Say Goodbye to Raccoon Eyes

Dark eyes can be quite dramatic when applied with eye liner…or if you’re a raccoon. But dark circles in the form of “bags under the eyes” make us look old and tired and simply detract from the rest of our appearance. Cover up and eye makeup can help hide dark circles, but the best solution is to understand the real cause and apply an effective remedy.

Dark circles under or around the eyes can be caused by many different factors. The most common causes are:

Fatigue, lack of sleep: Excessive tiredness can cause paleness of the skin and poor circulation, which can cause the skin to appear darker.

Nutrition: The lack of nutrients in the diet, or the lack of a balanced diet, can contribute to the discoloration of the under eye area.

Stress: A too-fast-paced lifestyle, or long hours on the computer, can contribute to bags under your eyes, especially when coupled with inadequate sleep.

Heredity: Like varicose veins, dark circles under the eyes can be an inherited trait. The skin under the eye is very thin. When blood passes through the large veins close to the surface of the skin it can produce a bluish tint. The more transparent your skin, the darker the circles appear.

Allergies, Asthma and Eczema: Any condition that causes eyes to itch can contribute to dark circles under the eyes because rubbing or scratching can darken the skin. Hay fever sufferers particularly will notice under-eye "shiners" during the height of the allergy season.

Medications: Medications that cause blood vessels to dilate can cause circles under the eyes to appear darker. Because the skin under the eyes is very delicate, any increase blood flow shows through the skin.

Age: As we get older, there is a shift in the fat pad under the eye, and you may develop creases. This can looks like dark circles, because the creases cast shadows on the skin. This shadowing greatly improves with the application of fillers, such as Restylane, under the skin.

Consult with your dermatologist to determine the actual cause of the dark circles. And follow these simple guidelines to improve your circulatory health and appearance right away.

Get eight hours of sleep: This is a must for all of us, especially for people with dark circles under their eyes.

Diet: Eat a whole-foods, plant-based diet, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol, coffee, tea and soft drinks.
Include green leafy vegetables and all other food items that are rich source of vitamin K. Vitamin K is very effective in treating the damaged capillaries around the eyes.

Tea Bag Treatment: Try applying a cold compress of green or black tea to increase circulation, which helps reduce swelling around the eyes. Steep for 20 minutes, then strain and chill. Place over eyes for 15 to 20 minutes, once a day, as needed.

Moisturizer: To minimize the appearance of bags, plump up skin with moisturizer, one that contains vitamin C, green Tea, vitamin K and other antioxidants.
Whether from heredity, stress, diet or any other reason, dark circles under the eyes just make us look tired. Simple diet and lifestyle changes can help reduce those circles, but to erase them most effectively consult with your dermatologist and say “goodbye” to raccoon eyes.

Dr. Lisa Benest is a medical and cosmetic dermatologist in Burbank, CA. She and her staff provide comprehensive skin examinations as well as an array of non-invasive, cosmetic procedures and offer a full line of skin care products. To learn more about how to take care of your skin as well as the most up-to-date treatments in skin care, schedule a Free Consultation with their cosmetic nurse.

Lisa Benest M.D.
1624 W. Olive #B
Burbank, CA
818-729-9149
http://www.lisabenestmd.com

Tip of the Week: How do I know if I'm aging well or not?

To determine how well you're aging is really about accessing how much sun damage you have. So if you are more of a sun worshiper, then you probably aren't aging as well as someone who avoids the sun. Aging skin woes like wrinkles and splotchiness are mainly the result of sun damage. However, creams that contain vitamins and antioxidants, as well as Botox and fillers can counter signs of aging (if you're open to going that route).

If you have any questions, please feel free to visit the website for articles, tips, products and more!

http://lisabenestmd.com/

Secrets to Flawless Skin

Lisa Benest MD

An even-toned and softly-textured complexion can help you have a youthful appearance. But environmental elements and lifestyle choices make tone and texture more difficult to maintain. Uneven skin tone, texture and color can be the result of a variety of factors, including environmental exposures, pollutants, sun exposure, tanning beds and even diet. Most people (yes, men, that includes you!) want to present a healthy and youthful image. There are some very simple ways of doing this – ways that will fit right into your daily routine, but will make a big effect on your skin's health and appearance! They are simple secrets to healthier, younger looking skin.

EXFOLIATE – This process removes dead skin cells that can make your skin look dull. Using a cleanser or lotion that contains alpha (glycolic) or beta (salicylic) hydroxy acids will keep your skin looking fresher and more youthful.

CLEANSE – Daily cleansing is essential to remove excess oil and dirt from your skin. This will help prevent pimples and acne as well. Ensure you use a cleanser that is meant for your skin type.

MOISTURIZE – Whether your skin is oily or dry, you may benefit from moisturizing your skin. Moisturizers moisten your skin by locking water on the surface. Keeping skin hydrated always helps boost a blah complexion, but new lotions made with niacinamide (vitamin B) and other thirst quenching nutrients do more than that.

PROTECTION FROM SUN - Ultraviolet rays present in sunlight are one of the biggest enemies of your skin. Protect your skin from the sun with a daily sunscreen SPF 30 or higher. For those of you who are active outdoors, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours or after swimming/heavy sweating. New studies show that combining green tea extracts with sunscreens provides more potent protection against sun damage.

EAT WELL - Adding a dressing made with olive oil to your salad may increase your skin’s radiance. The monounsaturated fats in the oils help increase the absorption of the disease-fighting antioxidants and skin-smoothing nutrients found in dark leafy greens and colorful vegetables. A diet high in antioxidants and low in refined, processed foods not only keeps our skin smoother, it also protects us against skin cancer and other forms of cancer.

EXERCISE – Being physically active is directly related to the health of your skin. Sweating clears out the skin pores and stimulates blood circulation. This, in turn, cleanses the skin and brings a glow to it. Moderate exercise such as walking for a half hour, cycling, swimming, etc will help in maintaining the health of your skin over time.

These are some simple secrets to flawless and healthier looking skin. Everyone can implement most of these into a daily routine and see a difference in no time! Consult with your dermatologist and discover other ways to halt the process of time on your skin and see a beautiful, healthy, and younger looking appearance.

Dr Lisa Benest is a medical and cosmetic dermatologist in Burbank, CA. She and her staff provide comprehensive skin examinations as well as an array of non-invasive, cosmetic procedures and offer a full line of skin care products. To learn more about skin rejuvenation, schedule a Free Consultation with their cosmetic nurse. Check out their website for a complete list of all their treatments: www.lisabenestmd.com

Lisa Benest, MD Now Providing Juvederm

Products Recommended by Lisa Benest, MD: Juvederm

Get Your Body Ready For Summer

By Lisa Benest MD

It’s almost time to shed those winter woolies and expose your skin to summer sunshine. Are you and your skin ready? Most of us can’t go straight from parkas to poolside – we need a little help getting our bodies ready for short sleeves, bare legs and bathing suits! Here are a few simple procedures you can do to show off your body at its best this summer.

Dry Skin
Winter is harsh on skin, and nothing looks worse in that pretty spring dress than dry, cracked skin. A full body exfoliation will get rid of that dead skin and get the fresh glow of spring. Pay special attention to feet, knees and elbows, and any other trouble spots for your body. But remember – your facial skin is more sensitive than your arms and legs, so don’t use the same product on your whole body.

You can also help your body deal with dry skin from the inside out! Keep skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water every day. Also, foods rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids – such as fish or fish oils – will help keep your skin glowing with health.

Breakouts on Chest and Back
Heavy winter clothing – or even your layered workout clothing – traps sweat and oil, allowing it to mix with dead skin and bacteria in your pores, forming pimples. This might look bad, but it’s not hard to handle. A medicated body wash, with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, will help kill bacteria and unclog pores. Or treat yourself to a peel, which will not only help with pimples, but also any residual redness and scarring.

Laser Hair Removal
Hair removal can be burdensome and uncomfortable. But unlike shaving, tweezing or waxing, laser hair removal is a more comfortable and long-lasting solution to removing excess hair. Laser hair removal treatment is effective on a wide range of body and face areas, with permanent hair reduction achieved in almost all cases. Laser hair removal systems use a non-invasive laser light that is specifically designed to eliminate hair. During treatment, highly controlled flashes of light energy are delivered to the treatment area, where they are selectively absorbed by the hair follicles below the surface of the skin. The laser light destroys the hair follicle without damaging the skin.
Laser hair removal is very popular with women for facial hair, underarm area and the bikini line. But men also choose laser hair removal for their back, neck, shoulders, and chest.

Removal of Spider Veins
Hate those facial spider veins? Don’t go buy a hat to hide under. Lasers can address the veins as well as facial blotchiness. For veins on the legs, injection sclerotherapy is a comfortable procedure with an excellent success rate. You can also treat "cherry angiomas," those pesky little red spots we get as we get older. And with virtually no downtime, you can be enjoying the summer in no time.

Skin Cancer Prevention
Skin cancer is never attractive. Neither is leathery, over-exposed skin. The greatest underlying cause of skin cancer is the accumulated damage from excessive sun exposure. While all skin cancers can be successfully cured if they are discovered and treated early, prevention is your best way of avoiding skin cancer later in life. Use sunscreen with a high SPF (such as 30 or 45) on face, neck and hands. Avoid sun exposure when UV rays are at their peak (between 11am and 4 pm), and wear long sleeves, long pants and a hat when you can’t avoid overexposure. However, remember to supplement with extra vitamin D to maintain appropriate levels in your body.


The warm weather is almost here, and if you use some of these simple procedures, you’ll be ready to show off your summer skin in no time! Add a cool drink and a hot pedicure, and everyone will be asking you for your beauty secrets! So do it now - treat your skin and yourself and look great and feel confident this summer!

Dr Lisa Benest is a medical and cosmetic dermatologist in Burbank. She and her staff provide comprehensive skin examinations as well as an array of non-invasive, cosmetic procedures and offer a full line of skin care products. To learn more about skin rejuvenation as well as the most up-to-date lasers, schedule a Free Consultation with their cosmetic nurse. Check out their website for a complete list of all the treatments: www.lisabenestmd.com


She can be reached at: 

1624 W. Olive Ave #B 

Burbank, CA 91506
www.lisabenestmd.com

Elōs™ Skin Renewal - The Art of Creating Beautiful Skin