Summer is just about here, and May happens to be skin cancer awareness month, so I have some useful tips for you to prepare your skin and body to wake up from hibernation. Winter can dry out the skin terribly, from head to toe.
Start by dry-brushing your skin daily. The benefits of dry brushing are vastly varied and they include:
• exfoliating the skin of dead cells
• detoxing the body by stimulating the lymphatic system to release waste products
• increasing circulation which delivers more oxygen & nutrients to the body while boosting the immune system
• reducing the appearance of cellulite and uneven skin texture
• tightening the skin and making it more radiant
• rejuvenating the nervous system by enhancing sensory nerves
• relieving stress and helping you relax (I mean, who doesn’t want that as an added & unintended benefit?)
Swap out your skincare. Because winter sucks the moisture right out of the skin, people tend to use heavy and thick moisturizers and creams. This does not tend to work well in the summer and the heavier moisturizers may end up clogging pores on top of sweat and humidity which can lead to acne amongst other skin issues.
Choose lighter skincare with a good SPF that is mineral mineral-based. If you are blemish-prone and suffer from acne or “bacne,” use cleansers with glycolic or salicylic acid. Protect exposed skin as best you can with hats and clothing when possible. Inquire about skin procedures such as the Hydrafacial that can exfoliate and hydrate the skin. I love this procedure and offer it to my patients.
Photo Credit: ShutterstockFor women, my advice is to ditch the heavy make-up and find organic and natural products. Let the skin breathe. Men need to pay attention as well to skincare products. Men tend to have thicker skin so they need to look for products suitable for them. Always ask your physician about top-of-the-line, medical-grade products.
Now, how do we achieve a beach-ready body? To each his/her own, so do not compare yourself to anyone else, first and foremost. Be comfortable in your own skin and love the skin you live in. Set a goal weight, but do not become scale or number-obsessed. I always tell my patients not to weigh themselves daily, as water retention can throw numbers off and it varies day today. Instead, watch what you eat and see how your clothes fit. Start to exercise. It is not solely about “dieting,” as that is a trap for most people.
Stay well hydrated and eat clean. Try to avoid excessive amounts of alcohol and dairy and meat and processed carbs which make you feel inflamed and sluggish and can pack on unnecessary pounds. Talk to your physician about non-invasive and non-surgical body-contouring procedures. One of the most popular body aesthetics in my practice is truBody, which is the combination of truSculpt flex and truSculpt iD. These devices use proprietary technology by Cutera, known for face & body aesthetics, and they help achieve permanent fat destruction, muscle-sculpting, and skin tightening as a bonus.
The most important thing to remember, no matter what your individualized goals are, is that you need to be safe and take care of your health. Beauty starts from within and is a perpetual evolution. Balance of the mind-body-spirit is always essential for anything you want to do in life, no matter the reason, no matter the season. Have a safe and happy summer to come!
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