The Basics of Medical Skin Care

The Basics of Medical Skin Care
As a plastic surgeon, I see many patients for facial
surgery who often ask about their skin care. Or more
specifically, what can they do to improve their skin either
before or after surgery. Skin care is a very bewildering
world for all patients with ten of thousands of products
available in stores and on-line as well as cosmeceutical
ads which have no boundaries to claims given that they are
retail beauty products and not FDA-sanctioned
pharmaceuticals. Where does the patient start and how do
they work their way through the skin care maze?

First and foremost, like all things in medicine, a
diagnosis has to be made. You can't very well select the
right treatment if you don't have a working diagnosis as to
the skin problems. THis can be done in two ways; being
evaluated by a very experienced aesthetician who has a lot
of medical experience (i.e., working in a doctor's office
preferably a plastic surgeon or dermatologist) and/or
getting a Visia skin complexion analysis. Like a CAT scan
for your skin, this computerized digital skin analysis
system evaluates everything from wrinkles, pore size, to
the amount of sun damage...and documents it
photographically. This provides not onlya set of diagnoses
for the skin but also becomes a reference from which to
judge the results of any future treatments.

From a product and treatment standpoint, there are only 5
things you can do to your skin...that's it! All skin care
products and even more invasive skin treatments attempt to
address one or all of them..but there is nothing more you
can do topically. These five functions include: cleanse,
hydrate, protect, exfoliate, and stimulate. The collective
effects of all of these are smoother, tighter skin. If all
five functions are achieved in a skin care program, then
the best results can be obtained. If only one or two of
these product functions are done, then the skin results
will be less. Simplistically, a cleanser is needed morning
and night, a daytime moisturizer/sunscreen protectant, and
noctural regimens of exfoliation (e.g., AHA, lactic acids,
Retin-A) alternating with stimulants (e.g., Vitamin C and
peptides) comprise a basic program. The hardest regimen is
to figure out the best nocturnal regimen of exfoliation and
stimulation. Working with an aesthetician here can be
really helpful. Many product lines today already have it
laid out for you in kits or steps. As you can see, thre is
no good reason for more than 5 to 7 skin care products, if
they are properly selected and monitored. And the good news
is....it is no more expensive to get a good medical line
than buying that big jar of hope sold over the counter at
the department or drug store by someone who has no idea,
really, about comprehensive skin care.

The key today in medical skin care is....simplify, a
focused approach, and monitor the results and how you react
to them. If you then mix in some regular microdermabrasions
and light chemical peels....with a little Botox or
injectable fillers if needed...you are on your way to
better-looking skin with a good return on your investment.

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Dr Barry Eppley runs a private plastic surgery practice
through his hospital-based medspa locations at Clarian
Health in Indianapolis. To learn more about the latest
trends in plastic surgery, spa therapies, or skin care, go
to his daily blog, http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com .