Aegean MD

29/09/2021

22/09/2021

SWEATING SUCKS 😰
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Embarrassed by pit stains, don't like wearing gray shirts, or avoid shaking hands?
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Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, is more common than you may think. 5% of the population is dealing with it but it’s not talked about nearly enough.⁠
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🗣 WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN TO ME?⁠
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It depends. Excessive sweating can be due to an underlying medical condition or medication. Otherwise, you have what’s classified as primary hyperhidrosis.⁠
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Primary hyperhidrosis typically has these characteristics:⁠
⁠👉 Starts in childhood or adolescence⁠
⁠👉 Bilateral or symmetric⁠
⁠👉 Extremely disruptive episodes consistently over several months⁠
⁠👉 Family history⁠
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👌 GOOD NEWS! YOU HAVE TREATMENT OPTIONS!⁠
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You don’t have to just deal with excessive sweating, there are many ways to help control it.⁠
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The available treatments depend on where you sweat.⁠
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💪 IF YOU JUST SWEAT IN YOUR ARMPITS…⁠

Antiperspirants are the first-line treatment. The aluminum chloride creates little plugs in your sweat glands to reduce how much you sweat.⁠
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👩🏻‍⚕️ Try over-the-counter clinical strength first.⁠
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*Pro-tip: make sure you apply it AT NIGHT and onto dry skin.⁠
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Qbrexza is a topical glycopyrronium tosylate solution that can reduce sweat volume by up to 50%.⁠
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Botox injections are also incredibly effective and sometimes covered by insurance. It lasts for at least 6 months.⁠
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MiraDry is another effective non-invasive treatment, in which microwave energy is used to destroy your sweat glands.⁠
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🤲 IF YOU JUST SWEAT ON YOUR PALMS/FEET…⁠
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Antiperspirants can also be used on sweaty hands and feet! Again, start with OTC ones like .⁠
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Botox injections and a procedure called iontopheresis are other treatment options.⁠
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IF YOU SWEAT ALL OVER...⁠💦
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💊 Oral medications are the most effective treatment for diffuse sweating, but controlling the most bothersome areas is another approach.⁠
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SEE A DERM⁠ 👩🏻‍⚕️
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A is the best person to help you on your sweat journey. They can help navigate your treatment options and get you the best results.⁠
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Sweathelp.org is a fantastic resource to check out.⁠
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Got more sweat questions? ⬇️

17/08/2021

I did a thing on for the great bathing debate! 🛀

Thanks to the delightful for tackling this controversial topic for .

WHO IS RIGHT? or ?! Bathing when you can smell "the stink" or several times a day? 🤔

Check out my stories to watch the clip and see what two dermatologists think! 🤳

Shout out to my colleague !

12/08/2021

28/07/2021

✋ MYTH: COCONUT OIL IS AN EFFECTIVE SUNSCREEN.⁠
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I know most of you know better, but with all the sunscreen fear-mongering & misinformation floating around these days, I feel compelled to put this out there... just in case.⁠
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NO! COCONUT OIL & OTHER PLANT OILS DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE UV PROTECTION 🤦🏻‍♀️
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I wasn't able to find the exact source of this absurd myth, but it may have originated with an in vitro study that found that coconut oil can block 20% of UV rays from reaching the skin.⁠
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🔍 These findings have since been debunked in a 2015 study that found no UV blocking potential (https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12296).

✋ OILS ARE NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR BROAD-SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN.⁠

Even if these findings were reproducible & coconut oil could, in fact, block 20% of UV, it is not an alternative to sunscreen, which is clinically tested to block 97% of UV at SPF 30.
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🧴 The absolute minimum SPF recommended is 30, although using an SPF 50 or even 100 can help buffer the most common user error of not putting on enough.

Coconut and other plant oils have not been shown to have any UVA protection, which is denoted by a "broad spectrum" designation.

*Big Picture Reminder: UV is a known carcinogen & causes skin cancer. Using sunscreen can prevent you from getting skin cancer, which is a bummer (trust me).

✋ ANTIOXIDANTS ARE NOT THE SAME AS SUNSCREEN⁠.

The antioxidant properties for these botanical oils are often cited as a reason why you can use them in lieu of sunscreen, but it's not the same.

Vitamin C doesn't replace sunscreen.
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🗣 WHAT IS A SUNSCREEN ALTERNATIVE?⁠

Sunscreen is just one tool in our sun protection toolbox, it's not the end all be all.

There are other non-sunscreen methods to protect yourself from UV exposure:

👉 Stay out of the sun with the UV index is over 3 (usually before 10 AM and after 4 PM)
👉 Wear UPF rated clothing (long-sleeved shirts, pants)
👉 Wear UPF rated wide-brimmed hats
👉 Stay in the shade ⛱

The best way to protect yourself is to use these methods along with sunscreen, but doing these can help you limit your exposure to sunscreen, if you do have concerns about safety (see Stories for a post).

Have you heard this myth? ⬇️

23/07/2021

MIND YOUR OWN SKIN⁠ ✋⁠
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I don’t know who needs to hear this, but I know someone out there does.⁠
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This is just a reminder that:⁠
⁠👉 There is no ‘right way’ to do skin care⁠
👉 Everyone’s skin is different, with different wants and needs⁠
👉 Skincare is (very) personal⁠
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I’m going to be honest, I’m exhausted from a very drawn out bout of sinusitis (thanks to my darling baby girl) and don’t have an extensive, well-researched post in me right now, so this is it! Enjoy my stream of consciousness, while high on Sudafed…🤒⁠
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Think about what YOUR skin needs, what will make YOU happy, and focus on that. ⁠
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If you love your wrinkles, great! If you love your acne, awesome! If you love your freckles, amazing! ⁠👏⁠
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Ignore all the other noise, the shoulds and the FOMO. ⁠
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This is for anyone that’s ever felt bad about their skin when looking at a flawless (filtered) skinfluencer. This also for all the skin busy bodies giving unsolicited advice (you know who you are).⁠
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End rant. Love you guys ❤️

20/07/2021

STOP WORRYING ABOUT HYDRATION⁠ ✋
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The brilliant .lalor takes down the subject of the with actual science from , & yours truly.⁠
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Here are some key takeaways from the piece, but scroll above for some excerpts & my stories for the link to the article 🔗
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PUT DOWN THE GIANT WATER BOTTLE⁠ 🤦🏻‍♀️
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You don't need 2.5 L of water for your body to function (or else what? It shuts down??). Your body, including all of its organs, are self-regulating by design.⁠
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WHERE DID THE 2.5 L NUMBER COME FROM?⁠ 🧐
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I didn't know this, but, of course, it came from a misinterpretation of a U.S. guideline in the 1940's.⁠
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The document states that a "suitable allowance of water for adults is 2.5 liters daily", which is what started this decades-long misconception.⁠
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However, another statement that went along with that but got lost was that "most of this quantity is in prepared foods."⁠
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✋ STOP COUNTING LITERS & LISTEN TO YOUR BODY⁠
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The water in your food & drinks (coffee, tea, , .arizonaicedtea, etc) count, so you don't need to chug liters of pure water to adequately hydrate.⁠
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If you are thirsty, drink!⁠ 💧
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If your p*e is a nice pale yellow, you're taking in enough water 👏
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It's that simple!⁠
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DRINKING MORE WATER WON'T MAKE YOUR BODY FUNCTION BETTER⁠ ✋
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Again, your body is EXTREMELY good at self-regulating & takes the water it needs to function. Any more than that just gets p*ed out.⁠
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If you're adequately hydrated, your skin won't get a super glow, you won't detox, or magically lose a few pounds. Biology doesn't work like that 🤦🏻‍♀️
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IT'S A SCAM⁠ 🤑
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Being able to drink clean water is a privilege & instead of drowning our own bodies with an excess of water, we should make sure everyone can access enough clean water.⁠
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Like almost everything in the wellness movement, it puts the onus on you to make sure your body is functioning correctly.⁠
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Luckily for you & me, our organs are way more reliable than we are. If they're healthy, they won't forget to work!⁠ 💪
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BOTTOM LINE: DRINK AS MUCH AS YOU FEEL LIKE.⁠
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Have you felt pressure to drink more water? ⬇️

15/07/2021

MYTH: YOUR SKIN CAN BECOME IMMUNE/ADAPT/USED TO ACTIVE INGREDIENTS & IT STOPS WORKING⁠.
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Nope nope nope ✋
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This myth is another example of how people tend to anthropomorphize skin! Our skin doesn't have fickle thoughts or feelings, it's a self-regulating organ.⁠
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It's not like after 3 months of using a retinoid, your skin is like, "I'm sick of this same old active. Got anything new?" (which is what I said after drinking Fresca exclusively for a year)⁠.
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👩🏻‍⚕️ IT'S TRUE, YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME REACTION TO PRODUCTS OVER TIME⁠
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I think this pervasive myth comes from the observation that you may have less of a reaction to certain actives over time.
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This is especially true ⁠with retinoids. When you first start using retinoids, most people experience redness and irritation.⁠
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Your skin develops a tolerance over time and those side effects diminish with use. This does not mean the retinoid doesn't continue to work!⁠
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YOU MAY NOTICE LESS IMPROVEMENT OVER TIME⁠
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The visible improvement you can gain from any particular active ingredient is finite.⁠
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When you first start using a very effective ingredient like a retinoid or glycolic acid, you'll likely notice a significant improvement from your baseline 📈
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As you continue to use this ingredient, the improvements you see will be less dramatic over time.⁠
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Once you do not notice any improvement at all, one of two things has occurred ⬇️
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1️⃣ You've achieved skin perfection and your skin cannot get any better (without a filter or Photoshop)⁠
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OR⁠
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2️⃣ You need to increase the concentration of the active ingredient you're using⁠
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WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN WILL KEEP BEING GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN⁠ 👩🏻‍⚕️
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Eating fruits and veggies will never stop being beneficial and healthy for you⁠, even if you don't notice a difference.⁠
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The same thing applies to your skincare. If you're using great ingredients like retinoids, antioxidants, AHAs & sunscreen, your skin is benefiting.⁠
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If you feel like you're stuck in a skin rut and still have specific issues that you'd like addressed, a can help with prescription actives or in-office procedures.⁠
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Have you felt like your skin got used to a product?

13/07/2021

HOW TO USE THE UV INDEX⁠ ⚡️
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You may have heard about the UV index, but aren't sure how to incorporate it into your daily routine.⁠
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It's a great way to gauge how aggressive you need to be with sun protection on any given day. ⁠
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Do you just wear sunscreen or do you need a hat & a long-sleeved UPF shirt on top of that?⁠ 🤔
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🗣 WHAT IS THE UV INDEX?⁠
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The UV index was developed by the EPA & National Weather Service as a tool to help guide people on how to protect themselves from the sun on any given day.
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It's a scale from 0 to 11. The higher the number, the more intense UV radiation is & the more likely you'll have harmful effects on your skin (burning & increased skin cancer risk).⁠
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It considers variables specific to your region: latitude, weather conditions (clouds, etc.), elevation, time of year & ozone levels.⁠
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It's typically reported as the maximum UV level during the day, which is during 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with risk based on someone with Fitzpatrick type II skin (fair skin that burns easily, but can tan somewhat).⁠
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🗣 HOW SHOULD I USE THE UV INDEX?⁠
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⁠You should use the UV index to decide when you go do your outdoor activities & what sun protective measures to use when you do go outside 🧢

Generally, if the UV index is below 3, the risk of sustaining sun damage is minimal & you don't need to do much (unless you're an infant or burn easily).

If the Index is 6 or above, I'd recommend staying out of midday sun ⚠️

Check out the chart above (reproduced from the EPA) on recommendations at each UV level 👀

🗣 WHERE CAN I FIND THE UV INDEX?

Most weather apps include it in their daily forecast.

If you have the Apple Weather app, just scroll to the bottom of the forecast 🤳

Alexa or Siri can also give you the UV index. Ignorance is no excuse!

The UV index here in Santa Barbara is 11 today, which is why I'm indoors writing!

I think the UV index is definitely an underutilized tool, but it can make you smarter about your exposure to UV radiation.

Just like you check the weather before getting dressed in the morning (is it too drafty to wear a crop top?), you should be checking the UV index every morning!

Do you check the UV index? ⬇️

08/07/2021

DRUGSTORE SUNSCREENS⁠ 🧴
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There are a gazillion sunscreens on the market.⁠ It can be so overwhelming that you can't commit & don't end up buying one.
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REMEMBER THIS: THE BEST SUNSCREEN IS THE ONE YOU'LL ACTUALLY USE.⁠
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Although I think it's worth the splurge to spend a bit more on sunscreen if it means you'll use it, there are great formulations at the drugstore level.⁠
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Here are my favorite drugstore sunscreen picks for all your sunscreen needs this summer.
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FOR YOUR FACE⁠ 😊
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My go to face suncreen is the Hydro Boost Water Gel. It's light, non-sticky & water resistant. I use this for face, neck, arms & chest everyday.⁠
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DOES SUNSCREEN BURN YOUR EYES?⁠ 👀
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Stick to a mineral suncreen. Face Sunscreen is a good one, as is Ultra Light Fluid Facial Sunscreen.⁠
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FOR YOUR BODY⁠ 🦵
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Tbh, for everyday, I usually use my face sunscreen on my chest & arms (less sticky), but for beach days, definitely get a water resistant body sunscreen.⁠
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Melt-In Sunscreen Milk, SPF70 Original Sunscreen lotion & Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen are good ones, as is the Beach Defense stick (just remember to do multiple passes).
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FOR SUPER SENSITIVE OR ALLERGY-PRONE SKIN⁠ 😩
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My favorite brand for patients with lots of allergies is . They have a SPF 50 zinc oxide water resistant sunscreen, which is great if you tend to react to most other sunscreens.⁠
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FOR KIDS, TODDLERS⁠, AND BABIES⁠ 👶
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is a great mineral based sunscreen for little ones with a UV detector cap.⁠
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Sticks⁠ are great for squirmy and/or independently minded toddlers. Pure & Free Baby Stick is my go to.⁠
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*Note: I rely on shade & UPF protective clothing as my primary mode of sun protection for little ones & sunscreen as the last line of defense.⁠
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This is by no means an exhaustive list, but just ones I have tried or friends have tried & liked. (*No financial interest)⁠
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None of these sunscreens are on the Valisure list of benzene-containing sunscreen.⁠
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You don't need to spend $$ to invest in sun protection!⁠ 👩🏻‍⚕️
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What's your favorite drugstore sunscreen?⁠ ⬇️

06/07/2021

REAPPLYING SUNSCREEN OVER MAKEUP⁠ 💄
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One of life's greatest mysteries is how to actually reapply sunscreen over makeup.⁠
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👩🏻‍⚕️ In theory, you SHOULD reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours when you're out & about, but it's not so straightforward when you have bronzer, blush & highlighter top to make those cheeks pop.⁠
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Unfortunately, there isn't a great solution⁠ that doesn't involve reapplying blush, etc.⁠
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💬 WHAT ABOUT SPRAY OR POWDER SUNSCREENS ON TOP?⁠
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Using a fine sunscreen mist or a dusting of powder sunscreen may put your mind at ease, but won't give you much sun protection.⁠
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*Remember, you must have a density of 2mg/cm2 to get the effective SPF. A light mist or dusting won't give you that.⁠
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💬 SO HOW SHOULD I REAPPLY OVER MAKEUP?⁠
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There's no right way, but there are a few options.⁠
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👉 OPTION #1: MAKEUP WIPES⁠
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Fully cleaning the canvas is the most thorough, but most time-consuming way to go.⁠
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Wipe your face off, reapply the sunscreen & reapply whatever makeup on top.⁠
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👉 OPTION #2: PAT ON TOP WITH MAKE UP SPONGE⁠
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If you don't want to bother with taking off the makeup & sunscreen underneath, pat in your two-finger lengths of sunscreen on top & then reapply blush, etc.⁠
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Using a beauty blender sponge or cushion sponge can help blend it in & prevent pilling from the buildup of product.⁠
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⚡️ Pro Tip: Cheek tint is light and can reduce the layers of stuff on your skin.⁠
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⚡️ Another Pro Tip: Tinted sunscreen, like ⁠from , can give you sunscreen and coverage without feeling too heavy.⁠
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💬 WHEN DO I ACTUALLY NEED TO REAPPLY?⁠
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If you put on sunscreen in the morning, sit in your office all day & leave the office in the late afternoon to just go home without much UV exposure, you probably don't need to reapply.⁠
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UV degrades sunscreen, so I recommend reapplying after 2 hours in the sun or after sweating or swimming 💦
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In those scenarios, minimal makeup is your best bet for making reapplication easy. You prob don't need to contour for a day at the beach.⁠
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⁠ has a fantastic deep dive post and video (link in stories) ⬆️
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Any sunscreen reapplication hacks you use & love?

01/07/2021

🗣 CAN YOU LAYER SUNSCREEN?

I get this question all the time. Read on for WHY you'd want to do this & HOW to do it correctly ⬇️

🗣 WHY WOULD I WANT TO LAYER MY SUNSCREEN?

Most people don’t put on nearly enough sunscreen to achieve the SPF labeled on the bottle 🚨

REMINDER: You need a density of 2 mg/cm2, which is about a shot glass for your whole body, or 2 finger lengths per body area (head/neck, each arm, each leg, etc).

💡 If you layer multiple products, you have a better chance of getting to the appropriate density.

Imagine you're frosting a cake - with one pass of buttercream, you still have some bare cake p*eking through. If you do more passes, you get better coverage of the cake 🎂

IF YOU WEAR MAKE UP WITH SPF like foundation, tinted moisturizer, etc., putting on 2 finger lengths of product feels like spackle & you end up looking crazy.

🧴 Instead, layer a regular sunscreen (I usually do 1-1.5 finger lengths) with your makeup (0.5-1 finger length) on top.

🗣 WHAT ORDER SHOULD YOU APPLY THE PRODUCTS?

It’s really up to you. I like to put on the thinnest texture or the most absorbent product on first & put on any tinted product last.

For example, I put 1 finger length of my UV clear on first & then another finger length of my tinted moisturizer on top. It doesn’t feel goopy, I have enough SPF coverage AND I got some tint on.

👩🏻‍⚕️ SPF IS NOT ADDITIVE

🚨 If you're layering SPF 30 with SPF 15, you DO NOT get SPF 45.

Although there’s no way to tell exactly what SPF you're getting when you layer multiple products, the safest strategy is to assume that the effective SPF you get is only as good as the lowest SPF you are using.

Example: you apply 1 finger length of SPF 30 moisturizer & another finger length of SPF 50 BB cream. Your effective SPF is somewhere between 30 and 50, which is good!

If you're layering, make sure all your products are SPF 30 or above.

👩🏻‍⚕️ MAKE IT COUNT

If you're putting the effort in to use sunscreen, doing it properly will ensure you reap the benefits (bouncy skin, lowering skin cancer risk) of good sun protective habits ☀️

Do you layer your products with SPF? What are your favorite products to layer with? 👇