Face Lift

Physician Skin Care - The Doctor Is In

Reviewed by Yael Halaas, MD

Shopping for skin care products can be overwhelming to say the least. Each new product promises to be "the fountain of youth" in a bottle and better than the one that came before it — not to mention as good as certain surgeries or other facial rejuvenation procedures such as Botox.

Whether you are walking through a department store or pharmacy, skimming through a women's magazine or watching television, you are literally bombarded with lotions, potions and even beverages and pills that promise to lift, tighten, firm, moisturize, and/or clear up your problem skin.

How should you choose?

Courtesy of AAFPRS

There a several skin types — oily, dry, normal, combination (oily and dry) and sensitive. Knowing your skin type is the first step toward buying any new skin care product. From there, a little trial and error never hurt anyone, but if you find yourself shelling out hundreds of dollars (or more) on over-the-counter age-defying beauty products, it may be time to see what your doctor has to say.

Physician skin care is the next step when you don't respond to over-the-counter (even over-the-beauty-counter) products.

What is physician skin care?

Good question. There is no definitive answer. It basically refers to treatments or medications that only a doctor can administer or prescribe, respectively. These include dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, chemical peels and laser skin resurfacing as well as certain prescription topical or oral medications such as Retin-A or hydroquinone.

Today many doctors also offer their own private-label skin care products. Sometimes these contain some of the very same ingredients found in store-bought brands but are more concentrated so they can be more effective. They are also packed with antioxidants such as vitamin C or E which help sop up damaging free radicals in your skin that accelerate the aging process.

If your skin is getting worse no matter what you are trying, it may be time to consult a facial plastic surgeon who can evaluate your skin and make a treatment recommendation. Choosing a surgeon can be a daunting task, and All About Facial Rejuvenation is here to help. Our directory of surgeons exclusively lists surgeons who have undergone extensive education and training and are highly regarded by patients and colleagues alike.

At your initial consultation, tell your doctor what you have tried, what worked and what didn't work so he or she can get a better idea about what to suggest or prescribe next. This may include a series of chemical peels, or Retin-A followed by laser skin resurfacing. There will also likely be home skin care involved. It doesn't have to cost a fortune or involve more space in your bathroom cabinet. The essentials are usually limited to a gentle, mild cleanser that is paired to your skin type, a moisturizer with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher, a regular method of exfoliation or getting rid of excess skin cells and possibly a toner. Fresh, healthy looking skin is really that simple.