Over the last decade, there have been significant advances in skin care, yet the most important advice on preventing skin damage remains age-old: protect yourself from the sun.
Although the effects of sun damage were a common refrain throughout Weill Cornell Dermatology Department's recent "Love Your Skin" free community program, the College's panel of dermatologists also provided the capacity crowd in Uris Auditorium with helpful information on skin-related problems faced by patients of color and medical tune-ups that can keep skin looking young.
All skin suffers from the natural effects of aging, but a number of personal choices can accelerate the process, according to Dr. Anjali Dahiya, an assistant professor of dermatology who delivered a lecture titled "How to Keep Your Skin Looking Great." Smoking, repeated facial movements, and even sleeping positions can make it more difficult for skin to retain a youthful look. Among them, though, sun exposure reigns supreme as the leading cause of damaged skin.
"Sun is the most important external factor that affects aging, and the best thing patients can do is protect themselves from the sun," Dr. Dahiya said. She recommends limiting outdoor activity between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., if possible; applying broad-spectrum sunscreen frequently; and using moisturizers and over-the-counter "cosmeceuticals" to keep the skin healthy.
For many people of color, protecting their skin can come with its own unique set of challenges. "The face of America is changing and we are seeing an increase in the number of patients of color who are seeking treatment," said Dr. Uma Nadiminti, an assistant professor of dermatology.
Although many patients with darker skin—reflecting increased levels of skin melanin—often have slightly better protection from sun damage caused by ultraviolet light, people of color are at increased risk for so-called "dark marks" and discoloration. In darker-skinned individuals, skin that is repeatedly irritated can turn permanently darker. The irritation can be caused by almost anything, from scratching the skin to the razor bumps common on men's necks. The best method to prevent any discoloration is to stop irritation before it starts by treating the underlying skin irritant, be it acne, a rash or even medications with side effects that can cause itching.
For people of all skin types, facial wrinkles will eventually form, even with the most vigilant prevention. As we age, our faces lose volume and that causes the skin to sag. But for people interested in maintaining a youthful face, there has been a marked rise in non-surgical treatments for wrinkles.
"The most common complaint I hear is, 'I look tired, angry, sad or weathered,'" said Dr. Lauren Sternberg, also an assistant professor of dermatology, who spoke about skin tune-ups. "Can we achieve a beautiful, youthful face? The answer is yes, a treatment plan can be developed with your physician to treat aging skin."
From left: Assistant Professors of Dermatology Dr. Lauren Sternberg, Dr. Uma Nadiminti and Dr. Anjali Dahiya.
For lighter wrinkles, Dr. Sternberg recommended Botox treatments which may be used to weaken muscles that cause lines due to their repeated contractions. Botox can also counteract sagging by weakening some muscles, thus allowing others to operate unopposed. Patients with wrinkles too deep for Botox may be candidates for "fillers," which can correct moderate to severe wrinkles in many areas around the face.
"This is one of the most popular treatments we do because there are so many different problem areas we can change," said Dr. Sternberg.
But ultimately, all roads lead back to sun damage, as Dr. Richard Granstein, chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Weill Cornell, reminded the audience. "For dermatologists, skin is the most important organ, and when we talk about the skin, and what is undesirable, we talk about the sun."
This community forum was supported by a generous grant from Clinique Laboratories, LLC.
Photography by Amelia Panico.