Women Connect

Tomas Huerta, MD: "I think a great place to start for the majority of people is cleansing twice a day with something gentle because you don't want to dry out your skin for the sake of keeping it clean. 

"In the morning, you put on a moisturizer with an SPF of 30. That's kind of the magic number. At SPF of 15, you're blocking 93% of the sun's rays. At SPF 30, you hit that 97%. So that's really what the American Academy of Dermatology recommends. So cleanse and then moisturize and protect in the morning. If you're wearing makeup that day, you put that on over the moisturizer and you go about your business. 

"Then at night, I would cleanse again and moisturize again. That's a great time to work in a moisturizer that has niacinamide (a form of Vitamin B3) or Vitamin C. Those are great ingredients to get on your skin that can reduce inflammation, cause a lightening effect or improve the texture of your skin. 

"So, I say cleanse twice a day, moisturize and protect in the morning, moisturize at night. That's what I would recommend for a very basic skin routine that should help pretty much anybody." 

Susan Caniglia, MSN, APRN: "Botox is very safe. Cosmetically, it's been around for over 20 years now. It is also used for medical reasons, so it has a lot of research behind it. I always tell my patients the good and the bad thing about Botox is that it wears off. So if you didn't like it, it's going to wear off. But most people come back for their second dose because it's a really safe medication. 

"I would just recommend seeing a provider that has been trained. Botox treatments are tailored to each person. Everybody's different on units and what they're looking for. It kind of gets a bad rap because you see some very overdone people on TV, but Botox is usually more natural-looking. You still look like 'you,' your lines just start to fade away." 

Tomas Huerta, MD: "With this latest TikTok Trend, you have more adolescents paying attention to their skin at an earlier age, which I think is a good thing overall. But by making skin care products a commodity — almost like collecting trading cards — you can run into problems. Fortunately, I think with most of these skin care products, the worst thing that's going to happen would be a lot of irritation to the skin.

"If you have a child on TikTok that's getting interested in skin care, you could always say, 'Why don't we go talk to a medical provider about this and let them guide you?' I think the pediatrician or primary care provider for the child is a great place to start.  

"But, overall, it's a positive to start taking care of your skin at a young age. Younger children should avoid retinoids, but a good cleanser that doesn't dry out your face too much, a quality sunscreen (with an SPF of 30) and moisturizer are great things."

Tomas Huerta, MD: "Acne can affect people of all ages. There are great over-the-counter products like CeraVe, Cetaphil and Neutrogena. Some of the downfalls I see, especially with younger patients: they try hard to scrub away their acne using these exfoliating pads, and they can almost overdo it. 

"In trying to treat your acne, you don't want to stress out your skin. It's just going to make things worse. We want to go back to some of those basics: a good acne wash with benzoyl peroxide or a mild retinoid. Those can be a great start. If you know somebody that's having scarring or dark spots from their acne, that patient should see a dermatologist because those can have lasting effects."

Tomas Huerta, MD: "Hair thinning/hair loss is a big part of my practice. Most of the hair experts out there are dermatologists. That's probably where I would start if you have a concern. There are a lot of different types of hair loss. We put it into two categories: scarring and non-scarring. With scarring hair loss, what you lose you can't get back. With non-scarring, some hair can come out, but then it can grow back. 

"This is another space where supplement companies and over-the-counter products saw an opportunity because most of us are pretty passionate about our hair. It can have a pretty big psychological effect if you notice changes. There are some good products and some not-so-good products. If you want to make a difference, probably the best place to start would be with different prescription strength medications, which is something a dermatologist can help with." 

1. Eggs are a good source of protein and biotin, which help prevent dry skin.
2. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps keep skin thick, supple and moisturized.
3. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and seeds. Fiber helps with gut health. When our gut is healthy, our skin can function at its best.
4. Eat more plant-based foods and avoid high amounts of red meat.
5. Low salt intake is important. Salty foods promote dehydration, which can pull moisture out of your skin.

Source: Methodist dietitian Deborah Willcox, RD

1. Avoid fat-free dairy products. Cow’s milk, particularly skim milk, is associated with acne breakouts.
2. Stay away from processed foods. Following the Mediterranean diet can help with inflammation and moisture problems in your skin.
3. Limit added sugars in foods and sugary beverages. Spikes in blood sugar release higher levels of the hormone insulin-growth factor, which activates oil glands and increases pimples.
4. Watch salt intake. High salt levels can lead to bloating and fluid retention, which contributes to puffiness under the eyes.
5. Limit alcohol. It acts like a toxin and promotes inflammation.

Source: Methodist dietitian Deborah Willcox, RD

ROASTED GARLIC HUMMUS - 8 servings

Ingredients:

2 cups drained well-cooked or canned chickpeas, cooking liquid reserved if possible
½ cup tahini
1 zest of lemon & its juice
6 cloves of roasted garlic
¼ cup olive oil
1 tsp. kosher salt (add more to taste if needed)
1 tsp. white ground pepper
1 Tbs. ground cumin or paprika, or to taste, plus a sprinkle for garnish
                            

Preparation:

1.    Combine chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, zest, garlic, spices, white pepper and salt in a food processor.
2.    With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and blend until smooth.
3.    Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Adding more oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt as needed.
4.    Serve in a bowl and sprinkle with parsley or a nice sea salt

If you do not have a food processor, a blender would work.

To roast garlic, place garlic cloves in a small saucepan and just barely cover with olive oil. 

Place on stove on medium heat, and cook until the cloves become tender and golden in color. 

Strain garlic and use the oil to give the hummus a more intense garlic flavor.                                        

Health Benefits:

Chickpeas have folate, which supports collagen production. Studies have shown that folate supplementation can reduce the risk of squamous cell carcinoma by up to 50%. This is the second most common type of skin cancer of the head and neck. 

Cumin includes anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

BEET HUMMUS - 8 servings

Ingredients:

2 beets cleaned and roasted
2/3cup tahini
2-3 zest of lemons & their juice
2 cloves garlic chopped
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp, kosher salt (add more to taste if needed)
1 handful of fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, basil, etc.)
                            
Preparation:

1.    Combine beets, tahini, lemon juice, zest, garlic, herbs and salt in a food processor.
2.    With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and blend until smooth.
3.    Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Adding more oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt as needed.
4.    Serve in a bowl and sprinkle with parsley, pine nuts or a nice sea salt.

If you don’t have a food processor, a blender would work.

To roast beets, wash and coat with oil and salt, wrap in foil, and place in a 400-degree oven for an hour (until they are fork tender). Wait for them to cool then peel the skin off.                                        

Health Benefits:

Beets help fight skin pigmentation and dark circles. They also aid with a healthy complexion. 

Tahini is high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation and improve hydration.   
 

BLUEBERRY BANANA OVERNIGHT OATS - 1 Serving

Ingredients:

½ cup sweetened almond milk

½ cup old-fashioned oats

½ tbs. chia seeds

½ banana, mashed

1 tsp. maple syrup

Pinch of salt

½ cup fresh blueberries

Preparation:

Combine almond milk, oats, chia seeds, banana, maple syrup and salt in a pint-sized jar and stir. Top with blueberries. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Health Benefits:

Almond milk contains vitamin D, which helps reduce inflammation and protect the skin against sun damage. 

Old-fashioned oats and chia seeds are a great source of fiber, which supports the body’s gastrointestinal health.  When our gut is healthy, our skin can function at its best.