TO ALL YOU WONDERFUL WOMEN...

Happy International Women’s Day!

It is difficult to fathom that a year has come and gone since we did our last IWD greeting in March 2021, which highlighted some of Trinidad’s most treasured women. It’s been a tough year to say the least, but therefore even more important to praise the women in our lives — the hardworking mothers, the believers, the researchers, the survivors. When I reflect on what being a physician and mother during the last year of this pandemic has meant to me, the word “empowerment” keeps resonating.

The creator of New York City’s famous “Fearless Girl" statue, artist Kristen Visbal, wanted to "call attention to the glass ceiling in the Wall Street community that so many women have faced. […] for promotion and for equal pay. I wanted her to be, essentially, a teaching tool.” She was meant improve diversity and increase the number of women sitting on corporate boards and she is doing so.

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), which commissioned the statute, claims that since “Fearless Girl” was installed on March 7, 2017, the firm has identified 1,486 companies without a woman on their board, of which 862 now have a female director. I think this is truly fantastic.

Former first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, put it perfectly when she said, “For me, being a mother made me a better professional, because coming home every night to my girls reminded me what I was working for. And being a professional made me a better mother, because by pursuing my dreams, I was modeling for my girls how to pursue their dreams.”

Businesswoman Sara Blakely also hit the nail on the head when she spoke out in support of working mothers: “This struggle is real. The juggle is real. That's why everyone should hire working mothers. They are put in crazy situations all the time and are forced to problem-solve. They are some of my most resourceful employees.”

For me personally, I feel that I am teaching my kids a solid work ethic. We truly have to put in the effort and work hard for the things that are important to us in this life.

Tonya with her family

According to actress Angelina Jolie, “If you love what you do […] somehow that drives you forward to enjoy it all. Even the chaos, even the exhaustion of it, and even when it seems out of balance.”

Finally, it’s crucial that as women, we support one another. In the words of another very accomplished woman, Amal Clooney, “choosing to protect and celebrate each other instead of competing or criticizing one another […] is something we can practice every day, no matter where we are and what we do.”

ACNE & MOISTURISERS: CAN THEY COEXIST?

Sometimes, battling acne can feel like a merry-go-round (except way less fun). You get a pimple, and your instinct is to deny it any kind of hydration until it dries up and disappears. Why feed the beast, right? 

Well, yes…and no. The thing is, if your skin is too dry, its sebaceous glands often feel the need to produce oil more oil than usual in order to compensate for the moisture it needs. Cue the merry-go-round music, because — trust us — your breakout will likely recur. 

Too much oil = skin clogging up. Add that to the environmental pollutants, sweat and dead skin cells that also contribute to clogged pores, and you begin to see how crucial balance is. 

As Goldilocks might tell you, your skin needs to be just right (meaning not too dry and not too hydrated) in order to combat breakouts. The right moisturiser can make all the difference. This means gentle and soothing, because let’s face it: the problem with acne is that it’s angry and irritated. 

You need a moisturiser to calm the inflammation, and we’ve got some great choices, including SkinCeutical’s newest star, the Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment. Once a reliable hydration barrier is in place, we can then treat whatever kind of acne you have, whether through a combination of proper diet, good products and a reliable skin care regimen, over the counter topical creams, laser treatments, or stronger and more targeted prescriptions.

TOP OF THE CLASS!

On February 22, SkinCeuticals launched one of its brightest ideas ever — the Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment. 

This lightweight gel is a phenomenal moisturiser with three key ingredients:

• Alpha arbutin, which helps treat hyperpigmentation and those annoying age spots

• Azelaic acid, which reduces inflammation

• SkinCeutical’s soothing Phyto botanical blend, which gently counteracts outward signs of ageing

Put them all together, and Phyto A+ offers the added benefit of rescuing skin from a life of dullness, evening out skin tone, reducing irritation and infusing skin with much-needed moisture from its hydrating acids.

Perfect for daily use, Phyto A+ is suitable for all skin tones and excellent for anyone with sensitive, dry or acne-prone skin, as it’s both oil and fragrance-free. Clinical studies showed a 19% improvement in the appearance of rough skin, a 20% improvement in skin’s overall brightness, and an astounding 28% in skin clarity, meaning fewer clogged pores and a more luminous look and feel. 

One of the reasons Phyto A+ is such a breakthrough product is that bright, clear, even looking skin has traditionally been achieved with ingredients like acids and retinoids. Such treatments, though effective, tend to be harsher and can throw skin’s delicate pH balance out of whack. Skin might be red and irritated for a few days, some patients may experience breakouts or even discolouration, particularly in skin of colour. By pairing it with a daily use moisturiser that works gently on skin, Phyto A+ can achieve similarly visible results, but without the side effects.

Want to find out more? Just give us a call — and check out our March specials, which give you a chance to WIN the Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment!

A HIGHER LOVE

There’s no doubt that during this pandemic, many of us have performed more acts of selflessness that we might have normally, giving time, resources and money to others in need. Social distancing has made us appreciate our friends and fam even more, and perhaps given us the opportunity to know them better, since gatherings have become smaller. 

We’ve even realised how important self-love is—taking time to recharge our own batteries is not a luxury; it’s a necessity—so we’ve been glad to see so many of you making space for facials and other treatments that relax you and bring you back to yourself. 

So yes—love requires time, generosity, listening, acts of service and knowing when to take a time-out—but higher love, which ripples outward from our immediate bubbles to the wider community, also requires advocacy. 

Standing up for the greater good is one of the strongest acts of love, as we become allies for those who can’t always advocate for themselves. Serpentine Dermatology’s Dr. Tonya Abraham-Ali recently spoke out on behalf of our nation’s school-aged children, with a Letter to the Editor pressing for the return to physical school in order to ensure their well being: 

“Only a life lived for others is a life worth living.”

This quotation from Albert Einstein and sealed by the Covid-19 pandemic sums up my thoughts as a physician, wife, mother and citizen.

We are the last, the very last country in the world to not open physical schools for all our children. Uganda recently received international praise for being able to finally give back to their children their fundamental right to education, to a future not trapped behind a screen, but one screaming with excitement and opportunity for the days ahead. It may not be without challenges, but we cannot get to where we want to in life without taking chances.

It is abundantly clear that online education is failing schoolchildren.

In international studies, 74 per cent of teachers and school staff agreed that schools being closed to most pupils throughout lockdown has harmed young people’s mental health.

The statistics overwhelmingly show this pandemic has magnified inequities. Pupils who didn’t feel like part of a school community have become even more disengaged during distance learning; pupils who were less experienced with digital platforms have had difficulty keeping up with remote learning, and this has led to an increase in school dropouts, teenage pregnancy, drug and substance abuse, mental health problems and suicide amongst our youth.

Schools and colleges provide stability, routine and consistency, protective factors for young people’s mental health and, notably, a connection to trusted adults such as teachers and pastoral support.

I plead with my fellow Trinbagonians to be brave, not live in fear, trust what other nations are doing successfully, and reopen schools safely.

Our children deserve a right to education: one they enjoy, one that includes their friends and the familiar faces of their home away from home.

I know I take a risk each day I walk into my clinic, but I am guided by the promise I made the day I graduated as a doctor—to help those in need. My team works hard at maintaining safety protocols so that over the last two years, after more than 13,000 persons have walked through our doors, I’m confident in saying no one has contracted Covid-19 from my office.

The same theory goes for the education of children. They deserve the right to learn. Teaching, like medicine, is a calling, and in no way do I cry down the efforts of teachers in the last two years. I realise how difficult it is to engage children on a screen, especially after more than 600 DAYS!

The Government must act before we lose a generation of children to failed education and, in doing so, compromise T&T’s future.

As doctors, we made oaths to help the sick, and as teachers, I believe you too must be honest with yourselves and take those same risks, all the while following international safety protocols which have been proven to work.

We as a population need to trust our healthcare professionals when they stress the importance of getting vaccinated, and how this very simple and safe measure ultimately can save so many lives. It is our social responsibility, please do not hesitate.

Let’s get our children back where they belong: in school. Whether it’s at desks in their classrooms, under tents in the playgrounds, or sitting under mango trees! We have the resources, so let’s do all we can to make in-person learning happen, face-to-face with the teachers who will forever help them forge their way through life with lessons only you can teach them!

The opposite of love isn’t hate. It’s indifference. Where does your heart lie? What are you passionate about? Get out there and do something about it! You only need to start with love.

SHOW YOUR SKIN SOME LOVE

True love always comes down to the fundamentals, so here’s a primer on the most important skin care basics—quick and easy as 1-2-3—that will make you love the skin you’re in.

The heart of the matter: Cleansers

Your first act of skin love is getting rid of all the dirt, grime, environmental toxins and other daily surface build-up by cleansing. Notice we said cleansing (nourishing and gentle) and not cleaning (often depleting and harsh). 

The right products in your daily routine make a huge difference. Give your skin the love it needs by making sure you choose hydrating products that eliminate debris while replenishing moisture, rather than ones full of chemicals that strip it dry. 

The soul of it all: Moisturisers

Proper moisturising is like a silver bullet for radiant skin, replenishing its natural moisture and keeping its biosphere in balance. 

Moisturisers are critical in how your skin appears, feels and behaves—and we’ve got an amazing range that considers every skin type and need. From lightweight hydration to combos that refill lipids and renew skin cells, our moisturisers give your skin the love it needs to thrive. 

The mind that connects them: Sunscreen   

Having a lasting love affair with your skin can’t be all heart and soul; you’ve also got to be smart about it. Many people consider sunscreen application an unnecessary chore unless they’re headed to the beach, but nothing could be further from the truth.

We live 10 degrees north of the equator, so if you love your skin, you’ve got to protect it. Sun damage is linked from everything to premature ageing to skin cancers, so get into the sunscreen habit  by checking out our amazing SkinCeuticals range—and committing to applying sunscreen every day as part of your skin’s love routine, whether you’re primarily indoors or out.  

Need our input in your skin care regimen? Just make an appointment or give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.