Scottsdale Health August 2019

eauty
/ by Maggie Husami, NMD
Dr. Maggie Husami
works out of the
Mesa Derma Health
Skin & Laser clinic.
Derma Health has
served over 50,000
patients at five locations
in the Phoenix
metropolitan area.
It is ranked as a
top 1 percent medspa
in the nation
and is the No. 1
provider of Dermal
fillers and Botox in
the Southwest. Learn
more at dhiskin.com.
Banishing Blemishes
Four steps to get rid of adult acne for good
Blackheads, blemishes, breakouts – oh my! As a teenager,
we expect to have these skin issues. Whether
it’s the shift in hormones, the increase in stress or a
variety of other reasons, pimples are a part of the territory.
Unfortunately for many adults, acne is a problem
through their 20s and 30s. Some causes of adult acne
are similar to those in teen years. Acne increases as
sebaceous glands produce more oil, which can lead to
pores becoming blocked by bacteria, dry and dead skin
cells, dirt, contaminants and, yes, more oil.
Hormones continue to fluctuate into adulthood and
while they might be the easiest to blame for breakouts,
there are other factors that can be playing into your less
than stellar skin. Stress can fuel hormonal changes, so
as those levels continue to escalate with added responsibilities,
the blemishes can as well. Air pollution can also
clog pores and prolonged exposure to contamination can
lead to uneven skin tone, inflammation and the breakdown
of collagen.
While some elements might seem out of your control,
some tips to say bye-bye to breakouts for good.
Step 1: Be mindful
of products
You might be using
the wrong products
for your skin type.
Even if you are using
the right products,
there is a chance you
are using them too
often. Exfoliating your
skin on a daily basis
can dry it out, causing
more oil to be produced.
While it’s okay
to use gentle cleansers
in the morning
and at night, save the
stronger products for
once or twice a week.
Look for products that
are non-comedogenic,
which are specifically
formulated to not
block pores.
Step 2: Don’t
pick your pimples
It’s oh so tempting to
pop, pick and poke,
but you are doing
way more harm than
good. This can lead
to the spread of
bacteria, infections,
inflammation and
scarring. When
you see a pesky
blackhead or zit,
resist the urge
to take care of
it yourself. For
health, safety and
preservation of skin
beauty, schedule an
appointment with
an aesthetician or
medical professional
to have them properly
perform an extraction.
Step 3: Evaluate
your diet
The foods we put
in our body show
up on our skin. An
unhealthy gut might
be the root cause of
acne showing up on
your face and body.
Consider the amount
of processed foods,
sugar, dairy and
alcohol you are consuming.
Eating foods
such as berries,
leafy greens, citric
fruits, squash, sweet
potato and whole
grains can help clear
up skin. Drinking
enough water daily
also removes toxins,
excess waste and
bacteria trapped
under the skin.
Step 4: Meet with
a professional
When blackouts and
blemishes go beyond
treatment at home,
a professional can
create a plan to help
you say sayonara
to the problems.
Treatments such as
medical-grade facials,
skin rejuvenating
lasers, microdermabrasion
and peels
can penetrate the
skin on the cellular
level. Used in combination
with medicalgrade
skin care, you
will start to see the
healthy, radiant skin
you deserve to show
off as an adult.
48 ScottsdaleHealth 08/19