Baby: Welcome to my Mommy’s podcast.
Hiya 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 points of skincare and how to take care of our pores and skin as we age, and particularly earlier than, throughout, and after menopause and how 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 completed any skincare procedures. Undoubtedly personally keep away from issues like filler and Botox, however it’s nice data to know for the longer term of which of them may be useful and not dangerous to the pores and skin if I needed to look into that. And Dr. Mary Alice Mina is a Harvard-trained, double board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon, and a number one skilled on pores and skin well being and skincare. She’s additionally the host of The Skin Actual podcast for individuals trying to go deeper on this matter, and she has some assets out there on her web site which might be linked within the present notes as nicely. So let’s leap 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 to simplify your skincare routine and concentrate on 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 quite a bit of hormonal adjustments taking place there. The physique’s altering in quite a bit of other ways. And that of course 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 perhaps perimenopause or shifting into menopause and even post-menopause, what do we’d like to find out about what’s occurring in our physique and how 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 feel 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 woman born as we speak is a couple of hundred, proper? So we live manner, manner longer than we’ve ever lived earlier than. And sadly, medical science and analysis has not stored up with girls’s well being past their reproductive years. It’s virtually 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 significantly girls physicians, additionally type of advocates on the market saying like, wait a minute, we’re struggling. These are unwanted effects which might be actually impacting our lives. And we wish, we don’t need to stay the following half of our life or a 3rd of our life like this. And so I feel it’s simply great we’re even having this dialog.
And typically individuals ask me like, why are you so obsessive about menopause for those who’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 most likely experiencing some perimenopausal signs. Possibly 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 manner up right here. And nicely, they do cycle, proper, for month-to-month, all through our lives. However then all of a sudden in menopause, they plummet and they’re primarily 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 part.
And so it’s vital that, first of all, girls know you’re not going loopy for those who’re having scorching flashes and all these signs. And actually, it’s common. Each lady’s going to undergo this for those who stay lengthy sufficient. So skin-wise, heaps of adjustments happen, too. Estrogen actually helps us preserve our pores and skin plump and form of radiant trying. It helps with collagen. It helps preserve our hair thick and full. And so when that goes away, you’ll be able to discover issues like hair thinning, hair loss. You can really feel like your face simply melted in a single day and you lose that collagen, that vibrancy. And it may be actually distressing for ladies. And in addition, particularly as a result of we now have these unrealistic targets or unrealistic expectations, I ought to say, that as girls, we’re actually not allowed to age. We’re supposed to proceed to look the identical as after we had been in our 20s and 30s. You know, males are allowed to age, proper? They’re allowed to turn out to be distinguished, however a girl doesn’t. So I feel we’d like to change the narrative on that as nicely and probably not worry growing older, however form of perceive, okay, what’s occurring? It’s regular. It’s pure. However that doesn’t imply we are able to’t assist some of the signs, particularly once they’re debilitating.
Katie: I like that you just introduced up the kind of double customary that exists for males and girls and how they get to be referred to as distinguished once they age and how 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 type of intuitively can really feel that clearly that huge hormone shifts like menopause would additionally affect the pores and skin as a result of we’ve most likely seen that all through our cycles as our hormones shift every month. Like I do know anyone watching on video, I had to like cowl up a bit of 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 much less and much less the more healthy I’ve gotten through the years, however it nonetheless typically occurs. And so we see these hormone adjustments affecting us. So it is sensible that when there’s an enormous one, we’d see an enormous impact.
You use that time period, your face melting in a single day. And I like that you just clarify it that manner. 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 quite a bit of weight about 5 years in the past. And I had that related impact. And I’ve been type of attempting to like rehab it since then. So any recommendations for ladies who do really feel like their face form of melted in a single day?
Dr. Mina: Yeah, completely. So, you understand, quite a bit of issues. And once more, first is simply perspective, figuring out that, okay, that is regular and not essentially attempting to completely reverse and appear to be you’re 20, however to actually aid you look the very best that you would be able to 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 robust manner to enhance collagen.
So we’re dropping 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 perhaps questionable or early information suggesting that perhaps 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 desirous about doing a process. And, you understand, heaps of units, lasers, issues like that, you’ll be able to 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 feel we’ve actually discovered as persons are beginning to research 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. Lots of them are procedures. And I might say additionally simply don’t quit on a primary pores and skin routine. I might incorporate a vitamin A and then additionally focus in your general well being. That’s going to actually be impactful as nicely.
Katie: What are some of the most typical adjustments that individuals come to you with in menopause? And like, what do you sometimes suggest for the totally different adjustments that girls expertise in menopause?
Dr. Mina: So I do a great bit of procedural dermatology. So quite a bit of occasions they’re coming to me looking for out a possible process. I get quite a bit of girls coming in with hormonal or I’m sorry, with pimples on this stage and wanting to form of discuss by means of that. So it’s not unusual to see pimples in menopause, which individuals suppose I believed that was one thing that simply occurred once I’m a young person. However once more, with the fluctuating hormones and then your testosterone ranges being comparatively increased than your estrogen, you’ll be able to see pimples. So pimples is a standard one. A vitamin A cream like a retinol may be actually useful for that.
Hair loss. That may be a large one which I’m seeing quite a bit of. Thankfully, there are some nice merchandise on the market that assist. Minoxidil bought quite a bit of consideration. It’s an outdated treatment that we’ve had for many years, however it bought type of a renewed curiosity when the New York Instances 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 quite a bit 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 speak about procedures as a result of I do know there’s like virtually limitless 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 really need to do issues like Botox and fillers, however I do know there are additionally many different choices past that, that aren’t type of placing issues into the pores and skin, however serving to the pores and skin enhance. So stroll us by means of the vast world of procedures.
Dr. Mina: Yeah, it form of can appear to be the wild world. I used to be really simply speaking with a girlfriend final evening and she was saying, what laser, what lasers do you want? What ought to I do? What ought to I? And she or he had superb, lovely pores and skin. And I used to be like, nicely, there are quite a bit of lasers and quite a bit of them are fairly efficient, however, what you don’t want it, proper? So I might first say, and that is what I do once 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, once you look within the mirror, what bothers you? Is it the jowling? Is it your neck? Is it crepey pores and skin? I want to know as a result of that’s going to tailor what we do.
So one of the 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 drugs referred to as PLLA, poly-l-lactic acid, dissolved in water and it’s injected, however it stimulates your personal collagen. So I discover that that may be a actually form of pure manner to enhance your collagen instantly within the pores and skin. It’s not like questioning is the collagen I’m ingesting 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 feel that’s an incredible choice. It’s form of taking part in the lengthy recreation. 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 contemplate it pure as a result of it’s your personal 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 and then form of shrink wrap it and tighten it up. There are microneedling procedures that when mixed with radio frequency can assist tighten the pores and skin. And so it actually simply depends upon how superior you might be or not. So some procedures like microneedling are an incredible form of preventative measure for individuals who don’t actually have quite a bit to reverse. After which I might say the microcoring and even surgical procedure is reserved extra for somebody with quite a bit of pores and skin laxity or tightening that wants to go on.
And I might simply say, these items are costly. They’re costly. There are quite a bit of individuals who have these lasers and they’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 skilled on this, like a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon, as a result of I feel you’ll get the very best 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 actually 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 bear in mind of. In case you have darker pores and skin, you need to be actually cautious as a result of you may get hyperpigmentation or whitening of the pores and skin if the incorrect settings are. If the incorrect settings are used.
So there are tons of choices on the market, however I do discover that it may be overwhelming for individuals. And quite a bit of occasions persons are simply attempting to promote you one thing and it could probably not deal with what you want. And I feel it’s vital to have life like 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 to’re conscious of what realistically this process can do and what it could’t do. As a result of quite a bit of occasions they’re costly.
So I feel your finest wager although, see somebody who actually is an skilled at this, who has quite a bit 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 prepared to do any process to make some cash off of you. That’s actually not the precise choice. So once more, that’s the place I feel the specialists on this are dermatologists and plastic surgeons.
Katie: I a lot recognize you being the voice of purpose and moderation in that, although I do know that you’ve got some of these procedures out there, talking to not everybody wants all of these and don’t waste your cash. As a result of I feel, such as you mentioned, 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 a bit of bit of one 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, most likely as a result of the blood circulation of chilly water hitting your face. Yeah. However that is actually cool for serving to your cortisol patterns, particularly for those who’re getting gentle within the morning and getting the precise circadian rhythm going. And that one’s mainly free at residence. So I at all times recommend that one. I additionally love that you just touched on. Oh, go forward.
Dr. Mina: Oh, nicely, and you understand, the chilly, the chilly ice baths, proper? Like persons are loving that. I’ve heaps 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 beneath 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 type 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 attempting to get collagen into their joints and tissues for restoration, collagen alone doesn’t do it. It really depends upon a complete host of different issues like your micronutrient ranges and hint quantities of silica and magnesium. So I like that you just spoke to like, simply taking collagen is just not a repair all there’s different issues you are able to do as nicely.
And I’m additionally inquisitive about at-home units as a result of it looks as if some of these have gotten widespread currently. I’m curious which of them you suppose are evidence-based and are value attempting for somebody who desires to take a mild strategy, whether or not it’s issues like pink gentle, or I feel micro-electrical stimulation or no matter it’s referred to as has gotten widespread or these little needle rollers. Are there any advantages to these at-home units that individuals would possibly attempt?
Dr. Mina: Yeah, no, at-home units are positively all the fad 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 quite a bit of good information to inform us what’s the energy, what’s the vitality that we’d like for these lights and the wavelength and how a lot energy do they want to emit to actually be efficient. So the information, 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 situation is you could have to do it every single day or very persistently for about 10 minutes to make it work. So don’t make investments on this for those who don’t suppose you’ll be able to commit to placing it on and utilizing it frequently. So I’m not somebody who would have the opportunity to try this. So I don’t do it. But when that’s one thing you’re prepared to commit to, then I’ve no drawback doing that. Simply know that they’re quite a bit of cash, and the information is just not completely on the market on which is the very best one, which is probably the most highly effective one and all that.
For the stamping and the rollers, I’m not an enormous fan of these. I feel 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 damage. And also you’re not going to actually go deep sufficient, I feel, to get the true profit as a result of once more, you’re doing it at residence. So I feel these procedures are dangerous. I’ve seen infections and scarring from them. I might not suggest these at residence. I might say simply go see knowledgeable if you’re desirous about microneedling. I’ve pals who’re doing like facial workouts and issues like that. I don’t love these. I feel you’re not going to actually see enhancements until you’re actually doing it persistently on a regular basis. And I feel that’s form of unrealistic. However I might say my favourite could be the LED red-light at-home masks if you’re trying to do one thing.
Katie: After which what could be, I do know you touched on a number of of them, what could be your advice, particularly for like a girl in menopause or postmenopause, if she did need 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 perhaps keep away from or these don’t have as a lot medical profit and have extra danger?
Dr. Mina: Nicely, I feel all of it simply actually depends upon 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 could be most useful. However what I discover most individuals who are available, they’re type of simply general discouraged and perhaps disillusioned, and they don’t even actually know the place to begin. And one of my favourite issues to do is simply even out the complexion. I discover if you may get your pores and skin complexion extra uniform and extra form of vibrant and glowing, it makes every part look higher, proper? You now not are as you don’t discover the puffiness or the baggage beneath 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 lovely. As a result of to me, that’s that’s so essential as a result of for those who do a neck elevate or fillers and all this different stuff, however your pores and skin texture and complexion is just not even in uniform, it by no means seems pretty much as good. And I feel persons are at all times a bit of bit disillusioned. In order that’s actually my very first thing, particularly if somebody doesn’t have one explicit factor they’re bothered by is like, let’s get your pores and skin complexion extra even. Let’s type of take away some of that solar injury or you understand, crepiness and issues like that. Let’s tighten it up. In order that’s form of my favourite. And that may be completed with lasers, issues just like the halo laser, or I like a chemical peel. I’m an enormous fan of chemical peels. And typically I’ll pair that with a bit of microneedling too for some further collagen boosting, however I discover simply doing that, and quite a bit of occasions with a chemical peel, you do it as soon as and so long as you preserve some safety and a great 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 part else look higher.
Katie: Yeah, I like your type of basis first strategy to that. As a result of I say the identical factor on the like vitamin 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, and then construct from there versus pondering some actually costly biohack goes to sort things once 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 feel that’s the place the confusion is available in, and I liken it form of like purchasing or your wardrobe, proper? We purchase these items, however we don’t actually know the way it all goes collectively. And we don’t actually have that basis set. And for those who don’t have that basis set, you’re going to be pissed off. You’re going to really feel such as you’re losing time and cash. 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 could have some assets out there for individuals to form of dial in that personalised facet 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 Skin Actual the place I attempt to simply break down questions I’m requested from my sufferers, my pals, the most recent that’s popping out, attempt to make it simply actually type of holistic pores and skin well being. And in order that’s theskinreal.com. You can discover it there. You can discover it on Apple, Spotify. And my social media deal with is @drminaskin.
Katie: Excellent. Nicely, I’ll be sure that these hyperlinks are included within the present notes however thanks a lot to your time. I haven’t gone deep on skincare on this podcast but, and I like your life like and balanced strategy and you being the voice of construct the muse, nourish your physique from the within out, do the opposite issues when you’ve completed these issues, however don’t waste your cash both. I really feel like you could have such a great perspective, and I’m so grateful to your time.
Dr. Mina: Oh, Katie, thanks a lot. And thanks for all you’re doing in your great podcast.
Katie: Nicely, thanks. And thanks as at all times to all of you for listening and sharing your most dear assets, 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 part of me once more on the following episode of the Wellness Mama podcast.
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