Most people know that using sunscreen protection is essential for healthy summer skin, but there are other important steps that you should take to make sure that you look your best this summer. Below are my top 10 tips:

1. Reduce Appearance of Cellulite with Injectable Fillers I usually see an increase in cosmetic procedures pre-summer for things like injectable fillers (Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, Sculptra) and Botox. This only makes sense because Spring/Summer beauty trends lean toward natural looks and beautiful skin. Injectable fillers are a great way to enhance certain features on your face, and even help correct dimples caused by liposuction or irregular distribution of cellulite. If done correctly by an experienced dermatologist, your results should look very natural.
2. Protect Your Lips! Always apply sunscreen or a lip balm with a minimum SPF 15 to your lips BEFORE applying your lip-gloss/lipstick. Many lip products contain castor oils and petroleum jelly. These oils coat the lip and actually increase the amount of sunlight that penetrates the skin on your lips.  This will increase the lip wrinkles and the risk of skin cancer on your lips.
3. Know your SPF. Some things most people don’t know about Sunscreen:
4. The Latest in Laser Hair Removal. A popular pre-spring/pre-summer procedure I perform in my office is laser hair removal in the underarm and bikini areas of women and backs for men. Remember, it takes anywhere from 2 to 5 treatments for the best results, so begin your treatments early. To make an online appointment, please visit Skindoc.net.



5. Reduce Ingrown Hairs. To get rid of unsightly shaving bumps or ingrown hairs in the bikini area, your dermatologist can inject the area with a dilute anti-inflammatory. The inflammation of the pimple will recede within a 1 to 2 days.
6. Botox Can Reduce Sweating. For women who love wearing tank tops but are concerned about underarm sweating, know that Botox® has been FDA approved to treat excess underarm sweating, also called hyperhydrosis.  It is very effective, and lasts approximately 8 months. For more information, visit Skindoc.net.
7. Remove Spider Veins. Again, with spring/summer beauty trends leaning toward au natural make-up and more time in the sun, consider getting laser vein removal for those pesky red spider veins around the corners of your nose. There is virtually no down time and the results are immediate.
8. Remove Varicose Veins. New lasers, as well as the standard sclerotherapy, can treat unsightly spider and varicose veins on your legs. Results are immediate and long lasting.
9. Scrub Away. How to get the beautiful after winter, summer skin glow? Exfoliate with a mild scrub 2 to 3 times a week. I recommend scrubs that contain date seed power or pineapple and papaya enzymes. These are all natural, botanical ingredients that are mild yet effective.
10. Use A Clay Mask. Increased humidity and high temperatures in the summer lead us to sweat more, and cause more oil and buildup on our face. To refine skin, remove dead skin cells, and tighten pores, I recommend using a clay mask 1 or 2 times a week. I do not recommend exfoliating and using a scrub on the same day, as this may dry out your skin.

It should be applied 30 minutes before you go out in the sun to give the product time to penetrate your skin. If you apply sunscreen while you are outside in the sun, you are basically exposing your skin to UV radiation for the first 30 minutes.
For the absolute highest sun protection, use a sunscreen that contains physical sunscreens such as titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. These particles lay on top of your skin and actually deflect light away from your skin.  The higher concentrations work better at blocking the sun, but also can leave a slight residue discoloration on the skin.  This is particularly an issue for people who want to wear sunscreen on their face, but don’t like the white residue or skin discoloration. Try the kaplanMD Day Cream SPF 15 (www.kaplanMD.com), which contains a highly micronized titanium dioxide, along with 9 other active ingredients. An anti-wrinkle cream, moisturizer, and SPF 15 all in one, the kaplanMD Day Cream SPF 15 leaves no messy white residue while providing long-lasting sun protection.
Most people don’t apply enough sunscreen. To get the full benefit of a sunscreen, it must be applied liberally.
Use at least an SPF 15.  Higher concentrations give only marginal improvement in sun protection, but can also irritate your skin.
Re-apply your sunscreen every 3 hours.  There is no such thing as a water-proof sunscreen.  Some are water-resistant, but you should still re-apply your sunscreen often.
Don’t forget to wear a hat to protect your scalp (even for women) and sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Dr. Stuart Kaplan has been in private practice in Beverly Hills for more than 20 years, as well as an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA Medical Center and Attending Physician for Skin Cancer Surgery at the Wadsworth VA for more than 18 years. For more information, please visit Skindoc.net.