CARING FOR YOUR SKIN AT CHRISTMAS

Whether you’re spending your holiday break in winter climes or tropical temperatures, here’s how to ensure your skin has that rosy Christmas glow.

Warm climates tend to have high humidity, which means that there’s a lot of water vapour in the air. Because the skin’s natural cooling system—sweat—doesn’t evaporate as easily in humid conditions, our pores expand and get clogged more easily. Colder climates, on the other hand, tend to dry out skin, stripping it of the hydration it needs to stay healthy. You can combat moisture loss caused by the combined effects of low humidity and indoor heating by fortifying your skin’s natural barrier. Interestingly, how you care for your skin in both extremes is remarkably similar…

Caribbean Christmas

CLEANSE: Morning and evening, clean your skin with products that cater to your particular skin type. Skinceuticals has some wonderful choices that help control irritating skin conditions like acne and eczema, which thrive in humidity. 

MOISTURISE: Just because the atmosphere has a lot of moisture in it doesn’t mean you can skip moisturising your skin. Hydrated skin is healthy skin; just opt for more lightweight moisturisers in tropical heat. 

USE SUNSCREEN: You knew this was coming, right? Sun damage is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to ageing skin and skin cancers, so never leave home without it, and be sure to choose reliable sunscreens, with SPF 30 or higher.

Winter Wonderland

CLEANSE: Instead of harsh soaps, opt for moisturising gels and cleansers that nurture and replenish your skin. You can check out some of our fabulous SkinCeuticals products here.

MOISTURISE: Choose products that seal in the moisture to avoid having itchy, flaky, or cracked skin. Emollients like Vaseline are effective at healing a dry epidermis and forming a protective barrier against the effects of a harsh winter. Another great brand is CeraVe, which offers excellent hydration properties. 

USE SUNSCREEN: The effects of UV rays in temperate climes can be intense, especially because the glare of the sun off fallen snow. (For this reason, you should also wear polarised sunglasses.)

To find out more about superlative skin care, you can check out past issues of our newsletter, or make an appointment if you need to consult with us. 

TREATING CARIBBEAN SKIN RIGHT

Most of us who live in the Caribbean are people of colour, yet there are still far too many misconceptions floating around about skin of colour. The result? Inaccurate skincare advice that can sometimes have damaging consequences. We’ll set the record straight…

Misconception: Caribbean skin doesn’t need sunscreen. 

Reality: Yes, it does. 

Sure, additional melanin offers people of colour more protection from the effects of harmful UV rays than those who have lighter skin, but everybody needs to wear sunscreen. We’ve been singing that song for years. It’s even more important for us in Trinidad and Tobago, being so close to the equator (particularly with the impacts of climate change), because sunburn and skin cancer can—and have—struck people of every hue. 

Misconception: Caribbean skin ages well, regardless. 

Reality: Ageing well requires effort. 

The fact is that living in the tropics, with heat, humidity and sun exposure, can have just as much of a visible impact on darker skin as the harsh effect of temperate climates does on lighter skin. Ageing gracefully requires to key components: first, a proper and consistent skincare routine, using quality products that are suited to your particular skin type. Our SkinCeuticals products are some of the most trusted and scientifically robust lines available, and we’d be happy to recommend a skincare ritual for you. Bear in mind that skin of colour often ages differently from white skin, meaning that you might start to notice things like discolouration, hyperpigmentation and age spots rather than wrinkles or crow’s feet. Secondly, we’ve found that inner beauty always shines through, and that people who are grateful, kind and young at heart always seem to age well. 

Misconception: Caribbean skin isn’t suited to modern skin treatments.

Reality: Everything is relative. 

The technology we use at Serpentine Dermatology is amazingly advanced and, under our professional guidance, able to successfully treat all types of skin. In fact, medical board-approved dermatologists should be the only people you trust with procedures like peels, lasers and the like. We’ve seen far too many cases of spa treatments gone awry, patients being given inaccurate advice for complicated skin conditions, or even worse, using over the counter products that make the problem worse.

We’re here to help keep your Caribbean skin healthy and beautiful, and are just a phone call away if you want to schedule a consultation. 

SHOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT WARTS?

While we believe that worrying only robs the present moment of its joy, we also believe in being proactive—and warts are definitely not to be ignored. First off, they’re contagious, so you want curb any potential spread—both to other places on your body and to other people—right off the bat. We can generally confirm a wart diagnosis via a clinical examination. 

Caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) that can get under the surface of the skin through scrapes or cuts, these thick, deeply rooted bumps appear most commonly on the hands, forearms and elbows, but can just as easily show up on the feet, legs, knees and even the face and genital area. Warts are so transmittable that you don’t even need to interact with them directly for them to spread; simply touching an infected surface will often do the trick.

Who gets them? 

We see a lot of kids with warts, simply because children are more prone to getting cuts, but people with low functioning immune systems, autoimmune or chronic skin conditions are also susceptible to the infection, as are nail biters and those with underlying health issues like diabetes. 

Types

Warts are as diverse as the people who get them; here’s a quick look at the various kinds: 

• Common warts—These feel like rough, hard bumps, and manifest most often on the hands and feet.

• Flat warts—Be wary of these, as they spread widely and easily.

• Filiform warts—These also grow quickly, but rather than being dome-like, they quicker resemble a cluster of rice cereal.

• Genital warts—Passed on through sexual contact, these can be difficult to spot and even harder to treat, with some variations having the capacity to cause cancer.

• Plantar warts—These types of warts grow into the soles of the feet and can be excruciatingly painful.

Treatment 

There are lots of different ways to tackle warts, some more effective than others. Here are your choices: 

• Cryotherapy—Nothing to cry about, this basically involves freezing the wart at a temperate of about -200°; it generally takes between one to two weeks for the wart to fall off and we always recommend robbing it of oxygen during that time by covering the blister with medicated wart bandages in the interim. Stubborn warts may require more than one treatment.

• Laser treatments—This targeted combination of light and heat breaks down the blood vessels that give the wart life.

• Over-the-counter medications—Topical solutions use salicylic acid to dissolve the wart, but results may take months.

If the warts are more complex or pre-cancerous, there are other more invasive treatments available. As always, we’re here to help and it’s really easy to schedule a visit. When it comes to warts, you can do without the worry! 

CELEBRATING HEALTHY SKIN...VIRTUALLY!

At Serpentine Dermatology, we’re so proud to be a SkinCeuticals flagship location—and the only one in our region to boot! It solidifies our commitment to blending our clinical knowledge with the most innovative skincare products, treatments and technology, and gives us the opportunity to make skincare interactive and dynamic. 

Our annual Serpentine/SkinCeuticals event will bring you all this and more…

From personalised product recommendations to the support you need to maintain your skin’s long-term health, we’ve got you covered. Looking forward to seeing you there; details coming soon!

THE O.C.T. GUARANTEE

The cost of skin care products can sometimes be prohibitive, but there are over-the-counter products that are not only trustworthy and effective, they come with a much more attractive price tag. For persistent skin conditions like eczema, which require consistency when it comes to skincare regimens, this can make all the difference—and we’re confident about recommending the La Roche-Posay and CeraVe brands. 

Here’s a quick look at some of their superstar products…

LA ROCHE-POSAY

Lipikar Wash AP+ Moisturizing Body & Face Wash

This gently foaming face and body wash for dry skin uses a combination of thermal spring water and shea butter emollients to keep your skin feeling smooth, clean and well moisturised. It’s so gentle, it can be used on newborns from two weeks old. US $14.99 

Lipikar Body Lotion for Normal to Dry Skin

With soothing antioxidants, shea butter emollients and glycerin for optimum hydration, this light-as-a-feather moisturiser has long-lasting effects, and is safe to use on babies from as young as six months. Cost: US $17.99 

Lipikar Eczema Cream  

This wonderful mixture of oatmeal-based skin protectants that reduce irritation, soothing antioxidants and shea butter has been clinically proven to relieve irritated skin, and can be used from three years and up. Cost: US $14.99 

CERAVE

Eczema Creamy Oil 

This gentle, fragrance-free product soothes and moisturises eczema-prone skin. Ceramides help restore the skin’s natural barrier, making skin more resilient and, paired with ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and hyaluronic acid, go a long way to keeping you more comfortable in your skin.  

Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream

Great for treating eczema rashes, this is a welcome balm for itchy skin, offering long-lasting relief. Ceramides once again prevent moisture loss, while its other ingredients—like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide—provide additional hydration and anti-inflammatory benefits. 

All these La Roche-Posay and CeraVe products carry the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance™, and are available via Amazon.com, online pharmacies and at pharmacies throughout Trinidad and Tobago. You can also purchase online at the respective brand websites, here and here.