Menopause Skin Treatments: Botox, Lasers and Lifestyle

Mary Claire Haver (0:04)

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So we'll get into skincare routine, but let's start with sunscreen. Okay. That's my true number one. Is it chemical, mineral, is it endocrine disrupting? Why are things banned in the US and not in Europe? This is what fills my feed.

Erica Kelly (0:33)

Yes. Okay. So yes, this is truly my number one sunscreen, skincare ingredient. But sunscreen in general, there are chemical and physical sunscreens, or you could call that organic and inorganic. Sometimes people call the physical one mineral, because they're titanium or zinc. But the way they work is chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin, and then they take ultraviolet radiation and convert it to heat. So that's the sunscreens that you need to apply 30 minutes before you go out, because it has to penetrate and get into the skin to work. The physical sunscreens or mineral sunscreens, like zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, they basically lay on the surface. They lay on top and they scatter and reflect the ultraviolet light.

The problem is, chemical sunscreens are much more elegant.

They absorb, they feel better, they're not so white and sticky. But I think the physical sunscreens are getting a lot better. They're more micronized, they're tented now, so they don't have such a white cast.

In general, the physical are just better probably for sensitive skin, they're better for the environment. They have negligible percutaneous absorption, so the absorption from the skin into the bloodstream. So those are probably, we recommend those more. But the bottom line is, I recommend the one you will use. So if I recommend some sticky sunscreen that you hate and you're not going to apply it, I'd much rather you apply one that you like and not burn. So that's the main thing. That's my number one sunscreen tip is just wear the one that you will wear.

Mary Claire Haver (2:16)

And then what about the endocrine disruption worry? Is that real?

Erica Kelly (2:19)

So I don't know that that, I don't think that there's been studies that really elucidate that. There are studies that show we absorb the chemicals in our sunscreen, but there's studies that show we absorb the chemicals from everything, you know? We're just like, I mean, it's funny, because it's hard to get some things through the skin that you want to get through, but those things seem to make it in, things in your shampoo and things in the environment. So I don't know that it's been, that there is enough evidence to prove endocrine disruption, but what I always say is just cover what you can and apply the smallest amount of sunscreen. And I usually use a physical on face, hands, and then I just cover everything else.

Also, don't forget scalp.

Mary Claire Haver (3:02)

Scalp.

Erica Kelly (3:03)

I think we see a lot of skin cagers on the scalp, a lot of skin cagers on the ears, the lower lip. Don't forget about these things. And one of the things, if you're in a place where it's too windy, like here in Calveston, to keep on a hat, you can use a spray or I actually have a translucent powder that I use on my part. So just don't forget those areas.

Mary Claire Haver (3:24)

How can we convince our children to wear sunscreen?

Erica Kelly (3:28)

It's a good question. Mine were oh so good until they became teenagers. But they're pretty good, again, I have to say. The thing is, we don't want you to be a hermit. We want you to go out and be active and be in nature.

Mary Claire Haver (3:42)

I mean, you hike more than any human I've ever met in my life.

Erica Kelly (3:45)

Yeah, you know, with my big hat, my long sleeves. But yes, I know.

Mary Claire Haver (3:47)

Your beekeeper outfit.

Erica Kelly (3:49)

Yes. But I feel like, you know, it's the evidence that ultraviolet light causes skin cancer is definitive. There's no arguing it. And it is, ultraviolet light is officially classified as a carcinogen. So cancer causing.

And, you know, it causes it basically causes mutations in the DNA in our cells. There's a signature mutation. You see these permitting dimers and it causes reactive oxygen species. And I sometimes explain it this way. There is a genetic condition that these patients have one mutation in one enzyme. And this is called xeroderma pigmentosum. This one enzyme is the enzyme that repairs ultraviolet damage in our DNA.