It might be hard to wrap your mind around the idea of spring when temperatures are still on the frosty side, but your skin and body will be the better for it if you start planning a rejuvenating regimen now. With the holiday fervor behind us and the decorations back in their boxes, it’s a lot easier to switch gears and start prepping to look good for warmer weather!
face and body factors
“Winter is a great time to schedule facial and body skin treatments that may be a little more invasive,” says Dr. Richard Moore, medical director at The Lifestyle Center. “If there’s downtime associated with a procedure, you’ll be able to tolerate it better.” His staff helps men and women improve their skin in common problem areas like the face, neck, abdomen, arms and flanks. They use advanced treatments that offer skin tightening and smoothing, Moore notes. He says patients see significant benefits with Cellfina, a cellulite treatment. It uses cold helium gas and low-level radiofrequency technology to release tiny tissue bands under the skin that pull on the surface and cause it to dimple. “It’s the most effective treatment for cellulite we’ve seen so far,” Moore says.
Carol Anderson, RN, CANS, owner of Nouveau MedSpa, says winter is also an ideal time for treatments like Forever Young BBL, which uses broadband light technology to get rid of skin hyperpigmentation, sun damage and brown spots. She also recommends Infini fractionated radiofrequency treatments. “They help with fine lines and wrinkles that have occurred over the past year,” she notes. “The technology encourages cell turnover and helps minimize large pores.” And platelet-rich plasma treatments can help reduce lines, improve elasticity and correct loss of tissue volume, she says. “You don’t want to be in the sun right after most of these treatments, so doing them in advance of spring is a good idea,” Anderson says. “You’ll have nice, refreshed, glowing skin going into the warm season.”
for the guys
1. Monthly facials are a good idea for men, especially those who work outside, says Anderson. They offer a boost of moisture when skin is struggling to stay hydrated in harsh outdoor elements or dry, heated indoor air.
2. Men also are seeing the benefits of laser hair removal to shape unruly beards and mustaches and reduce hair on the arms, shoulders and back of the neck, Anderson says.
3. Winter is a good time for men to schedule skin rejuvenation treatments to fight sun damage, especially in places like the shoulders and top of the head.
prepping skin for spring
The most important advice to remember for healthy springtime skin is to stay well hydrated inside and out, says Dr. Dee Anna Glaser, a SLUCare dermatologist. She advises drinking water every day and regularly using quality moisturizing products. “Dry indoor air can be tough on the skin in winter,” she notes. “Use a gentle liquid face cleanser instead of soap, which can dry out your skin. Rinse with warm water instead of hot, and consider using a humidifier in your home to add moisture to the air.”
Dr. Gregory Branham, a Washington University facial plastic surgeon, says drinking small amounts of water throughout the day—usually about 32 ounces total—is the best and easiest way to keep your body and skin well hydrated. He also advises keeping your moisturizing regimen simple.
“Basic usually is better,” he explains. “Products with a lot of scent and other additives may increase the chances of a reaction like contact dermatitis. Use moisturizer with a water base, not alcohol, which can dry your skin.” Winter is an ideal time to visit a dermatologist for a whole-body skin health check, Branham adds. “It will give you a baseline understanding of your skin, and if growths or other problems occur later, you’ll be able to identify them and have them checked out,” he notes. A doctor visit is in order for any skin condition that appears suddenly; includes a growth, nodule or pigmented lesion; or persists for more than a month.
For skin procedures that require some downtime or no sun exposure, like laser resurfacing and peels, the cooler months are perfect, Branham says. “Once the weather warms up, you’ll want to be outside,” he says. “Having treatments done during the winter makes sense because you’ll be ‘hibernating’ anyway.”
sun: blocked
1. It’s a good idea to use a 30+ SPF sunscreen all year, not just in warmer months. “You can get ultraviolet radiation from the sun in any season,” says Glaser. “It won’t produce a tan in winter, but it still can damage and age the skin.”
2. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, using sunscreen may decrease your skin’s production of vitamin D, an important nutrient for bone
health. Increasing the vitamin D in your diet can help.
3. Check your sunscreen bottle for an expiration date. If there is none, write the purchase date on it, and don’t keep it for more than three years. If the color or consistency of the lotion changes, pitch it!
vein considerations
Dr. Brian Rubin, a Washington University vascular surgeon, says patients needing varicose vein treatments really should begin in the fall if they want their legs to be ready for warm-weather clothing. “Depending on the patient’s needs, the treatment process to achieve optimal cosmetic results can take up to six months,” he says.
Varicose veins are surface blood vessels that become twisted and misshapen because of faulty valves inside them. “The one-way valves stop functioning when the vein becomes dilated and the edges of the valve flaps aren’t touching anymore,” Rubin explains. “The blood backs up, and sections of the vessel become engorged. Once a valve fails, it has a domino effect on others that are further ‘downstream’ in the vessel.” He says the condition often is seen in people who are overweight or do strenuous exercise regularly.
Varicose veins aren’t just unsightly; they also can cause pain, swelling, a feeling of heaviness in the legs and even skin ulcers, Rubin notes. An ultrasound can help doctors make sure there aren’t blood clots in vessels deeper in the legs before they perform outpatient treatments to remove varicose vein tissue. Laser and radiofrequency ablation procedures can accomplish this. “Modern treatments are much easier and provide better cosmetic results than earlier ones like vein stripping,” Rubin says. “There’s much less bleeding and bruising under the skin, downtime is minimal, and patients walk out of the office afterward.”
Bluish or purplish spider veins are another common problem that can be treated effectively with modern procedures, says Maria Bein, RN, clinical director at Vein Specialties of St. Louis. “They occur on many parts of the body, including the face, shoulders, chest and legs,” she notes. “Men often get them on the nose and cheeks. We also see them in people who have rosacea or sun damage.” Treatments vary depending on the patient’s needs, but they involve minimal downtime and can be done in the doctor’s office, Bein says. “Now is a perfect time to schedule them, especially if more than one treatment is needed,” she notes.
in a new vein
1. Risk: Your risk of varicose veins increases with age and family history of the condition.
2. If untreated: Varicose veins can cause skin ulcers, blood clots and bleeding.
3. Blood circulation: Blood doesn’t circulate as efficiently if you tend to stand or sit for long periods, and this can contribute to varicose veins. So can pregnancy.
4. Gender: Women are more likely to develop varicose veins, but men can get them too.
