A Dermatologist's Point of View

In a perfect world, we could all act with confidence and comfort in our own skin regardless of our appearance, but realistically, we create impressions partly because of how we look. Many women tell me that they feel more youthful than the person they see in the mirror. They feel younger than their chronological age, and they want to match that image in the mirror with their inner reality, which is more youthful and vital. They don’t want to look decades younger, and they dislike that stretched look that occurs after some types of plastic surgery. Advances in modern dermatology have helped make gentler improvements in skin a reality.

Everywhere I go, I meet women who are eager for reliable information about skin. For instance, a friend once invited me to dinner with a number of her acquaintances. When one of the women discovered that I was a dermatologist, she asked me a question about collagen. As I opened my mouth to reply, I noticed that every woman at the table was straining to hear what I had to say—and soon they were all chiming in with their own questions.

At my clinic in Seattle, I practice both cosmetic and medical dermatology, and I see many patients who want to know what modern dermatology can do to improve their skin. And the questions I’m asked aren’t just about collagen or Botox. Women wonder if Retin-A and topical vitamin C really work, they want trustworthy advice on sunscreens for themselves and their children, they want to know if lasers can really reverse sun damage with very little downtime. They ask questions about peels, microdermabrasion, and laser photorejuvenation. Exactly what are these treatments for? What’s involved in the treatment? How much downtime do they require? How much do they cost?

And so, I was inspired to write Your Best Face (along with my husband, Mark), in order to (1) share useful, trustworthy information on how to have healthier, more beautiful skin; (2) cover, in a straightforward and practical way, the latest treatments developed by modern medical dermatology, and (3) answer the many questions I hear every day from my patients, who all want the best possible skin.

Answering Your Questions >>