May is skin cancer awareness month, and it's a great reminder to think about how we take care of our skin. We spoke with the owner of Radiance Medspa in Woodbury, Rebecca Pappas, and licensed aesthetician and massage therapist AJ Schara for some tips on how to care for our skin.
Woodbury Magazine: Why is caring for our skin important for our overall health?
AJ Schara: Everything that we do in our daily lives, everything that we eat, affects our skin. There are people that will eat sugar and then break out.
WM: What are some common skin woes that clients come in with?
Schara: Wrinkles, sun damage, acne—those are the three big ones.
WM: For those three, what are some treatments that you might recommend?
Rebecca Pappas: For wrinkles: To get immediate results, they can get Botox or use dermal fillers. For sun damage: We can use over-the-counter products such as Obagi skin care, chemical peels or laser services. For acne: We have a laser for acne that kills the bacteria.
WM: Can you tell us a bit more about dermal fillers?
Pappas: Dermal fillers are an injection. It’s a hyaluronic acid that your body naturally produces. It lasts about a year and you can use it in the lips, the cheeks, the corners of your mouth, under the eyes, jowls, lip lines, smile lines—lots of areas.
WM: Tell us a bit more about sun damage and the importance of sunscreen.
Schara: Half of the [sun] damage on everyone is already done by age 18. Unless you actually have a good sunscreen on that’s at least an SPF 30 or higher, you are doing damage. There are two different types of sunscreens: chemical and mineral. Chemical sunscreens will absorb the rays, and mineral sunscreens will literally reflect the rays off your skin. It’s preferable to get a mineral sunscreen, one with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
WM: How often should we re-apply sunscreen?
Schara: Every two hours.
WM: Do you have any suggestions for those of us who still want to achieve that summer glow?
Schara: If you absolutely have to, get a spray tan.
WM: Do you have any tips for getting our skin ready for summer events?
Pappas: Start early. With lasers and chemical peels, that’s not something that’s instant. Dermal fillers and Botox give clients faster results.
