They say that what you eat is what you are and this is 100 percent true.  I am constantly planning out our family meals to ensure adequate nutrition but the dermatologist in me cannot resist incorporating vitamin-rich food that will leave my skin looking great as well.  Antioxidants that help to prevent age spots, wrinkling, sagging and UV damage are found in a variety of foods.  A few of my favorites include:

Lycopene – Commonly found in red fruits and vegetables (red peppers, watermelon, tomatoes, pink grapefruit), Lycopene has anti-inflammatory powers and is an antioxidant that can neutralize the effect of harmful free radicals which will help minimize wrinkles and lines.

Beta-carotene – Find this in orange vegetables and leafy greens (carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, cantaloupe, spinach, kale, collard greens, and romaine lettuce).  Beta-carotene is a carotenoid which will help delay the effects of sun-induced aging by slowing down the effects of skin breakdown.

Flavonoids – Enjoy your berries, onions, tea (green, black, or white, non-herbal), and dark chocolate, Flavonoids offer a powerful boost to the immune system and provide anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties by protecting against oxidative and free radical damage.

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) – We all know that vitamin C is one of the first things you turn to when you have a cold but its antioxidant properties also help protect against UV rays and can help keep skin firm with collagen synthesis.  Look for Vitamin C in oranges, papaya, kiwifruit, strawberries, red peppers, Brussels sprouts, kale, and broccoli.

Vitamin E – Found in nuts, eggs, green leafy vegetables, avocados and whole grains, Vitamin E is one of the most powerful antioxidants, but your body can’t produce it.  Make sure you are getting enough of this valuable antioxidant in your diet to help your skin stay healthier and supple.

At the end of the day, nothing beats a balanced diet!  One quick and easy way to incorporate a lot of great antioxidants is to mix up a smoothie to enjoy with your breakfast.  One of my favorites is below (my kids love it too!).

Berry Protein Smoothie

Serves 2

1 cup of mixed frozen organic berries

1 banana

1 cup of spinach

4 TBSP of ground flaxmeal

2 Scoops of Vega Berry flavored vegan protein powder

2 Cups of Filtered Water

Add everything to your blender and blend until smooth

Want more healthy eating tips & recipes to help you look and feel your best?  Join my Beauty Club and be notified when I have news, skin tips and promotions to share!

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There is one question that I hear all the time in my office :  How can I look younger without having plastic surgery.  ‘Non-evasive’ is a new trend in medical care and in the field of dermatology there are a growing number of options that provide dramatic results without the risks associated with surgery.

Surgical procedures are effective but come with a lot of risk and often require a long recovery time.  Surgical procedures can also sometimes change your image too drastically, leaving you unsatisfied with the results.

My philosophy is to renew you, not make a new you.  Simply put, I aim to refresh and update your features with non-surgical methods.  There are a variety of non-surgical options depending on the area and specific request.  Many of these can be completed during an office visit and require minimal recovery time.  Maintenance is easy with repeated office visits throughout the year.

The first area of options are collagen simulation fillers which are used to restore the volume that is lost as an effect of aging.

RADIESSE® : Best for smoothing moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds (such as nasolabial folds, the creases that extend from the corner of your nose to the corner of your mouth), this is a dermal filler which will plump the skin.  RADIESSE is injected through a small needle and placed under the skin and will work immediately to add volume under the skin.  Over time, the benefits continue by naturally stimulating your body’s own natural collagen.  The results are proven to be immediate and long lasting – shown to last a year or more in many patients.

Juvederm Voluma : A deep injection in the cheek area to correct age-related volume loss, Jevederm offers an instant, natural-looking result that can last up to 2 years.

Sculptra Aesthetic :  Injected into shallow to deep facial wrinkles, this filler is suitable for nasolabial folds, the lines framing your mouth and chin wrinkles. A full treatment of Sculptra Aesthetic (an average of three injections over a few months) can last over two years.

The second options are neuromodulators, which are used to reduce or even eliminate the lines on the forehead, between the eyebrows and around the eyes, by relaxing the muscles responsible for the development of lines and wrinkles.  The muscles will gradually become relaxed allowing the skin to appear smooth and unwrinkled.  Two common neuromodulators are:

Botox : Injected into muscles and used to temporarily improve the look of both moderate to severe crow’s feet lines and frown lines between the eyebrows.  Results will be noticed in 24 to 48 hours and last up to 4 months.

Dysport:  Smooths the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines without changing the look or movement of the rest of your face.  In one 10-20 minute injection, Dysport has been prove to last up to 4 months.

With all of these products, no sedation or anesthesia is required and discomfort is usually minimal.  Your Board Certified Dermatologist will discuss all available treatment options with you to help determine which is most appropriate for your needs.

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Happy New Year!

New Year resolutions always seem to follow a familiar trend around diets, exercise and getting healthy.  I think it is important to build a lifestyle that supports health and wellness (versus just making a big push in January which is hard to sustain long term).  Life doesn’t always make it easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle – kids, work, and family keep me busy – but I 100% stand behind a healthy lifestyle to keep you feeling & looking your best.

A few of my top tips for staying healthy all year long:

1. The 80/20 rule.  I don’t like following strict diets which make me feel like I’m missing out.  The occasional treat or glass of wine is super motivating to me so I approach my diet with an 80/20 rule.  80% of the time I eat a diet that is well balanced and full of nutrition.  That leaves some space for me to indulge on occasion.  A proper diet leaves you well equipped to ward off illness, lose weight and look your best.
2. Eat your veggies.  Every meal, try to fill your plate with as many vegetables as possible.  Vegetables are filled with nutrients, water, fiber, and very few calories – by loading up your plate with vegetables you will fill up faster and cut down on calories without feeling deprived.  I use a variety of herbs and spices to flavor my veggies so that I can cut down on the butter and salt.  My kids look to me as an example so when they see my plate full of veggies, they ask for the same!  If you find it hard to eat a plateful of vegetables try adding them into yummy things like smoothies (I do this every morning), soups, and stews. I also love grilling and roasting vegetables, which makes them much sweeter. My kids love broccoli florets that I drizzle with a good dose of extra virgin oil, season with herbs, and pop in the toaster oven for 15 minutes.
3. Find an exercise program that you enjoy and find motivating.  Personally, I need the input of a personal trainer to help me target specific areas and safely change my exercise routines.  I don’t always have a ton of free time to get to the gym so I have a variety of at home DVD’s that I do – a few of my favorites include BeachBody 21 Day Fix and Moms into Fitness by Lidnsay Brin, and P90X.  I find if I take 30 minutes to sweat it out my day is much calmer and I feel so much more energized.
4. Pick one day during the week and pamper yourself.  It doesn’t have to be an all day event – even just one hour to exfoliate, moisturize and paint your nails.  On Sunday evenings once the kids are in bed I like to light a few candles, play some quiet music and pamper myself.  This leaves me relaxed and ready to tackle the week ahead.
5. Stay on top of your medical care.  Now is a great time to organize your medical providers and schedule any appointments that you will need during the year.  Don’t forget about your annual skin check with a dermatologist. Early detection is so important – if you see something suspicious call right away to rule out skin cancer.
6. Lastly, I share one of my new resolutions for 2016: take 10 minutes of the day to meditate.  Between motherhood, work, and marriage, I find that there is also something to be thinking about or planning for. My goal for this year is to try to be more present in the moment. There are many known benefits meditation including stress relief and improved immunity. I will keep you posted on how I do with this new resolution!!

Start slow with any lifestyle changes to make them easy to maintain – jumping right in 100% is sure to cause burn out quick.  Pick one area and focus on that for a month before picking up another area.

As my yogi friends say – Namaste! Happy New year.

Visit my website, join the Beauty Club and be entered to win a great at home chemical peel this month! 

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It’s January and that calls for a review & refresh of your skin care routine.  Winter can leave your skin feeling dry & dull and the holiday stress (not to mention all of the food & drinks) can wreak havoc on your face.  All these changes will make wrinkles more evident.  It’s time to introduce a great product that you can use in the comfort of your home.

A chemical peel is great for peeling away signs of aging and helping to restore a more youthful look.  There are many ‘at home’ chemical peels on the market, but HydroPeptide has nailed it with this award-winning product!  After just one treatment you will notice smoother, brighter and healthier looking skin.  It’s a two-step regimen that is easy to follow and requires zero downtime.

The Polish & Plump Peel kit includes two separate products. Peel 1 contains microdermabrasion crystals to polish away dead skin cells along with Vitamin C and Orange Peel Oil which provides multiple anti-aging benefits.  Peel 2 pulls in 6 different peptides which will plump, relax, moisturize and hydrate your skin  as well as Lactic Acid and Bearberry which evenout the skin tone and promote a better complexion.  The addition of green tea, cucumber, Echinacea and chamomile will help to calm and sooth the skin.

To use the Polish & Plump Peel, start with skin that has been gently cleansed.  Take about ¼ tsp of Peel 1 and massage into skin in circular motion for 1 to 2 minutes.  Next take about ¼ tsp of Peel 2 and massage in the same manner as Peel 1.  After a few minutes, rinse off with tepid water.

The plump and peel kit is now a regular park of my exfoliation routine. I use it weekly, on Sundays, which is my pampering day!  I love how effective the microdermabrasion crystals are for wiping away a week’s worth of weathered skin, leaving me with a refreshed glow. My pores, which tend to be more prominent, immediately look smaller.

Purchase now through HydroPeptide and use code ‘DOCTOR-IP’ for a preferred customer discount. 

I love this product so much that I’m giving away one of these to a follower.  Simply visit the Beauty Club page and sign up to join and you will be entered to win.  Be sure to follow us on Facebook & Twitter for additional entries.

You’ll definitely be radiating beauty with this kit.

Congratulations Amber!  We hope that you enjoy this fantastic kit.

Freshly home from hospital, you’ve finally mastered changing the diaper without making a huge mess and then realize that your baby has a bright-red, irritated bum.  There will be a variety of rashes that appear on your baby and diaper rash is certainly going to be one of them.

Diaper rashes can be caused by a number of things.  Most common is a reaction to a soiled diaper being left on too long.  Other things that can cause a diaper rash: chafing from the diaper, yeast infection, bacterial infection, allergic reaction, and seborrheic dermatitis (cradle cap).

Treatment of diaper rash is obviously dependent upon the cause of the rash and it will usually take a few days for the rash to clear completely.  For immediate relief, expose the bottom to air and use water and a soft cloth to clean the bottom (instead of wet wipes which can be a bit harsh).  Strip the baby down in a warm room and have tummy time on a blanket.  This could be messy, but the air on babies bottom will help tremendously.

If you must put a diaper on, make sure that your babies bottom is well protected by a lubricating barrier such as zinc oxide cream. I am a big fan of Cerave diaper rash cream, which contains zinc oxide as well as other soothing emollients. A cheaper and equally effective option is good old Vaseline (that’s my go to for my baby’s bottom!).  Be sure to change the baby as soon as you can when the diaper is soiled.  The cream will soothe the skin as well as provide a protective barrier.  Be sure that the area is completely clean and dry before putting on a fresh diaper.  If you suspect that the diaper is the reason for the rash, try changing the type of diaper you are using.  If using cloth diapers, choose a mild, hypoallergenic detergent when washing.  Dermatologists like All Free and Clear Detergent for patients with sensitive skin and for babies.

When to call the doctor:

• The rash gets worse or doesn’t clear up in a few days
• Your baby has a fever or seems sluggish
• You see fluid-filled bumps or crusty areas – this might be a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics
• You notice redness in the folds of the baby’s skin or small red pimples outside of the diaper area – a sign of a yeast infection which would require antifungal medicine.

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The chilling-cold of New England hasn’t quite set in yet but I’m already finding myself with dry, itchy skin.  I find myself switching up my routines to counteract the effect that the brutal cold can have on my skin.  As the temperature drops, so does the humidity level, resulting in dry, itchy skin.  A few changes in your winter skin care routine will provide relief from dry skin that many people experience during the winter.

These ten tips are easy to implement and will leave you glowing skin all winter long.

1. Hydration – Make sure you are drinking enough water which is important for your overall health and will also keep your skin from feeling and looking dry.
2. Exfoliation – Use a gentle exfoliate to slough off dead cells which will help your moisture penetrate further.  While exfoliation is key, you don’t want to get carried away! Gentle scrubs should be used only once a week.
3. Moisturize – Upgrade your face and body moisturizers during the colder months.  In the winter, creams are key as they contain nourishing oils with a thick texture to lock in moisture.  Apply moisturizer as soon as you get out of the shower – it will really help to lock in the moisture.  My favorite winter combination is Vanicream moisturizing body cream followed by a light layer of Vanicream bath oil .
4. Diet – Eat a balanced diet filled with healthy fats, fresh produce and plenty of water.  Snack on coconut, avocado, and oatmeal. Rich and full of healthy fats and vitamins, these foods will seriously help with your skin!  Don’t forget about getting enough exercise and following a good sleep schedule.  When your body feels good, it will look good too.
5. Lips – Chapped lips are easily fixed with Vaseline.  Use it under your regular lipstick and you’ll find smooth lips that look fantastic. 
6. Humidifier – Sleep with a humidifier running.  Not only will this help the tone and texture of your skin but will also help keep your sinuses moist and keeps your hands and nails hydrated too.
7. Luke warm water – I know how great it feels to warm up with a hot bath or shower when its cold outside, but washing up in luke warm water will help keep your skin moist.  Also, try to keep your exposure to water under 5 minutes.
8. Cover up – Hats, mittens, scarves!  Not only do these pieces help keep you feeling warm and looking cute but they also protect your skin from the brutal cold air.
9. Keep it simple – Your skin care routine could need an upgrade. Many acne treatments can be very drying.  Talk to your dermatologist to see if there is a more gentle routine to use during the winter months.
10. SPF – The sun may not be shining and you may not be planning on lounging by the pool all day, but it is still super important to protect any exposed body parts from UV rays.  Don’t forget your sunscreen!

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