Even as services begin to open up here in the Capital Region, there’s no getting around the fact that we’ve never spent as much time at home as we do now. From sleep issues affecting collagen growth to dehydration and dullness, being stuck indoors is wreaking havoc on the health of our skin. The good news? There’s a lot you can do about it.
The main shelter-in-place skin issues stem from the collective sleep troubles people are facing thanks to rising stress levels and too much screen time. “It’s when we sleep that our skin regenerates and repairs itself by producing collagen,” says Denise Dubois, owner of Complexions Spa for Beauty & Wellness in Albany and Saratoga. “Cell renewal is also stimulated during this time, affecting surface condition. Plus, inflammation, an underlying factor in aging skin, is higher in sleep-deprived individuals.”
Dr. Alain Polynice, co-founder of Latham’s anti-aging and wellness clinic Reviva Wellness, recommends melatonin, CBD, L-theanine and GABA to “help settle the mind to ensure a good night’s rest.” The skincare supplements Dr. Polynice suggests include ResveraCel, MitoQ and Meriva-SF, all by Thorne. “Meriva-SF is a highly absorbable form of curcumin (turmeric) that helps minimize inflammation in the body,” he says. “It supports liver detoxification and provides joint and GI support.”
Topical skincare regimens can also be ramped up during these decidedly indoor times. “Everyone can benefit by using a Vitamin A serum,” Dubois says. “Serum 16 by CosMedix is a wonderful one to start with. I also love its RX Clean, which is a 10 percent lactic acid skin cleanser with the added benefit of increasing hydration.” Adds Kelly Pacifico, licensed aesthetician in Dr. Lucie Capek’s Latham office: “I use HA5 from SkinMedica every morning because it hydrates and tightens at the same time. At night I use SkinMedica’s TNS Essential Serum in combination with its Dermal Repair Cream, which helps reverse aging changes while you sleep.”
What professional treatments are skincare devotees most anxious to return to as the Capital Region enters phase two? (Warning: Spas and med spas have hinted at a major backlog of reservations.)
“We are hearing from our Botox and filler patients that they can’t wait to get back into their treatment routine,” Pacifico says. “Hydrafacials are also in great demand, because patients are used to doing these regularly, like coloring their hair.”
At Complexions, Dubois expects a lot of requests for exfoliation treatments. “We suggest professional treatment every 30 days due to the cell renewal process,” she says. “During this time away from the spa many people are definitely seeing build-up, and skin is looking grayish and lacking hydration. Dermaplaning is also very beneficial in removing not only dead skin cells but vellus hairs too, which helps smooth the skin’s appearance.”
