Little one: Welcome to my Mommy’s podcast.
Whats up and welcome to The Wellness Mama podcast. I’m Katie from wellnessmama.com. And this episode is spherical two with Dr. Mary Alice Mina, pertaining to the facets of skincare and how one can handle our pores and skin as we age, and particularly earlier than, throughout, and after menopause and the way our hormone adjustments have an effect on our pores and skin throughout these occasions, in addition to if you’re , what procedures may be useful and which of them to keep away from. And I personally haven’t executed any skincare procedures. Positively personally keep away from issues like filler and Botox, however it’s nice info to know for the way forward for which of them may be useful and never dangerous to the pores and skin if I wished to look into that. And Dr. Mary Alice Mina is a Harvard-trained, double board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon, and a number one knowledgeable on pores and skin well being and skincare. She’s additionally the host of The Pores and skin Actual podcast for individuals seeking to go deeper on this matter, and she or he has some sources obtainable on her web site which can be linked within the present notes as nicely. So let’s soar in with Dr. Mary Alice. Dr. Mina, welcome again.
Dr. Mina: Thanks a lot, Katie. I’m thrilled to be right here.
Katie: You guys who missed it, the primary episode with Dr. Mina, we lined how one can simplify your skincare routine and give attention to the issues that truly work, form of take a minimal efficient dose strategy. And I’ll hyperlink to that episode within the present notes for this one. And on this episode, Dr. Mina, I’m actually excited to go deep on particularly pores and skin as we age, and particularly across the time of menopause. As a result of as we briefly touched on in our first episode, clearly there’s a whole lot of hormonal adjustments occurring there. The physique’s altering in a whole lot of alternative ways. And that in fact contains our pores and skin. And so I’m not fairly to that time but, however it’s one thing I’m conscious of as I become old. So for people who find themselves possibly perimenopause or transferring into menopause and even post-menopause, what do we have to learn about what’s happening in our physique and the way that impacts our pores and skin in that section of life?
Dr. Mina: Gosh, nicely, I might say the very first thing to know is you aren’t alone. And I like that there appears to be this motion of girls who’re like, why have we by no means talked about menopause earlier than? And I believe I do know why, as a result of we weren’t actually experiencing it 100 years in the past or within the flip of the century, 1900, the common lifespan for somebody was 46 years outdated, which that simply boggles my thoughts. And now the lifespan of somebody for somebody born as we speak, a lady born as we speak is a few hundred, proper? So we live approach, approach longer than we’ve ever lived earlier than. And sadly, medical science and analysis has not saved up with girls’s well being past their reproductive years. It’s nearly like girls turn out to be menopausal and we’re simply forgotten about, and nobody talks about it. So I like that there’s this motion of notably girls physicians, additionally kind of advocates on the market saying like, wait a minute, we’re struggling. These are unintended effects which can be actually impacting our lives. And we would like, we don’t wish to dwell the following half of our life or a 3rd of our life like this. And so I believe it’s simply great we’re even having this dialog.
And generally individuals ask me like, why are you so obsessive about menopause if you happen to’re not even like menopausal but? However I see it coming. I do know it’s coming. And even. In case you’re in your mid-30s, chances are high you’re in all probability experiencing some perimenopausal signs. Perhaps you don’t even notice it, proper? However mainly menopause is when our ovaries cease producing eggs and we cease producing estrogen. And so our estrogen ranges are approach up right here. And nicely, they do cycle, proper, for month-to-month, all through our lives. However then swiftly in menopause, they plummet they usually’re basically barely above zero. And what we’re studying is that this actually impacts so many organs in our physique. It impacts our thoughts. It impacts our GI. It impacts our pores and skin. It impacts every thing.
And so it’s necessary that, to begin with, girls know you’re not going loopy if you happen to’re having scorching flashes and all these signs. And actually, it’s common. Each lady’s going to undergo this if you happen to dwell lengthy sufficient. So skin-wise, a number of adjustments happen, too. Estrogen actually helps us preserve our pores and skin plump and form of radiant wanting. It helps with collagen. It helps preserve our hair thick and full. And so when that goes away, you may discover issues like hair thinning, hair loss. You’ll be able to really feel like your face simply melted in a single day and also you lose that collagen, that vibrancy. And it may be actually distressing for ladies. And in addition, particularly as a result of now we have these unrealistic targets or unrealistic expectations, I ought to say, that as girls, we’re actually not allowed to age. We’re speculated to proceed to look the identical as after we had been in our 20s and 30s. You realize, males are allowed to age, proper? They’re allowed to turn out to be distinguished, however a lady doesn’t. So I believe we have to change the narrative on that as nicely and probably not worry getting old, however form of perceive, okay, what’s happening? It’s regular. It’s pure. However that doesn’t imply we are able to’t assist a few of the signs, particularly after they’re debilitating.
Katie: I like that you just introduced up the kind of double normal that exists for women and men and the way they get to be referred to as distinguished after they age and the way for ladies, there’s simply the expectation to by no means age. I like that we’re hopefully beginning to shift that dialog. And I might guess girls kind of intuitively can really feel that clearly that massive hormone shifts like menopause would additionally impact the pores and skin as a result of we’ve in all probability seen that all through our cycles as our hormones shift every month. Like I do know anyone watching on video, I needed to like cowl up just a little zit that I had this morning as a result of I’m on my interval and that’s been, it’s gotten much less and fewer and fewer the more healthy I’ve gotten through the years, however it nonetheless generally occurs. And so we see these hormone adjustments affecting us. So it is smart that when there’s an enormous one, we would see an enormous impact.
You utilize that time period, your face melting in a single day. And I like that you just clarify it that approach. I’m curious if there’s something we are able to do to form of circumvent that and/or reverse that as we become old. Trigger I haven’t hit my forties but, however I did lose a whole lot of weight about 5 years in the past. And I had that related impact. And I’ve been kind of making an attempt to love rehab it since then. So any solutions for ladies who do really feel like their face form of melted in a single day?
Dr. Mina: Yeah, completely. So, you already know, a whole lot of issues. And once more, first is simply perspective, understanding that, okay, that is regular and never essentially making an attempt to completely reverse and seem like you’re 20, however to essentially aid you look the most effective which you can proper then and there and in that stage. I might say focusing, like we talked about in your earlier episode, simply in your whole-body well being is tremendous impactful. However particularly for pores and skin, utilizing a vitamin A spinoff like a retinoid is such a strong approach to enhance collagen.
So we’re shedding collagen even beginning in our mid-20s, which sounds loopy, proper? However there’s an enormous drop in our collagen, about 30% as soon as we hit menopause. And that’s why individuals really feel like their pores and skin has simply fallen. There’s some possibly questionable or early knowledge suggesting that possibly collagen powders and dietary supplements can profit collagen in your pores and skin, however there are additionally procedures that we are able to do to assist enhance collagen within the pores and skin with issues referred to as biostimulants, if somebody is considering doing a process. And, you already know, a number of units, lasers, issues like that, you may form of go down a rabbit gap with that. However I might say hormone substitute remedy. So speaking along with your physician about whether or not that may be a good choice for you and balancing the danger and advantages and issues like that.
However what I believe we’ve actually realized as individuals are beginning to examine menopause is that estrogen is such a protecting and preventative hormone in our our bodies. And that after we lose it, we see so many challenges, even nicely past the pores and skin that may actually have an effect on girls and the standard of their life. So there are actually issues we are able to do for that kind of face falling. A number of them are procedures. And I might say additionally simply don’t hand over on a primary pores and skin routine. I might incorporate a vitamin A after which additionally focus in your general well being. That’s going to essentially be impactful as nicely.
Katie: What are a few of the most typical adjustments that individuals come to you with in menopause? And like, what do you usually advocate for the totally different adjustments that girls expertise in menopause?
Dr. Mina: So I do a very good little bit of procedural dermatology. So a whole lot of occasions they’re coming to me looking for out a possible process. I get a whole lot of girls coming in with hormonal or I’m sorry, with pimples on this stage and eager to form of speak via that. So it’s not unusual to see pimples in menopause, which individuals suppose I assumed that was one thing that simply occurred after I’m a youngster. However once more, with the fluctuating hormones after which your testosterone ranges being comparatively greater than your estrogen, you may see pimples. So pimples is a typical one. A vitamin A cream like a retinol may be actually useful for that.
Hair loss. That could be a big one which I’m seeing a whole lot of. Luckily, there are some nice merchandise on the market that assist. Minoxidil acquired a whole lot of consideration. It’s an outdated remedy that we’ve had for many years, however it acquired kind of a renewed curiosity when the New York Occasions revealed a chunk on it. And in very, very low doses, it’s fairly efficient for ladies who’re getting that hair thinning that we see with menopause. And a whole lot of girls are coming in looking for out procedures like fillers or biostimulants or tightening or rejuvenation procedures as nicely.
Katie: Okay. So let’s discuss procedures as a result of I do know there’s like nearly infinite choices on this now within the skincare world. And I do know that some individuals listening and I might put myself on this class, like I don’t actually wish to do issues like Botox and fillers, however I do know there are additionally many different choices past that, that aren’t kind of placing issues into the pores and skin, however serving to the pores and skin enhance. So stroll us via the large world of procedures.
Dr. Mina: Yeah, it form of can look like the wild world. I used to be really simply speaking with a girlfriend final night time and she or he was saying, what laser, what lasers do you want? What ought to I do? What ought to I? And she or he had wonderful, stunning pores and skin. And I used to be like, nicely, there are a whole lot of lasers and a whole lot of them are fairly efficient, however, what you don’t want it, proper? So I might first say, and that is what I do after I see a affected person is, nicely, what bothers you, proper? As a result of what I see could also be totally different from what you see. And I give them a mirror and say, while you look within the mirror, what bothers you? Is it the jowling? Is it your neck? Is it crepey pores and skin? I have to know as a result of that’s going to tailor what we do.
So one of many issues I actually love that’s not a filler, though some individuals name it a filler, it’s a biostimulant. And what I like about it’s that it makes use of this medication referred to as PLLA, poly-l-lactic acid, dissolved in water and it’s injected, however it stimulates your individual collagen. So I discover that that may be a actually form of pure approach to enhance your collagen instantly within the pores and skin. It’s not like questioning is the collagen I’m consuming gonna find yourself in my pores and skin, however it really stimulates the collagen in your face or your neck, your palms, wherever you need it. So I believe that’s an amazing choice. It’s form of enjoying the lengthy sport. It’s not a fast repair once more, as a result of your physique has to make its personal collagen, however I do discover that that may be a actually impactful process. And I might take into account it pure as a result of it’s your individual collagen.
Past that, there are lasers like Fraxel or fractionated lasers that assist resurface the pores and skin, assist tighten the pores and skin. There are units that may really take away little cores of tissue after which form of shrink wrap it and tighten it up. There are microneedling procedures that when mixed with radio frequency may help tighten the pores and skin. And so it actually simply is determined by how superior you’re or not. So some procedures like microneedling are an amazing form of preventative measure for individuals who don’t actually have rather a lot to reverse. After which I might say the microcoring and even surgical procedure is reserved extra for somebody with a whole lot of pores and skin laxity or tightening that should go on.
And I might simply say, this stuff are costly. They’re costly. There are lots of people who’ve these lasers they usually’re providing them, however they’re not essentially specialists at these procedures. And so I actually suppose if you’re going to make investments your time and your cash to see somebody actually educated on this, like a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon, as a result of I believe you’ll get the most effective enter from them. They’re not simply going to say, nicely, I’ve this laser, so I’m going to apply it to everybody. They’re going to essentially assist stroll you thru what are the totally different choices on the market. Not each laser is protected on each pores and skin sort. In order that’s one thing to concentrate on. When you’ve got darker pores and skin, you wish to be actually cautious as a result of you will get hyperpigmentation or whitening of the pores and skin if the mistaken settings are. If the mistaken settings are used.
So there are tons of choices on the market, however I do discover that it may be overwhelming for individuals. And a whole lot of occasions individuals are simply making an attempt to promote you one thing and it might probably not handle what you want. And I believe it’s necessary to have lifelike expectations, proper? In case you suppose that this one remedy goes to tighten your pores and skin like surgical procedure, you’re gonna be disillusioned. And so simply be sure you’re conscious of what realistically this process can do and what it could possibly’t do. As a result of a whole lot of occasions they’re costly.
So I believe your greatest guess although, see somebody who actually is an knowledgeable at this, who has a whole lot of expertise with it. If somebody tells you no, thank them as a result of they’re supplying you with an trustworthy opinion. They’re not simply keen to do any process to make some cash off of you. That’s actually not the suitable choice. So once more, that’s the place I believe the specialists on this are dermatologists and plastic surgeons.
Katie: I a lot recognize you being the voice of cause and moderation in that, though I do know that you’ve a few of these procedures obtainable, talking to not everybody wants all of those and don’t waste your cash. As a result of I believe, such as you stated, they are often very costly. I do know a random tip that I’ve that I don’t suppose it has like an excessive pores and skin profit, however just a little bit of 1 is within the morning to really dunk your face in a bowl of ice water. And I really do that primarily for cortisol and hormones, not really for pores and skin. However I seen it does like brighten up my pores and skin, in all probability as a result of the blood stream of chilly water hitting your face. Yeah. However that is actually cool for serving to your cortisol patterns, particularly if you happen to’re getting gentle within the morning and getting the suitable circadian rhythm going. And that one’s mainly free at residence. So I at all times counsel that one. I additionally love that you just touched on. Oh, go forward.
Dr. Mina: Oh, nicely, and you already know, the chilly, the chilly ice baths, proper? Like individuals are loving that. I’ve a number of pals who personal one. I simply can’t deal with the chilly like that. However yeah, I imply, chilly water splashing in your face, placing some ice or a spoon within the fridge and rolling it underneath your eyes. I imply, these are fast little hacks that may, that may completely assist. And yeah, they’re free. So even higher.
Katie: I additionally love that you just introduced up after we take collagen and simply kind of like hope it’s going to get to our pores and skin, as a result of I don’t have the expertise on the skincare facet, however from working with professional athletes, I do know after we’re making an attempt to get collagen into their joints and tissues for restoration, collagen alone doesn’t do it. It really is determined by an entire host of different issues like your micronutrient ranges and hint quantities of silica and magnesium. So I like that you just spoke to love, simply taking collagen just isn’t a repair all there’s different issues you are able to do as nicely.
And I’m additionally interested by at-home units as a result of it looks as if a few of these have gotten in style recently. I’m curious which of them you suppose are evidence-based and are value making an attempt for somebody who desires to take a delicate strategy, whether or not it’s issues like crimson gentle, or I believe micro-electrical stimulation or no matter it’s referred to as has gotten in style or these little needle rollers. Are there any advantages to those at-home units that individuals may strive?
Dr. Mina: Yeah, no, at-home units are positively all the trend on TikTok or at-home do-it-yourself stuff. I might say a phrase of warning, proper? There are some that I like. So I do just like the LED masks. The problem with the LED masks, they’re very, very costly. We don’t have a whole lot of good knowledge to inform us what’s the energy, what’s the vitality that we’d like for these lights and the wavelength and the way a lot energy do they should emit to essentially be efficient. So the info, the analysis is missing there. Nonetheless, we do know red-light may be fairly useful, particularly the in-office variations of red-light on the market. However there are some LED masks on the market that the red-light ones that may be useful, however the challenge is you need to do it day-after-day or very constantly for about 10 minutes to make it work. So don’t make investments on this if you happen to don’t suppose you may decide to placing it on and utilizing it regularly. So I’m not somebody who would have the ability to try this. So I don’t do it. But when that’s one thing you’re keen to decide to, then I’ve no downside doing that. Simply know that they’re some huge cash, and the info just isn’t completely on the market on which is the most effective one, which is essentially the most highly effective every person that.
For the stamping and the rollers, I’m not an enormous fan of these. I believe anytime you’re doing one thing the place you’re breaking the pores and skin barrier and introducing one thing into the pores and skin, there’s a danger of an infection. There’s a danger of scarring. And in addition it’s going to harm. And also you’re not going to essentially go deep sufficient, I believe, to get the true profit as a result of once more, you’re doing it at residence. So I believe these procedures are dangerous. I’ve seen infections and scarring from them. I might not advocate these at residence. I might say simply go see an expert if you’re considering microneedling. I’ve pals who’re doing like facial workout routines and issues like that. I don’t love these. I believe you’re not going to essentially see enhancements except you’re actually doing it constantly on a regular basis. And I believe that’s form of unrealistic. However I might say my favourite can be the LED red-light at-home masks if you’re seeking to do one thing.
Katie: After which what can be, I do know you touched on a number of of them, what can be your suggestion, particularly for like a lady in menopause or postmenopause, if she did wish to have an in-office process, the place would you give her as a place to begin and which of them would you inform her possibly keep away from or these don’t have as a lot scientific profit and have extra danger?
Dr. Mina: Effectively, I believe all of it simply actually is determined by what she wants, proper? And what her targets are. So if she seems like her eyelid pores and skin is hanging down, then really eradicating that in a process referred to as a blepharoplasty can be most useful. However what I discover most individuals who are available in, they’re kind of simply general discouraged and possibly disillusioned, they usually don’t even actually know the place to begin. And certainly one of my favourite issues to do is simply even out the complexion. I discover if you will get your pores and skin complexion extra uniform and extra form of vibrant and glowing, it makes every thing look higher, proper? You not are as you don’t discover the puffiness or the luggage underneath your eyes or the jowling, issues like that.
In order that’s often my first step is let’s get the canvas, proper? Let’s get your facial canvas glowing and delightful. As a result of to me, that’s that’s so vital as a result of if you happen to do a neck carry or fillers and all this different stuff, however your pores and skin texture and complexion just isn’t even in uniform, it by no means appears nearly as good. And I believe individuals are at all times just a little bit disillusioned. In order that’s actually my very first thing, particularly if somebody doesn’t have one specific factor they’re bothered by is like, let’s get your pores and skin complexion extra even. Let’s kind of take away a few of that solar harm or you already know, crepiness and issues like that. Let’s tighten it up. In order that’s form of my favourite. And that may be executed with lasers, issues just like the halo laser, or I like a chemical peel. I’m an enormous fan of chemical peels. And generally I’ll pair that with just a little microneedling too for some further collagen boosting, however I discover simply doing that, and a whole lot of occasions with a chemical peel, you do it as soon as and so long as you preserve some safety and a very good skincare routine, you don’t, this isn’t one thing you’re doing yearly. And that’s form of my favourite is simply getting the complexion extra uniform, extra radiant and glowing. And that appears to simply make every thing else look higher.
Katie: Yeah, I like your kind of basis first strategy to that. As a result of I say the identical factor on the like diet and bodily well being facet from the within out is like, sure, there are biohacks that may be useful. Sure, there are dietary supplements that may be useful. It’s very particular person, such as you spoke to. And get these foundational issues in place first, the free ones, the cheap ones, as a result of then anything you do goes to be simpler anyway. So get your sleep dialed in, your vitamins dialed in, your motion, and your gentle publicity, after which construct from there versus considering some actually costly biohack goes to make things better while you haven’t constructed the muse for it too. So I like that you just take that strategy within the skincare world too.
Dr. Mina: Yeah, completely. It’s all about that. And I believe that’s the place the confusion is available in, and I liken it form of like purchasing or your wardrobe, proper? We purchase this stuff, however we don’t actually know the way it all goes collectively. And we don’t actually have that basis set. And if you happen to don’t have that basis set, you’re going to be annoyed. You’re going to really feel such as you’re losing money and time. So getting that basis locked in first is so key for what you do and for what I do, proper?
Katie: Precisely. And I do know you have got some sources obtainable for individuals to form of dial in that personalised side and determine what’s going to work for them. The place do individuals discover you on-line to be taught from you?
Dr. Mina: Yeah, so I’ve a podcast referred to as The Pores and skin Actual the place I attempt to simply break down questions I’m requested from my sufferers, my pals, the newest that’s popping out, attempt to make it simply actually kind of holistic pores and skin well being. And in order that’s theskinreal.com. You’ll find it there. You’ll find it on Apple, Spotify. And my social media deal with is @drminaskin.
Katie: Excellent. Effectively, I’ll be sure that these hyperlinks are included within the present notes however thanks a lot in your time. I haven’t gone deep on skincare on this podcast but, and I like your lifelike and balanced strategy and also you being the voice of construct the muse, nourish your physique from the within out, do the opposite issues when you’ve executed these issues, however don’t waste your cash both. I really feel like you have got such a very good perspective, and I’m so grateful in your time.
Dr. Mina: Oh, Katie, thanks a lot. And thanks for all you’re doing in your great podcast.
Katie: Effectively, thanks. And thanks as at all times to all of you for listening and sharing your most useful sources, your time, your vitality, and your consideration with us as we speak. We’re each so grateful that you just did. And I hope that you’ll be a part of me once more on the following episode of the Wellness Mama podcast.
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