Skin Care Tips - Doctor's Orders
Written by Mary Welch Tuesday, July 27 2010
Dermatological surgeon Dr. Patricia Wexler has bottled decades of experience into a skin care regimen: Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology. She prescribes a four-step regimen – Cleanse. Exfoliate. Restore. Moisturize.
Wexler teaches cosmetic surgery and operates a practice in Manhattan. After receiving her medical degree in 1979, she began a four-year residency at Beth Israel Medical Center. In 1985, she completed a residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center. She has been in private practice for 22 years.
A board-certified dermatologist specializing in dermatology and dermatologic surgery, Wexler’s specialties include full-body liposuction, facial fat transplantation, Botox injections, and laser resurfacing. Her dermatology group includes specialists in chemical peels, vein injections, laser, collagen implantation, and skin cancer. She is an associate clinical professor for the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Womenetics: What are MMPis?
Dr. Patricia Wexler: MMPis are a group of enzymes that are responsible for most signs of complexion aging. MMPi-20 technology wards off the natural breakdown of collagen and protects the skin from environmental stressors and UV exposure.
Womenetics: What are the three biggest mistakes women make in their skin care routine?
Wexler: Trying to scrub away acne. Putting on sunscreen once and assuming you're protected. Ignoring skin from the neck down.
Womenetics: As a dermatologist, why did you invent your own skin care line?
Wexler: The anti-aging market has consumers buying into so many unfulfilled promises at ridiculous prices, and I wanted to give results through quality skin care at affordable prices.
Womenetics: What is the difference between anti-aging products and intense products?
Wexler: Skin that has started to show more advanced signs of aging needs more intensive treatment and protection. Glycation is a natural aging process that gradually damages collagen-related proteins and causes skin to lose volume and contour, which leads to sagging and deep wrinkles.
Womenetics: What is the purpose of whitening products?
Wexler: Specific zones of abnormally high pigmentation such as moles and birthmarks may be de-pigmented to match to the surrounding skin.
Womenetics: There is a lot of attention paid to moisturizers and serums but not products such as cleansers. What should one look for in cleansers?
Wexler: Make sure you have a cleanser that exfoliates your skin. Exfoliate every day – doctor’s orders! I am unique to my belief that daily exfoliation is crucial to all skin types. I also believe it is the key to optimum cell renewal. Daily exfoliation is the key to obtaining gorgeous, glowing skin.
Mary Welch is a freelance writer for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Dawson Times, Plan Your Meeting magazine, and Atlanta Business magazine. Previously, she held many positions with Leader Publishing, including editor-in-chief of Atlanta Woman, editor of Business to Business magazine, and editor of Catalyst magazine. As editor of Business to Business, she assigned, edited, and conceptualized a series that was awarded Silver in the 2005 GAMMA Awards for Best Series. Welch was a reporter for the Atlanta Business Chronicle for eight years and freelanced for publications including Glamour, Advertising Age, South, Georgia Trend, and Oz. From 2000 to 2003, she served as vice president of media relations for Bank of America, during which time she authored Forever Green: A History and Hope of the American Forest with Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell.
