Beach season is here. YAY!
It’s time to get outdoors and soak up the sun – with SPF applied of course. No excuses!
Healthy Hollywood and the rest of us, East Coasters, are enjoying some major hot weather – after a long cold, wet winter/spring – so waterside areas get ready for the bikini invasion! Yet, before you roll out your towel on the beach, dermatologist and founder of the DERMAdoctor website, Dr. Audrey Kunin, has tips to make you look more like the beauty (not the beast) on the beach.
Who says bikini-clad celebs, like Kim Kardashian, AnnaLynne McCord, and Cameron Diaz are the only ones to be ogle-worthy? Certainly not us here at Healthy Hollywood!
“Exposed skin is vulnerable to a variety of environmental insults, not to mention needing to overcome a season or two worth of neglect,” reminds Dr. Kunin.
Dr. Kunin’s Summer Beauty Tips:
Before You Hit The Beach
Exfoliate, hydrate, glisten and protect.
Rough, dry skin isn’t glamorous. Simple fixes include physical exfoliation with scrubs; ideally choose one with an AHA (alpha hydroxy acids), which will work wonders in no time. Apply an “active” moisturizer. One that contains glycolic or lactic acid will help chemically exfoliate your skin plus hydrate and it will leave your skin looking super beach-worthy.
Self-Tanners 101 – Not all self-tanners are created equal!
Self-tanners are a safe way to get bronzed not burned. They come in a variety of do-it-yourself options including creams, sprays, lotions, mists, towelettes and mousses.
Not safe, however, are tanning pills. These contain canthaxanthin, an ingredient implicated in causing hives and drug induced hepatitis. Others contain large amounts of beta-carotene, and related color additives that produce a tan by colorizing the skin. The color will vary by individual and may look tan but some unfortunates will find their skin looking orange (think about consuming far too many carrots and developing carotenemia) or even pink! None of these additives are FDA approved for use as a tanning agent.
Sunless tanners do not provide sun protection on their own. The brown color has no ability to guard against the sun so don’t forget your sunscreen!
Cellulite – yes, there IS something you can do!
Between 80 and 90 percent of women will develop cellulite after the age of 18. Few men will develop cellulite. Hardly fair! The causes of cellulite are thought to be due to a combination of factors including hormonal, aging, genetics and possibly a female difference in fat layer architecture. Cellulite may not be curable but you can improve unsightly puckering by understanding cellulite and how to take control.
Topical therapies aimed at building and/or maintaining collagen address the root of the problem. Look for antioxidants such as grape seed extract, vitamin C, vitamin E and amino acid peptides. Caffeine helps reduce skin puffiness, aiding in smoothing out the dimpled mattress appearance. So far, the FDA has only approved a nonsurgical form of deep massage called endermologie for temporary improvement in the appearance of cellulite.
Deep mechanical massage can indeed help improve the appearance of cellulite (although highly dependent upon the skill of the masseuse), so there has been great interest in home massage. A variety of massage tools with rubber tips, wooden balls and even motorized massage heads can be beneficial in helping reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Pills have absolutely no effect upon cellulite.
Protect Color-Treated Hair – A little prevention is worth a lot of money at the hair salon!
Chlorine will bleach and lighten color-treated hair and those with blonde or lighter hair, may even notice a twinge of green after frequent dips in chlorine pools. The damage of chlorine combined with the drying effects of sun exposure can leave you with a real case of “swimmer’s hair” that is limp, dull and even frizzy. Salt water can be damaging and drying as well.
Possibly the most important thing you can do to protect your hair from chlorine damage is to wash it (or just wet it down with tap water) prior to swimming. Hair acts like a sponge, quickly absorbing liquid. If the hair is already wet when you enter the water, it’s going to absorb less harsh chemicals to begin with. Showering before swimming also protects the skin and reduces bacteria in the water you are swimming in.
If you are in and out of the pool throughout the day and don’t plan on immediately showering after each swim, put some leave-in conditioner in the hair to keep it moisturized. Consider a deep conditioning treatment once a week or so as well for added hydration.
Letting your hair dry naturally can also help to not further damage sun and chlorine dried hair. If you do need to blow-dry hair try putting it on a cooler setting.
For more skin tips, head to www.dermadoctor.com.
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