Getting a facial can certainly feel like a luxurious, relaxing, and pampering experience but did you know that a facial could also provide your skin with some amazing health benefits? Not only does turning to a dermatologist ensure that you get quality and comprehensive care to treat everything from sun damage to acne, but also a dermatologist has the knowledge, skills, and tools to be able to provide customized facials that can target and treat common skin problems.

A facial offers the skin a variety of benefits including:

• Deep cleaning
• Extractions
• Exfoliation
• Hydration and moisturizing

A facial can also be tailored to your skin type and the concerns or dermatological issues you are worried about. A facial can be used to treat:

• Redness and uneven skin tone
• Hyperpigmentation
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Dry, dull and flaky skin
• Acne-prone skin
• Rosacea
• Eczema
• Sun damage
• Enlarged pores

One facial won’t be able to address all skin issues you may have, but our dermatological team can work with you to create a customized facial and treatment plan that will be able to treat any and all problems you’re concerned about.

The products that we use during your facial will also depend on the results you’re hoping to achieve. For example, certain enzyme peels and products with glycolic acid can help to remove dead skin cells to produce fresh, radiant skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If you have questions about the different products we use and their ingredients, or if you have any allergies, it’s important to discuss this first with your skin doctor.

Getting regular facials can be a great way to keep skin looking and feeling its best, and it should be a normal part of most people’s skincare routines. Along with keeping skin clean and hydrated, facials can also target problem areas when they arise. Have questions about facials? Ask your dermatologist today.

With the warmer months just around the corner you may be getting ready to plan some fun in the sun. The summertime always finds children spending hours outside playing, as well as beach-filled family vacations, backyard barbeques, and more days just spent soaking up some much-needed vitamin D.

While it can certainly be great for our emotional and mental well-being to go outside, it’s also important that we are protecting our skin against the harmful effects of the sun’s rays. These are some habits to follow all year long to protect against skin cancer,

Wear Sunscreen Daily

Just because the sun isn’t shining doesn’t mean that your skin isn’t being exposed to the harmful UVA and UVB rays. The sun’s rays have the ability to penetrate through clouds. So it’s important that you generously apply sunscreen to the body and face about 30 minutes before going outside.

Opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 that also protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Everyone should use sunscreen, even infants. Just one sunburn during your lifetime can greatly increase your risk for developing skin cancer, so always remember to lather up!

Reapply Sunscreen Often

If you are planning to be outdoors for a few hours you’ll want to bring your sunscreen with you. After all, one application won’t be enough to protect you all day long. A good rule of the thumb to follow is, reapply sunscreen every two hours. Of course, you’ll also want to apply sunscreen even sooner if you’ve just spent time swimming or if you’ve been sweating a lot (e.g. running a race or playing outdoor sports).

Seek Shade During the Day

While feeling the warm rays of the sun on your shoulders can certainly feel nice, the sun’s rays are at their most powerful and most dangerous during the hours of 10am-4pm. If you plan to be outdoors during these times it’s best to seek shady spots. This means enjoying lunch outside while under a wide awning or sitting on the beach under an umbrella. Even these simple measures can reduce your risk for skin cancer.

See a Dermatologist

Regardless of whether you are fair skinned, have a family history of skin cancer or you don’t have any risk factors, it’s important that everyone visit their dermatologist at least once a year for a comprehensive skin cancer screening. This physical examination will allow our skin doctor to be able to examine every growth and mole from head to toe to look for any early signs of cancer. These screenings can help us catch skin cancer early on when it’s treatable.

Noticing changes in one of your moles? Need to schedule your next annual skin cancer screening? If so, a dermatologist will be able to provide you with the proper care you need to prevent, diagnose and treat both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.

Nowadays, the age of people opting to get Botox is getting younger and younger because they are after the treatment’s preventive benefits. Call us at Westgate Dermatology and Laser Center - Winston Salem for a complimentary consultation to determine if Botox is right for you. In the meantime, here are general recommendations for when you should consider getting Botox.

During Your 20s

Most dermatologists recommend Botox injections for people in their 20s when they have lines that are starting to stick around.  Once you see these expression lines remaining when your face is at rest and moisturized, you should consider preventive Botox injections. In some individuals, this could be during their mid-20s.

During Your 30s

Your expressions, muscle movement, and amount of sun damage will all come into play when deciding to receive Botox in your 30s. Most individuals, however, regardless of gender, start getting Botox injections in their 30s because of lines on the forehead, eyes, and around the lips. 

During Your 40s

In most cases, the most suitable time to start Botox injections would depend on a person’s lifestyle.  If your lifestyle involves a lot of sun exposure or is tougher on your skin, like if you live in a high altitude or you’re a smoker, then you might need to start Botox much earlier.

Need More Information on Botox? Call Us.

Call Westgate Dermatology and Laser Center, P.A. in Winston-Salem, NC, at (336) 768-1280 to set your appointment. 

Please note that we have currently suspended our operations at our Thomasville Medical Center office for April and May.

You might be surprised to discover that some of the most innocuous habits could actually be aging you. Preventing fine lines and wrinkles is certainly easier than trying to treat them once they form. While wrinkles are a normal part of life and aging, there are things you can do each and everyday to keep your skin looking young and healthy so you can knock a few years off your age and people will be none the wiser.

Wear Sunscreen

Wearing sunscreen each and every day without fail is probably one of the best things you can do to keep your skin looking and feeling its best. Not only does exposing skin to the sun’s rays cause sun damage and increase your risk for skin cancer, it can also cause premature lines and wrinkles. To protect your skin from the sun, always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 every day (even in the winter and on cloudy days).

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is so very important and yet not enough of us get quality sleep every night. Nights of tossing and turning won’t just leave you grumpy, tired and mentally foggy, it can also lead to wrinkles. That’s because a lack of sleep can actually accelerate the signs of aging and can also affect the skin’s ability to repair itself every night. Most adults require anywhere from 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Are you getting your beauty sleep?

Stay Hydrated

Did you know that as many as 75 percent of US adults suffer from chronic dehydration? This statistic is startlingly and could have a serious impact not just on your health but also on the health and appearance of your skin. If like most people you aren’t getting more than 2.5 cups of water a day, it’s important that you up your water intake to at least 8 8-ounce glasses per day (and even more if you’re active). Staying hydrated keeps the skin looking plump and radiant (and who doesn’t want that?).

Keep Skin Moisturized

Dry skin can also leave you prone to those early signs of aging, so it’s important that you keep skin supple and hydrated. Everyone should use a moisturizer every day, which can improve skin’s glow and also reduce the appearance of facial lines. Those dealing with more severe dry skin may need to turn to their dermatologist for more intense moisturizers.

Sleep on Your Back

If you find yourself snuggling with your pillow night after night you may soon notice fine lines developing on your face as a result. Just changing your sleep position alone can easily prevent these “sleep wrinkles”. If you want to reduce wrinkles on your face avoid sleeping on your side or stomach and sleep on your back instead.

Of course, a dermatologist offers a wide range of cosmetic treatments that can also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. From Botox and dermal fillers to customized facials, laser treatments and chemical peels, there are many options out there to help you achieve a younger appearance. Talk to your dermatologist today about ways to prevent and treat wrinkles.

Dermatologists at Westgate Dermatology and Laser Center, located in Kernersville, Thomasville and Winston Salem, NC, understands what it means to have acne. About 5% of adults and 80% of adolescents suffer from acne, which can cripple an individual's confidence.

More About Acne

Secretions from the sebaceous glands provide much needed skin moisture it needs. Naturally, sebum, the oily secretion from the sebaceous glands, moves from the root of the hair follicle to the top. Sebum doesn't reach the surface of skin and creates a blockage consisting of sebum and dead cells when people suffer from acne.

Whiteheads are formed when the opening of the hair follicle is completely blocked. Blackheads, on the other hand, are formed when the hair follicle's pore is still open. The inflammation of whiteheads and blackheads can produce red pustules that, when inflamed, lead to the scarring of the skin.

Acne Treatment Options

Modern-day dermatology aids in acne treatment. Your Kernersville, Thomasville and Winston Salem dermatologist can provide you with some techniques to help treat your problems:

• Mild acne requires Benzoyl Peroxide to reduce blockage of skin pores.
• Antibiotics, both oral and topical, may be important to prevent hair follicle infections.
• Tretinoin, a source of Vitamin A, helps exfoliate blocked pores.
• Whiteheads and blackheads are manually removed using metal instruments.

Acne Scars

It's difficult to keep your skin healthy, even if you wash every day. You may still develop acne and acne scars. Modern technology has several techniques to help reduce or eliminate those scars.

Here are some procedures your dermatologist provides:

• Microneedling
• Chemical peels
• Laser Skin Treatment

Need a consultation?

For more information on acne, acne scars and the various acne treatments, don't hesitate to call your Westgate Dermatology and Laser Center dermatologist in Kernersville (336) 768-1280, Thomasville (336) 714-0238 and Winston Salem (336) 768-1280, NC, today.