December 13th, 2022
Because acne is such a complex disease with lots of moving parts, the first step in treatment involves the proper diagnosis of the type of acne, severity, and any confounding variables, such as concurrent skin disorders or degree of scarring. Your acne treatment must be tailored to you and monitored closely by a dermatologist for responsiveness, and you might need different medications to address different aspects of the disease.
The most optimal approach to treating acne is called “polytherapy”, and is internationally recognized as the most effective way to manage acne. Think of it like hitting the acne over the head with many different hammers at once to get it to behave. We attack all the different aspects of this complicated disease to achieve the best results. With time as your condition improves, your dermatologist can release a few hammers and simplify your program.
Don’t keep waiting to achieve results with your acne. Call the clinic today or visit our portal to begin your treatment journey!
]]>Aesthetic treatments have the ability to significantly improve your psychological well-being by mitigating the classic signs of aging. The desire to stay healthy, fit, and look attractive are natural and normal for the average healthy aging individual. Non-surgical treatments are an excellent first option to improving the quality of your surface skin and the shape of your face.
Intrinsic Aging, also known as the natural aging process, is genetically wired and quite variable from person to person. It is a continuous process that occurs throughout our skin, regardless of sun or other environmental exposures. Generally our skin becomes thinner, sometimes even translucent to the vessels and tissues below. The skin barrier also becomes less effective over time, resulting in a type of dehydration called transepidermal water loss, which can make the skin dryer and less supple.
Remarkably however, up to 95% of our visible aging is due to Extrinsic Aging, which is predominantly due to UV light, with some contribution from visible light and infrared light. These changes in skin due to light causes both notable alterations to the appearance of the skin surface as well as the shape of the facial structure. This type of aging is often called Photoaging, and is the cause of premature aging, which can be markedly different from Intrinsic Aging.
Repeated sun exposure breaks down collagen and impairs the synthesis of new collagen and elastin. Sun-weakened skin loses its spring, becoming loose, wrinkled, and leathery much earlier than sun-protected skin. Other photo-aging changes include freckles and seborrheic keratoses, melasma and irregular pigmentation, bumps and scaly patches, spider veins, increased bruisability, blackheads and enlarged pores, and poorly-controlled rosacea.
UVA light (sometimes called the “Aging Rays”) penetrates deeply into our tissues gradually including eroding muscle, fat, and bone. This loss of facial structure, combined with gravity, leads to hollows and jowls, and sagging of skin that used to cover these deeper structures that gave our face shape.
Skin has one of the richest sources of stem cells in the body, with stem cells forming the base of the epidermis, and the bulb of the hair follicle. Stem cells are primordial undifferentiated cells that can be turned into specialized cells when given the right signals. Skin, hair and nails regenerate themselves constantly, until the day we die. Incredibly, we shed about a pound of skin cells a year! Stem cells can be coaxed to do our bidding and change for us, if we coax them along with the right molecules or signals. Because we retain these stem cells all of our lives, it means it is never too late to influence our health!
Regenerative medicine, including placenta-sourced bio-messengers, is the latest and greatest form of treatment available to efficiently and broadly target the causes of aging skin, signaling your skin to repair and rejuvenate. Growth factors can radically cut down inflammation and reset your skin’s “instruction manual” to reduce and reverse visible signs of aging.
At SkinHappy, we are excited to offer a wide range of cutting-edge treatments to combat the visible signs of aging and prevent future damage. We are ready to help ease the psychological pressures of aging and to give you a result that makes you feel like your best self when you look in the mirror. Call us today for a consultation and discover fresh confidence for the new year!
]]>Skin Inflammation, be it from chronic sun exposure, acne, rosacea, eczema or other, releases a “chemical cocktail” that can damage collagen, elastic tissue, cells, DNA, and proper cellular function.
Not only do these chemicals (particularly triggered from UV light) create 80-90% of our aging appearance, but since skin wraps around us, it literally bathes our internal body parts in these chemicals.
These inflammatory molecules can then negatively impact our hearts, our brains, our bones, our gut, our pancreas, and more!
Therefore...
THE APPEARANCE OF OUR SKIN can be a window to our INNER HEALTH!
Science continues to elucidate this connection. Data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study begun in the 1950s, showed that 99% of those who looked at least 10 years older than their stated age had health issues! Furthermore, men assessed to look particularly old for their age at the beginning of the study were more likely than their more youthful-looking counterparts to be dead at the end of the 20 year study. Causes of death spanned the gamut from neurodegenerative disease to cardiovascular and more.
SO… What to DO?
STOP THE INFLAMM-AGING by preventing and repairing along the way!
The SkinHappy Solutions:
Placenta-Sourced Rejuvenative Bio-Messengers
The most concentrated and diverse natural growth factors available to radically cut down inflammation and reset the “instruction manual” for skin and more. The newest “secret weapon” for efficiently and broadly signaling repair and rejuvenation. Contact the SkinHappy clinic for more information about this therapy.
A to Zinc Total Skin Protection
with 10% zinc oxide
Zinc oxide provides the broadest protection against ultraviolet light of all sunscreen ingredients. 95% of UV rays affecting our skin is UVA- this light comes through windows, cloud cover, rain, and fog, and is seen all year long from sunup to sun down. Added healing skin vitamins into the formula can mop up damage that gets through the zinc oxide shield.
Our patent-pending gentle yet powerful serums contain “gold standard” retinoids for overall skin repair in a step-up series- for all ages and skin types! Adults start with Level 4 and progress up to 7 over time.
Contains potent niacinamide that gives all cells energy to recover and repair broadly.
A critical lipid-soluble antidote to fight free radicals from sun, tame excess pigmentation, and encourage collagen formation.
For more targeted solutions, try:
The emotions tied to hair loss are variable person to person, men or women. Perhaps because balding is more “socially acceptable” in men than women, the emotions experienced by women from losing hair can be nothing short of devastating.
There are many causes of hair loss:
Over the last several years, there have been occasional reports of hair loss from Covid-19 or Covid-19 vaccination. The jury is still out if this represents a telogen effluvium or some other immunological phenomenon. Dermatologists are actively studying this, and have been successful with helping these patients with a variety of medications.
Social media, the “selfie” generation, and other forms of online image sharing has been a catalyst of the increasing anxiety associated with hair loss. Losing hair can have a devastating effect on a person’s physical and psychological well-being, impacting all aspects of people’s lives from schooling, relationships, self-esteem and career choices to social, intimacy and leisure activities. Additionally, so-called “hairfluencers”, who are social media users that put out content regarding hair loss, products, and trends which can be harmful and have no scientific backing, are big contributors to negative side effects and increased hair loss.
Let’s talk about hair anatomy and the causes of hair loss..
Hair Loss: More than a Cosmetic Issue!
When Dr. Kenner was practicing as a dermatologist in Hawaii, her practice/outpatient facility was next door to a chemotherapy unit. She saw so many men and women struggling with hair loss due to chemotherapy. No matter the physical and mental toll that chemotherapy and cancer had on them, they expressed the importance of keeping their hair.
On top of the physical and mental impact that cancer had on them, they felt insecure, which can lead to more stress, anxiety, and depression.
Healthy or not, nobody likes losing their hair. The average person equates hair diseases, on the whole, as concerning as heart disease and diabetes. This is a universal phenomenon, transcending global, generational and socioeconomic boundaries, with ample and ongoing scientific study exploring the many facets of how this impacts the human experience.
Hair loss is noticeable in ~50% of the population by age 50 and is less common in Asian populations, equivalent in Caucasians vs Black/Brown populations.
Those with hair loss want better options.
YET 74% are either likely (44%) or extremely likely (31%) to request a new therapeutic approach to hair loss!
Hair Anatomy
Fully understanding the biology behind hair loss is important if you are experiencing it. Educating yourself on WHY these biological processes happen can help you in your process of healing physically and emotionally.
The hair follicle is the structure of skin from which the hair shaft emerges. The follicle is lined by inner and outer sheaths, which protect and shape the growing hair. A muscle called the arrector pili attached to the outer root sheath below the sebaceous gland.
If someone gets a burn on skin and loses that surface skin, skin will be populated by cells from hair follicles which have primordial cells that rest in hair papilla. These undifferentiated stem cells take signals depending on what is needed such as hair, skin or oil glands.
The hair shaft grows from stem cells in the hair bulb deep within the dermis.
A single hair shaft is made up of three parts: medulla, cortex and cuticle.
The medulla and cortex have pigment cells responsible for hair color.
The cuticle is the outer and strongest part of the hair shaft. It is made up of dead flattened cells that overlap each other. The cuticle is keratinized (cells are largely made of a protein called keratin). The sebaceous gland produces oil (sebum) which protects the hair shaft and acts as a natural conditioner.
Hair Growth
Hair grows on most parts of the skin surface, except palms, soles, lips, and eyelids.
Hair thickness and length varies according to the site. Vellus hair is fine, light in color, and short in length; Terminal hair (most important hairs to a human for warmth and esteem: eyebrows, eyelashes, scalp) is thicker, darker and longer. A hair shaft grows within a follicle at a rate of about 1 cm per month.
Hair Cycles
Hair growth follows a cycle. However, these phases are not synchronized, and any hair may be at a particular phase at random.
A new cycle starts with an anagen hair shaft germinating within the same follicle, and pushing out the old telogen hair resulting in normal hair shedding or molting.
At any given time, approx. 84% of scalp hairs are in the anagen phase, 1-2% are in the catagen phase, and 10-15% are in the telogen phase.
Hair length depends on the duration of anagen. Short hairs (eyelashes, eyebrows, hair on arms and legs) have a short anagen phase of around one month. Anagen lasts up to 6 years or longer in scalp hair.
Hair Follicles Vary
The size of hair follicles varies considerably.
Anagen hairs vary in size from large terminal hairs (such as scalp hairs) to the small vellus hairs that cover all skin except palms/soles.
Under hormonal influences, the vellus hair follicles in the male beard area usually thicken and darken at puberty. In predisposed individuals, the terminal hairs on the adult scalp can undergo miniaturization and become vellus hairs.
Although vellus hairs greatly outnumber terminal hairs, the latter are more important.
Hair Loss
The medical term for hair loss is alopecia, and can be associated with scalp disease or scarring.
Alopecia can be localized or diffused (all over) and can affect the scalp or other parts of the body. It may be due to hair shedding, poor hair quality, or hair thinning. Some areas of the skin can be completely bald.
Who gets hair loss?
As all of our hair follicles are formed during fetal growth, it is inevitable that we will notice hair loss of some kind in later life.
Hair loss occurs in:
Hair loss can be an isolated problem or associated with another disease or condition. This can be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause.
Causes of Hair Loss
Hair loss can be due to:
Final Thoughts
In today’s excerpt we talked about hair loss, hair anatomy, hair growth, hair cycle, and hair diseases. . We want you to be expert’s on hair loss after our hair loss blog series, so keep an eye out for our second and third blogs coming soon! We will be talking about different types of hair loss (anlagen, telogen, PHL), causes of PHL (male and female), common hair and scalp conditions such as dandruff, alopecia, fungal infections, lice, psoriasis and more, as well as treatments and symptoms for all.
At SkinHappy, we want to help and support YOU through this process and be a guide, as it is difficult to navigate through the plethora of false information, false ads, and confusion that social media, online articles, news, and many forms of media can be portraying.
With all infections and diseases to be aware about, especially in this day, hair loss can be ignored or pushed to the side for many people. But, it is extremely important to be self-aware, as our outer body can be a reflection of what is going on inside. Take care of yourself by educating yourself, doing what is best for you and your body with an expert’s advice, being consistent, and facing the world with confidence!
At SkinHappy, we get that hair conditions have both a physical and mental impact. Our aim is to heal both outside and in, and allow patients to face the world with confidence, knowledge, effective and safe products and professional whole person care in their backing.
LOOK GREAT, FEEL BETTER AT SKINHAPPY!
Visit skinhappy.com for more information and a FREE online diagnosis!
]]>Over the years we all expose our skin to the robust and harmful UV rays produced by our sun. This causes damage to our skin - creating sunspots and freckling, possible hyperpigmentation, and in severe cases, skin cancer. Retinoids actively work to reverse skin damage, even out pigmentation, and in doing so, prevents skin cancer and other harmful skin conditions.
As a result, our skin begins premature aging - leading to pigmentation in many cases.
How?
RETINOIDS…
After regular application, the retinoids bind to receptors on DNA and instruct the cells to counter the adverse effects of light on the skin.
If you’ve read our previous blog post: KISS Your Acne Goodbye With SkinHappy’s Solution Serum Series, then hopefully we have already provided you with a solid foundation for implementing our retinoid serum into your daily skincare routine. As previously discussed, retinoids actively work to heal and normalize any abnormalities or damage caused on the skin’s surface. However, the issue with most products available is the unknown concentration of retinoid within the serum. This leads to painful retinoid reactions, making many hesitant to use a retinoid product in the future.
Fortunately, SkinHappy’s dermatologist, Dr. Kenner, is the FIRST to create a solution that allows for ALL AGES & SKIN TYPES to safely utilize a retinoid product - avoiding the dreaded retinoid reactions altogether.
This is done by separating the retinoid’s concentration into 7 different levels of product. After years of research, Dr. Kenner has finally released her revolutionary Solution Serum Series.
With each level increasing the retinoids' strength, a patient can start at a lower level and gauge their skin’s tolerance to retinoids. This allows for safe application on children or those with delicate/sensitive skin!
Level 1-3 is safely recommended for children's use, reverting any sun damage caused by burns and preventing unfavorable skin conditions to surface in the future. These first three levels contain our most diluted retinoid product; allowing for the skin to grow tolerance and begin recognizing the molecule to prevent the possibility of a retinoid reaction.
Dr. Kenner advises starting with SkinHappy’s level 4 solution for adults. Once finishing the Retinoid Repair product, your skin should have the tolerance to move up to the next product level (if your budget allows it!)
Pigmentation occurs when both ultraviolet and artificial light stimulates the production of extra pigment in our skin, turning off the ability of our skin to remove excess pigment. Skin pigmentation goes by many names; with freckles, hyperpigmentation, seborrheic keratoses (“age spots,” “liver spots,” “sun spots”), PIE(post-inflammatory erythema), PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), and melasma being the most common ones.
More often than not, pigmentation is a result of direct exposure to the sun.
UVA can penetrate the skin deeper than UVB, hitting the area where the melanocytes reside. While UVB is highly energetic and damaging to the skin (this is the form of light that typically causes sunburn), it does not penetrate as deeply into the skin. UVA radiation (320-400 nm) penetrates deeply even into the bone. UVA is present uniformly throughout the day and year and is not blocked by the atmospheric ozone layer.
Sunscreens block UVB very effectively (the effectiveness related to the SPF rating), but only variably block UVA, depending on the formulation. Although UVA is often not blocked well by many sunscreens, it is usually blocked to some degree by clothing. Unfortunately, UVA is highly reflective, and while a hat can protect from sunlight coming from above, it cannot protect from reflected light bouncing off the ground and returning upward.
Post-pregnancy melasma can contribute negatively to post-partum depression. Hyperpigmentation can have profound psychological implications, particularly in societies that equate darker skin with poorer socioeconomic status and/or stigmatization.
Pigmentation looks different for every skin type, factoring in environmental impacts and genetic predispositions, it is no wonder that a skin condition this complex can be so harmful to our self-image, yet so difficult to treat.
The easiest way to prevent pigmentation from occurring is with a high-quality SPF sunblock. This will shield your skin from UVB rays, however, UVA is often not blocked well by many sunscreens. UVA is usually blocked to some degree by clothing, but you still ultimately risk the chance of exposing your skin to our sun's harsh rays. This means that try as hard as we might, pigmentation can be unavoidable for many - leaving us with no option but to try our best to normalize and correct the skin pigmentation and impacts of sun exposure.
As discouraging as facial pigmentation seems, there are ways to limit and even eliminate unwanted discoloration, once one has fully understood that using appropriate sun protection consistently is foundational and that additional treatments cannot work without this.
The miracle molecule derived from Vitamin A is important to building happy and healthy skin; and avoids risk when used topically, rather than orally. With its efficacy for treating the signs of aging skin confirmed in the 1980s, retinoic acid has dermatology-backed data proving its direct link to dermal collagen reconstruction, normalization of skin turnover, barrier repair, pigment modification, increased vascularity, and (to a degree) mutated DNA repair.
Dr. Kenner, and many other dermatologists and physicians, consider retinoids to be the most important reparative and health-maintaining molecules for skin, and are fundamental to any and all skin programs.
Now that we have properly protected our skin from further pigmentation, how can we repair the damage that has already been done to our skin?
SkinHappy’s Retinoid Repair Solution normalizes skin pigmentation, evening out texture and bumps, and most importantly repairing the damage from the sun. The efficacy of retinoic acid or tretinoin for treating the signs of aging skin was confirmed in the early 1980s when histological data confirmed the reconstruction of dermal collagen, normalization of skin turnover, barrier repair, pigment modification, and more.
Try out the essentials below for evening out skin pigment and discoloration!
Dr. Kenner has dedicated time into researching and testing retinoid solutions, to ultimately creating a patent-pending set of serums, ranging in 7 different levels of retinoid strength. This allows for the product used for all ages 2-99+, ensuring the patient can ease a retinoid product into their routine, building tolerance so the skin may tolerate stronger levels of retinoid in the future, providing a larger range of benefits in expediting the healing and regeneration process.
How is this not a universal product for those struggling with pigmentation and facial discoloration?
The simple answer: most over-the-counter and drug store products that contain any form of retinoid have weak efficacy and less compatibility for ALL skin types.
This vitamin A serum comes in prescription and non-prescription varieties to help combat pigmentation, as well as multiple other skin issues. There is a possibility that you have already tried a retinoid product or retinol serum, experienced a bad reaction or had no improvement at all. This may be discouraging you from incorporating a retinoid serum into your skincare routine and this is why you should rely on dermatologists.
The main issue with a retinoid serum when purchased over the counter is the unknown fact, giving the potential to cause irritation and in some cases, worsen the already painful symptoms.
Most serums purchased from a store have little regulation of handling and distributing, meaning we never really know their shelf life or how effective the retinoid molecule is upon application.
This can make the product ineffective with deactivated retinoid or possibly a product that is too harsh in concentration for your skin's tolerance to retinoid.
This is why your skin NEEDS a product that is safe for regular use with proven results. SkinHappy’s revolutionary Solution Serum Series works to normalize pigmentation like any other retinoid or retinol product on the market, expediting the process of shedding dead skin cells containing pigment.
Our patent-pending solution is the FIRST to take the retinoid molecule and create 7 different leveled strengths of retinoid, intended for safe and easy use for ALL Ages.
This gentle, yet neutralizing quality is what makes Skin Happy's Solution Serum Series a great match for anyone dealing with pigmentation, discoloration, or sun damage - With proven results from SkinHappy patients.
As the product is used and tolerance is built, your skin will become more comfortable with a retinoid topical, leading to a variety of health and appearance benefits.
Patients will generally ‘level up’ upon completion of each bottle.
This is not necessary, but will only help to increase your skin's tolerability to the retinoid molecule. Given your specific pigmentation problem, you may need to pair our Retinoid Repair solution in conjunction with other products to see the desired results.
Trying low-to-high-range tretinoin or maybe an at-home revitalizing peel can help to achieve clear skin with even pigmentation. To best combat pigmentation, pair the Retinoid Repair solution with our SkinHappy C++ Antioxidant Serum.
After just 3 months on SkinHappy Retinoid Repair, many begin to see dramatic changes and results in their skin pigmentation and texture.
This solution is a life-changing product that is unlike any other retinoid-based serum on the market now. See how SkinHappy can help you face the world with confidence by neutralizing facial pigmentation and so much more!
Get your FREE online skin diagnosis today!
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December 13th, 2022
I began struggling with acne at age 16 during my junior year of highschool. Not only did I feel self conscious about the acne on my face, I also began to develop acne on my back and chest that made me reluctant to wear certain clothes that I loved. The first dermatologist I went to prescribed birth control for me immediately. Though this seemed like a good option at the time
to help balance my hormones and get my ane under control, it turned out to be the wrong option for me. Though my skin cleared up, being on the pill made me gain weight and I did not feel like myself. I also tried an antibiotic, but both these options were only short term solutions to my acne.
My second year into college, my acne began to flare up again. But at this period in my life I was far more insecure about my appearance and I think that my persistent acne contributed a great deal to my low self confidence. I went to my college’s health center and they prescribed benzoyl peroxide without really looking at my skin closely enough. After a few weeks of using this on my face, I realized that it was much too harsh on my skin. I got rashes all over my face rather than seeing any kind of improvement. At this point I felt very discouraged because even the methods I was using to help my skin were making me feel even more insecure about my appearance.
College presented many challenges for me, academically and socially, that increased my
susceptibility to acne. Not only did my diet change drastically, but I was experiencing more stress in school than ever before. At this point in college, I was really struggling to find my place socially and I believe my acne prevented me from putting myself out there in social situations and meeting new people. Sadly, I think my acne was a major obstacle for me throughout college in my journey to discovering my inner and outer beauty and being the best version of myself.
I was very thankful when my mom recommended that I meet Dr. Julie Kenner when I was home from college during winter break of my junior year. Upon arriving at her lovely office in downtown Monterey for my first consultation, I immediately felt like the focus was on me as an individual and what would work best for clearing up my acne in the long term. Dr. Kenner was never just
looking at quick fix solutions; she was concerned with identifying my specific acne issues and prescribing a regimen that was unique to my skin type and acne. Dr. Kenner’s compounds are highly effective and I started to see results within the first month.
When I returned to college for my senior year, I blossomed dramatically and I felt so much more confident about myself inside and out. This manifested in my personal relationships and my academics. I am so grateful to Dr. Kenner for giving me an individualized skin care regimen to stick to and for prescribing a plan for me to maintain my clear skin and reduce redness and scaring. I would not be able to say that my skin is completely clear today without her commitment and dedication. Dr. Kenner gave me the tools I needed to be the most successful, confident woman I could be.
Start your SkinHappy Journey today! Get your free diagnosis and start your journey to whole person health.
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Keep It Simple, Silly! Stop overcomplicating your skincare routine and allow Dr. Julie Kenner, MD PhD, and Board Certified Dermatologist, to share with you her revolutionary approach to maintaining happy and healthy skin. Every dermatologist will tell you of the nearly magical healing properties that retinoids have for many skin conditions, including; acne, rosacea, sun damage, wrinkles, and much more! However, there seem to be conflicting answers on proper use and managing the dreaded “retinoid reaction” that may overcomplicate the skincare routine or may even turn you away from using a retinoid product altogether.
Introducing SkinHappy’s Solution Serum Series: a fundamental product for any and all skin types. This patent-pending solution removes the complications of implementing a retinoid solution into your daily skincare routine. This series is offered in 7 stages, with each successive level increasing the amount of retinoid within the product - allowing your skin to build a tolerance to higher levels over time and enjoy the daily use of retinoids without the discomfort of a retinoid reaction.
The SkinHappy Solution Serum Series, like all retinoids, work by binding to DNA receptors within the skin cell.
DNA is like the “brain” of our cells, and when a molecule binds to a receptor, it will trigger a function. An example in this case, is the creation of proteins or other molecules instructing the cells to do something, such as repair and rebuild. DNA does not naturally have many retinoid receptors present.
Rather, these specific DNA receptors will begin to regenerate on their own, once the retinoids are detected in their environment (AKA - building a tolerance).
Retinoids found naturally in the skin are destroyed by light, and so are deficient in sun-exposed skin. This means depleted retinoid receptors on sun exposed skin. To handle replacement retinoids added topically to your skin through a formulation or product, you will need to slowly introduce these retinoid receptors to your DNA, in order to avoid the dreaded retinoid reaction.
This is the uncomfortable sensation of the retinoid (generally in the acid or alcohol forms: tretinoin or retinol) overwhelming skin that has not built tolerance, or enough receptors to 'grab' the retinoid. This “overwhelming reaction” causes redness, irritation, dryness, peeling, burning, and sometimes pimples or other blemishes.
*While uncomfortable, it simply means that your skin does not have the tolerance for the intensity of retinoid being applied.
Creating more DNA retinoid receptors can be done seamlessly over time by the gradual introduction of higher and higher concentrations of retinoids.
The SkinHappy Solution Serum Series has been created to specifically avoid these retinoid reactions, allowing for the skin to handle higher and higher amounts of high-quality, specially formulated retinoids - to do the wonderful rejuvenation sought after by all!
If for some reason your skin is incredibly sensitive, simply go back down to a lower level, and only increase to the highest level your skin can handle. Remember, skin is a constantly dividing and renewing organ, and if we give it the right signals and molecules to repair and renew, it will happily do our bidding!
A common issue we see today is the over-complication of implementing retinoids into a skincare routine - "apply before bed, use it every other day or every second day, 'cycle' it through a complicated program, don’t mix with other products, avoid the sun, don’t use if you have sensitive skin, etc." This makes the idea of developing a skincare routine daunting, and for some, nearly impossible to follow!
So, remember to...keep it simple!
Mix our SkinHappy Solution Serums right with your morning and evening skincare products! These Solutions may be applied all over the face, even in traditionally sensitive areas, such as eyelids. Mix with your sunblock or other products in the morning, and moisturizer or other skin care products in the evening. Start with low levels (level 4 for adults), and work up to higher levels as you finish a bottle (typically our product bottle lasts 2-3 months); or as your skin desires.
If you also use a retinoid such as tretinoin or retinol, you typically will use these at night, after applying other skincare products including the SkinHappy Solution Series, but need more time to tolerate and generally won’t be able to be used in sensitive areas.
And YES, it is perfectly acceptable to use more than one form of retinoid! As an example, typically Dr. Kenner recommends for her acne patients, that they use the SH Solution Serums twice a day all over the face, and a tretinoin containing product in the evening (after tolerated) to selected areas (avoiding corners of nose, mouth or eyes) where they tend to get their acne or blackheads.
SkinHappy offers a variety of RX formulations to pair with our Solution Serum Series in order to achieve each patients' desired results!
“Within my practice of dermatology, I routinely see patients with sensitive skin who need or want to be on a retinoid product but cannot tolerate any of the available formulations. I have spent much of my career evaluating different retinoids for both tolerability and efficacy.” - Dr. Kenner
Dr. Kenner has many patients that visit SkinHappy; defeated with having tried all avenues to rid their skin of acne and the common, debilitating side effects that follow: anxiety, depression, redness, pigmentation, irritation, scarring, sensitivity ~ just to name a few.
One commonality among each patient: they have tried everything to treat their acne but nothing has worked. More often than not, the perfect answer is using well designed treatment programs that use products that are customized to your needs and tolerable to your skin! Get back your happy and the healthy and beautiful skin you deserve.
Living with acne is difficult, and with most insurance providers unwilling to cover its costly treatment, many are left to find solutions of their own - wasting time and money in the process. Acne is painful, somewhat never-ending, and almost always destructive to one's self-esteem. With endless answers to ‘clear skin’ online and in the media, it's hard to know which solution is right for your skin - and more importantly, which product will effectively treat your acne subtype.
Acne appears on our skin in various forms (pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, cystic acne, hormonal acne, inflammatory, gram-negative folliculitis, etc.) This means that treating acne can be complex - taking both skill and knowledge. Meaning, the right medication sets are matched with the right type of acne. What is important is understanding your skin and taking a concentrated form of retinoid before leveling up to stronger intensities.
Acne is an incredibly complicated and complex disease. Because truly customizable treatment is rarely done, over 80% of those being treated fail to see improvement or change with traditional treatment methods. SkinHappy has created a solution to improve this rate dramatically.
*While SkinHappy’s retinoid serums alone may not be the sole answer to clearing your skin of acne, pairing this serum with Dr. Kenner’s specific customized recommendations will provide proven, unparalleled results- seen below with before and after images of SkinHappy patients!
Dr. Kenner has a plan for your success - the first step is a FREE online diagnosis ($120 value)
It is well known that sunlight depletes retinoids from our skin. However, because sunblocks are imperfect and do not block ALL light, and people rarely have adequate amounts of sunblock on their skin at all times of the day, there is the inevitable loss of retinoid from our sun-exposed skin surfaces- leading to a host of changes in appearance and function of skin.
Just like adding fluoride to tooth brushing practices remarkably improved dental health back in the 1950s…. Now, in the 2020s, there are finally retinoids that anyone can tolerate!
Regularly using retinoids in addition to broad-spectrum sunblock use is a powerful way to more fully protect skin health!
Retinoids are a large family of molecules derived from Vitamin A with complex biology; from the storage form Retinyl Ester/Palmitate to Retinaldehyde, to Retinol and Retinoic Acid. Retinoids are one of the most commonly used classes of topical medication to improve skin function, overall health, and appearance, as well as treatments for a great many dermatological
conditions including comedonal and inflammatory acne, psoriasis, precancerous lesions, rosacea, pigmentation, sun-induced aging, and more.
Dr. Kenner calls this powerful family of retinoids “The Great Skin Normalizers.”
Unlike any other product on the market, SkinHappy has developed a retinoid topical that is safe and powerful, yet very tolerable for delicate skin at any age - even children!
For children with possible sun damage or other skin conditions, we recommend starting at a lower level and maintaining until the teen years when the skin can endure a stronger concentration of retinoid. In contrast, adults are generally safe to start with the SkinHappy Solution: level 4 and ‘step up’ upon finishing the product.
As mentioned above, one of the main limitations to using retinoids is the dreaded “retinoid reaction” which hampers the use of many retinoids- both over the counter and prescription.
SkinHappy has created a unique line of retinoids that offer sequential step-up concentrations of highly tolerable retinoids specially prepared in such a manner as to effectively eliminate the retinoid reaction.
With this revolutionary retinoid system, SkinHappy Solution Series 1-7, all ages can readily accommodate and enjoy the benefits of retinoids, as well as easily adjust to increasing concentrations of retinoids over time by using sequentially higher levels, starting at level 4 for most adults, and level 1 for young children. Our SkinHappy team simplifies this difficult treatment process with the help of our revolutionary skincare product: the SkinHappy Solution Series: Gentle Retinoid Repair [1-7]
What makes the SkinHappy Solution Series different from other retinoids on the market?
The cost of prescription medications has risen enormously in the last several years with disproportionate increases in dermatology preparations. These pressures have pushed more consumers to depend primarily on non-MD skin care providers of various experiences, or self-selection of over-the-counter skin-care products, often chosen because of price, packaging, or brand awareness. This can backfire, with wasted money without benefiting (or sometimes a worsening!) your skin conditions.
Despite the plethora of skin-care products available, the task of picking the “best” and “most appropriate” skin regimen is daunting. The average intelligent consumer is ill-equipped to differentiate fact from fiction in the competitive market space of skin-care products.
Dr. Kenner has been using and formulating skincare products for years. In addition, she has created educational tools to help folks pick products for their daily use.
One key is the SkinHappy Pyramid, a consumer's guide to understanding the general importance of the 7 major categories of skincare products. ↓
The SkinHappy Pyramid is a general-use guide for skin care products, loosely based on the old-fashioned food pyramid. Like the old food pyramid, it is laid out with the two essential ingredients your skin needs every day at the base and the supplementary “extras” at the top.
The quality of over-the-counter retinoids, such as retinol, has many unknowns for the consumer!
Retinoids are highly susceptible to breakdown by heat, light, and air, and critically important to the activity of the store bought products are: the age of the product, the storage conditions (how hot was the facility, etc), and the container holding the product (ie, is it a jar that you open and expose the product to air? etc). Each of these factors contribute to the activity and function of the product you buy, yet are impossible for the consumer to determine.
At SkinHappy, all of our products have a 1-2 year shelf life (depending on the product), are regularly monitored for activity, and are carefully prepared and packaged in airless pumps so that we know the ingredients will be fully functioning and active for your use!
With our SkinHappy Solution Series' gentle yet powerful retinoids, you are never too old or young to start getting the benefits of retinoids!
Whether in her clinic in Monterey, California, or through her online system accessible anytime, and most anywhere, Dr. Kenner welcomes any and all individuals struggling with acne and the debilitating repercussions of this painful and emotional disease.
Let SkinHappy help YOU face the world with confidence!
]]>WHAT IS HAIR LOSS?
All humans undergo hair loss to some degree with aging. This age-associated hair thinning is called androgenetic alopecia (AA), or male or female patterned hair loss (MPHL, FPHL). The biological process is not actually a loss of hair, but rather is the transition, or more accurately, the miniaturization, of our thick long “terminal” hairs into tiny short “vellus” (“peach fuzz”) hairs. PHL starts early in life-shortly after puberty and proceeds relentlessly, in a genetically determined fashion. The inherited hair loss trait can range from mild to severe and is often depicted as a “hair loss curve” by dermatologists. Some lose very little hair, and so have a very shallow curve, and the hair thinning is not very noticeable. Others have a steep hair loss curve and show hair loss as early as their late teens.
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEMALE HAIR LOSS AND MALE PATTERN BALDING?
Both men and women undergo patterned hair loss. Men often go completely bald on the tops and backs of their scalps. Women usually preserve their frontal hairline but experience hair loss more throughout the crown (top) of the scalp. The most significant loss is in the front part of the crown, just beyond the frontal hairline. While women can experience considerable hair thinning, with FPHL, they do not become completely bald. Hair loss can also occur in women's temples, though usually to a lesser degree than in men.
TREATMENT FOR HAIR LOSS
Other forms of treatable hair loss can occur at the same time as PHL, which makes hair loss appear more severe. Other common causes of hair loss include Alopecia Areata (AA), and Telogen Effluvium (TE). We won’t go into these now, but both AA and TE can be treated, and show different patterns of hair loss which can exaggerate the appearance of PHL. These are conditions you need to have properly diagnosed and managed by a dermatologist.
Regarding PHL, the most effective treatments are compounded prescription solutions that experienced dermatologists can provide. Both men and women can benefit from a topical minoxidil solution, with better outcomes seen from prescription-strength minoxidil (>5%) vs. the over-the-counter strengths (2-5%). Men can also benefit from oral or topical finasteride, whereas women can benefit from topical progesterone. Both sexes can benefit from topical retinoids, and combination therapy is generally the best. Using the medications encourages the reversal of the miniaturization of hairs within the follicles from the vellus hair back to the terminal hair appearance. These treatments make the hair loss curve more shallow and slow the genetics of hair loss.
Hair regrowth is not an overnight sensation, and it is recommended that the medications are tried for a minimum of 6 months to determine effectiveness. While the clock cannot be completely turned back, most people respond to these topical medications and see great improvement in their hair loss. In addition to using prescription hair medications, it is essential to have a good diet containing protein, B vitamins (especially biotin), iron, zinc, and vitamins A&C.
While it is true that one needs to use the topical medications daily to reap the benefits of the hair growth stimulation, this is not such a hard thing to do and is how many other conditions, such as blood pressure, are managed chronically. If one stops the medication, the hair loss resumes at an earlier pace, with an initial shedding to adjust the curve back to the previous steeper state.
Newer therapies for hair loss are coming along all the time, so stay tuned for things to change in the future!
PSYCOLOGICAL SIDE EFFECTS OF HAIR LOSS
Hair disease takes a tremendous toll on our self-esteem, often coming at critical or vulnerable times in our lives, and can leave lifelong insecurities affecting our relationships, work, finances, and more.
Losing one’s hair can also be stressful. In fact, hair loss is so profoundly distressing that those undergoing chemotherapy typically rate hair loss as their most dreaded complication! It is no wonder that PHL can take a negative toll on self-esteem in some people. People will sometimes notice variations in the pace of their hair loss due to PHL at different times of their lives. The incidence of hair loss increases greatly in women following menopause and may affect 75% of women older than 65 years.
The hair loss curve in a woman can be exaggerated around this time, which can be normal, and may be a phenomenon of changing hormones that cause telogen effluvium as a co-condition. More often than not, there is a tipping point where people really start to notice their hair loss when they can see their scalp, or notice their temporal hairline recede. Much like it just takes one more drop of water to fill a cup to overflow, it sometimes only takes a few more hairs to be lost for the person to notice hair thinning.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Those with hair loss want better options!
At Skinhappy, we have specialty crafted medical treatments, tested on thousands of patients before you, and are delighted to offer these better options, through our online portal.
In addition to providing you with cutting-edge therapies you may not be able to access anywhere else, we also deeply understand the impact hair loss can have on self-esteem, and “get” the need to stay motivated while waiting for hair to regrow. With our SkinHappy System, we not only treat your hair condition better, but we also provide regular coaching and daily inspiration to help you along your journey to better hair health!
Microneedling comes with a tremendous amount of benefits for the skin. Some well-known benefits of microneedling are collagen induction, skin rejuvenation, scar repair, and so much more. It all depends on what skin condition and body area need treatment. Multiple body areas can be treated with microneedling, completely transforming the skin.
MICRONEEDLING AND WHY IT IS BENEFICAL FOR THE SKIN
Microneedling comes with a tremendous amount of benefits for the skin. Some well-known benefits of microneedling are collagen induction, skin rejuvenation, scar repair, and so much more. It all depends on what skin condition and body area need treatment. Multiple body areas can be treated with microneedling, completely transforming the skin.
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MICRONEEDLING BENEFITS FOR SKIN
Microneedling is good for skin in so many ways!
The treatment can be likened to “percolating and conditioning soil” that has gotten dry and hard at the surface and is no longer very healthy. Like soil, skin that has been sun damaged becomes dry and hard and doesn’t absorb nutrients very well. Microneedling can help renew and invigorate skin by creating tiny temporary openings in the skin and allowing ready access for nourishing ingredients (what I like to call “skin fertilizer”) into the areas where they can do the most good.
Although laser and chemical peels have long been known as treatments of choice for photoaged and scarred skin, microneedling has recently proven to be superior for a broad range of uses, including skin rejuvenation, wrinkles, acne scars, surgical scars, melasma, sun damage, enlarged pores, precancerous lesions, and skincare product delivery. Not only are the results more impressive, but safety is vastly better (both in regards to infections and pigmentation), as is patient recovery time, which is generally quite minimal. All of this has led microneedling to be the most popular and in-demand aesthetic procedure today.
Medical microneedling penetrates the skin deeper and is done in a more controlled manner (adjusting the depth of needles in different areas and looking for clinical endpoints) than home or aesthetician grade microneedling. In this blog post, we will be referring only to medical microneedling.
IS MICRONEEDLING PAINFUL?
The first question people ask is, is it painful? The word “needles” invokes an almost subconscious fear in most of us! At SkinHappy, we apply a strong topical anesthetic to the treatment area for about 15 minutes prior to the procedure, which generally completely numbs the skin so that the needles aren’t felt as sharp. The gentle vibration of the treatment is often described as soothing or relaxing, like a massage. The only bother is the noise of the electric microneedling device, which can sometimes sound like a dental drill! Rest assured, when done in a professional medical setting, microneedling is essentially painless.
Now that that’s out of the way let’s talk about how microneedling in a medical center works to help the skin.
Microneedling works in two important ways. First to mention is microneedling helps us to bypass the skin barrier. Our skin is designed to keep things out. Generally not much gets in, even the things we want to get in. By creating “microchannels” into the deeper layers and temporarily allowing nutrients in at 10-100 fold higher amounts than typical. Then we have the second way. We wake up the skin cells and turn back on the machinery to make skin cells and collagen and elastin to repair, renew and thicken our skin.
When exposed to sunlight, skin is given the signals to break down, and repair mechanisms get turned off. By using microneedling and applying carefully selected nutrients, we can encourage skin to essentially reverse the harmful effects of sunlight and rejuvenate our skin, all with little to no downtime! The skin contains stem cells and is remarkable as an organ in that it can constantly renew itself over time.
Because the skin “break down” signals from sunlight are repetitive, reversing the bombardment of negative signals takes repetition too! Getting skin to turn on again is, therefore, best done by a series of microneedling sessions, done in regular repetition. This is how we train and reinforce skin to do our bidding of repairing and renewing itself.
The ideal interval between repetitive sessions is 2-4 weeks. Treatment packages are usually provided in 3, 6, 9, or 12 sessions. Asking the skin to do more work, such as remodeling scars or rebuilding a thicker collagen layer for significantly thinned skin, takes more sessions than less challenging skin.
Creating the microchannels in the skin causes very little epidermal damage yet effectively stimulates the dermal healing cascade of inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. This is essentially what happens in other, but much more traumatic, forms of wound healing. The dermal wound healing cascade causes the release of many different growth factors (platelet-derived growth factors, fibroblast growth factors, transforming growth factors, etc), all of which work together to stimulate new collagen, elastin, and epidermis formation and better blood flow. In addition, the needling will also break up knotted or cratered scars, allowing these to reform, remodel and become smoother and softer.
Interestingly, the collagen that is created with medical microneedling is a combination of type III collagen (fetal or “scarless” collagen) as well as type I collagen (adult collagen). This is in contrast to the type 1 only collagen that is formed with either thermal (heat, such as with laser) or chemical, such as with chemical peel agents, injuries. In contrast to these other modalities, microneedling induces scarless wound healing, which creates a natural and overall youthful appearance with minimal risk.
Another tremendous benefit of microneedling over thermal or chemical injury is the extremely low risk of altering pigmentation. One of the common dreaded complications of either laser or chemical peel treatments for people with other than very pale or very dark skin (the majority of the human population) is the “dyspigmentation” (excessive lightening or darkening of the skin) that these treatments can unpredictably cause. Sometimes this dyspigmentation is permanent, sometimes just extremely frustratingly slow to resolve. This disappointing complication is particularly noted with the stimulation of melasma that can happen in lasered or chemically peeled skin in those with light brown skin especially.
In addition to the benefits of skin renewal through initiating the wound healing cascade, microneedling sets in motion the skin’s receptiveness to signals encouraging it to rejuvenate itself long after the actual treatment, as long as the signals continue to be applied. I emphasize to all of my patients the importance of continuing to use an excellent skincare program so the skin doesn’t slip back into responding to the negative effects of sunlight exposure.
At SkinHappy, patients are counseled regarding how to take care of their skin immediately after and subsequently to maximize the benefits of their microneedling treatments.
WHAT ARE BENEFITS OF MICRONEEDLING YOUR FACE?
Due to the constant exposure to sunlight, the skin on our face and neck ages faster than the skin in sun-protected parts of our body. This “photoaging” leads to wrinkles, sagging, excess pigmentation, sallowness, aggravated rosacea, blackheads and milia, precancerous lesions, large pores, skin cancer, and more. Microneedling can help reverse all of these changes and therefore has significant benefits for the face and other sun-exposed skin surfaces such as the neck, chest, hands, arms, balding scalp, and more.
MICRONEEDLING BENEFITS FOR HAIR
Because medical microneedling can turn on growth factors and signals to rejuvenate, this modality has recently been applied to the scalp to encourage hair restoration. Microneedling is theorized to work by stimulating the dermal papilla (stem cells in the hair follicle) to promote hair growth.
While still in the early stages of study, results are promising and may serve as a valuable adjunct to hair-promoting topical treatments.
The lips can also benefit from microneedling treatments. Because microneedling is used to create more collagen and elastic tissue over time, this procedure can help the appearance of lips by lessening the fine wrinkles and plumping the tissue. Deeper lines and major volume loss will need to be addressed with filler. At SkinHappy, we often do filler and microneedling (sometimes even at the same visit), which is a beautiful lip treatment.
Remember, smoking habits strengthen a circular muscle around the lips, and this muscle training can lead to deep lip lines. So, in addition to the harmful effects of smoking on skin quality and lung health- STOP SMOKING!
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MICRONEEDLING ON THE NECK AND CHEST?
As our face ages from sun damage, so do our neck and chest. These areas of the body see a lot of sunlight, which can cause crepiness and unwanted pigmentation. Microneedling these areas will tighten the skin and create new and healthy skin that makes the neck and chest look younger and more youthful.
BENEFITS OF MICRONEEDLING FOR SCARS AND STRETCH MARKS
Microneedling is also an excellent treatment for burn scars, surgical scarring, or stretch marks (a particular form of skin scarring).
For example, many confuse the brown spots left after inflammation from acne or a kitchen burn as a scar. This is actually not a scar, but a skin reaction called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). PIH can take a very long time to heal, and microneedling can vastly speed up this process of getting skin tone back to normal!
Just one of the many other benefits of medical microneedling.
MICRONEEDLING WITH PRP BENEFITS VS. RF MICRONEEDLING
Because microneedling is so effective and tolerable, this modality is being used in combination with a great many other medical skin procedures. Two examples are PRP and RF. While the data is still under investigation, results from some studies are promising. Stay tuned!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Microneedling is the fastest growing medical grade cosmetic procedure being done today. And for a good reason! It is not only highly effective and safe but has minimal downtime and can be used for a variety of purposes on all skin surfaces.
Just remember, facial aging is the combination of skin quality and facial shape.
Medical microneedling is a powerful treatment for treating skin quality when given in conjunction with appropriate skin products in the hands of a trained professional.
Microneedling is not a treatment for facial shape- that part of aging is addressed with filler and or neurotoxin.
Suppose you are interested in a medical microneedling service at SkinHappy. In that case, you can purchase one treatment or a series of treatments online and call our SkinHappy Clinic to set up an appointment!
WHO NEEDS SUNSCREEN? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUN PROTECTION
Everyone needs sunscreen! Sun protection is for all ages, all genders, and all races. The damage from the sun can affect everyone, and the sun’s UV rays can cause premature aging, unwanted pigmentation, and skin cancer. Although we can do a lot with topical medications and products, premature aging from sun damage can take a long time to reverse or may not be reversible. Regular sunscreen use will help protect your skin from these factors.
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WHAT TYPE OF SUNSCREEN SHOULD I USE?
Generally, the best sunscreen is the sunscreen you can use every day! I recommend people use a broad spectrum sunscreen, which means it blocks UVA and UVB rays. I also recommend a sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher. It should be noted that the SPF rating only applies to how well it blocks UVB.
There is no equivalent rating scheme for UVA; unfortunately, the UVA spectrum is much broader and, therefore, more challenging to block UVB completely. A good rule of thumb is to look for high levels of zinc oxide in your product, as this chemical blocks UVA and UVB quite well!
BROAD SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN PROTECTS AGAINST UVA AND UVB RAYS; WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
The sun’s light contains two types of harmful rays that reach planet earth. These rays are UVA rays and UVB rays. Too much exposure to these rays can cause many concerns in the skin. Here is the difference between these two rays:
The United States Department of Health & Human Services and the World Health Organization’s International Agency of Research on Cancer have declared UV radiation from the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sun lamps, a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance). Tanning your skin in the sun or tanning beds damages your skin, and as this damage builds, you speed up the natural aging process and increase your risk of skin cancer.
WHEN SHOULD I USE SUNSCREEN?
Everyone should use sunscreen every day, and it is encouraged to reapply your sunscreen throughout the day regardless of the weather or time of the year. Suppose you are outside most of the day. You will be around water or doing a strenuous activity that may cause you to sweat. In those cases, it is important to reapply your sunscreen every two hours throughout the day. Skin cancer can also form on the lips; to protect them, use a lip balm or lipstick containing a sunscreen of SPF of 30 or higher.
Visible light is defined as any light that the human eye can see. Visible light emanates from nature, ceiling lights, cell phones, computers, TVs, etc. “Visible light can induce erythema in light-skinned individuals and pigmentation in dark-skinned individuals. Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against ultraviolet radiation but do not adequately protect against visible light. For a sunscreen to protect against visible light, it must be visible on the skin” (Lyons et al. 2021). You can save your skin against visible light by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that says “tinted” on the label and has an SPF of 30 or higher.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL SUNSCREEN?
The difference between chemical and physical sunscreens is when chemical sunscreens are applied, the sunscreen sinks into your skin and acts like a sponge. In contrast, physical sunscreens sit on the surface of your skin and act like a shield. The formulation of chemical sunscreens tends to be easier to rub into the skin without leaving a white residue.
Although physical sunscreens, also known as mineral sunscreen, often leave a white residue, this sunscreen is better for people with sensitive skin. The best way to avoid the white residue in a physical sunscreen is to find one that is tinted. The ingredients for a chemical sunscreen are Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, Octisalte, Homosalate, Octocrylene, and Octinoxate. Physical or mineral sunscreens ingredients would include Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON SUN PROTECTION
As mentioned before, everyone needs sunscreen every day. Reguardless of age, race, gender, time of the year, or the weather. One of the best things to do for your skin is to apply sunscreen daily to protect it from the sun's harmful rays.
Think about how you brush your teeth every day to protect your teeth from tooth decay and gum disease. We apply sunscreen daily to protect our skin from premature aging and sun cancer. Many companies offer many different types of sunscreens. It is essential to remember your skin only needs a broad spectrum sunscreen to protect it against UVA and UVB rays and an SPF rating of 30 or higher.
FAQ
Does sunscreen lose strength? Can I use the same sunscreen I bought last summer?
The FDA requires sunscreens to retain their original strength for at least three years. But you should apply sunscreen every day and reapply it throughout the day. If you follow this recommendation, it is unlikely that you will hold on to the same bottle for a year. You can check the expiration date on the label or review the actual product for discoloration or consistency changes.
Is a high number SPF better than a lower number one?
The higher SPF, the more it protects us from UVB rays. An SPF of 30 will allow 3% of UVB rays to hit your skin, while an SPF of 50 will allow 2% of UVB rays to hit your skin. Some people may look at a higher SPF sunscreen and think they will only need to apply it once, thinking it will protect them better. This understanding is false. It is important to reapply your sunscreen no matter how high the SPF is.
REFRENCES:
Food and Drug Administration. Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun. Accessed February 10, 2021
Lyons AB, Trullas C, Kohli I, Hamzavi IH, Lim HW. Photoprotection beyond ultraviolet radiation: A review of tinted sunscreens. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 May;84(5):1393-1397. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.04.079. Epub 2020 Apr 23. PMID: 32335182.