Stay Simcha-Ready with Beautiful Skin

At the root of any skincare routine is the desire to stop the march of time. Women collectively spend millions of dollars every year just to try and capture lightning in a bottle – that moment of when they can feel their most attractive, youthful, alive. The basis of all beauty improvements is healthy, glowing skin: no filters, no heavy makeup, just your own mirror reflection looking beautiful.

If there’s a simcha in your future, or if you simply want to look your best, there are a number of effective procedures that can help you achieve that glow. The AJT consulted several well-known Atlanta dermatologists and skincare specialists for their advice on the best ways to preserve your appearance.

Dr. Inessa Fishman with Aviva says the pandemic has alerted more people to their skin imperfections.

“Most common concerns, skin-wise, are wrinkles, sunspots, and looking tired,” said Dr. Inessa Fishman, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Aviva Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics. She points out that the pandemic, with its endless video calls, has alerted many to their skin imperfections, causing her patients to consider procedures to improve their appearance. “Frown-lines, wrinkles around the mouth, and sagging skin tend to become more prominent in unflattering overhead lighting,” explains Dr. Fishman, “and as people see these characteristics, they seek out my help.”

Diminishing wrinkles is also something Mandy Ramer hears about a lot. Ramer, MSN, NP-C, of Olansky Dermatology, said, “One of the most common skin concerns I’m asked about is wrinkling. Patients often want to minimize their wrinkles, while still looking like themselves.”

There have been tremendous advances and improvements in the field of dermatology over the past several decades. Doctors now have a variety of options to offer their patients. For example, skin tightening and resurfacing are procedures that help pull up the skin with little downtime. Micro-needling is another highly sought-after technique that provides skin smoothing with approximately 24 hours of mild redness after the treatment. Dr. Fishman shared that “lip fillers and chin and jawline contouring fillers are definitely having a moment.” Injectables, such as Botox, Dysport and fillers are some of the most effective treatments available right now, offering “instant gratification with little-to-no downtime.”

One of Dr. Fishman’s patients, before and after upper eyelid surgery.

Overall, for the purposes of looking younger in the shortest amount of time, injectable filler is the first choice of dermatology and plastic surgery experts. It adds volume to the face and is often used in areas like cheeks to provide lift and support. Injectables can also be used in the lips and even in the chin to help hide sagging. Ramer explains that “fillers are usually used in areas of volume loss, such as the lines between the nose and the mouth.”

Mandy Ramer of Olansky Dermatology says the most frequent skin issue she’s asked about is wrinkling.

Although medical interventions certainly make it easier to improve your skin, there are plenty of things that one can do at home to enhance your appearance. Since the skin is our body’s largest organ, it is also a “reflector of what’s going on inside us,” says Dr. Fishman. Lots of factors can affect the way our skin looks, including stress, dehydration, illness, diet, and so on.

Dr. Fishman recommends less indulgence in sweets, consuming more healthy proteins, and choosing a good multivitamin. Also high on the list of skincare priorities is sun protection of at least 30 SPF daily, including in winter. Sunblock “is truly the best anti-aging product to use,” says Ramer. “Other fantastic at-home options are nightly retinol to help build collagen and a morning antioxidant serum, like vitamin C.”

Five Tips for Great Skincare at Home:

1 Wear sunscreen every day – minimum of SPF 30.
2 Apply retinol nightly – retinol creams are available in any pharmacy.
3 Use an antioxidant treatment every morning – also easy to purchase at the pharmacy.
4 Eat less sugar and processed foods.
5 Do cardiovascular exercises regularly – they stimulate blood flow to the skin for a glowing complexion.

Timeline When Preparing for Special Events:

90 days before: Schedule a consultation with your dermatologist to discuss options. Start using advised products regularly. Drink lots of water daily.

60 days before: Try a microneedling session for tighter, fresher skin or any other resurfacing procedure your doctor recommends. Results may take a few weeks to fully appear.

30 days before: Schedule a facial to remove impurities and get your skin in top shape.

2 weeks before: Continue to use your products as directed. Don’t forget to moisturize your lips, especially in winter.