“Day in and day out patients show me how their diseases are affected by decisions on nutrition, environmental exposures and aging. I want to educate people on how integrated the skin is with the rest of the body.
The goals of this project are to teach people how to take care of their skin, how to protect their self from the environment, and the nutrition to maximize cell turnover efficacy. The good news is that a majority of skin issues can be prevented. When and if they do occur, this website can be a knowledge tool box on treatments available.“ — Dr. Roberta Beals
Wash, Hydrate, and Protect
Dry Your skin does not have to look like the desert before you notice your skin is starting to dry. Yes, flaky skin is a sign of dryness but it can also be a sign of vitamin B deficiency. Dehydration from the inside or out will show loss of skin tightness or delayed response to skin movement. Wrinkles, skin thickening, ashy or red tones may be another sign. The simple solution: Wash with mild emollient + Heal with serum (vitamin C &E) + Seal with moisturizer. Based on your diet, consider supplementation with lipid and vitamin D. Get your daily water and avoid diuretics if not needed for medical reasons. We strive to make this as easy as possible. Our product line is designed to meet your needs with the minimal number of products needed.
Oily As you transition from childhood to adolescence, you may be surprised one day by the change in your skin. The sensation will feel like there is a build up of film where it did not exist before. You will go inspect this sensation and try to clean it again, only for it to come back two hours later. Once again, you repeat this to no avail. It’s like a comedy drama playing out on your face. You look to Dr Google for help, only to be faced with information overload. Don’t panic. This to will pass. The simple solution: Wash + Tone with salycylic + Seal. Our clinic can help you with: Elta MD and Skin Medica to wash and tone your skin properly, and sunscreen for protection that won’t make you worse – even sunscreen with Niacinamide to help it get better!
Normal What if you don’t have these problems? You are lucky; you have “normal skin.” Aging and environmental exposure can always change this. We are here if you need us. We provide non-inflammatory products suitable for any skin needs without transitional irritation.
Skin 101
Skin is also known as the integument. It is the largest organ in the human body, about 20 square feet in size.
Its primary objective is safety: designed to protect your body from infection, radiation and dehydration while giving you constant information about the environment around you. The skin is a waterproof barrier capable of providing the brain impulses on temperature, humidity and texture. It provides a large complex of vessels capable of transporting nutrients, water, and repair mechanisms necessary to maintain the skin.
Just like a good Italian Lasagna, your skin is designed with 3 basic layers that communicate with one another. Starting from the bottom, the Hypodermis contains the fat and blood vessels. In the middle is the Dermis that consists of connective tissue, nerves, sweat glands and hair follicle/sebaceous gland complexes. The top layer is the Epidermis, which is a collection of organized overlapping skin cells sealed with sebum pigmented every so often by melanin.
The hair follicle sebum complex is a structure in the dermis that is designed to cover the body with hair and sebum. The hair is for temperature control. The sebum is a waxy, oily substance secreted to protect, hydrate and seal the skin from the environment. This gland is responsible for the oil vs dry skin troubles for so many individuals. Regulation by our androgen (DHT) causes increased production, resulting in acne in adolescence. Decreased production triggered by low levels of DHT or other endocrine problems such as menopause or hypothyroidism results in dry skin.
In essence, whatever you feed the sebaceous gland will ultimately dictate the amount of oil on your skin. How, you may be asking? Sebum is a product of triglycerides (which are made from glucose molecules) and fats (omega3,6,9). Multiple biopsy studies have shown the diet you choose to consume relates to the type and amount of oil produced. High levels of saturated trans fats lead to clogged pores where as high levels of omega 3 cause the opposite response. High levels of glucose result in making high levels of triglycerides. This causes loss of skin elasticity and lipid formation (Biophs char of skin in dm:a controlled study,J.EurAcad.Derm.Venero 2009 Feb ;23(2)146-9).
Nutritional supplementation can help here. As a D.O., Dr. Beals can assess your current eating habits and make recommendations for improvement. Not only does eating a better diet do the trick, but consider the nutrients needed to support this kind of activity. Check back with our blogs for on this later!
Melanin is the source of pigment in our skins. Melanocytes are the cells in the epidermis responsible for this. Genetics are responsible for the amount of pigment you make but environmental, nutritional and hormonal factors affect the ultimate volume.
Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick designed a scale of color in 1975 to guide clinicians in identifying the risk associated with these pigments in how the skin responds to Ultraviolet Light radiation and the risk for skin cancer.
Prevention vs Treatment
We have a wide range of skin care treatments at Healthy Skin Clinic, including daily-use products. Come in for a consultation and products that don’t break the bank. All of our products are FDA approved safe and scientifically proven to be effective.
If we don’t have what you need, Dr. Beals can compound a medication specialized for you at Grace Clinic Pharmacy. See our modules below with warning signs for health concerns that appear on your skin in the colors below.
WARNING: If you have all 3 colors see your provider and a specialist to rule out skin cancer.
RED
anytime you are inflamed the first responders will turn your skin red
Rosacea
Dilated capillaries, papules, swelling and thickened skin.
How do you know this is the problem? Your skin is sensitive to almost everything that touches it. Burning or stinging sensation. Treatment is available. Stop the UV rays with sunscreen. Eat a low inflammatory diet and start to eliminate gluten products. Get help to rule out systemic causes.
Allergies or Eczema
Swelling, redness early on, long term will change and get lighter.
Treatment options are: The older antihistamines work for itching like Benadryl and chlortrimatol. Topical 1% Hydrocortisone twice a day. Melatonin 6mg at night is safe and effective in pediatric population. If you notice a trigger like shrimp or cats avoid them. See you doctor if these don’t help. If you have any swelling of the lips, mouth or throat get to the ER.
Acne
Papules, pustules, comedome, cyst, swelling of the skin and scar formation.
Treatment options Nutritional support High in omega 3 and B vitamins. Wash with an oil free skin care product. We provide Elta MD and Skin Medica for our patients. Do not pick or manually pop your skin. Avoid trauma to the skin. It will leave scars.
Actinic Keratosis
Red, raised, dry scaly. These are flat. These are flat and will need to be treated in our clinic.
Fungus
The great mimicker. These infections can start out red but change often.
You can try over the counter Lotrimin (clotrimazole) or Lamisil (terbimafine) twice a day for 2 weeks. If this fails see your provider.
Cellulitis
Usually a painful swollen redness. This requires oral antibiotics- see your provider.
Squamous or Basal Cell Cancers
Can look like any red lesion but will have architectural changes. These will have palpable margins or thickened areas. Normally does not hurt. You need a biopsy to remove and stage the lesion. See your provider.
WHITE
response to the immune system removing something or repaired from chronic inflammation
Vitiligo
An auto immune response where your body has attacked the melanocytes and your skin will turn white in patches. You should see someone to make sure it is not a skin cancer Mycosis fungoides.
Nutrition support, supplementation, protection from UV light may keep it from getting worse. Keep to the Mediterranean diet but consider supplementation with Omega 3 oil 1000 mg daily and a good Vitamin D supplement 1000 iu or 25 mg per day.
Eczema
Chronic or prolonged immune system response to allergen.
Psoriasis
An auto immune response to infection or other tissue. Not specific.
Keep to the Mediterranean diet but consider supplementation with Omega 3 oil 1000 mg daily and a good Vitamin D supplement 1000 iu or 25 mg per day (based on your blood levels).
Fungus
The great Mimicker. If white, it’s the chronic phase of the infection begun in the red description. See a physician.
BROWN
Melanoma
Cancer of melanocytes with irregular color shape and texture. See your provider.
Seborrhea Keratosis
Waxy stuck on areas that can peel and fall of. Those can be frozen away at our clinic.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
Trauma meditated hyperpigmentation with or without ultraviolet trigger. We have many treatments available. Medications, topical creams, Lasers/Lights, and Chemical Peels.
Dyschromia
“Age spots” or your body’s response to long term ultraviolet light. Increase pigmented areas over inflamed spots in the skin. Can be light or dark. We have many treatments available. They can be removed with Lasers/Lights and Chemical Peels.
Our #SkinSchool Blog
Welcome to Skin School
What is the color of your skin? Quick tips and tricks....
Myths and Misconceptions
Sunblock Application is One-and-Done
You have to reapply sunblock. If you are in the water it is every 2 hours. If not in the water every 6-8 hours is recommended.
All Suncreen is Created Equal
This is a current area of controversy. The FDA never studied the safety limits of the over the counter Sunscreens available. Mineral based sunscreen is not absorbed. Just this month in JAMA a study has shown very high levels of systemic absorption of these products. More research needs to be done. Also, a study released last month showed where the same products were not as effective at preventing UV light absorption.
Bad Diet Causes Acne
Wrong. A bad diet makes acne more severe, but does not cause it alone. Dr. Beals’s team can provide advice for adjusting diet.
Some Moisturizers Are Better Than Others
Moisturizers do not work the same for every person! Moisturizers are petroleum or natural based oils or waxes designed to do one thing: seal the skin. Get one you like based on the amount of oil or non-oil based you need, not on recommendation of others’ success.
Toners are a "Must"
Toners will balance the ph of the skin and if added put some anti-inflammatory salicylate to help redness. You don’t have to have it, but it may help in some cases. Ask Dr. Beals for her recommendation for you!
African Americans/Hispanics Don't Need Sunblock
Wrong! Everyone can burn, no matter skin tone. Even animals use mud or sun avoidance as their sun block. Particularly for higher Fitzpatrick level tones, not using sunblock will put skin at risk to turn purple in undertones over time.
The "Pre-Tan"
There is no such thing as a pre-tan; Tanning in the sunbed or outside will not keep you from burning. It only will increase your UV exposure.
Tanning Beds are a Safer Way to Tan
There is no safe way to tan. UV light will penetrate the skin. Studies have indicated an increased risk in the non-pigmented melanoma. The tanning bed does not make a difference versus the natural sun.
#SkinSchool Vocabulary
Sun Block: does not exist. Sun screens do.
Vitamin D: This is a fat-soluble vitamin. Levels need to be monitored to avoid toxicity if on more than 1000 iu daily. It stays in your body a long time.
Vitamin A: This is a fat-soluble vitamin. Do not supplement unless instructed by a clinician. It stays in your body a long time. Retinol is from animal products and supplements and beta-carotene from fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin C: Ascorbic acid. You can only absorb 500mg at a time and you eliminate it quickly.
Omega 3: Fatty acid passively absorbs into the body.
Arachidonic Acidre: Saturated fatty acid
Integument: skin
UV: ultraviolet light
Melanoma: Skin Cancer of melanocytes in the skin
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Skin cancer arising from squamous epithelium.
Basal Cell Carcinoma: Skin Cancer arising from basal epithelium.
Amelanotic melanoma: Skin Cancer of melanocytes but not pigmented.
Sun Screen: chemical or mineral applied to the skin to block ultraviolet light from being absorbed into the skin cells.
Your Homework:
Drop us a line!
Text: 806.790.5964 for all your skin care questions, product purchases, or treatment plans.
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