Skincare During the Pandemic, Advice From a Board-Certified Dermatologist
Constant mask-wearing, pandemic-related stress, and stay-at-home orders have made maintaining a healthy complexion a challenge. Here, Dr. Nancy Samolitis, board-certified dermatologist and co-founder and medical director of Facile Dermatology + Boutique (facileskin.com) on S. Lake Avenue, answers our questions about at-home skincare.
What’s the biggest mistake people have been making with skincare during the pandemic?
Forgetting about sunblock. I recommend applying an SPF of 30 or higher daily (make sure it has zinc or titanium), even if you aren't planning on spending much time outdoors. Getting UV light through windows and blue light from screens can contribute to signs of skin aging.
What do you suggest for those who don’t feel safe leaving home to get a facial?
It’s not as strong as an in-office medical-grade peel, but we just launched an at-home peel kit ($300) that’s safe for any skin type. Regularly exfoliating skin stimulates skin cells to turnover faster and repair damaged cells, leading to smoother texture, fewer clogged pores and breakouts, and lightening of dark spots.
What treatments should be left to the professionals?
I absolutely do not recommend any kind of at-home microneedle device. It is impossible to know if the needles are appropriately sharp or properly sterilized, leading to damaging skin and possibly spreading infection.
