THE MIAMA HERALD - Using a tanning bed is the biggest mistake you can make

By Leslie Baumann
DrB@DrBaumann.com

The seven biggest skin-care mistakes you can make:

2. Fail to use SPF daily. One unpublished study by Unilever showed that using just SPF 5 every day for five years prevented significant sun damage. Do yourself a favor and use a moisturizer with at least SPF 15. Most people do not apply enough sunscreen, so using an SPF of 15 should give you at least an SPF of 5.

3. Get too much sun. Ten to 15 minutes of unprotected sun a few times a week can help your body get its vitamin D fix, but if you’re sitting outside at Starbucks for an hour a day without sunscreen, your skin will show the signs years from now.

4. Use the wrong cleanser. If dryness is an issue, a foaming cleanser will worsen the problem. Two of the best cleansers for dry skin are Estée Lauder Soft Clean Tender Crème Cleanser and CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. Oily types beware! A cleanser that’s too rich can send sebaceous glands into overdrive. The best cleanser for you is a foaming one such as Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel. Combination skin types will like Paula’s Choice Hydralight One Step Facial Cleanser. If you do not know whether your skin is oily or dry, take the free quiz at www.SkinTypeSolutions.com.

5. Fail to use a retinoid. The family of vitamin A creams known as retinoids are the best night creams and I believe that everyone over age 20 should be using one at night. This will smooth wrinkles you already have along with preventing acne and exfoliating the skin.

6. Over-exfoliate. How do you know how much to exfoliate? It depends on your skin type. If your skin is dry, too much strips lipids and sensitive types can experience even more inflammation. Exfoliation is best for oily, resistant types.

7. Use daytime moisturizer on oily skin. If you’re on the oily side, go straight to the sunscreen, which have hydrating ingredients; very oily types make their own fatty acids, so they don’t need a moisturizer. (If you have dry spots, apply moisturizer only to those areas.) Everyone’s skin feels tight after cleansing, since it takes about 30 minutes for oil glands to replenish the skin — so see how your skin feels after 45 minutes and then you’ll know if you need moisturizer.

Dr. Leslie Baumann is a board-certified dermatologist and the CEO of the Baumann Cosmetic & Research Institute in Miami Beach.