Whether you're 15 or 50, vibrant, healthy skin is a must to keep you feeling and looking your best. We asked board-certified dermatologist Dr. Karen Allen about her most in-demand treatments, and she shared two major ways to keep your skin looking younger and healthier, no matter what your age.
Tip 1: Healthy Skin Looks Younger, so Keep Yours Acne-Free
Younger.com: What products do you recommend for acne?
Dr. Allen: In general I start with an over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide cleanser (anywhere from 2-10%) and add prescription Retin-A/Tretinoin treatments if more severe. I generally avoid salicylic acid when first starting this regimen. Anything beyond mild acne can benefit from some prescription products and initial dermatologist or pediatrician evaluation, and if the acne is on the back or chest it generally requires prescription management.
Younger.com: What are your "quick tips" for dealing with an occasional blemish?
Dr. Allen: Leave it alone. A picked at scab and scar takes much longer to heal than any unerupted volcano that lays quietly beneath the skin.
Younger.com: What basic tips do you have for maintaining clear skin?
Dr. Allen: See a dermatologist! Every individual's skin chemistry is different, so we each respond to different products very differently.
Tip 2: Do What Dermatologists Do
Younger.com: What personal tips do you have for preventing keeping skin looking young?
Dr. Allen: My top 5 are pretty simple:
1. Do not smoke
2. Sunscreen
3. Sunscreen
4. Sunscreen
5. Use products or peels containing Retin-A/Tretinoin and/or hydroxy acid.
Younger.com: What secrets can you share that only a dermatologist would know?
Dr. Allen: In general, if you ask a dermatologist (including myself) what of their own products and services they use on themselves, their top answers are:
1. Sunscreen
2. Peels or products containing some combination of alpha-hydroxy or glycolic acids
3. BOTOX® Cosmetic injections
I cannot emphasize sunscreen enough as a way to prevent fine lines and other signs of age, and BOTOX makes the list simply because it is the most effective treatment out there for dynamic wrinkles.
Karen Allen, MD, is a board-certified Templeton, California dermatologist offering a broad selection of services ranging from skin cancer screening and Moh’s surgery to BOTOX® Cosmetic and other skin rejuvenation options. She completed her medical doctorate and dermatology residency at the University of California, Irvine, and treats dermatology patients from San Luis Obispo County and the entire California Central Coast. She has no financial interest in any of the companies or services recommended in this article or website.
Tip 1: Healthy Skin Looks Younger, so Keep Yours Acne-Free
Younger.com: What products do you recommend for acne?
Dr. Allen: In general I start with an over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide cleanser (anywhere from 2-10%) and add prescription Retin-A/Tretinoin treatments if more severe. I generally avoid salicylic acid when first starting this regimen. Anything beyond mild acne can benefit from some prescription products and initial dermatologist or pediatrician evaluation, and if the acne is on the back or chest it generally requires prescription management.
Younger.com: What are your "quick tips" for dealing with an occasional blemish?
Dr. Allen: Leave it alone. A picked at scab and scar takes much longer to heal than any unerupted volcano that lays quietly beneath the skin.
Younger.com: What basic tips do you have for maintaining clear skin?
Dr. Allen: See a dermatologist! Every individual's skin chemistry is different, so we each respond to different products very differently.
Tip 2: Do What Dermatologists Do
Younger.com: What personal tips do you have for preventing keeping skin looking young?
Dr. Allen: My top 5 are pretty simple:
1. Do not smoke
2. Sunscreen
3. Sunscreen
4. Sunscreen
5. Use products or peels containing Retin-A/Tretinoin and/or hydroxy acid.
Younger.com: What secrets can you share that only a dermatologist would know?
Dr. Allen: In general, if you ask a dermatologist (including myself) what of their own products and services they use on themselves, their top answers are:
1. Sunscreen
2. Peels or products containing some combination of alpha-hydroxy or glycolic acids
3. BOTOX® Cosmetic injections
I cannot emphasize sunscreen enough as a way to prevent fine lines and other signs of age, and BOTOX makes the list simply because it is the most effective treatment out there for dynamic wrinkles.
Karen Allen, MD, is a board-certified Templeton, California dermatologist offering a broad selection of services ranging from skin cancer screening and Moh’s surgery to BOTOX® Cosmetic and other skin rejuvenation options. She completed her medical doctorate and dermatology residency at the University of California, Irvine, and treats dermatology patients from San Luis Obispo County and the entire California Central Coast. She has no financial interest in any of the companies or services recommended in this article or website.
