Surviving the holiday season in good form

Recently, I was quoted in the Nov. 22, 2009 LA Times Image Section for an article entitled “Surviving the holiday season in good form.”  My portion covered skin care tips for the holidays.  Following are the paragraphs with my comments.  The entire article can be found by clicking here:  LATIMES

The morning after, she recommends cleaning with products made for acne-prone skin. Most will remove facial oils and may contain salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid that helps stop pores from clogging) or glycolic acid (an alpha-hydroxy acid that exfoliates the skin). Toners can also help remove surface oils, and cleansing can be followed by the application of topical benzoyl peroxide, which can help kill bacteria on the skin and keep pores from clogging.

On the other end of the spectrum is dry, sensitive skin, and its more severe cousin, eczema, a chronic skin condition that can cause extremely dry skin patches, rashes, itching and even blisters. For dry skin, Goodlerner says, use gentle cleansers and moisturizers, and avoid anything astringent that will strip the skin of its natural oils. Some with eczema might need cortisone cream to reduce the redness and inflammation, or they may need a prescription medication.

Goodlerner advises that before embarking on a busy holiday schedule, choose products that will make cleaning and makeup removal easy. Also, cosmetics that are oil-free or have extra moisturizers will keep the skin looking good the day after a late night.

If you skipped out on brushing your teeth, chances are you also bailed on taking off your makeup and washing your face. That probably won’t cause too much trouble if problem skin isn’t an issue, but if it is, there may be repercussions.