Mind/Body Q&A With Famous Dermatologist/Psychiatrist Dr. Amy Wechsler

Ancient wisdom tells us there is a strong connection between our mind and our body’s health. Sadly, modern-day doctors treat only your body or your brain.

Dr. Amy Wechsler, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist and psychiatrist (one of two doctors in the country certified in both areas) is one of the few who can combine mental health with physical health. You can find her expertise featured in the November 2010 issues of Marie Claire, Glamour and Real Simple, to name just a few.

Today she answers a few questions from Family First about ways to keep skin looking healthy and keeping your mind connected to your body – what she calls the “Mind-Beauty” connection:

Please explain the mind/body connection and how it manifests itself in our skin – what problems can stress and other mental issues cause physically?

Stress and its affect on your physical body/health – Stress can age the face more rapidly than the passage of time. In fact, stress can age you three to six years more. And it’s a familiar, vicious cycle: stress affects your beauty, and when you’re not happy with your appearance, you’re not happy in general and you can’t cope with stress so easily, which then comes back to take a bit out of your beauty again.

What are the top 3-5 ways you can keep your skin healthy without creams/medications – diet, mind/body connection, exercise, etc?

            – Practice deep breathing

            – Exercise

            – Eat well

            – Focus on the good things

            – Stretch out your sleep

            – Take a time out – find a comfortable, quiet spot to sit for 10 – 15 minutes every day

What are the best products to use – either natural or from a doctor to keep skin healthy? 

Natural:

Cucumbers: Cucumbers contain vitamin C and caffeic acid, two antioxidants that, when applied to the skin, help fend off wrinkles, sun damage, and more.

Vitamin C helps builds build collagen and elastin, those protein fibers that give skin its youthful plumpness. And caffeic acid inhibits cancer cells and protects skin cells exposed to UV radiation.

No wonder some spas offer hydrating face treatments made of crushed cucumber. Home version for kitchen divas: Barely puree half a cucumber and two to three tablespoons of plain yogurt in the blender; it should be thick, not drippy. Pat all over your face and neck, stretch out for fifteen minutes or so, rinse, and relish how good your skin feels.

Refrigerated and sliced into rounds, cucumbers fit neatly over eye sockets, where they act like delicate mini-ice packs and relieve puffy lids. One reason: Cucumbers are 90 percent water, which helps them stay chilly even on hot spots. Their cold minimizes the swelling by constricting the blood and lymph vessels that bring fluid to the eye area.

Over the Counter:

Products that get my thumbs-up:

Cleansers:

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash

Topix Gly / Sal Acne Cleanser 5%-2%

Dove Sensitive Skin Foaming Facial Cleanser

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser

FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN

Clinique’s Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam

Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Cleanser

Topix Benzoyl Peroxide 5% Wash

Daytime Moisturizer:

Eucerin Everyday Protection Face Lotion with SPF 30

Topix Replenix CF Anti-Photoaging Complex SPF 45

Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF 30

Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion for the Face SPF 30

Invisible Zink ESP

Nighttime Moisturizer:

Aveeno Ultra-Calming Night Cream

Topix Replenix Cream

Cetephil Moisturizing Lotion

WITH RETINOL

Philosophy Help Me Retinol Night Treatment

Topix Replenix Retinol Smoothing Serum 2X, 3X, and 10X

Exfoliating Toners:

Clinique’s Clarifying Lotions (try either their 7 Day Scrub or Cream Rinse Off Formula)

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner

Philosophy Microdelivery Peel Pads

Daily Microfoliant by Dermalogica

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Toner

Do you have some healthy mental exercises to recommend that can help calm your mind?

Meditation – Meditation has been shown to be associated with structural changes in the brain that may slow down the aging-related atrophy. In other words, meditation not only helps you better cope with stress, but it may also help you keep your brain young and functioning optimally.

Here’s a simple way to try it: sit in a quiet comfortable spot. Choose a word to repeat to yourself, like the familiar ommm. Although it’s meaningless, its resonant sound has been shown to be calming. Or simply murmur “breathe in” and “breathe out” to yourself, or count your breaths from one to ten, then repeat. Close your eyes and focus on your word or count. When thoughts intrude, gently bring your attention back to the word or count.

Don’t stress over whether you are doing it right and, if time is an issue, set a timer so you don’t worry about it. Otherwise, simply keep going as long as you can without falling asleep. When you’re ready, slowly open your eyes.

Are there any cutting edge treatments out there that don’t involve plastic surgery but that can keep aging skin looking best?

Fraxel Re:store – it encourages the skin to make more collagen and elastin, diminishing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and acne scars

About Dr. Amy Wechsler

(from her website) Dr. Wechsler is a member of The American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the Women’s Dermatologic Society, the American Psychiatric Association, the Independent Doctors of New York, the Physician Scientific Society, and The Skin Cancer Foundation.

Dr. Wechsler is the author of The Mind-Beauty Connection (Free Press, 2008), and appears in the media to explain and demystify complicated dermatological topics. She’s been featured on the Today Show, the Dr. Oz Show and The Tyra Banks Show, as well as extensively in print, including Marie Claire, Self, O Magazine, Lucky, W Magazine, the New York Times, Health, Allure, InStyle, Shape, Prevention, GQ, Redbook, Better Homes & Gardens, People, Stylewatch, and others.