Skinrepublic

Dear Dr. Jen,

Can stress cause skin to be very dry? I noticed that my skin has gotten dry over the past few weeks, since I’ve become so stressed at work. What products are safe for me to use?  I don’t want to be using moisturizers that will make me look greasy.

Chin-Chin

Dear Chin-Chin,

Stress can indeed make your skin very dry.  As you may well know already, when we are stressed, our body produces cortisol. Cortisol limits our skin’s capacity to hold water, although it may stimulate oil gland production. Your skin near the nose and between the eyebrows might start to flake. The skin on the cheeks will begin to feel dry.

There are a number of good moisturizers you can try.  First to look for one that is hypoallergenic and fragrance-free. This has a lower “ph” which is better for your skin. A moisturizer that’s water-based and non-comedogenic (which tends to cause or aggravate blackheads) applied lightly under your foundation can give you a nice, glowing but non-greasy look. 

If you don’t want to use a moisturizer during the day for fear of looking too oily, night time moisturizing is another solution. Pick a heavy cream-based moisturizer at night so your skin will look fresh and hydrated in the morning. There is no brand that I am endorsing but you can stick to the safer ones such as Physiogel, Cetaphil, Neutrogena, Clinique, etc.  Hope this will help guide you in hydrating your skin adequately.

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Dear Dr. Jen,

I am 35 years old and I’ve noticed that I already have fine lines all over my face, especially around my eyes. Will my skin also start to sag already?  I thought sagging starts at 50!  Is there something I can do that doesn’t require surgery at all?  How much will treatment cost?

Maya

Dear Maya,

Unfortunately, fine lines can indeed start to make their appearance at the age of 35. This is due to a lot of factors like genetics, history of sun exposure, habitual facial expressions and even weight loss. Fine lines can be combated by the use of retinol and anti-oxidant over night creams. Daily use of sunblock can prevent the formation of more fine lines. If you want immediate results, fractional laser can be beneficial to you.

Peri-orbital wrinkles or crow’s feet found around the eyes are usually caused by repeated squinting of the eyes (i.e. when smiling). No amount of creams can solve this kind of wrinkles. You may have to opt for botox or RF (radiofrequency) laser if you want the lines reduced.  Cost of botox can be from Php 800–5,000 for the eye area while RF can have a wide range of cost, from Php2,500 to 80,000 per session.

Sagging can be caused by weight loss which translates into fat loss on the face area.  Fat pads on the cheeks or under the eye are actually a sign of youth.  When the fat pad compartments start to diminish, then the face looks sallow. Fillers and RF can help with this kind of sagging problem. Have a thorough assessment done by your PDS derma to determine what kind of problems you have and what treatments are to be performed. As with any condition, early intervention can prevent bigger wrinkling problems in the future.