Well Mab-Gabbers, as you can see I have taken the summer off from blogging. I have missed all of you.

Long gone are the days when I would lie on my parent’s roof with my REO Speedwagon album covered in tinfoil, slathered in baby oil and spritzing Sun-In in my hair… Yes, my friends, I WORSHIPED the sun. Peeling sunburns, cute freckles and a haircolor not found in nature.

Fall is the perfect time of year to hit the “restart” button. I for one tend to wait until fall to fully address my problem skin. Those of you who know me, know that I suffer from multiple skin issues: Adult acne, melasma (hormone induced hyperpigmentation), telangectasias (veins), poiklioderma (sun induced blotchiness/crusty lesions) and Rosacea – although I live in a constant state of “Rosacea denial.” Geez, when I list them it sounds like I should walk around with a paper bag over my head…

I am a “real” person. I LIKE the sun. I have a pool in my backyard. I will not lecture you about a suntan, but I will educate you about how to better protect yourself. Unless you are going to take the paper bag route, you might want to pay attention.

“Fixing” your sins takes effort, time, money and the complete willingness to curb your appetite for the sun. Think of me, and Laura (FUZION’S medically trained Esthetician), as your fairy-skin-Godmothers. As you stand in CVS staring at a sea of bleaching creams, false promises, chemical-laden sunscreens and “miracle wrinkle reducers,” remember all it takes is a phone call to get some professional guidance. Your effort must be multi-faceted:

1. Professional intervention: Fraxel re:pair CO2, Affirm fractionated laser, Intense Pulsed Light, Customized Chemical Peels (check out the Melanage Peel for melasma) and microdermabrasion treatments are the “big guns.” All of these treatments, except the Fraxel re:pair CO2, require multiple treatments. Price ranges $4000.00-$125.00 per treatment.

Take your clothes off! We urge each of you to get an annual Dermatologic evaluation. If there are new, old or changed lesions you should have them examined. If you are a patient of FUZION and need a Dermatologist, please ask. We are happy to help you.

2. At-Home Care: Medical grade creams and serums custom made to enhance exfoliation of sundamaged, aging and “dull” appearing skin. Most commonly, prescription strength retinoids, Hydroquinone, Vitamin C preparations, Human Growth Factors (PSP/TNS), Glycolic Acid preparations, Hyalouronic Acid and physical sunblocks.

Another aid to exfoliation is the Clarisonic Pro. It is our most popular item sold at FUZION. Using the Clarisonic once to twice daily (ask us if your skin can tolerate twice daily usage), will result in tighter, more even skin, diminished symptoms of acne, rosacea, seborrhea and poiklioderma; and will increase the absorption of your skincare products by >300%.

3. Changing your ways: I’m sorry to tell you, but you’ve got to do something! Wear a hat. Wallaroo hats, sold at FUZION, carry an SPF rating of 50. Avoid blatant sun exposure during the heat of the day. Invest in a medical grade PHYSICAL sunblock. Our favorite full body sunscreen is ELTA MD. We also have many combination moisturizers with physical SPFs.

Remember, you can’t hide from the sun. It is capable of damaging your skin through a window*. Most of the damage you see on your skin happened years ago, but that doesn’t mean that you have to live with the signs. So, unless you are buying stock in paper bags, know that there is help for us retired sun-lovers.

By the way, REO Speedwagon still makes me sweat!

*This is a photo of a woman with extensive poiklioderma on the left side of her face from having her work desk positioned in a window.