It's a new year.  Time to detox, reflect, and re-new.  Many of us make the most common resolutions, such as working out/losing weight, saving money, and working harder.  Even though we start out strong in January (check out how many people are at the gym this week), resolve can wane by mid-March.  Here are a few resolutions that you actually may enjoy keeping!

Resolution # 1: Drink More Coffee

Hello, Starbucks.  Women who drink three cups of caffeinated coffee a day can reduce their risk of basal cell carcinoma by up to 20 percent, compared to those drinking less than a cup monthly.  These results are based on a large population study: over 113,000 adults who took part in the U.S. Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. A lesser decrease in risk was seen among coffee-drinking men.

Resolution #2: Drink Red Wine

This is not permission to finish a bottle of malbec (sorry!).  A small glass of red wine a day contains resveratrol, which is a potent antioxidant found in grapes.  Antioxidants fight free radicals in our skin and body, which are harmful and play a role in skin cancer and aging.  A moderate amount of alcohol has also been found to be heart-healthy and raises levels of "good" cholesterol, or HDL.  Of course, women who are pregnant/nursing or those with medical conditions should not drink alcohol. 

Resolution #3: Eat Dark Chocolate

In a recent study, German researchers gave 24 women a half-cup of cocoa enriched with flavonoids daily. After three months, the women's skin was better protected, less red, and had a smooth appearance after exposure to ultraviolet light. The researchers think the flavonoids, which absorb UV light, help protect and increase blood flow to the skin, improving its appearance.  Plus dark chocolate contains more of those good antioxidants!

Resolution #4: Wear Your Sunscreen

I have to throw this one in: I've said it before and I'll say it again: sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen to prevent skin cancer and the signs of aging.  Okay, lecture over.

Happy 2015 and here's to a year of great health and gorgeous skin!

Reward programs. Seems like everywhere you look, companies want to reward you. Buy 10, get 1 free sandwiches. Free gas with groceries bought. Fly enough, and a free flight will come your way. Use your credit card, get cash back.  And the latest in rewards? Beauty bucks. Take advantage of Allergan's Brilliant Distinctions program. With every Botox, Juvederm, Voluma, and Latisse purchase, receive points that translate into money off your next treatment. A reward for keeping yourself rejuvenated? Pretty brilliant, indeed.

And for the holidays: Allergan has the Brilliant Distinctions mall. 

Log into the Brilliant Distinctions home page and access the mall, which has hundreds of stores that many of us online shop at on regular basis: DSW, Piperlime, Tory Burch, Target, etc.  Shop for your holiday gifts, and for each dollar amount spent, you will earn points that can then be redeemed for rebates on Botox, Juvederm, and Latisse!  Additionally, points can be issued in the office when SkinMedica products are purchased.  We carry many SkinMedica products at Premier Dermatology, MD (Lytera, Retinol complex, Redness relief, AHA/BHA cream), so earning points is an added bonus.  Happy Holidays and happy shopping!

Acne scars are common and can be very emotionally distressing.  They can be improved with a variety of methods, including subcision (manually breaking up the scars with a needle), lasers, peels, and injection of fillers.  One filler that works particularly well in this condition is silicone.

The use of silicone has been controversial due to the injection of illegal silicone substances by both physicians and non-physicians.  The only silicone that should ever be used is a sterile and highly purified medical grade liquid silicone oil, such as Silikon 1000®.  This product is currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of retinal detachment.  Dermatologists and plastic surgeons have used it for decades "off-label" to correct lines, wrinkles, and scarring.  It is a safe treatment. 

Silicone is permanent.  In order to avoid lumps and overcorrection, silicone is injected using the microdroplet technique.  Very tiny droplets of silicone are injected with the smallest needle.  The silicone stimulates collagen to form around the droplet, allowing the scar to become filled in and smoothed out.  Because small amounts are injected at a time, several sessions are scheduled monthly.  The scars will not be fully corrected after the first treatment.  Doing it this way results in a natural appearance.

It's important to seek a licensed, board certified dermatologist with expertise in the use of silicone and its potential complications. They must use the medical-grade Silikon 1000 and the microdroplet technique, the only substance and technique used at Premier Dermatology, MD.