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"When humidity is low and the air becomes dry, it can lead to dehydrated skin," echoes Ryan Turner, M.D., dermatologist and founder of Turner Dermatology. "Dehydrated skin lacks water and may feel dull, rough, and tight. Using a humidifier can help by adding moisture to the air. This may help reduce dry or cracked skin especially overnight when skin cell regrowth and repairs are at their peak."
What Is Squalane?
Before we learn about the benefits of this rich emollient, let's discuss how the vowels a and e make a difference in their chemical makeup. "Squalane is the hydrogenated form of squalene," Turner tells Byrdie. "[It is] a lipid (or fat) that is naturally found in the skin and secreted by the sebaceous (oil) glands. Squalene is not very stable for use in skincare products, so squalane is used for its longer shelf life." The use of this emollient in the beauty industry has long been controversial due to the fact that squalane found in cosmetics, not to be confused with squalene, was sourced from shark liver. However, most companies are now using plant-based forms of squalane in their products. "Squalane can be naturally sourced from plants, for example, olives and sugar cane," says Turner.
“Hair recession can be caused by genetic predisposition, hormonal influences, and aging,” says Turner. “Certain areas of the scalp are affected differently by androgen hormones such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) leading to hair recession and eventual male pattern hair loss.” If (and when) your body kicks this process into high gear will vary from everyone else’s case. So, if it hasn’t started receding yet, pay close attention to your hairline and act accordingly when it starts to budge. It never hurts to meet with a trichologist or dermatologist in the meantime to understand which of the following steps is good for you and when.
Without regular upkeep, nails can also become weak. Weak nails can have a dull, powdery white or yellow appearance, says Dr. Turner, which of course doesn’t look great, but weak nails also break more easily, which can be painful especially if they break or tear far enough to expose the nail bed. Sometimes weak nails are caused by nutritional deficiencies (something you can ask your dermatologist about), but in many cases, Dr. Turner recommends a clear coat of polish (like OPI Natural Nail Strengthener) which can help keep weakened or brittle nails protected.
“There is still a lot of stigma among men about cosmetic procedures not fitting in with certain concepts of masculinity,” says Dr. Ryan Turner, M.D., P.C. of N.Y.C.- based Turner Dermatology. “However, society is challenging the concept of gender-conforming behavior and these discussions have helped those identifying as male feel more comfortable with cosmetic procedures.”
How much should somebody exfoliate? Because going overboard comes with some pretty severe, painful consequences: “Over exfoliation may lead to redness, irritation, sensitivity, and flaking,” warns board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ryan Turner, of Turner Dermatology in NYC. And, unfortunately, there's no single answer for how much is too much: “Exfoliating is not one size fits all. Skin turnover and sensitivities vary from person to person." Turner points out that it's not even enough to know how often someone is exfoliating, because products differ so much in strength. Finding this balance—the frequency that works for you, with the product that works best—is something you’ve got to figure out for yourself.
But maybe we can nudge you in the right direction—with Dr. Turner’s help.
Do Acne Patches Work?
The short answer is “yes.” According to Dr. Ryan Turner, M.D., P.C. of N.Y.C.-based Turner Dermatology, “the reason that the patches can work so well is that they help draw out inflammation in the form of water [and] serum and this can acutely reduce the size of the acne spot.” They’re also multi-purpose and easy to use. “Patients enjoy the visual aspect of applying something that they can see to give their mind feedback that something is working on the acne,” says Turner. “Acne patches [also] give a physical barrier to stop the user from picking at the acne, which only inflames it.”
Ryan Turner, MD, of Turner Dermatology in NYC, says that melasma will be the most difficult of the hyperpigmentation types to treat because it's linked to hormones. "Melasma is a difficult type of hyperpigmentation to treat because it is caused by certain hormonal influences and chronic sun exposure," he says. "The hormonal changes of pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives can bring on or worsen melasma." Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation results from physical trauma to the skin like a scrape, rash, or stubborn acne breakout. It may even appear following certain in-office treatments like strong lasers and peels. Sun-induced hyperpigmentation, or sunspots as they're not-so-lovingly known to the layman, is the result of photoaging from chronic sun damage.
With all this time indoors, my finicky skin is dryer than ever and randomly reddens and flakes. Fun! "Being indoors exposes us to uncirculated air that contains dust and other indoor pollutants that can negatively impact our skin," Ryan Turner, a dermatologist in New York City, previously told Allure.
According to board-certified dermatologist Ryan Turner, MD, of Turner Dermatology in New York City, the under-eye area is extremely delicate compared to the rest of your face, which means it requires special care. "The skin is thin and responsive to fluid shifts in the face," Dr. Turner explains. "The fragile capillaries in the skin also contribute to darkness under the eye."
