one thing to stave off skin cancer, wrinkles, and dark spots, SPF 30 or higher, broad spectrum is that one thing. Here are some favorites, paired with skin types and considerations.

Sun Protection for Every Skin Type and Circumstance:

• • Men with Facial Hair: Elta MD Clear SPF 46 rubs in transparently and is “facial hair friendly.”

• • Acne and Rosacea-Prone Skin: Elta MD Clear SPF 46 sheer and tinted. Contains Niacinamide, a potent anti-oxidant that calms redness and inflammation.

• • History of Skin Cancers and Precancers: Isdin’s Eryfotona Actinica SPF 50+.

• • Tinted SPF with Protection and Coverage: Revision Intellishade Original SPF 45 and TruPhysical SPF 45.

• • SPF for the Anti-Cream Patients: Isdin’s Mineral Brush SPF 50.