What's behind that famous radiant glow of today's brides? Surprisingly enough, sometimes beauty may actually be skin-deep! A top specialist, Michael I. Jacobs, M.D., who not only heads up his own private practice in Manhattan but is clinical assistant professor of dermatology, Cornell Medical School-New York Hospital, tells why.
Q. I suppose the thing we all worry about most is that our skin is going to break out the moment we have to walk down the aisle. I actually know a bride who got a zit on the tip of her nose on her wedding day. Is there anything you can do to prevent the, well, unthinkable from actually happening?
Yes, if you can get yourself to a dermatologist on time. You can treat small cysts or inflamed acne with injections of diluted cortisone. They improve within 24 to 48 hours.
Q. I have the kind of skin that gets burned if I walk down the block on a sunny day. But, wouldn't you know it, my fiancé wants to go to St. Thomas for our honeymoon! What should I do?
Everybody, not just fair-skinned people, should always wear lotion with SPF (which stands for Sun Protection Factor) l5 when they're out in the sun. This blocks over 90 percent of the dangerous ultraviolet light. Or they can wear SPF 30, which blocks 95 percent. It should be applied at least one to two hours before you go out in the sun and reapplied several times a day. You also should try to avoid sunbathing altogether between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun is at its strongest, and the ultraviolet rays, their most dangerous.
Q. My fiancé picked a skiing lodge for our honeymoon, but I hear it can be just as bad for your skin as the beach. Is that true?
Yes. In higher altitudes, the ultraviolet rays are as strong as they are at the beach, and you should use a moisturizing sunblock with the same kind of SPF protection.
Q. What about birth control pills? I hear they can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
No. That tan pigment they create has nothing to do with photosensitivity. You're talking about something called melasma that's caused on the forehead and cheeks, and above the lip. It can be treated with a topical bleach like Melanex (available only by prescription). There's also a new topical acne cream, Azelex, that might be beneficial in reducing the pigmentation. And you have to stay out of the sun and use a high SPF sunscreen because the condition is exacerbated by the sun.
Q. To me, skin never feels clean unless you've washed it with soap. But is it true you should never use it on your face because it's much too harsh?
I think everybody should wash with soap and water. You could use a moisturizing soap, such as Dove, or Cetaphil lotion, if you have super-dry skin or eczema. Cleanliness is especially important, in fact, with eczema because bacteria can colonize the skin. But you shouldn't soak in a tub-just take a quick, lukewarm shower with a moisturizing soap.
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