A CLEAN SWEEP
SKIN SCIENCE EXPERT AND LEADING DERMATOLOGIST DR. JEANNETTE GRAF GIVES US
THE SCRUB DOWN ON SPRING CLEANING FOR YOUR SKIN

Spring has the distinction of being the only season associated with the word
“cleaning.” When the weather begins to warm up and the buds appear on the
trees, we prepare our homes for the season to come with a thorough and
intense cleaning inside and out.

While you’re busy emptying closets, organizing files and cleaning windows,
your body is actually going through a transformation, too. During the spring our
bodies experience changes in physiology, which makes inner and outer cleansing very important. As the largest organ of the human body, the skin needs to be helped along in its seasonal transition in order to look and feel its best.

Before we spring forward, let's first fall back to summer first. By the end of summer, our skin has had a great deal of sun (even with SPF), chlorine from the pool, salt water from the beach and exposure from other outdoor activities such as running, hiking and other sports. The fall season involves a change in temperature, which means turning up the heat—warm dry heat. Winter has the coldest temperatures as well as the lowest relative humidity in the air. In addition, the combination of indoor heating and long, hot showers really dries out our skin. By the time spring comes around, our skin is dry with excessive layers of dead skin piled up, which creates a dull, tired look to our skin.

So how do we get our dull tired skin to look radiant?  First we need to sweep away the excess layers by exfoliating the skin. Fortunately, today there are a number of at-home treatment products that provide safe and effective exfoliation.  In fact, some are able to offer results quite similar to professional treatments. 

Microdermabrasion treatments are a great way to achieve smooth and vibrant skin and at-home treatment kits are available on store shelves everywhere. Microdermabrasion uses tiny crystals that are perfectly round and spherical in shape so that, unlike harsh scrubs made of crushed pits or nutshells, there are no sharp edges, which can injure the skin and break skin capillaries. The smooth surface of the microdermabrasion crystals is ideal for buffing and polishing the skin, making it a great choice for your spring cleaning.  I recommend using microdermabrasion crystals on your face, neck, chest, shoulders, back and arms to create a fresh glow all over. Follow with a hydrating moisturizer for face and neck and an emollient body cream. Another way of exfoliating is through at-home chemical peels. These chemical peels usually contain glycolic acid and are quite effective at removing dead skin cells to renew skin for the spring.

Body scrubs, which contain sugar or sea salts, can be helpful, especially if they are extra emollient with added oils to leave a moisturizing film on skin. But the most important point to make about exfoliation is that it must be done gently in order to avoid irritation.  Too heavy a hand can prove irritating and is not necessary in order to be effective.

Après Sweep
There are a number of ways that you can maintain and continue to improve your newly smooth, moisturized and radiant-looking skin. The first step involves the best way to cleanse. Use mild cleansers on both face and body to prevent further drying of skin.  Showering must be minimal, taking no more than a few minutes and using lukewarm water instead of  hot. Slather cream all over your body so your skin reflects light as you get into your sleek spring clothing to reveal a healthy, vibrant glow.

Dr. Jeannette Graf, MD, FAAD, is a leading skin science expert, board certified, clinical and research dermatologist. A top industry expert, published author and National Institute of Health award winner, Dr. Graf combines minimally invasive office procedures with effective skincare products and nutrition and lifestyle counseling to elicit both an inner and outer beauty from each of her clients. To get your glow, go to www.askdrgraf.com.