Doctor solutions

Treat Flaky Skin

Sure, a rosy glow is a sign of a kick-butt workout (go you!), but if you're still sporting that flush long after you've left the locker room, you're probably among the 60 percent of people in the United States who say they have sensitive skin — a number that's doubled during the past 30 years, according to Jessica Wu, MD, a dermatologist in Los Angeles. Why the increase? Derms suspect that one of the main reasons is product misuse. "Women are choosing the wrong products for their skin," says Howard Sobel, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. That can lead to inflammation, the root of all redness. If you don't treat it, the condition may affect your complexion, making it more vulnerable to wrinkle-inducing damage, Dr. Sobel says. But now, help is on the way! We identified the five most common sensitive-skin complaints and asked top docs to share their best soothing secrets.

Treat Flaky Skin

If you're experiencing scaliness, your skin is sending you an SOS: "It's so inflamed that the cells are lifting, which results in peeling," says Debra Luftman, MD, a dermatologist in Los Angeles. The probable cause is an irritant in one of your products or an allergic reaction to an ingredient.

 Eliminate Tired Puffy Eyes With Chilled Tea Bags

Briefly steep 2 green, black or chamomile tea bags in hot water for less than a minute. Then remove the tea bags from the water, and chill in a small bowl in the refrigerator. Once chilled, place 1 bag over each closed eyelid. Leave on your lids for 5 to 15 minutes. Watch this video if you’d like to see me explain this

Use Raspberries And Coconut Oil For Brighter Lips

In a small saucepan on low heat, warm 1 Tablespoon coconut oil until liquid. Remove from heat and add 4 fresh or frozen red raspberries. Mash berries and blend until smooth. Place in a small glass container and refrigerate until firm. Use clean fingers or a lipgloss brush to smooth over lips. Make this fresh every few days.

 Reduce Skin Creases By Changing Your Pillowcase

Choose a pillowcase that is soft and silky instead of coarser fabrics to decrease friction and skin compression that leaves you with extra lines in the morning. If you sleep on your side, try switching sides occasionally or sleeping on your back, so your face doesn’t wrinkle over time from pressure in certain areas. But, don’t stress about this… because ultimately, you want to be comfortable because high-quality sleep is essential for natural beauty. 

Use only gentle skin cleansers

Apply gentle skin cleansers and use them only where you need them. Rinse them off your skin thoroughly with warm (not steamy hot) water.

For your body: You probably don’t need as much soap as you think! Use your cleanser/soap to lather-up only the parts of your skin that are soiled or have body odor glands (you know where they are!). This includes your armpits, groin, buttocks, and feet. If you have oily skin, you also need to use cleanser on the oily areas of your back, neck, and chest.

Product picks from my practice: Vanicream Cleansing Bar, Naturally Best Bar Soap for Dry Skin. (Other sensitive skin product options include naturally made unscented glycerin soaps or Dove Unscented Bar Soap.)

Use only hypoallergenic skin care products

Sensitive skin is more prone to react to taunting ingredients, which commonly include:

• Fragrances
• Harsh preservatives
• Anti-aging ingredients such as glycolic acid, vitamin C or retinoids
• Acne treating ingredients such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide
• Some sunscreen ingredients (remember some of the active sunscreen ingredients can be irritating. Stick with mineral zinc oxide products, they give the best protection and do not irritate your skin.)
• The bottom line is, play it safe and use only gentle, hypoallergenic products for the majority of your skin care needs.