Warning: This post isn’t about skin. I know I mostly write about skin but this week something else is on my mind and it’s my blog and I can write what I want to (insert evil laugh here). A few days ago was Christmas and it was the best Christmas I’ve ever experienced. Mainly because of my almost two year old, Charlee. This was the first Christmas she knew how to open presents and recognized Santa, snowmen, lights and Baby Jesus. When we woke up Christmas morning I asked her if she wanted to see what Santa brought and go open presents, she said “no”. I giggled because I knew she had no idea what was about to happen. She certainly didn’t remember last year at 10 months old. When we walked towards the Christmas tree she spotted the new toy kitchen Santa brought and she lit up with excitement, smiled and said “WOW!”. All you parents out there know this is a moment that turns you to mush and you wonder how your heart could be any happier. She rushed around the kitchen trying to see everything as fast as she could, I don’t remember ever feeling so content. The day just got better as it went on. All the family members we visited got to see some of Charlee’s joy as she opened their presents. It was so satisfying to see her spread her cheer and make my loved ones just a little bit happier and cheerful.

I laid in bed Christmas night snuggling with her (yes I let her sleep with me sometimes, don’t judge) and thinking about how much happiness she brings me and others around her. I wished I could make people around me feel half as good as Charlee makes me feel. So since Christmas I have been thinking about what I can do to be more like my two year old, to spread happiness and cheer to those around me. Here’s my list so far.

1. Give more. I got more gifts for Christmas than I could ever ask for but nothing I received made me as happy as seeing her excitement while opening her presents. Think about it, you always have more cheer when giving than receiving.

2. Be Happy. Charlee was so happy when she pulled a pair of socks Santa stuffed in her stocking last minute. It didn’t matter what gift she received she is just happy. Being around that happiness makes me happy. I’m going to make a conscious effort to be happy more often. Hopefully, my happiness will rub off on those around me.

3. Show excitement for the small things in life. It didn’t take hardly anything to get Charlee excited on Christmas day. I asked her ,”Do you want to help Momma open a present?” and she jumped up and down and yelled “PRESENT!!”. I’m going to be more excited for the small things like getting to spend dinner time with my husband, step-kids and daughter. How blessed we are to sit, enjoy each other and eat a warm home cooked meal together? I’m going to start showing excitement for these small things so that my family can share some of that excitement with me.

4. Love unconditionally. Charlee may have gotten just a little too excited on Christmas day and didn’t want to eat nor nap which led to a little spanking. Yes, my almost two year old misbahaves contradictory to her angelic appearance. But even after a little spanking she hugs me, kisses me and then is just as cheerful as she was before. She doesn’t let it get her down, she loves me unconditionally. It gives me peace to know she loves me no matter what. I want those around me to have that calm heart and peace too! So from now on, I will try harder to be less judgmental and love unconditionally.

5. Be more carefree. Charlee didn’t worry about whether or not the turkey was going to be hot when guests were ready to eat. She didn’t worry all day about being on time or if Aunt Susie Q was going to like her gift. She just went through the day carefree, soaking it all in and enjoying the great time she was having. More often, to be cheerful and spread joy, I need to, in the words of Elsa, “Let it go!”.

I hope in 2015 I can spread some cheer and joy to all of you. Whether through my blog or through the clinic or if you ever need anything, through a knock at my door. I will be honored to spread cheer and joy in your life. May we all spread half of the happiness that Charlee spreads at only 1 year old.

Happy New Year! Cheers, Nina

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As I’ve mentioned before I like scowering social media and blogs for what people are saying about skin and skincare. Sometimes just for a laugh but most often because I like to know what’s popular and what’s out there that my patients are using whether its harmful or helpful for skin. Recently I have come across lots of homemade remedies. I don’t know if it’s the cold weather or the holiday season but everyone seems to have a recipe for some miracle lotion or potion. The ingredients vary from foods to dirt. I mean some of the recipes sound so strange I wonder who would even put that together in a bowl let alone on their skin? But they all promise christmas miracles such as curing psoriasis when no dermatologist could and taking away wrinkles when Botox didn’t work. Absurd ideas but for the cheap prices of the ingredients, if it did work, it would really be the best thing ever. So it got me to thinking… I’m the skin expert, right? Shouldn’t I have a little secret trick recipe up my sleeve? Well the answer is no, but out of blogger envy and just wanting to have a little fun I made one anyway. My favorite moisturizer for my legs is vaseline. I often recommend to my patients petroleum jelly or crisco shortening. So I knew my recipe would have vaseline and shortening because two is better than one right? I chose to use coconut oil instead of crisco because coconut oil is thought to have some anti-inflammatory properties and because it makes me feel fancier than crisco. Then, for all those people who complain about that being too greasy I decided to cut it with one of my favorite lotions, Cetaphil DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating Lotion. Here is where most other recipes go wrong. They start adding smells and colors and all kinds of skin irritating ingredients. Not this girl, I stopped there.

I then threw into my mixer all 7.5 ounces of the petroleum jelly, half of the 14 ounce jar of coconut oil and the entire 16 ounces of the Cetaphil lotion. At first it frightened me because it didn’t look like the ingredients would marry each other,lumpy at best……..Then I got to whipping and the angels started to sing. I had to refrain from licking the spoon because it looked so light and fluffy, like meringue.

I then placed it into mason jars. The recipe made a little more than two jars. I put a store bought red bow and tied a ribbon around the mason jar (that’s as Martha Stewart as I get) and gifted one jar to my Mom. The other jar I put in my shower to use right after showering to lock in the moisture and keep my skin nice and soft all winter.

I hope you enjoy the Copeland Christmas Concoction recipe for your skin this week. I don’t promise that it will do anything other than be a really fluffy, yummy, sensitive skin moisturizer but that’s more than most of the online skin tips can do!

I also hope that you all enjoy this time off with your family and friends whether you are celebrating Christmas and the New Year or not. This time of year everything closes (even just for a few days) and we are all forced together. It really is a wonderful, magical time! I wish you all happiness, joy and blessings!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a skintastic night!

XOXO, Nina

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This weekend was an awesome Mom travel weekend. I started it off right with a no kid allowed Garth Brooks concert with my husband and BFF in Little Rock. Next, I picked up the kiddos in Fort Smith and headed for Branson, MO. It was one of those weekends that is really hectic in a good way. When we got home from Little Rock I was so tired from staying up later than 9PM while pregnant but had to pack and get ready for Silver Dollar City. If you have an almost two year old you know that means taking half of your home. Why do they need so much stuff to travel? While in Branson we napped in strollers and had french fries for meals because that’s what you have to do on vacation to be able to fit it all in right? By the time you get back to your hotel you are just proud that your headcount is the same as when you left the house. It’s the best times, the best memories and I wouldn’t change it for anything! I will say though my skin care gets put on the back burner, I mean I’m just like most women, most things for myself get put on the back burner. When I laid my head on that pillow I just couldn’t make myself get up to wash my face. I know that sounds bad and it is, but sometimes you’re just too tired. So I did what any good woman would do and asked my step-son to hand me a facial cleansing wipe, wiped down my face, rolled over and went to sleep. Not ideal but thats real life. So here are my real life woman skin care travel tips. Some tips to help you not completely fall off the skin care wagon during your travels.

1. Bring cleansing wipes- By far my favorite are the Cetaphil gentle skin cleansing cloths. They are soft and gentle and don’t burn. I even use them to remove make-up over my eyes. You need these for that “I’m too tired to move” moment. They come in a blue package.

2. BOB sunscreen- BOB stands for Brush on Block. Yesterday we were walking around Branson Landing and even though it was cool out the sun was really shining. Thank goodness I keep a BOB in my diaper bag. It’s powder sunscreen that goes on clear. One of my favorite things about powder sunscreen is you can throw it in any bag and not have to worry about leakage. The powder is nice because you don’t have to worry about messing with your make-up and it’s so easy to apply on kids on the fly.

3. Baby powder/dry shampoo- Saturday is my hair wash day but when I am traveling I have to stretch it out to Sunday.One bathroom with 5 people to shower and get ready does not allow me to blow dry and style this mop.  I am usually pretty greasy haired by Saturday so to be able to stretch it out I need some help. Some of my friends use dry shampoo. I personally am kinda cheap so I just put some baby powder on my finger tips and apply it to my scalp to take some of that oily shine out. It works great and is super cheap.

4. Skip your skin care regimen and don’t fret- You’re on vacation! Do I advise not using your retinol for a couple nights? No, but the reality is, it’s fine, get back at it on Monday. Don’t freak out, don’t think your skin is going to go down the pot from missing one night of skin care products. Just like you are allowed to have a donut every now and then when you are on a diet you are also allowed to skip your skin care regimen every now and then without feeling guilty. It’s important to live your life, enjoy it and not worry nor fret!

5. Keep a ziplock bag stocked with travel size essentials. I have a ziplock bag with fragrance free, gentle skin essentials that can make it through TSA at the airport. It’s a facial wash, a face cream, toothpaste, body wash and deodorant. It’s always packed and ready to go in my bottom drawer of the bathroom. It’s easy to grab so I don’t forget anything and get stuck using the high fragrance junk the hotel has provided that always irritates my skin and dries me out.

Hope you all have safe travels this holiday season! Enjoy your time with family and friends and stay Merry no matter what stresses the hustle and bustle of the season may bring!

Stay Skintastic, Nina

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You know how you have that one physical feature people seem to notice, such as nice teeth, perfect skin, pretty eyes, perfect pouty lips or maybe nice legs? Well I feel like my thing is my hair. People often compliment my hair.  On Saturday I had my cut and color appointment which is always such a fun thing for a lady. Even if just for a few hours it’s all about you, feeling pretty, gossiping with your hair dresser, flipping through a magazine and no kids tugging at your leg. There are so many things out there to color, perm and relax our hair with it gets confusing. Some of the things you are doing in hopes of healthier hair could actually be damaging. By the same token there are some tips you can do to have healthier hair. So here are my top ten dermatologist recommended tips and some of my personal tips for your hair care.

1. Shampoo your scalp not your hair. Your scalp is what creates oil that your are trying to “clean” so if you are trying to rub and scrub all the way at the ends of your hair you could be causing unnecessary damage creating frizzy hair.

2. Always use a conditioner. Sounds like common sense but you would be surprised how many people don’t think they need it. Right now I am using an Agave healing oil once a week and half apple cider vinegar half water once a week. Yes, I only wash twice a week, Saturday and Wednesday.

3. Don’t pull your hair tightly. Be gentle. Tight ponytails and braids can cause damage, even hair loss and scarring.

4. Don’t rub your hair dry with a towel after the shower. Just like I recommend being gentle to your skin by not scrubbing and exfoliating you should be gentle with your hair. When I get out of the shower I just wrap a towel around my hair to get excess water off and then let it air dry as much as possible.

5. Lay off the blow dryer, curling iron and flat iron. High heat can be damaging to your hair. This is one of the main reasons that I only wash twice a week. This spreads out how often I am damaging my hair to twice per week instead of daily. Try to use the lowest heat setting, limit the time the tool is in contact with your hair and let your hair air dry as often as possible.

6. The 100 strokes per day for your hair idea is a myth. Actually the less you brush is probably the better. Don’t tug your hair when you brush it out. Try to use a gentle, wide tooth comb and use a moisturizing conditioner as needed for tangles to be able to gently untangle.

7. How often you should wash your hair varies from person to person. Someone who has really dry hair can go more days without washing whereas someone who has a very oily scalp may need to wash more often. If you are having specific scalp flaking and problems you should see your dermatologist. You may have a medical condition that could be treated with prescription treatments.

8. Pick your products wisely. I always wanted a keratin treatment because some of my girlfriends have had it and their hair seemed so shiny and smooth. I just never got one because of how long they took and cost. Did you know they have formaldehyde in them? I didn’t. I like trying out new products and I am drawn more towards natural products (probably because I have hippies for parents). On Saturday I had an alternative to keratin treatment that is formaldehyde free and “natural” called Agave Oil treatment, so far so great! High fragrance products can leave a residue on your skin that can trigger acne. Just be aware and know that sometimes simpler is better.

9. No pooing. I occasionally no poo. It means you don’t use store bought shampoo and conditioner. I wash with a little baking soda and water and then condition with half water, half apple cider vinegar. My hair feels great when I do this but it’s a little extra work making your own products and I’m pregnant with a one year old so I slack sometimes and buy products. The idea is that you don’t damage your hair and you don’t wash away all the good oils and bacteria that naturally live on your scalp. Try it out and let me know what you think.

10. Swimmers- Wear a swim cap to prevent damage from chlorine. Use a “leave in” conditioner before swimming to protect your hair. Wear a conditioner with zinc oxide before going out into the sun to protect your hair (that isn’t protected from your wide brim hat) from sun damage.

I hope you all enjoy my hair care tips! My hair dresser is amazing, she’s like family. Her name is Cindy Pabone and she has a booth at Vogue Aesthetics. I have teamed up with her for an awesome giveaway! To enter share the link to this post to your Facebook or Twitter with #theskinnyonhair and you will be entered in a chance to win a Johnson Dermatology goodie bag including some skin goodies and a $35 gift card for a hair service with Cindy. So go, share away! Don’t forget #theskinnyonhair because that is how I will find/pick a winner!

Thanks for reading, stay hairtastic, Nina

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Thanksgiving is over. I hope everyone had a wonderful, thankful, blessed holiday. Nowadays thanksgiving is the kick-off for christmas. Black Friday shopping now starts the evening of Thanksgiving, slightly irritating to me. I just hate to feel like we are skipping Thanksgiving because it is one of my favorite holidays! I do love this holiday season. It’s a time of year when everyone slows down a little bit and spends time with each other. I mean even Wal-Mart closes on Christmas. At this stage of my life I no longer see my childhood friends on a daily basis. Most of us have moved away due to work, school, husbands or whatever. During the holidays though, we are all back home in Fayetteville and always find a little time to reconnect. It’s so nice to see those friends that even if you don’t see each other outside of weddings, funerals and holidays the minute you say hello it’s like you were never apart. It’s one of the best parts of the holidays, extended time with family and friends. True friends share their secrets and tricks of the trade. A hairdresser friend will give updates on new must-have products. Friends with kids give advice to friends without. Traveling friends give advice to the less traveled. You get the point. So this post is to let you in on the skin holiday “must haves” I recommend to all my closest friends. After you read my top five holiday “must haves” don’t feel embarrassed that you need them now and can’t wait to make them stocking stuffers (I couldn’t either)!

1. A perfect holiday red lipstick. If you don’t think you can rock red lipstick then you must try during the holiday. Everyone call pull off a good red in the spirit of the season! I’m obsessing right now over Jane Iredale lipstick in Margi. It is the perfect hottie red lips. Not sticky, doesn’t catch on your teeth, smooth, not too bright, not too dark, perfection of red lipsticks!

2. Clairisonic Satin Precision Brush Head- Have you tried this brush head? For those of you that use a clairisonic brush this is my favorite brush head ever! It is so gentle and luxurious! They advertise it as made for gentle areas like the eyes but I use it all over. Skipping the facial to save during the holidays this month? Promise this is the next best thing!

3. A good mineral based powder. Holidays, otherwise known as the time of the year where you will inevitably have your picture taken more times then the entire year combined. Not to mention half of those will likely show up on social media. You need something to cover that occasional pimple pop-up. I use Colorescience pressed mineral foundation. It covers-up really well and won’t cause break-out but also is so light and airy. As a matter of fact a student asked me last week if we were allowed to wear make-up at work! Which I took as a complement, we at JD just take care of our skin and wear make-up that brings out our NATURAL beauty.

4. Eye make-up remover trick- Okay so you know after you wash your face you have that stingy bit of mascara around your lids that you probably are using an eye make-up remover pad to remove? Well save some bucks and hydrate that skin around your eyes simultaneously by trading your eye make-up remover pads for this trick. Take your favorite light weight moisturizer and put a thin layer on a Q-tip or cotton pad then use that as your make-up remover. It isn’t alcohol based so you won’t burn your eyes nor dry out your skin! The moisturizer will wipe away all that excess make-up without batting an eye (see what I did there?)!

5. Step up your sun protection game- Just because it’s so cold outside doesn’t mean the sun isn’t there. If you see light, UV rays see you! Wide brim felt hats are so in right now and so sun protective. If you see me on the weekends this month you will see me in mine! I use the BOB for sunscreen during most of the year but this time of year all that outside cold wind and temperature changes dry out my skin so I change to Elta MD UV clear broad-spectrum SPF 46. It is made for acne prone skin so it isn’t greasy but it gives me that extra moisture my skin craves this time of year!

Hope your holidays are full of joy, laughter and fun! But most of all I hope they are skintastic!

Roasting chestnuts on an open fire, drinking egg-nog, hanging ornaments and wrapping presents, Nina

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For those of you who have been injected with neurotoxins or fillers you know there is a list of things that we tell you to do or not do.  How important are these requests we make? I’m not really sure. I mean some of the things I feel strongly about and some of them I just don’t really know how much of a difference it makes. These things we ask you to do are kind of like telling your kids not to say a cuss word. I mean if they do say a cuss word when they bang their knee chances are nothing REALLY bad is going to happen. Bad things can happen such as you getting embarrassed, teachers thinking you aren’t a good parent, someone around hears and gets offended, your child gets a mouth full of soap, your child grows up to be a gangsta or worse. If your 3 year old does happen to fall down in the grocery store and say “****$%^” no one will die, no one will be traumatized for life and your 3 year old will survive (although she may not feel she will survive while in time out). As a matter of fact, some people may even get a laugh out of it! My point is you should do all the things we ask you to do but in some/most cases it won’t be the end of the world if you forget. Here are some of the aftercare that I recommend after injections.

1. After you have filler placed in your lips: Avoid salty food such as chips, cheeseburgers and fries. Try to eat lots of cold things like milkshakes and popsicles. This helps decrease your swelling. If you are prone to cold sores, ask for a prescription for Acyclovir or Valtrex to prevent getting a cold sore. The “stress” on your lips can trigger an outbreak.

2. After neurotoxins (Botox, Xeomin, Dysport)-No rubbing, bending over or laying on your face like during a massage, they say you could move your neurotoxin. Make your expressions for about an hour after injection, they say this gets the neurotoxin into the muscle.

3. After any injection of any sort- No heavy lifting, hardcore working out or any activity that makes you strain. A needle has been in your face, you’re at increased risk of bruising and straining can worsen your bruising.

4. To decrease bruising (if bruising does occur)- Return to the clinic so that we can laser you free of charge to make the bruising go away quicker. Use some Arnicare up to four times a day. This is a homeopathic topical gel you apply that works very well at getting rid of bruises quicker. Eat pineapple, another homeopathic remedy used to treat bruising.  We also have special cosmetics to cover bruising so if you do bruise ask for an appointment with one of our cosmetic concierges to teach you the tricks.

5. Above all else-keep in contact! We want to know how you are doing. We will call you and check on you but if you have any questions or concerns feel free to e-mail/call me or one of my nurses. We want you to have a good experience and love your cosmetic treatments as much as we do!

Are you interested in learning more about injections? Would you like to see someone get injected so you will know what to expect? How about the excitement of seeing the immediate effects of youthfulness with filler injection? Want the chance to ask me anything while I inject? NOW IS YOUR CHANCE! I will be doing live injections tomorrow night at our open house at 6pm. The open house is from 5-7pm and will also include a live demonstration of our new sublative laser. But wait, there’s more! Who waits until black friday to have a sale? Not us! We are thanking all of our patients for their support the next three days by making all products and procedures 25% off! OUR BIGGEST SALE EVER! I hope to see you all tomorrow night, it’s going to be really fun! I’m excited incase you can’t tell!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving if I don’t see you before then. Thank each and every one of you for reading my blog and taking care of your beautiful skin. XOXO, Nina

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This weekend was a big one for all of us Arkansans. The hogs broke their SEC losing streak by taking home the boot, beating LSU 17-0. Being a fan is an interesting role. It’s really a destiny. I mean how do most people become fans of their favorite team? It isn’t by choosing which one wins the most. It’s usually some sort of destiny. Either we grew up in a home that loved a certain team, went to our favorite team’s college, grew up in the home state of the team, married into a family who loves the team….. the list goes on. Once we have found our destined team to love that’s it, you don’t really get to change, win or lose. So when the Hogs had lost 17 SEC games in a row fans didn’t start becoming OU fans. Hog fans just kept cheering on and encouraging their team, through thick and thin. Even though this seems tough for a losing team, that one big win makes up for all the losses. No one was posting on social media last night and this morning about what a horrible couple seasons the U of A has had. My feeds were covered in tweets and posts about how awesome the win was and how proud everyone was to be a HOG! It felt like the entire state was in a good mood just from that one win!

Do you know who the biggest fan of your skin is? Me, your dermatology provider. It’s what I think every health care provider should be for their patient. As a healthcare provider I promise you I am your number one skin fan through thick and thin. When you get an infection after a procedure, I’m down in the dumps. It feels like a big loss against LSU instead of a win. When you feel amazing after your Botox and Vitalize peel I feel like you just won the Super Bowl. I’m so proud, ecstatic! When things don’t go well for your acne with the first few medications we try it feels like a loss but I know by the end of the season, after we have tried some changes like peels or laser treatments, it will feel just like that LSU game, just like that big win to break the losing streak! I know it will be worth it! But you know what’s hard about being your number one fan? When you won’t let me help you win. Sounds weird, right? Here are the tips I would like all my patients to know that will really help all your health care providers be your biggest fans while winning!

1. Don’t make me a fair weather fan. Fair weather fans only cheer for their team when they are winning. If I treat you for a rash and the treatment doesn’t work, don’t cancel your follow-up appointment. Let me see you back so we can make changes to our treatment plan. Usually I haven’t used all the tricks in my hat. I might do more testing, get more aggressive with treatment, send you to a specialist or maybe even for a second opinion. I’m not too proud to know when I have used all the tricks in my hat and I will tell you because I want my team to win, whether I’m the coach or not.

2. Be honest. If you don’t like the play that was just called then tell me. If I prescribe you something and you have no intention of using it then tell me that. If you can’t afford the medicine when you get to the pharmacy, let me know. If you won’t take the pill because you don’t like the side effect profile, let me know. I may start with what I think is the best plan but we need a treatment plan that you like too, that you can stick to. If you don’t use your medicine, it doesn’t work. Some people can’t handle the truth but I can. Let me know what you want.

3. Trust me. There are some things in which my expert training has me believing very strongly. Do you tell your plumber how to unclog the toilet? No, you trust him to do it, especially if he was successful in the past. I have been successful numerous times in the past when it comes to skin. Even though it is hard sometimes to trust something you don’t believe in sometimes all I need is a chance to get that win. Give me a chance to make an impossible catch as a receiver, a hail mary as your quarterback or recover that fumble because usually, it makes for the best win. You just have to trust me!

Sorry this was a long post! I just want all of you to know that I am your biggest fan. Win or lose I’m here for your skin. Whether you need a quarterback, a coach or just encouragement let me help you win with your skin!

Exciting things are coming to Johnson Dermatology the week of Thanksgiving so make sure you follow our business page on Facebook! Until next time, hugs, Nina

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If you follow my blog then you have recently read about who I think the skin experts are. If you haven’t here it is in short, Dermatologists and their crews. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other people out there who know skin well. I think a common misconception is when it comes to facials. I have patients come in with acne on a regular basis and complain that they don’t understand why “nothing works”and that they “get facials all the time”.  I think facials are like massages. If you hurt your back, a massage won’t cure a pulled muscle but man it sure does feel good and help you along the way. There are dangers with facials in the wrong hands. I still don’t like scrubs, beads and harsh products on the skin. I see facial aftermath nightmares from time to time in the clinic and it frightens me for our patients. There are also things I love about facials. As a matter of fact, I got one this weekend. You should just be careful about what your expectations are with facials. Be picky about who you go to and let treat your skin. Ask your dermatologist who is a good aesthetician and what procedures you should or should not have done to your skin while at the spa.  My favorite aesthetician is opening a spa this week, Amanda Wade at The Violet Room. It is across the street from the Electric Cowboy, next door to World Class Fitness. She will take good care of you. I’m very confident in her skill set. Here is my list of why you should get a facial with Amanda and what to expect.

1. It’s relaxing. How often do we stop and relax in this busy world we live in? Stress isn’t good for your body or your skin. You deserve a little pampering, trust me.

2. Extractions- “black head” gently removed. Extractions can go way wrong in the wrong hands. Someone who isn’t trained properly could try to drain or extract a cyst, make it inflamed or worse. Beware that without good skin care regimen you will just be spinning your wheels in the mud but this is a nice service Amanda offers.

3. Your skin feels good when you leave. After all the cleansing, massaging, enzymes, lotions and potions your skin will feel so soft when you leave. It’s soft, moisturized, plump and flat out luxurious.

4. Don’t expect an acne cure or a prolonged effect- I don’t care if it is a prescribed medicated cream or an enzyme put on during a facial, a one time application isn’t going to CHANGE your skin for the rest of your life. Your skin has a little life cycle of its own which is why it needs a constant regimen of care and upkeep. Change your skin with a skin care routine using products and procedures that work (consult your derm for this).

5. Don’t go get your first facial the day before your wedding. What if you have a flare from irritation? What if you are allergic to one of the products used? Trust me this could turn out bad, probably would be fine but don’t take a chance. If it’s the week of your wedding come see your dermatologist on Monday for a quick fix that works for rashes, acne, etc. Although, the best way to prepare for your wedding ready skin is seeing your dermatologist at least 6 months in advance.

It’s hard to sift through all of the people out there who recommend treatments for your skin. Let me help you. Let your dermatologist help you. I had a facial on a cruise once and the rest of the week my face looked like a piece of pizza. Yes, I’ve done it too, fallen for false advertisement from someone I shouldn’t have trusted, who wasn’t an expert.

I am so thankful that Amanda has opened The Violet Room. It is a relaxing atmosphere and now there is someone to whom I can send my patients and whom I trust with my skin. Someone who I know will treat my patients well and take good care of their skin. Amanda is a talented aesthetician who knows her qualities, skills and limitations. Knowing your limitations in your role can sometimes be your best asset for your clients and patients (and that goes for all health care providers too).

I hope you all follow Amanda’s lead this week and follow your dreams. I’m thankful we live in a free country where dreams come true. Thank you to our Veterans for that.

Happy Week, Nina

P.S. Here is Amanda Wade’s contact info at The Violet Room Spa www.violetroomspa.com, amanda@violetroomspa.com, 479-310-5310

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I love working at Johnson Dermatology. I love taking care of people’s skin. I love our patient population. I love learning something new everyday. I love my co-workers. I love being able to say “This is my dream job”. But it’s not just the job that I do every day that I love. I love the practice, the mission, the “Johnson way”. The Johnsons are so committed to our community, our patients and their employees. They are the kind of people that make you want to be a better person, not just a better employee. We (well really Dr. Sandy) have declared this month a month of Thanks at Johnson Dermatology. We are encouraging each other to be thankful and more appreciative of what we take for granted on a day to day basis. So just like Johnson Dermatology is about more than just skin, this blog is about more than just skin too. Today I want to declare what I’m not usually thankful for at all. I want to encourage all my readers to be thankful for not only your beautiful kids, awesome job, or hot boyfriend but also for all of your problems too because it could always be worse. Here are my problems that I am trying to change from feelings of frustration and anger to feelings of thankfulness and appreciation. I would love to hear some of yours too.

1. When I go through Mickey D’s and my order is wrong I’m not going to be mad and complain of incompetence. This month I am going to be thankful that I am able to afford a meal not just for myself but for my entire family. According to www.feedingamerica.org in 2013 14% of American households were food insecure. Arkansas was one of only 8 states that sat significantly higher than average at 21.2% food insecure households.

2. When my husband does some man thing that makes me want to cuss I’m going to take a deep breath and be thankful that I have an awesome husband who treats me well and whom I still love. On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in this country every DAY. (Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report, Intimate Partner Violence and Age of Victim 1993-9, October 2001.)

3. When my daughter makes a mess while I’m cleaning another one I’m not going to cry with pregnancy hormones about why I can’t keep my house clean. I’m going to be thankful I have a roof over my head to make messy. I found on www.ourhouseshelter.org that, on any given night, as many as 4,200 people in Arkansas have no place to call home.

4. When telemarketers call my house in the middle of a new episode of The Walking Dead I am going to not scream at the top of my lungs “pause it, pause it” followed by “take me off your list so help me God!”. I’m going to turn to my husband and thank him for the security system that keeps our family safe AND requires a land line (I might keep a little smirk with this one).

5. When I am in the pediatrician’s waiting room with a cranky 1 year old for over an hour I’m not going to get mad about the wait. I’m going to be thankful I’m not the person in front of me that has a very sick child that is requiring extra attention from my Doctor. I’m going to be thankful that my provider skipped a lunch break or bathroom break to try to catch up after that one very sick patient that took an extra 30 minutes and put him behind all day. (You guys are all welcome to use this one at Johnson Dermatology, although I hope you never have to wait for one of us).

6. When someone drives in the passing lane at 10 miles under the speed limit and I’m already running late I’m not going to give them dirty looks as I pass by with feelings of significant road rage. I’m going to be thankful that I have a car, that I was born in 1984 when we were past the wagon age and horse and carriage stuff. Thank you for a car!

I personally take the simple things in life for granted and should be a more appreciative person. This month I’m going to make a real effort to be more thankful and to let the people around me know I’m appreciative of all my blessings. Hope you get into the spirit with us a JD.

Until next week, Thank you to all my readers, I appreciate you more than you will ever know!!! Nina

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So, I like to think I’m cool. I’m probably about 1/4 as cool as I think I am but hey, I try to keep up. I like fashion, I like pop culture, I love social media. Like seriously, how did people stay hip in their 30’s without social media. I often search hashtags like #skincare #skin #dermatology along with the usual #kimandkanye , #ootd and #widn. Some of the skin care tweets pain me. Such as the ones that recommend smashing berries and mixing them with honey and toothpaste and rubbing it all over your face for acne. As my little girl would say “ewww, gwoss”. Or the ones that list the top five exfoliators, all including beads and scrubs that I consider harsh on the skin and would never recommend. There are also tweets from dermatologist but let’s get real. There aren’t as many cool derms out there tweeting as there are hip, young skin bloggers. Most of my favorite derms have a couple thousand followers (at most) where skin bloggers usually have 20 thousand followers or more. So I started to wonder why?

How do you pick your skin expert? I mean it’s pretty cut and dry when you need brain surgery, the neurosurgeon. When you need a root canal, the dentist. When you need the dreaded colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist. But it’s not that easy when you have acne. Do you go to an aestetician, a spa, a family doctor, a make-up counter at a drug store or a dermatologist? How do you chose who is going to be your skin expert? I mean obviously, I’m not neutral and I think the dermatologist is the expert. I mean don’t dermatologist spend the most time in school learning about skin? Doesn’t that make them the experts? Or do you look at experience? Does an aestitician with 40 years of experience have more experience with skin than a dermatologist that just got out of residency? Or is the proof in the pudding? Does a make-up artist for the stars who makes celebrities’ skin look flawless and now travels the world sharing her tips get expert points over say a dermatology nurse practitioner in Fort Smith, Arkansas who has only treated the locals? I’m not sure what the answer is for you, for Americans. Do advertisements play a role? Are you persuaded by where your friends go? Do you have a dermatologist?

I would like to think that most dermatologist have an evidence-based practice(like Johnson Dermatology does). We go off of science. What the research says works is what we believe in and recommend. Did you know Dr. Brad, Dr. Sandy, Honey and I review the literature together on a regular basis? Do you think your skin expert does that? I hope so. I think that’s what sets us apart from other skin faux experts. Although I must say our experience plays a role and the products we prefer does vary somewhat within our specialty. But there are some things that don’t vary and those are the things that you want to be sure you don’t stray from. Here are my dermatology tips that you should never break from, no matter who tells you otherwise…. well as long as you trust me.

1. Be sunsmart. As a whole, the dermatology world has lots of research which shows that UV damage increases your risk of skin cancer, wrinkles and dark spots. Sure there are benefits from minor amounts of UV rays that some people will try to capitalize on but there are TONS of benefits from being sun smart. So wear your sun protective clothing, wear your SPF of 30 or higher and know you’re helping your skin stay healthy.

2. Don’t use harsh products. We all agree that scrubs, beads, exfoliators and harsh products irritate and inflame the pores of the skin. Use gentle products for your skin. No matter what product you use, avoid the harsh stuff.

3. Retinol is your anti-aging hero. Sure other fads will hit the market. Right now it seems like all the “green” and natural stuff is really popular but for now the oldest ingredient that hasn’t changed in the research and literature is Retinol. Retinol passively exfoliates so for all you exfoliators out there who say you can’t live without scrubbing, try a retinol. It’s the workhorse, it shrinks your pores, decreases oil production, decreases dark spots, helps fine lines and lightens and brightens. You can see this product working on the skin at a microscopic level. How cool is that?!?!?

4. Watch your skin- Just like women should do self breast exams monthly everyone should do skin checks on themselves. Watch your moles, look for new, changing, growing, and non-healing lesions. Of course I would love if you had a dermatologist look your skin over head to toe at least once a year.

5. Be happy and confident in your own skin. Throw away your magnifying mirrors. Be thankful for the skin you have been given because you are the only one in the world that has that skin. You are beautiful. Anyone who tells you to change your skin is wrong. Choose a skin expert that can bring out your natural beauty.

I hope I don’t offend anyone with this post. I realize there are people other than dermatologist who are great with skin. But I also realize there are people out there who are making money off of skin advice and selling skin products who are not experts, who don’t have the best advice and I don’t know how the consumers filter out the experts from the faux experts. Be aware, be alert, be smart. Always know that I am honored when you chose me as your skin expert and promise to always do my best to be the best for you and your skin.

Happy Weekend, stay skintastic, Nina

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