Protect your skin

Spending time outside is good for you, both physically and mentally, and summer time means that there are lots of fun activities just waiting for you to do outside. Here are some tips for staying safe this summer:

• Stay indoors between 10 am and 4 pm, if possible. This is when the sun is at its strongest.

• Don’t forget the sunscreen! Even if it is a cloudy day, the sun’s rays can still cause damage to your skin. Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, and reapply it often if you stay outside for long.

• For maximum protection, in addition to sunscreen, cover up with pants and a long sleeve shirt. A wide-brimmed hat will protect your skin and will also help to keep you cool.

• Protect your eyes as well, with sunglasses that block UV rays and cover the skin around the eyes.

• If you do want to tan, you should sunbathe for no more than 20 minutes a day.

Sun exposure increases the odds that you’ll get skin cancer, but, unfortunately, skin cancer can strike even if you don’t go outside very often. If you notice any spots or moles on your body that just don’t look right, see your doctor right away. Skin cancer is very treatable when it is caught early, but can be deadly if it is not.

Taking care of your skin and protecting it from the sun will help to keep it looking young and beautiful – and will help you to stay healthy, too. For help taking care of your skin and keeping it beautiful, contact the office of Dr. Gary J. Price in New Haven or Fairfield County, CT. Call (203) 453-6635 for an appointment today!

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Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. It should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Apply generously and often, reapplying every 60-80 minutes if you’re swimming or sweating. And use a lip balm that has an SPF of 30 or higher.

Stay in the shade. Limit your time in the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., as that is the window of time when the sun’s harmful rays are the strongest. An easy way to check the time is the shadow test: If your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun’s rays are strongest and you need protection.

Wear sunglasses. Broad-spectrum sunglasses that block 99-100% of the sun’s UVA and UVB rays are preferred. Wear them even on cloudy days, too, as harmful rays from the sun can penetrate through clouds.

Wear a wide-brimmed hat. A hat that covers your face, neck and ears offers another layer of protection from the sun.

Wear protective clothing. Certain clothes are made with sun-protective materials, but even wearing a long-sleeved shirt and long pants will help protect your skin.

Stay out of the tanning bed. Tanning in the sun or in a tanning bed leads to premature skin aging and is linked with an increased risk of skin cancer.

Beware reflective surfaces such as water and sand. These surfaces reflect the sun’s dangerous rays.

Check your medications. Some medications make you more sensitive to the sun, including specific types of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, blood pressure medications and antifungal medicine.

To learn more about ways to treat sun-damaged skin, call (203) 453-6635.

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If you have surgical and non-surgical procedures done to restore a youthful appearance to your skin, it’s important to take care of your skin to enhance and prolong results. Here are xxx habits you can adopt for healthier skin:

Eat your fruits and vegetables. Consuming fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins will help improve the health of all of the organs of your body, including your skin, which is the largest organ of the body.

Stay hydrated. Hydration is essential for radiant, healthy-looking skin, but you won’t get that with soda or diet soda. Keep your skin and body hydrated by drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.

Protect your skin from the sun. Sun exposure over time will cause lines, wrinkles, age spots, and other skin problems. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply liberally and every two hours, applying more often if you’re swimming or sweating in the heat. Wear sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats to protect the skin as well, especially the delicate skin around the eyes.

Don’t smoke. Smoking deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients, causing it to have poor, uneven skin tone. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin, which are fibers in your skin that provide strength and elasticity, causing the skin to sag. Smoking also contributes to lines and wrinkles, especially the deep lines around the lips called the “smoker’s pucker.”

Get your sleep. Your skin will benefit from getting eight hours a night, so develop a good nighttime routine to help you have a better chance at restful sleep.

Use the correct cleanser for your skin type. If you are dealing with oily or acne-prone skin, you’ll want a cleanser that’s designed to address those skin concerns. No matter your skin type, find the products that address your concerns.

Moisturize day and night. Apply a moisturizer right after you shower in the morning and before you go to bed. If you’re spending time in the sun, use a moisturizer containing SPF.

Adding these simple habits to your daily routine will help your skin achieve a more youthful appearance. To formulate a comprehensive plan to help turn back time on your face, call (203) 453-6635 and schedule a consultation with Dr. Price.

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Skip the Sun

No, you don’t have to sit inside of your hotel room and mope if you have a sunburn, but we don’t encourage you to lay out in the sun either. Try to sit in the sade and wear some clothes to cover your sunburn. Remember that even though you might have to take a timeout for a few days, you will be healed up and back at it in no time.

Bring Aloe Vera

In addition to packing enough sunscreen with you on vacation, we always encourage our patients to bring a small thing of aloe vera. The acid in aloe vera has been proven to heal the skin a lot faster and soothe it. One of the great things about aloe vera is that a little bit of it can go a long way so you don’t have to haul a massive bottle with you on the airplane.

Try some ice or damp washcloths

Feel your sunburned skin. Does it feel hot to the touch? Burns tend to feel warm when you touch them. Try cooing your skin down with either something like an ice cube or a damp, cold washcloth. Both of these options will help soothe your skin and get rid of all of the heat. Plus, who doesn’t like to be cooled down when it’s scorching outside?

Calm down your skin after a sunburn and use these tips. If you want to learn more about how you can take better care of your skin during the summer, contact our Huntington office and call us at (631) 423-1000.

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Sunscreen

Sunscreen isn’t just for the beach and pool days. In fact, you should be wearing a sunscreen every day of the week— no matter what the weather’s like outside. When choosing an everyday sunscreen, look for one in a moisturizer— these are typically less oily and less likely to break you out. When applying a sunscreen, make sure that you apply it not only to your face but your neck as well. As one of the most neglected parts of your body, your neck is one of the first places to show signs of your age, but the more you protect it, the more youthful it will continue to look.

Facial Cleanser

If you use the same bar of soap to wash your face and body, you could be causing more harm to your face than you are aware of. Traditional bar soap strips your skin of its natural oils which can cause your skin to break out. Additionally, it is known to leave a film on your skin. To make sure that you get your skin as clean as possible without breaking out, start using a facial cleanser.

Eye Cream

The skin under your eyes is extremely sensitive and can easily lose moisture— leaving you with bags and circles. To make sure the skin under your eyes stays hydrated, use an eye cream both morning and night. Eye creams are more sensitive so that you won’t have to worry about them burning your eyes.

Taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be complicated. By adding sunscreen, a facial cleanser, and eye cream into your routine, you can have the healthier skin for longer. To learn more about proper skin care techniques, contact Dr. Gary J. Price today!

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We love to advise our clients on their skin care and regularly admonish them to care for their hands – because sometimes no matter what you do to look younger, your hands can and often do, give away your age. Continue reading to learn a few tips for caring for your hands:

• Don’t skip on hand-cream, lotion or moisturizer. While your hands won’t reveal the obvious signs of aging until you’re in your 40s, using a good hand-cream early on will work to your advantage later.
• Use sunscreen. If possible, choose a hand-cream or moisturizer with added sunscreen. Exposure to the sun’s UV and UVB rays is the main culprit when it comes to those aging sun spots, and the premature appearance of wrinkles, not only on your face but on your hands as well.
• Always wear rubber gloves when washing dishes or when you have your hands in water. The chemicals in cleaning products can wreak havoc on your hands.
• If your skin is sensitive, avoid harsh cleaning products which can contribute to making your hands dry and flaky.
• Last but not least, we invite you to call our office to schedule an appointment for a hand rejuvenation procedure such as a chemical peel or laser skin resurfacing.

If you are noticing the obvious signs of aging on your hands, let us help you. Get your skin and hands ready for winter and those upcoming holiday celebrations. Call, today: (203) 453-6635.

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Consider these awesome, easy, how-to-stay-youthful tips for 2016:

• Act Your Favorite Age…Be the age on the inside that you always loved being…and it will reflect in your body, face and outlook.
• Use Your Head. Use Your Brain…Learn a language or refresh your MahJong game; get your friends together for a game of Pinochle or Bridge; do crossword puzzles; take an art class. Stay smart, stay young.
• Eat Well. Eat To Live…You know what that means, for you.
• Play…Nothing makes you feel young and vibrant like endorphins. Whether it’s walking, dancing, jogging, Pickle Ball, tennis, yoga or Zumba… just do it.
• Smile…Put your best face forward, and greet every day with a smile. Smiling is contagious and a definite mood lifter…not just for you, but for everyone you meet.
• Go Outside…It’s not just about getting enough sunshine vitamin D, it’s about seeing your world, exploring, skiing, hiking, meeting friends for brunch, coffee or tea. Time outdoors – especially with family or friends – can lighten your mood and make you feel young and alive.
• Pamper Yourself…Be your own best friend. Get a massage or a soothing facial. Have you been wanting to try Botox, a facial filler, Latisse Lashes or perhaps a face or breast lift?

There IS no time like the present. Resolve to make 2016 your best year ever and schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Price to explore the many ways to be pampered: (203) 453-6635.

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This is the time of year you change your wardrobe, re-arrange your closet, polish up your favorite boots and, hopefully, switch up your skin care routine.

Just because you’ll be dressed in sweaters and jeans for the next few months doesn’t mean you can take a skin care break. Your skin deserves loving care all year long!

As temperatures drop, the air becomes drier and your skin may lose precious moisture. Fall is the perfect time to exfoliate and moisturize your skin…to counteract the damage chlorine, salt water and sun may have taken on your skin.

As you transition the seasons, here are a few skin care tips:

Switch from harsh soaps to cleansers – Soapy scrubs and gels feel wonderful after a day at the beach, but they can leave your skin dry. Switch to a soap-free hydrating cleanser or a creamy body wash.

Exfoliate to hydrate – Although you may think that exfoliation would make skin drier, exfoliation is actually the best way to treat parched, flaky skin. Introduce a face or body scrub once or twice a week. Oil-based scrubs are especially good because they exfoliate and hydrate.

Switch to creams – Brisk weather can mean biting winds. Lightweight lotions may be fine for summer, but when the weather changes, creams provide a stronger oil barrier. The barrier reduces water loss from the outer layer of skin and provides hydration at the same time.

Don’t forget sunscreen – You may not be spending time at the beach, but that doesn’t mean you can forget sunscreen for the next 6 months. Sunscreen is a daily essential, so don’t set it aside.

Keep your lips kissing soft – Moisturize now to prevent dry, cracked lips this winter. Use a non-petroleum based lip balm for best results.

Remember your hands – Hands can become chapped, dry and cracked during fall and winter. Prevention is the buzz word. Begin moisturizing now to keep your hands soft and supple all winter long.

And don’t forget your feet – Your feet are going to be stuck inside your boots and winter shoes for months to come. Make it a rule to continue taking care of them and exfoliating them on a regular basis, and you’ll have no problem slipping into your sandals when the time comes.

Call for a consultation appointment, today, and transition beautifully into fall!  (203) 453-6635

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So what is a healthy lifestyle, you ask?

Do you have to be a vegan who never goes to the beach? Of course not! You never have to go to those extremes if you don’t want to. The key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not overindulging.

We’ve heard that a glass a wine a day can be health for some people. The problem, again, is overindulging on wine, beer and liquor that can have a severe negative effect on your skin. It will become sallow, pale and thin, and be more prone to infections, cuts and bruises.

Smoking and drugs definitely damage the skin, as any doctor will tell you. You can also see the evidence of overuse on their skin, hair and teeth. Unfortunately, these activities can have an impact on your skin for years after habits are broken.

The best thing you can do for your skin is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, don’t overindulge, and stay out of direct sunlight. Maintaining healthy balance can work wonders for your skin.

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Some spider veins are hereditary while others are caused by pregnancy. Other problems include obesity or a job that requires a lot of standing. Spider veins can be caused by medications taken for postmenopausal hormone replacement, birth control pills, tumors, and constipation. If you think you may be at risk, you can try to change your lifestyle to avoid risk factors. Women are especially prone to spider veins and the risk factors increase with age.

There are treatment options available if you talk to your doctor. You can wear support stockings and properly fitting panty hose that can ease pain and discomfort. You can find these at pharmacies and surgical supply stores.

Other options for treatment include:

• Sclerotherapy – a procedure that causes spider veins to disappear gradually.
• Laser treatment – pulses of light delivered into the vein cause it to collapse.
• Lifestyle change – Stop smoking, take care of your skin, maintain a healthy weight and sleep enough.
• Radiofrequency occlusion – the heat from radiofrequency causes the vein to collapse and seal shut.
• Surgery – there are several surgical options, depending on the case. These include litigating the vein (tying it off) and removing it. Typically, surgery is reserved for the larger veins.

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