Buyer Beware . . . Where NOT to Get Your Laser Treatments

Most of the patients I see who have experienced complications – scarring, for instance – with laser treatment procedures, had those treatments at medispas or day spas, where poorly trained or even untrained non-professionals perform these complex procedures. Don’t make a bad decision based on a whim, your budget, convenience, or even a friend’s recommendation. …

Super Foods, Super Friends – Orange County Cosmetic Dermatology Tips

Certain foods, deemed “super foods,” are thought to have exceptional free radical-fighting capacity. They possess potent antioxidants, are easily found, and taste great. A few of them you have probably already heard about: Chocolate and cocoa, tea, and red wine. Curious to know what other delicious foods can help your skin? Be sure to get …

The UNBREAKABLE Skin Commandment Your Dermatologist Wants You to Follow

Ever wonder, “What is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT skin health and beauty rule?” Can you guess? This is the one rule that MUST be followed. Every person genuinely interested in enhancing or maintaining healthy skin needs to adhere to this most basic of skin care rules. Learn about this rule (and many others) in The Skin Commandments: 10 …

Botox vs. Fillers: What’s the Difference?

In Commandment VII: THOU SHALT BOTOX, from my book The Skin Commandments: 10 RULES TO HEALTHY BEAUTIFUL SKIN, I recommend Botox treatments to treat frown lines and other wrinkles in the upper face—crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles, and frown lines. Why is Orange County Botox so good for your overall skin health? Botox irons out existing …

The Short on Cosmetic Skin-Care Ingredients Offered by an OC Dermatologist

Many of my patients ask: What should I look for in a skin-care product? Below is a list of my favorite topical skin-care ingredients, which consist mainly of topical antioxidants that possess potent free radical scavenging capabilities and excellent data to support their use. Vitamin E Ferulic acid CO-enzyme Q10 (CO-Q10)- HINT Look for CO-Q10’s synthetic …

The Cosmetic Skin Benefits of Water from a Coconut

Hydration in its many forms is discussed in my upcoming book: The Skin Commandments: 10 Rules to Healthy, Beautiful Skin. But here is a beauty tip straight from the jungle- hydration with coconut water. Why this Orange County dermatologist recommends coconut water for your skin Utilized for centuries by ancient civilizations to maintain internal hydration, now …

New Labeling for SPF is both potentially helpful and potentially harmful

FDA CALLS FOR NEW LABELS In June 2011, the Food and Drug Administration issued new guidelines for sunscreen labeling to help consumers better understand the effectiveness of the products. New regulations also permit manufacturers for the first time to advertise that sunscreen helps protect against skin cancer and signs of aging. The key changes, made …

Summer Skin Care Tips from an Orange County Dermatologist

BEAT THE HEAT THIS SUMMER WITH THESE SIMPLE TIPS 1. Choose a sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection. Most sunscreens only cover UVB. Make sure you choose one that covers BOTH. 2. Choose a sunscreen with high SPF. The higher the SPF, the more protected your skin likely will be. 3. Tips #1 and …

Lower eyelid bags? No problem, thanks to cosmetic dermatology

A youthful face is “plump,” filled with fluid and fat below the skin surface, with no hollows, dark circles, or areas of shadowing. As the face ages, the fat below your skin literally dissolves, creating an uneven distribution of fat and a sunken-in, hollowed appearance. This is true throughout the face and especially under the …

How can patients improve their experience at the dermatologist’s office?

Patients can improve their experience at their Orange County dermatologist’s office by having very focused visits. Pick one or two topics per visit and ask your dermatologist for a thorough answer on that topic. Many patients try to cram all of their questions in to one visit and come in with list of things to …