5 Steps to Achieving Beautiful Skin

By Michelle Copeland, D.M.D, M.D

We have come a long way in understanding the science of skin in the past decade. I used to have trouble convincing patients to follow any kind of skin-care regimen. Because of my training as a biochemist, I am particularly cognizant of the active properties of certain molecules in topical acids and vitamins, and their potentially transformative effects on the skin. When I was a resident in plastic surgery, I encouraged patients to use exfoliants and moisturizers. For the most part though, my colleagues in the plastic surgery department were not interested in pre and post surgical skin care - plastic surgeons did their work in the operating room and didn't see their patients very far into the recovery process. I urge my patients to care for their skin on a daily basis - you can be nipped and tucked from every angle, but if your skin is discolored, overly dry or damaged, you won't see a beautiful result no matter how much pulling and tightening you undergo.

There is a five step process that I recommend to my patients to achieve beautiful skin: cleanse, exfoliate, activate, moisturize and protect. I have developed specific advice and products for each step.

1. Cleansing: use a gentle cleanser, such as my Daily Cleanser, with no perfume or additives. Don't use a sponge or washcloth - they are breeding grounds for bacteria and are too rough. Use an alcohol-free toner after cleansing.
2. Exfoliating: Use AHA cream daily and microdermabrasion once or twice weekly.
3. Activating: Use anti-aging and anti-oxidant-rich products, such as my Rewind Age-Defying Cream to stimulate cell rejuvenation.
4. Moisturize to promote water absorption and protect from the effects of the elements.
5. Protect with a minimum of 20-30 SPF for days when you spend most time indoors and 40 SPF for days where you are outdoors more often.

With a good skin care regimen, you can put off cosmetic treatments for years - and when you decide to make the move to non-surgical or surgical procedures, your skin will be in shape to heal quickly and maximize the effects. I will be updating you on new procedures that are minimally invasive over the next few months.

More about Dr. Michelle Copeland…

World-renowned, Harvard-trained plastic surgeon, biochemist, and best-selling author, Dr. Michelle Copeland is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery at the Mount Sinai Medical School and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery and the American College of Maxillofacial Surgeons. She is a member of the Society for the Advancement of Women's Health Research, advising Congress on health issues affecting women. She has been profiled in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, the NBC Today Show, The View, Good Morning America and the CBS Morning Show, and is sought after for reliable information by many national publications and broadcast media.

Dr. Copeland has presented her pioneering techniques for enhanced rejuvenation of aging skin around the globe. She is the author of Change Your Looks, Change Your Life, a comprehensive guide to "quick fixes" and cosmetic surgery solutions for looking younger, feeling healthier, and living better. Her latest book The Beautiful Skin Workout, demonstrates how to erase 90% of skin flaws in six to eight weeks.