Do you have skin problems and need a better advice? Here are some of the skin care tips by Dr. Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip.
Dr. Joyce is an expert in cosmetic, surgical and medical dermatology. Currently, she is the director of cosmetic dermatology at the South Shore Medical Center. She is also a faculty member of the American Academy of Dermatology, the New England Dermatologic Society, the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and the Women’s Dermatologic Society.
Dr. Joyce shares her experience with HealthyNews24. Here is a short interview with her.
1. Being a practicing and known dermatologist, you might be seeing a variety of people with different types of skin conditions. What is the most common of them?
I do see a large variety of skin types and conditions. Most commonly, my patients seek my help for helping to resolve acne and to treat the effects of aging.
2. When should we all start caring our skin? Is aging responsible for different types of skin diseases?
Everybody should be taking care of their skin, regardless of their age. Even children require care for their skin – including management of conditions like eczema and protection from the sun with sunblock. In my post, 4 Decades of Beautiful Skin I offer tips for people in their 20’s through 50’s.
3. We had found out that you had acne since the age of 12. And even you had it when you’re studying dermatology in a medical college. How did you feel and how did you get rid of them? Please share your experience.
I have personally struggled with acne for a long time. When I decided to study dermatology, I knew that I would need to take care of my own skin before people would have confidence in me treating their skin.
Using research from my field of study, I figured out what type of acne I had. I cleaned up my diet and focused on my overall health while introducing products to help manage my skin.
The end result was clear skin. However, acne will return if not properly managed so I continue to use the products that work for my skin type while focusing on a healthy lifestyle.
I have a segment on my blog dedicated to helping others to clear their acne.
4. As per the latest data, In the U.S., annually $8.1 billion is spent on treating skin cancers (melanoma & non-melanoma cancers). What is the main cause of skin cancers in The United States? Can we minimize the risk of developing skin cancers?
The main cause of skin cancer in the United States is exposure to harmful UV rays. Any exposure to UV rays from the sun will increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
To help minimize this risk, we recommend taking measures to reduce direct exposure to the sun. Please read Sun Safety for kids on how to protect yourself (and your kids) from UV rays.
5. What are the chances of surviving skin cancers? Do you recommend anything to patients?
When detected early, survival rates for skin cancer are very high. It is very easy to cure somebody of skin cancer if the damage is identified early on.
First, all patients should be educated on the ABCDE’s of skin cancer.
Second, they should take the information about what skin cancer looks like, I recommend that patients perform a monthly check of their own bodies. Anything that looks suspicious should be discussed with a doctor immediately.
Finally, an annual skin check with a dermatologist will provide an overall assessment of skin health and a final check of any changing spots.
6. There are many skin care creams, lotions, face washes, and even surgical procedures and they always boast of glowing the skin. Do they really work?
In my experience, many of these products do work when used correctly and combined with an overall healthy lifestyle. There is no magic product that is going to make your skin look perfect.
However, when somebody takes care of their body from the inside (with a healthy diet, plenty of water and exercise), it will show on the outside.
Products and procedures will help with having great skin, but are not as a standalone option.
7. Do you want to recommend any such product that is useful to try?
Personally, I believe in using products that are produced using clean technology. What this means is that chemicals that are known to be cancer-causing or unhealthy are not used in the product.
I recommend a number of products on my website and personally use Hydropeptide products for my skin.
8. What types of skin care products must be avoided? Also please illustrate what these skin care products have that causes skin problems rather solving them?
As I mentioned above, I do not use products that contain harmful substances. While these products won’t necessarily cause a skin problem, and may very well solve a problem, I don’t like that they introduce cancer-causing chemicals.
A small amount of product is absorbed through the skin and I don’t want these types of products in my body. There has also been a push towards natural products (meaning skin care based on things found in nature).
While I can appreciate the thoughts behind this, I see all too often that these things can cause an allergic reaction and irritate the skin.
Clean products are the way to go!
9. Is there anything that could be made at home with easily available resources that could glow the skin?
I like to make a scrub using organic sugar, olive oil and some ground ginger which I use to help exfoliate my legs. This is a slough off dry, flaky skin and the olive oil will leave legs soft. This works really well on knees and ankles which are prone to being very dry.
10. Do our daily diets play any role in pros and cons of skin conditions?
Yes! Diet plays a very big role in skin conditions, along with exercise. Many foods are known to contribute to irritated skin, including dairy, sugar and foods that are very greasy.
Additionally, fruits and vegetables contain a large number of antioxidants which help to ward off disease and offer anti-aging benefits.
11. If someone has oily, dry or sensitive skin then what type of care they need. How do they get their skin glowing and shining?
Every skin type requires specific advice and it is difficult to make one general recommendation. By living a healthy lifestyle and following a basic skin care regimen, many people will find that their skin improves.
If skin is oily I always recommend washing no more than twice a day with a gentle cleanser and using a light moisturizer.
For a dry skin, the same advice applies but I add in a moisturizing serum once or twice a day.
Sensitive skin doesn’t require any change to routine but it may take experimenting with different product brands and formulas to find something that works for you.
12. Please give some easy to follow and proven to work tips to our readers.
Eat clean. Exercise regularly. Drink water. Wash your face every single night before bed. Use a moisturizer with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) in the morning. Moisturize in the evening before bed. Exfoliate weekly.
Do you have any skin issues? Ask the expert now.