We all know that skin concerns don’t magically end the moment we’re out of high school, and even worse, there are new ones to consider as we age. When we finally leave behind the pimple-populous time of our youth, we’re right on time for the appearance of fine lines, dullness and adult acne.
If you’re feeling lost, Miami dermatologist Dr. Deborah Longwill has the perfect recipe for you to brighten, tighten and reinvigorate your skin. Plus, the gold-standard in fighting hormonal acne.
Why is My Skin Dull?
“If you’re in your 30s or 40s and suffering with dull skin, there are a few likely causes,” Dr. Longwill explains. “By this age, you’ve had more chances of experiencing dehydration, and there could be diet, tobacco use or environmental influences involved.”
If you live in a very polluted area or experience super cold winters, you may have started noticing a dullness in your skin’s appearance.
“You can experience dullness from scrubbing your skin too hard, or from simple hormonal changes,” Dr. Longwill says. “Post-pregnancy and menopause are two times when it’s very common to experience that noticeable lack of radiance.”
Dull skin usually comes with pigmentation changes, but a surefire way to know is by examining the way your skin looks in the sun.
“When the light hits your face, it just doesn’t bounce back the way you want it to,” Dr. Longwill explains. “That’s that dull appearance.”
How to Brighten
“By the time someone with pigmentation issues comes to see me, they’ve typically tried plenty of over-the-counter options, and they’re ready to see results,” Dr. Longwill says.
That means getting set up quickly with an effective skin care routine.
At Home:
“That routine usually involves a prescription with hydroquinone,” Dr. Longwill explains. “We sometimes also give them a Retin-A which would be applied a few times a week rather than every single night to avoid any drying.”
Of course, there are those patients who have tried the hydroquinone route for some time already with no success. Thankfully, there are alternatives that have a track record of effectiveness.
“They tend to be more natural and contain Arbutin and Vitamin C as well as other plant substances,” Dr. Longwill says. “And typically, these non-prescription products won’t go as deep or be as concentrated, but they do still present a big benefit, especially when used in combination with a prescription.”
In-Office:
For Dr. Longwill, one of the best answers to dull skin is a Broadband Light (BBL) Treatment.
“BBL really targets pigmentation, broken capillaries and can help calm seborrheic dermatitis and rosacea ultimately leaving your skin glowing and radiant.” she explains.
The BBL’s intense pulsed light targets sunspots, redness and even has an option to treat active acne breakouts.
“I love using the BBL for acne clearing,” Dr. Longwill says. “And then afterwards I would recommend the N-litelaser which can target cystic, pustular acne and acne scars.”
How to Tighten
When we’re talking about skin tightening, it’s important to understand what’s possible through products, through in-office treatments and through surgery.
“Over the counter and at-home products have a place in maintaining your results,” Dr. Longwill explains. “But no product is going to really tighten loose skin the way an in-office treatment or, ultimately, surgery would achieve.”
At Home:
That isn’t to say that at-home care isn’t a pivotal part of your overall skin care journey.
“I personally love the combination of the Doctor’s Daughter duo; The Extremolyte Stem Cell serum and the Papaya Enzyme Peel,” Dr. Longwill says. “This pairing is excellent for maintenance, helping your skin build and maintain collagen and elastin fibers, which in turn tightens the skin and enhances its glow.”
Dr. Longwill’s Doctor’s Daughter skincare line features The Extremolyte Stem Cell Serum and the Papaya Enzyme Peel, both formulated with high-quality ingredients designed to rejuvenate and nourish your skin.
In-Office:
The step above the product but below surgical solutions are some of the energy-based treatments and volumizing options you can get in-office.
“There’s a lot we can do with energy-based devices like Sofwave, as well as options like Fraxel that builds collagen and muscle fibers,” Dr. Longwill explains. “We also have filler options like Juvéderm, as well as bio-stimulators like Sculptra that tighten skin by given volume.”
While they won’t eliminate loose skin like a surgical facelift, they play such a pivotal role in restoring facial balance that they are often suggested before and after surgery.
“Even after getting the surgical result they’re looking for, patients will often come back to the dermatologist to have little tweaks, like Botox, to certain areas that surgery couldn’t completely adjust,” Dr. Longwill says.
Why Do I Still Have Acne?
Hormonal acne isn’t exclusive to teenagers. Unfortunately, various hormonal changes throughout our lives can lead to acne flare-ups.
“Conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome come with various hormonal changes that can result in acne,” Dr. Longwill explains. “Additionally, adult women and men with acne on their backs and chests are typically dealing with hormonal acne.”
If your dermatologist suspects your hormones are out of balance, you’ll likely undergo bloodwork.
“Then we can see if we want to use an oral medication to lower the androgen level, which could be responsible for the increased sebum level,” Dr. Longwill says. “Or more commonly, there’s Spironolactone, which we have orally and topically.”
However, Dr. Longwill emphasizes that these treatments are often just temporary solutions. “These prescriptions can act as band-aids,” she says. “I prefer to get to the root of the problem causing the hormonal acne. That’s why I conduct bloodwork and work closely with the patient to discover any hormonal disruptors they might be encountering.”
If your hormonal acne isn’t responding to Spironolactone, considered the gold standard of treatments, it may not actually be hormonal acne.
“Rosacea doesn’t respond well to Spironolactone,” Dr. Longwill explains. “In such cases, there are other targeted prescriptions that can address the condition more effectively.”
Don’t let skin issues get you down. There are always effective solutions, from at-home care to professional office treatments, to help you achieve your most radiant skin.
