As we bid adieu to the cold, harsh winter and welcome the gentle warmth of spring, it’s not just our wardrobes that need a seasonal overhaul. Our skin, having braved the winter chills, now faces a new set of challenges with the changing weather. The arrival of spring calls for a refreshed skincare routine that caters to the evolving needs of your skin. Let’s dive into how you can transition your skincare regimen to embrace the vibrant energy of spring.

1. Lighten Up on Moisture

Winter skincare is synonymous with heavy, rich moisturizers designed to combat dryness. However, as the mercury rises, it’s time to switch to lighter formulas. Opt for a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer that hydrates without weighing your skin down. Oil-free moisturizers can be particularly refreshing and are ideal for maintaining balance as temperatures warm. The Vivoderm Anti-Aging Daily Moisturizer is a perfect transition for the warmer weather!

2. SPF: Your Non-Negotiable Companion ☀️

The cornerstone of spring skincare is robust sun protection. With days getting longer and the sun shining brighter, shielding your skin from UV rays is crucial. Make sunscreen a non-negotiable part of your morning routine, choosing a product with at least SPF 30. Remember, UVA and UVB protection is essential, even on cloudy days, as harmful rays can penetrate through the clouds.

3. Exfoliate with Care

Shedding the dullness of winter skin begins with proper exfoliation. Transitioning into spring, it’s important to slough off dead skin cells to reveal a brighter, more even complexion. Incorporate a gentle exfoliant into your routine, choosing between mechanical exfoliators or chemical exfoliants like AHAs (glycolic acid) and BHAs (salicylic acid). However, moderation is key—over-exfoliating can lead to irritation and sensitivity.

4. Antioxidant Power

Spring is the perfect time to bolster your skin’s defense against environmental aggressors. Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid not only protect against free radical damage but also brighten the skin and help reduce the appearance of dark spots. Incorporating a serum enriched with antioxidants in the morning can provide a protective barrier against pollutants and enhance your skin’s natural radiance.

5. Stay Hydrated Inside and Out

Hydration is a year-round necessity. As we enjoy more outdoor activities, keeping our skin and body hydrated becomes even more important. Continue to drink plenty of water throughout the day and consider using a hydrating serum or essence to keep your skin plump and nourished.

6. Tailor to Your Skin’s Needs

Finally, listen to your skin. The transition from winter to spring can vary in its effects on different skin types. Pay attention to how your skin responds to changes in your routine and be ready to adapt. Whether it’s incorporating more hydrating products, reducing exfoliation, or seeking out specific treatments for spring-related skin concerns, customization is key.

Embracing the Season

Spring is a season of renewal and growth, not just for nature but for our skin as well. By adapting your skincare routine to the changing climate, you can ensure that your skin remains healthy, radiant, and ready to enjoy the beauty of spring. Remember, the goal is to support your skin’s natural balance and protect it from seasonal challenges, ensuring a smooth transition into the warmer months ahead.

Herbal anti-aging face masks have always been a popular product among women. It is not a trend but has gained popularity with more use and effectiveness. These anti-aging herbal face masks provide the skin with nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants which are absorbed through skin. There are many brands in the market offering herbal face masks for anti-aging. However, you must choose the one that suits your skin type best.

Get Your Skin Ready for Your Wedding, Graduation or Other Major Event

By Kevin C. Smith MD FACP FRCPC

Everyone – guests and those who will be in the public eye — wants their skin to look its best on their big day. Here are some simple tips you can follow to help avoid skin problems on your special day:

• Acne or Rosacea Skin:
  Plan ahead: if you have a skin condition like acne or rosacea, see a dermatologist at least 3-4 months ahead of the big day (and sooner, if possible), so that your condition can be brought under control and so that your skin can heal up in time for the occasion. Check out www.AcneGuide.ca or www.RosaceaGuide.ca for treatment information.
• Wrinkles, Unwanted Hair or Sweating:
  Are you thinking of having treatments like Botox® (for frown lines, or to control excessive sweating), fillers like Restylane™, Juvederm™ and Artecoll™ for wrinkles, creases and scars, or laser treatments for unwanted hair or to remove broken blood vessels from the face? You should aim to have these treatments completed about 3 weeks before the event, so that the benefits of treatment will have fully developed, and so that any side effects of treatment like redness or small bruises will have resolved. Discuss the plans and timing with your dermatologist so that these things can be taken into account when scheduling your treatments. (Read more about Botox®)
• New Cosmetics:
  If you want to experiment with cosmetics, you should do so well in advance, to reduce the risk that an allergic or irritant reaction will interfere with your enjoyment of the event.
• Sun Tanning:
  Sun protection is important in the weeks leading up to an important event, to reduce the risk that you will have sunburn or peeling on the big day. It is also important to avoid experimenting with tanning beds in the weeks leading up to a major event, in case you have an undesired reaction to the UV light.
• Self-Tanning:
  Self-tanning creams and spray-on tans should not be used for the first time within three weeks of a major event, in case there is an allergic reaction or an unusual or uneven color is created. If you want to use such products, start to experiment with them several months ahead so that you can learn how to obtain safe, reliable results. Remember that the pigment created by many self-tanning products can discolor fine clothing, so it might be best not to apply them within a week of a public event.

What if there is a dermatological emergency like a flare-up of acne or an allergic reaction on the face in the days before a wedding, graduation or other important day? Fortunately, many of these problems can be helped by modern medical treatments. Your doctor may be able to arrange a high priority appointment with a dermatologist if they explain that there is an important event coming up – most of us, and most of our staff have been through these things ourselves and we are very sympathetic.

About the author:
Dr. Kevin Smith is a dermatologist in Niagara Falls, Ontario with a particular interest in protecting the skin and in correcting skin problems resulting from aging, rosacea and sun damage. He is an expert in the use of Botox®, fillers, lasers and intense pulsed light to maintain and enhance the appearance of the skin, and have lectured on those subjects across North America, and in Europe, Asia and Mexico. Read more at www.smithlaser.com

There are lots of things you can do with your diet and supplements that can help your dry skin. To combat dry skin, your body needs fats to build fat-rich cells that hold on to moisture. Saturated, monounsaturated and omega-3 fats are key components in the cell membranes . Vegetarians (who eat eggs and dairy products but not meat) eat about one-third less saturated fat than the average meat eater. Vegans (who eat no animal products of any kind) only receive about one half as much saturated fat as the average meat-eating American. As a result, they obtain from their diet much less cholesterol than omnivores.

The best way to assure you get a healthy diet of skin-enhancing fats is by eating a wide variety of whole plant foods. You can get fats from nuts, seeds, olives and avocados Use olive oil, replete with monosaturated fat, for cooking and salad dressings. Coconut oil is also an excellent alternative for it retains its stability at high temperatures. Try to avoid processed foods and deep-fried foods that are rich in trans fats and omega-6 polyrrnsaturated fats. These fats contribute to the production of free radicals, the by-products of oxidation, which is a skin aging process that antioxidant vegetables help tame. Although for many years polyunsaturated vegetable oils, like canola, corn, safflower, and soy were recommended, c anola oil is actually unstable when heated and the processed used to stabilize it turns a certain percentage of the oil into a trans fat.

Eating the undesirable fats found in these oils (as well in trans-fat containing foods such as margarine, most baked goods, fried foods, processed foods and sweets )may increase both wrinkling and the risk of developing skin and other cancers including melanoma. Vegetarians can eat eggs and dairy to obtain saturated fats while vegans can obtain them from coconut oil.

Fish oils are good sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids which can increase the lipid content of your cells. They can be obtained from fish like salmon, as well as supplements with Omega-3 or Cod Liver Oil capsules. Omega-3s help your skin by providing essential fats needed for cellular integrity while they also prevent inflammation which can lead to the formation of dark spots in pigmented skin types.
Antioxidants are helpful in fighting free radicals – renegade oxygen molecules that cause cellular aging and wrinkles.

Also look for products that contain ingredients that help your skin retain moisture, such as essential fatty acids along with ingredients like lecithin to strengthens kin cell membranes. Look for products that are also third party tested to ensure they are free of environmental toxins. It is important in purchasing essential fats to ensure that you find a pure, well-tested source, free of environmental contaminants.

Several studies have suggested that it is better to get antioxidants through natural food sources instead of supplements, but if this is not possible or additional vitamin intake is needed, supplements can be a valuable help.

SUPPLEMENTS
The following oral supplements that contain the below nutrients can all be helpful to your skin:

Selenium is a powerful antioxidant mineral. Selenium. Some scientific evidence suggests that consumption of selenium may reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer. However, FDA has determined that this evidence is limited and not conclusive. Vitamins A, C, E, B5, alpha lipoic acid, and grape seed extract, Ester-C , CoQro, lutein, as well as zinc, selenium, copper, and lycopene. Take these supplements according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Dry skin recommendations and supplements that can help your skin

LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS

Dry skin responds best to climates with high humidity and hates cold, dry and windy climates. Indoor heating and air-conditioning can also be drying to skin. If you live in a dry climate, try to use a humidifier to add moisture to the air. There are many affordable varieties available on the market or for re-sale today.
Don’t steam facials because steaming is actually more drying than hydrating. Likewise, avoid steam rooms, swimming pools, chlorinated hot tubs and overly hot baths. Avoid those old-fashioned recommendations to put your face under a towel over a pot of boiling water. Not only will this lead to excessive drying, it can also cause broken capillaries or blood veins along the fragile skin of the cheeks and nose.

If your skin tends to be dry, and tight or wrinkled and sun spotted, avoid excessive sun, exposure or hot wax facial treatments, hair sprays and hair dyes that can dry your skin and provoke inflammation leading to dark spots.

Hormone replacement therapy can help to lessen skin dryness after Menopause though it will increase age spots due to new hormones stimulating pigment production. It may help prevent the wrinkles that quickly occur after menopause Consult with your doctor with your family health history to make an informed decision on HRT.