Skin Care News & Tips From Beverly Hills Dermatologist Dr. Kaplan

Keeping Pores Clean

I am frequently asked by actors and actresses what they can do to keep their pores clean when they have to wear heavy make-up while filming in 100 degree weather...

Keeping skin looking fresh requires a good skincare regimen. To keep pores clean and skin smooth, I recommend using a facial scrub 2 - 3 times a week. Look for exfoliants that contain very fine abrasive particles, such as date seed poweder or jojoba esters. I also recommend using a clay-based mask a few times a week to tighten pores and firm skin, but not on the same day you exfoliate. Doing both on the same day may cause overdrying.

And, like anything, preparation is key:

Before applying make-up, wash your face with a facial cleanser that fits your skin type.

Next, apply an astringent or toner with a cotton pad. A good toner will help refine pores while gently exfoliating dull skin.This helps prepare your skin for moisturizer.  Again, you need to use a toner that matches your skin type, but I suggest not using one that contains alcohol because it can be too harsh or overdrying.

Next, follow with a moisturizer with a minimum SPF 15. No matter how oily your skin is, you need to use some type of moisturizer to balance the dryness or harshness of the toner. You need moisturizer to balance your skin's oil production and SPF to protect your face from UV damage, which is the #1 factor in causing premature ageing (i.e. wrinkles, age spots, skin cancer, etc).

Moisturizer can also be considered a protective make-up base, so even though your make-up gets caked up in hot weather, you can be assured there is a 'protective' layer between your pores and the gunk. Acne sufferers should be aware that some thick creams can cause acne to flare.

LASTLY, try to wash off the caked-up makeup as soon as possible. Use a separate make-up remover, or a cleanser that can remove make-up.

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3 Beauty No-Nos

While there are obvious beauty tips, such as wearing sunscreen even in overcast days, and taking care not to over-tweeze your eyebrows because the hair there has a tendency not to grow back, here are three tips that everyone should practice:

1.    Cuticles are on our nails for a reason. They act as a protective barrier to keep dirt and bacteria from collecting under the skin at the base of your nail.  Do not have them cut off or pushed back too far, or you risk a very painful infection called paronychia.        I see this happening often, even after expensive manicures. See your dermatologist for a prescription ointment and antibiotics.

2.    Pimples should not be treated like bubble wrap.    Do not pop them, even if they are blinking and screaming, "squeeze me!"  When you squeeze a pimple, you push stuff out the top, but also push more stuff deeper inside the skin.  This causes more inflammation, which leads to more pimples. By squeezing and picking, you also create a scab that takes 2 weeks to heal, instead of the three days it would have taken, had you not picked.

3.    Avoid drinking fruity beverages outdoors.  If the peels or juices of lemons, limes, and some other citrus fruits come in contact with your skin while you are out in the sun (think lime margaritas) you can get a blistering sunburn in those areas.  These fruits contain compounds called psoralens that dramatically increase your sensitivity to the sun. Affected patients don't realize the cause, and think they have developed brown age spots, or even worse, herpes.  So take precautions when enjoying your citrus beverages outdoors.

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