HOW TO CHOOSE RIGHT SUNSCREEN ?

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Dr Vaibhav Shah 

HOW TO CHOOSE RIGHT SUNSCREEN ?

We know how important it is to choose the right Sun Protection Factor (SPF) for our skin. But did you know it’s not just the range of SPF — 4,15, 30, 40 and 50 as written on your sunblock creams and moisturisers — but also the form of SPF that matters when you pick up them up from stores? For example, if you have oily skin, it’s better to opt for sunscreens that are powder or gel-based. And if you have dry skin, use a creamier one. Skin specialist says, “The ideal range of SPF for the Indian skin tone is 15. Ninety three to 97 per cent of the sun’s rays are protected with the range 15. But irrespective of the range, one has to remember to apply sunscreen every 2-3 hours for minimum damage of the facial skin.”

How to determine the correct SPF for your skin

o    Normal skin: Normal skin types are the least problematic. The tissue does not reveal any traces of oil and looks clean, smooth and has a good circulation and a healthy complexion. Opt for a cream-based sunblock. In case of oiliness, dab with a tissue to remove the excess oil.

o    Oily skin: Oily skin is one of the most problematic skin types. The face has spots of facial oil, corresponding to the areas on your cheeks, nose and the forehead. The face usually looks greasy, thick, coarse and shiny and also has large enlarged pores and tends to break into acne. For the oily skin, gel or aqua-based SPF formulations work the best. This has a drying effect and does not make the skin look greasy.

o    Dry skin: Dry skin has a low level of sebum and can be prone to sensitivity. The skin bears a parched look because of the inability to retain moisture. The skin usually feels tight and uncomfortable after washing unless a moisturiser or cream is applied. Lotion or moisturising SPF is the best choice for dry skin. While opting for the right sunblock, one has to keep in mind that a certain thickness is required in the base to protect the skin from sun damage. Thus, always opt for the ones that are thick and not light (matte finish, for instance). The higher the range of the SPF, the more oily the formulation.

Is there anything like too much SPF? 
 dermatologist and skin specialist, says, “SPF is usually determined by the skin type and colour. SPF protects the skin from medical conditions like skin cancer and TPF (Tan Protection Factor) prevents the skin from pigmentation and discolouration. Sunscreen should be chosen according to the skin colour. For example, people with darker skin should ideally opt for lower SPF, while fairer people can go in for sunblocks with higher SPF.”

How and when to apply 
It is advisable to apply a sunscreen at least 15-20 minutes before going outside to allow the drying time on all exposed body areas. Re-apply every 2 hours when exposed to the sun in general, even on cloudy days as 80 per cent of UV rays can penetrate the clouds. When out on a beach, it is advisable to re-apply sunscreen every 15-20 minutes. Wash your face or wipe off the area with a wet tissue before re-applying.

Types of sunscreens to opt for 
There are a variety of sunscreens in the market to choose from. Sunblocks, sunscreens in the form of lotions, creams, sprays, wipes and powders, hypo-allergenic sunscreens, water-proof sunscreens, and gels. Also, there are sunscreens available in cosmetic products like foundations, compact powders, bronzers, and lip balms.


Did you know?

o    Sun exposure can lead to breakouts. It causes a build-up of dead cells which clog pores, and this worsens the acne.

o    A tan can temporarily camouflage the redness of acne and dry out the skin’s surface, but sun exposure will eventually lead to more pimples.

o    Sun exposure damages the hair too. Keep your hair healthy by applying UV-shielding products on your hair.

Dr. Vaibhav Shah

www.vaibhavshahblog.blogspot.com.

COSMETIC SURGERY EDUCATION in India.

Dr Vaibhav Shah 

I can’t tell you how many times that I (and every cosmetic surgeon) hear that question.  I think that the word “facelift” has more meanings to people than any other word in cosmetic surgery.  People ask about a “full facelift”, “half facelift”, “neck lift” and so on.  This can be very confusing to patients and some may forego treatment because of preconceived notions that are not true.

A “facelift” by definition is a procedure called rhytidectomy.  A rhytid is a wrinkle and “ectomy” means to surgically remove, so technically it refers to a surgical procedure with incisions removes skin to tighten wrinkles.  A traditional facelift includes hidden incisions in front of and behind the ear.  The skin is then separated from the underlying tissues and the deep layers are tightened.  Then the skin is pulled in a natural direction and the excess is removed.  Traditionally, the platysma (muscles in the central neck) are also tightened.

A traditional facelift does very little (or nothing) for the central oval of the face (brow, central forehead, eyes, nose and mouth).  It also does very little, if anything for tissues above the nostrils.  So, a “facelift” is more for the jowls and neck, in fact, all about the jowls and neck. Now you know what a facelift really is!

The “wrinkle” in this description (yes, pun intended) is that not all surgeons do the same surgery the same way.  Some surgeons omit the platysma procedure.  Personally I think that is short changing the patient, although very young patients may not need a platysmaplasty.  Also, some surgeons “invent” shortcut facelift procedures where they omit the incision behind the ear.  I am always leery about someone who takes a procedure that is 100 years old and puts his or her name on it, or even worse, a corporate name.  Again, facelift surgery has been around for a century and all the tricks have been attempted and abandoned because a short cut in surgery almost always translates to a short cut in result and longevity.  Some surgeons try to avoid several inches of incision behind the ear and end up doing a procedure that will begin to relapse in several years.  These types of shortcuts always claim easy surgery with fast recovery.  Remember, in cosmetic surgery, you always get what you pay for….not in terms of money, but in terms of recovery.  The cosmetic consumer should always be cautious about any surgery that deviates significantly from the standard of care in technique.  Just because something is new, does not make it better.  Obviously, we do make advancements in materials and techniques, but if and when that happens, it becomes widely adapted and the norm.  Any patient that is looking at a “new” or “miracle” procedure should ask the surgeon to see 20 pictures of patients that had this procedure by same surgeon and the pictures should be 1-2 years after the procedure.  If a surgeon can’t show you that (for any procedure) you better think closely about getting surgery that is different from the way most surgeons do it.  Cosmetic surgery patients often get the short end of the stick from hype delivered by companies, media and surgeons.  If it sounds too good to be true, it is!  If someone invents a new and radical improved facelift procedure, it won’t be in TV ads, it will be front page news.

So, back to the“facelift” definition.  Much of the confusion about the definition of the word comes from a patient’s experience.  A patient may have “rhytidectomy” but also have a brow lift, eyelid surgery, cheek implants, chin implant, laser skin resurfacing, etc.  So when this patient tells someone they had a “facelift” the listener may assume that a facelift includes all that additional surgery.  They would be wrong!  Rremember, a facelift primarily addresses the jowls and neck.  The patient merely had other procedures along with their facelift.  When you get your engine tuned up, it may include a wheel alignment at the same time, but technically, an wheel alignment is not part of a tune up.

The best way to keep this all simple is to divide the face into 4 segments:

• Upper face
• Midface
• Lower face and neck
• Face and neck skin

Each of these regions concerns separate cosmetic procedures to address the aging in that area and the facelift concerns the third item on the list.  Also facelifts come in three sizes; small, medium and large.  It is basically the same procedure in different versions.  Patients in their early 40’s may need a small lift, while patients with more aging need bigger versions of the same operation.

 www.vaibhavshahblog.blogspot.com.