Fall in Iowa means crisp air, pumpkin patch visits, corn mazes and warm mugs of apple cider. As the leaves change color and we settle back into our daily routines of school and work, it’s easy to forget about the hot, hazy days of summer. But there’s one thing that shouldn’t be forgotten: your skin. As you enjoy the new activities that come with the change of seasons, you should take a little time to refresh your skin care routine, too. At Dr. Andrews Plastic Surgery, there are a few things we often recommend to make sure your skin stays happy and healthy through the fall.
Visia Skin Analysis
Visia is a unique skin analysis platform that employs cross-polarized UV lighting, UV florescence and UV photography combined with proprietary analytic software to produce images of your skin that show wrinkles, texture, pores, UV spots, brown spots, red areas and porphyrins (a marker of oil in the skin). (Click here for more information- Visia) The software produces a Truskin Age®, which is a unique assessment of the condition and age of your skin. The software compares the condition of your skin with a database of skin analyses of people your age, giving you a unique metric to help guide response to skincare and skin resurfacing technologies. At Dr. Andrews Plastic Surgery, we have the latest (7th) generation Visia technology and perform free skin analyses for all of our skincare patients.
Hyrdate
While hydrating your skin is a must year-round, you likely know the feeling of dry, rough skin setting in with the cold weather. When you start wearing thicker sweaters and jackets, it’s a good sign that it’s also time to switch to a bulkier skin hydrator. Your skin needs extra protection from dry air and wind, both of which draw water molecules out of your skin cells and leave them parched. Dry skin also loses some of its volume, often making wrinkles and fine lines more apparent and causing sagging skin to droop even further. Emollient, occlusive products may feel slick and heavy after a summer of lightweight skin care, but they form a barrier from the elements that will keep your skin hydrated and dewy.
Watch What You Eat
Your diet has an immediate impact on your skin’s health. Eating the right foods can improve your skin texture, help with hydration and reduce redness or puffiness. The opposite is also true: eating the wrong foods can result in uneven blotches, rough spots, oiliness or breakouts. If you are prone to acne or patchy skin tone, eliminating or reducing certain foods in your diet can make a difference.
Dairy and processed sugar are two of the biggest culprits in producing skin problems. As we enter the season of sweet apple pies and creamy pumpkin spice lattes, your skin might suffer if you overindulge. While it’s certainly fine to treat yourself to fall delicacies, you should try to avoid heavy cold-weather comfort foods on a daily basis. There are also plenty of fall foods packed with vitamins that make your skin glow: pumpkin, squash and sweet potato are rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C. If you’re craving sweetness, honey and cinnamon can give you a hint of fall spice while adding anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Visit Dr. Andrews Plastic Surgery
Anytime is the right time to consult a professional about your skin, but we always encourage our clients to visit us during the fall so we can help refresh their skin from any summer sun damage. If you are feeling like your dark spots have worsened or your wrinkles seem deeper, it’s possible that the summer sunshine has had photoaging effects on your skin that topical creams and serums won’t be able to fix. At Dr. Andrews Plastic Surgery, we can work with you to find a solution to your concerns–whether you’re a good candidate for a facial filler, brow lift or laser skin resurfacing, we are prepared to address your anti-aging needs.
Factors like skin type and age can mean that your skin needs extra love or particular attention as the seasons change. At Dr. Andrews Plastic Surgery, our team of skin care experts is available to help you address your individual concerns and care for your skin this fall. Call us today at 319-800-6877 to learn more about our fall skin care options and schedule a consultation.
