Basics of Good Daily Skin Care: Moisturizers

July 23, 2021

Moisturizers are occlusives, a blend of ingredients that help retain water in your skin after their application to your skin’s surface. They increase your skin’s hydration (water content) by reducing the evaporation of water from the skin surface. They can contain humectants, which attract moisture, and emollients, which help smooth the skin, as well as natural oils and lubricants.

Moisturizers are not serums! Moisturizers will not irritate your skin and are recommended for all skin types. Just remember to always apply your moisturizer after you are finished applying your serum!

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Basics of Good Daily Skin Care: Serums

July 18, 2021

What are serums?

Serums are light, easily absorbed oil or water based liquids that you apply on your skin. Serums are not moisturizers. Just a few drops of this are highly concentrated formulation on the surface of yourskin skin quickly delivers an intensive dose of ingredients that can address common skin complaints.Serums are typically applied to skin after cleansing but before moisturizing.

Not all serums work the same. How they work depends on several factors, including the active ingredients, the product formulation, the way in which the product is delivered, and the stability of the compounds in the product. Remember, these are powerful ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin! Always test a small area before you apply serum widely, and never use more than a couple of drops. Make sure to close all tops tightly on any serum product when finished.

Serums can be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including brown spots, wrinkles, and dry or acne prone skin.

Dry or sagging skin? Look for serums that contain vitamin E, niacinamide, and glycolic acid. Also look for ceramides, which are fatty molecules that help hold the skin together and keep moisture from escaping.

Dark spots or blotchy skin? A serum that contains vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid can help with discoloration. In addition to those ingredients, look for kojic acid to help light dark patches or glycolic acid (a gentle exfoliant) to help brighten the skin and reduce brown spots.

Acne? If you’re still plagued with occasional breakouts and acne, you’ll want to choose a serum with salicylic acid, which helps to unclog pores, and a product with retinol, to reduce inflammation and help prevent pores from clogging.

Wrinkles and signs of aging? Look for a serum that contains vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid, a trio of antioxidants that reduce stress to the skin caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. Vitamin C is recommended to stimulate new collagen growth.

Other good serum options for wrinkles are those containing antioxidants such as tea polyphenols and resveratrol. Retinol, which reduces inflammation is another good option, as is niacinamide, which improves skin elasticity and can soften fine lines and wrinkles.

Come back next week when we talk about the final step in good skin care regimen, creams and moisturizers.

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LEARN THE BASIC STEPS FOR GOOD DAILY SKIN CARE!

July 9, 2021

Now that we have identified your skin type, let’s talk about he daily skin care regiment. Good skin care starts with daily cleansing in the AM and PM. You should be cleansing for at least 2 minutes with a washcloth or facial brush. I like the Clarisonic, but there are many available options. This serves to manually exfoliate your top layer of skin and allow the healthy layers to move to the surface.

Earlier we discussed normal skin. Clients with this skin type have many options. I prefer a Vitamin“C” cleanser. It helps to exfoliate and give your skin a glow. I like to alternate the cleansers I use: some days a Vitamin C, others a milk cleanser or a seasonal cleanser (such as pumpkin).

If you have combination skin, you may need to use products that specifically address your issues. Most skin care lines offer products for this skin type.

Clients with “dry skin” should use a creamy cleanser such as milk cleanser which will wash away impurities and not dry your skin.

If you have oily skin, a cleanser containing salicylic acid is helpful in reducing sebum production causing oily skin. If you find this is too irritating, green tea cleansers can be less irritating.

For clients with sensitive skin, I recommend a gentle milk cleanser which may contain rose water to gently cleanse the skin and not cause irritation.

We briefly discussed exfoliation earlier. You should understand that on the average we renew our skin surface every 10 days. Age, diet, poor health or lack of daily skin care can slow the cell renewal. Exfoliation, either manual or chemical, improves cell turnover and thus the production of new healthy cells. Exfoliation can be manual, either by daily cleansing, microdermabrasion or hydrafacial. Exfoliation can also be done chemically with acid peels. All of these rejuvenate and maintain the health of your skin.

There are several types of skin toners:

Skin fresheners contain little or no alcohol, water and a humectant (substance which helps retain moisture in your skin). An example is rose water. Skin fresheners are recommended for dry, normal or sensitive skin.

Skin tonics are slightly stronger with up to 20% alcohol, water and a humectant. Orange flower water is an example. Skin tones are recommended for normal, combination or oily skin.

Astringents are the stronger forms of toner and contain 20-60% alcohol, antiseptics, water and a humectant. These can be irritating to the skin and are only recommended in limited cases.

Toners used in skin care are designed to further cleanse your skin after washing with a cleanser. They can be applied with a cotton ball, gauze or spray

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LEARN THE BASIC STEPS FOR GOOD DAILY SKIN CARE!

July 2, 2021

Have a Safe and Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

Your daily skin care regimen consists of 4 basic steps: cleansing, additional cleansing with a toner, application of serum and finally applications of creams or moisturizers. Which products you incorporate into your skin care regimen depends on your skin type.

There are 5 basic skin types: normal skin, dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin and combination skin. Which skin type are you?

1. Normal skin: younger people are more likely to have normal skin. Normal skin has fewer imperfections, no severe sensitivity and barely visible pores.

2. Dry skin: you may find that your skin cracks or peels and can become easily irritated or itchy. You may have barely visible pores, a dull complexion and skin that is less elastic with more visible lines.

3. Oily skin: you may have enlarged pores and dull or shiny complexion. In addition may experience blackheads, pimples or other skin blemishes. You may notice that the degree of oilness changes with the weather or seasons.

4. Sensitive skin: You may have sensitive skin if skin products cause burning or stinging, and your skin can appear dry and flaky. You may experience redness, itching, burning and dryness.

5. Combination skin: this means you have two or more different skin types on different areas of your face at one time. Your skin may be dry or flaky on certain parts of your face, and you may also have an oily T-zone, which runs along the center of your face, nose, chin and forehead. As well, you may have combination skin if you have other skin issues, like wrinkles, breakouts or rosacea on your face at the same time. Combination skin has pores that appear larger than normal, black heads and shiny skin.

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Protect your skin!

June 24, 2021

Q Does wearing sunscreen put you at risk for a Vitamin D deficiency?

A UVB rays are shortwaves from the sun that are important for generating Vitamin D in your skin, which is a critical vitamin for regulating the amount of calcium in your body. How much Vitamin D your skin produces depends on a few factors, including:

The time of day-your skin produces more Vitamin D if you expose it during the peak sunlight hours (10AM-3PM).
Where you live- the closer to the equator you live, the easier it is for you to produce vitamin D from sunlight year round.
The color if your skin-fair skin makes Vitamin D more quickly than darker skin.
The amount of skin you expose- the more skin you expose the more Vitamin D your body will produce.

Sunscreen protects your skin by blocking UVA and UVB rays, so naturally, the application of sunscreen will limit the amount of Vitamin D your body can produce in a given day. So not let this discourage you from using sunscreen! Most people apply sunscreen inconsistently and use less that recommended amount and therefore are not typically deficient in Vitamin D. However, if you are still concerned that sunscreen will put you are risk for vitamin D deficiency, ask your doctor to recommend a vitamin D supplement.

Q How much sunscreen should I apply?

A Surprisingly, most people only apply about 25-50% of the recommended amount of sunscreen to their bodies. The rule of thumb is to use 1oz. of sunscreen to cover the exposed areas of your body. If you are unsure what 1oz. of sunscreen looks like, it is approximately one shot glass (two tablespoons) worth of sunscreen.

To start, make sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of 30 SPF of higher. Apply the sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outdoors to allow your skin time to absorb it. Cover ALL exposed areas, and don’t forget to get the tops of your feet, legs, and ears. Even thought these parts of your body may not get as much sun exposure, they are still at risk of getting burned. For your lips, try using a lip balm with sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

Don’t think you can apply once and be done with it! If you like staying out in the sun all day, make sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours, or sooner if you are sweating profusely, swimming, or toweling off. Although some sunscreen brands are advertised as sweat proof or waterproof, these brands can vary in how long they last under wet conditions. Play it safe and reapply!

The suns rays are always attacking your skin, regardless of clear or cloudy skies. Remember that the safest way to avoid sun damage is to reduce the amount of time you spend outdoors. However, if you have to be outside, sunscreen is one of the most effective tools out there to protect you from the sun!

June Special

Purchase any ISDIN product and receive a free sunscreen!

Protect your skin!

June 18, 2021

Q Some people claim that sunscreen doesn’t prevent the three main types of skin cancer. Is this true?

A False! There are numerous studies showing that sunscreen protects against all three of the most common skin cancer: squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. For example, in 2011, the Journal of Clinical Oncology published a randomized, clinical study of over 1,600 people showing that regular sunscreen use reduced the incidence of melanoma by 50-73%. When used as directed with other sun protection measures, broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher helps prevent sunburn and reduces the risk of early skin aging and skin cancer (melanoma and squamous cell carcinomas) associated with UV radiation.

Q Does everyone need to use sunscreen?

A Yes everyone should use sunscreen, especially if you have a fairer skin tone. People with fair skin are especially susceptible to the sun’s harmful rays. It is true that people with darker skin tones have some ‘built-in’ sun protection: darker skin tones contain melanin, the pigment the pigment that produces skin color, which also acts as a natural filter to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. However, melanin does not block ALL of the sun’s harmful rays.

Keep in mind that the sun affects our skin in two ways. First, UVB rays bombard our skin and damage the DNA in our cells. With time and repeated exposure to the sun, the damage to our DNA increases the likelihood of getting skin cancer. Second, UVA rays bombard our skin surface and causes tanning. While this may seem like a benefit, UVA rays also contribute to accelerated skin aging ie: wrinkles. If the amount of UV rays you’re exposed to exceeds the protection provided by melanin, your skin can still be harmed. So no matter t=your skin tone, make sure you use sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun.

June Special

Purchase any ISDIN product and receive a free sunscreen!

Protect your skin!

June 11, 2021

Q: Is there evidence that sunscreen actually causes skin cancer?

A: This is absolutely false! We know that repeated and extended exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays without appropriate protection can increase the risk of skin cancer over time. Unless you want to spend the rest of your life inside, sunscreens – both mineral and chemical versions – are one of the most effective forms of protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays. Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of sunscreen at preventing various types of skin cancer. Other studies have shown that it was high amounts of sun exposure, not the sunscreen, that elevated the risk of skin cancer.

While it is important to regularly use sunscreen, the safest and most effective method for protecting against skin cancer caused by UV rays is to minimize exposure to the sun by avoiding being outside between 10 AM and 4PM, and by wearing clothing and/or hats. A good place to start are companies that specialize in outdoor clothing, who have lines of clothing with a built in SPF rating.

If you are looking to purchase some new sunscreen, don’t forget that we carry several moisturizers with built-in sun protection. Call us for more info!

June Special

Purchase any ISDIN product and receive a free sunscreen!

Summer is here! Take care of your skin!

June 4, 2021

Q Are there certain chemicals in sunscreen that people should avoid?

A: There are 2 common types of sunscreens currently on the market:

Chemical blockers protect your skin by absorbing the sun’s harmful rays through a chemical reaction that convert the UVA and UVB rays into heat and release it from your skin’s surface. Common ingredients used in chemical sunscreens include avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone

Physical blockers reflect ultraviolet rays from the sun before they can penetrate the skin and cause any damage. They contain one of two active ingredients, zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These types of sunscreens are effective at protecting against UVA and UVB rays and are especially helpful for people who are allergic to chemical sunscreens.

Every year, new sunscreens are introduced to the market, offering more effective and longer lasting protection against the sun. If you are uncertain about the effectiveness or safety of a new sunscreen product, just remember that all the ingredients listed above are tried and true methods for protecting your skin against UVA and/or UVB rays (oxybenzone has received negative press because of concerns that it may act as a hormone disruptor, however, studies show that there is no definitive conclusion that this is the case).

Physical blockers generally protect against UVA and UVB rays (aka broad-spectrum), however, chemical blockers may not protect against both UVA and UVB rays depending on the composition of the sunscreen. Just remember that whichever type of sunscreen you prefer to use, make sure it is labeled as a broad-spectrum sunscreen!

June Special

Purchase any ISDIN product and receive a free sunscreen!

Get your skin summer ready!

May 28, 2021

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Spring has arrived and Didoria Med Spa is excited to introduce our new line of organic soap by Virginia Beach-based Flutterby Soap Company. We feature a large bar soap made with sea salt and coconut oil. Great for dry skin!

In addition, we have expanded our CBD line to include CBD gummies. We also offer CBD/CBG oil which, when paired together, have powerful anti-inflammatory effects; and we offer a CBD pain patch as well as 7 new bath bomb scents including lavender, vanilla berry, cherry blossom, coconut, mixed berry with citrus, plumeria and vanilla musk.

Head to our Products page to find out what other brands we carry!

Call TODAY for prices and orders!

(718) 317-6252

Get your skin summer ready!

May 23, 2021

Bath bombs make great Mothers Day gifts!

Head to our Products page to find out what other brands we carry!

Call TODAY for prices and orders!

(718) 317-6252