DermTV’s Dr. Neal Schultz…

I was recently invited to attend a press breakfast with leading Park Avenue Dermatologist and DermTV.com founder, Dr Neal Schultz. As a card carrying member of the “I LOVE MY SKIN” club, I squealed at the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Schultz and absorb his 30+ years of dermatological expertise while noshing on assorted pastries. Dr. Schultz created DermTV, the first daily skin care show on the web, as an outlet to educate the masses on proper skin care and debunk common skin care misconceptions…like fly by night products that promise clearer skin through a smart phone app or the super charged hair brush that claims tremendous hair growth. The straight shooting and self-assured doctor bluntly states that HairMax is far from effective and borderline laughable. And as for Dr. Schultz’s take on the smart phone Acne App, well see for yourself:

During the press breakfast, Dr. Schultz shared his thoughts on sun damage, products/ingredients to keep on your radar, and the rules of skin care.

With respect to sun damage, Dr. Schultz advised to begin protecting your skin in your 20′s. He recommends a combination of physical and chemical sunscreen. Sun protection products containing titanium dioxide and zinc provide the best physical barrier, says Dr Schultz. During the discussion, Dr Schultz and I shared a lively debate on the order of application for sunscreen. The good doctor advises applying sunscreen first because it needs to be closest to the skin to be effective. However Dr Schultz also advices to layer products from thinnest to heaviest. So you see this raises a dilemma. How can I wear my sunscreen first and still layer from thinnest to thickest? For years I have layered serums and then my moisturizer/sunscreen combo.

Dr Schultz’s advise is to skip the antioxidant serum during the day because the daytime is not when your skin needs the antioxidants. He states that your skin needs antioxidants at night to fight free radicals and pollution. This is contrary to what I’ve been told for years. Dr. Schultz informed me that, when used during the day, antioxidants work as an effective guard against sun exposure but the antioxidants do not fight free radicals because they are burned up by the sun. This is new news for me! Lianne Farbes, aka TheMakeupGirl, also shares Dr Schultz’s opinion of the the proper order of sun protection application.  She tried to convert me months ago! Well if Lianne and the good doctor say so….going forward, I will give this “new” method a try. I guess I can cut the serum during the day and rely soley on my moisturizer/SPF combo then layer my serums in the evening when my skin replenishes itself….I’ll keep you all posted.

Well despite the fact that I’ve been applying my sunscreen in the wrong order for years, after thoroughly evaluating my skin under a fancy ultra violet light contraption, Dr Schultz told me that after his son (who’s likely been wearing sunscreen since birth) I, “Felicia Walker Benson”, have the LEAST amount of sun damage he has seen in his 30+ years as a dermatologist. Who knew? [doing happy dance and a mean cabbage patch] I find myself wishing Dr. Schultz had given me a shiny medal for all to see and bear witness to my skin care greatness. People wouldn’t have to necessarily bow at my feet (unless they want to) but a badge, medal, or gold star of some sort would let them know that I know my skin stuff.  A sincere “Keep doing what you’re doing” from Dr. Schultz will have to suffice.

As far as advancements in skin care for 2010, Dr Schultz is wild about non invasive body contouring, the use of cold to destroy fat, natural fillers like hyaluronic acid, and caffeine as a cancer preventing antioxidant.

Dr Schultz’s rules for skin are as follows:

1. For beautiful skin use antioxidants everyday and exfoliate regularly
2. Wear UVA sunscreen daily
3. Layer skin care products from thinnest to thickest
4. Know your skin type and used products formulated for your specific skin care needs

For more of sage skin care advice, tune in to DermTV.com where the delightful doctor dishes a daily dose of dermatological goodness!

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Felicia Walker Benson is a makeup expert, fashion/beauty writer and wardrobe stylist. She enthusiastically shares her passion for the aforementioned with anyone who will listen. Felicia is Editor in Chief for ThisThatBeauty, Contributing Editor/NY Correspondent for The Makeup Girl and a Beauty Expert for Examiner.com. Additionally, Felicia is the Online Editor for the premier professional makeup artistry magazine, ON MAKEUP.