Retinoids are a group of compounds derived from Vitamin A. They are commonly used in skin care products because they have the ability to help treat a multitude of skin conditions such as acne, wrinkles, and sun damage. The most popular forms of retinoids used in cosmetics are Retinol and Retinaldehyde. Retinoids work to speed up cell turnover and boost collagen production, resulting in smoother, brighter, and healthier looking skin. A well-formulated retinoid product can reduce fine wrinkles, even out skin tone, reduce hyperpigmentation, reverse sun damage, improve skin texture, and shrink the overall appearance of pores. Retinoids also have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, making them an excellent choice for fighting acne.

Hormone disruption, also known as endocrine disruption, occurs when chemicals in the environment interfere with the body’s normal hormonal systems. These chemicals, called endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are found in a variety of products, including pesticides, plastics, cleaning products, and personal care items. EDCs mimic natural hormones, such as estrogen and androgen, and can disrupt the body’s normal hormone functions, leading to adverse health effects in humans. EDCs are known to cause hormone disruption in humans of all ages. Some of the most common ways EDCs act on the body are by decreasing fertility, increasing the risk for certain types of cancer, and affecting brain development and behavior. One way that EDCs can cause fertility problems is by disrupting the hormones responsible for reproductive functions. This can lead to early puberty, menstrual irregularities, and infertility. EDCs may also increase the risk of certain cancers, including breast, ovarian, and testicular cancer.

As a Dermatologist, who has to recommend personal care products to use on the skin and hair, I want products to be safe and effective. I am concerned with an increasing number of scientific reports that raise concerns with chemical ingredients in our products. To be sure, all chemicals are not bad for your health. However, cosmetic and personal care products are under regulated by the FDA. In the European Union, hundreds of chemical have been panned from personal care products due to questions about their safety. In the United States, the FDA has only banned 12 chemical ingredients. Companies may claim their products are “natural” or organic but it is unclear what thislabel means. So, you must turn to the ingredient list on the back of the label. Certainly a more difficult task. With chemical ingredients,  it is especially important to limit exposure to times with the body is

What can a chemical peel do for my skin? Chemical peels can make a dramatic difference in the surface of your skin. They can smooth texture, improve fine lines, lighten pigment such as melasma, fade sun spots, and treat acne. What type of chemical peel is right for me? Chemical peels are categorized by how deeply they penetrate the skin: superficial, medium or deep. Superficial peels penetrate the superficial epidermal layer of the skin. They are usually performed in a series of 2-3 to treat fine lines, acne, pore size, and hyperpigmentation. A medium depth peel is for patients with moderate sun damage, whereby, the age spots and wrinkles are more significant. Deep chemical peels were traditionally performed with phenol, but this is not done any longer as laser resurfacing became popular. The main chemicals used for peels fall into two categories: water soluble such as AHAs and TCA and

Eyebrow trends come and go through the years from a pencil thin in the 1960s to a heavy, bushy style made famous by with Brook Shields in the 1980s.   The brow is currently getting a lot of attention in the beauty world with the trend of micro blading. This is a tattoo technique that fills brows out or reshapes them by drawing tiny lines that look like individual hairs.   While eyebrow styles may change, the ideal measurements of the female eyebrow show a raised lateral arch. This ideal has been realized for more women using Botox injections. However, Botox injections are only temporary, lasting only 3-4 months, and must be maintained. For most people, with age and sun exposure, we can expect the lateral brow to fall due to the loss of collagen and elastic tissue. A common complaint many doctors hear from patients is that their droopy

Hats are the perfect combination of art and function. In protecting our skin from the harmful effects of the sun, a hat truly fulfills these dual roles. In order to protect our skin from the harmful effects of the sun, a hat with a wide brim of at least 3 inches will offer the best shade to the face ears and back of the neck. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works better than straw because it will not let sunshine through. A baseball cap is not recommended for those who want to prevent skin cancer because it does not shade the cheeks, ears and neck. A better option is a Legionnaires hat because it has flaps that will offer protection to those areas. Hats should have the seal of recommendation from the Skin Cancer Foundation. The criteria to earn this seal includes an UPF of 30 or higher,