nail "wrinkles," LED skin treatments & more!

the time has come, {NAME} — it's time for another round of Q&A! Hi {NAME}, Last week, I asked the BHMD community to write in with burning questions about skin health, beauty, wellness — anything really… And just as I suspected — I received a TON of great inquiries in my inbox. Now, I happened to notice 3 questions in particular pop up MULTIPLE times… So I figured I’d do a little Q & A ‘speed round’ — and answer them for you today! Let’s jump right in. Question #1: My nails have developed these vertical ridges — and they’re so thin, they’ve actually started to peel and break off. Any recommendations? I like to think of nail ridges like wrinkles. After all, these thin, vertical lines are typically caused by the same two things: deep dehydration & poor cell turnover. Luckily, vertical nail ridges are completely harmless. You just need to focus on rehydrating the nail! My advice? Apply either Vitamin E oil, olive oil, OR coconut oil to your cuticles and nail bed each night (using circular motions to really massage it in)… And in a few weeks time, you should notice those annoying ridges start to grow out. Plus, since those oils and mini ‘cuticle massages’ can help encourage better skin cell turnover — you may notice your nails becoming stronger and thicker by the day. I also recommend using extra moisturizing hand soap AND hand cream during the day (just to keep future ridges from forming)... And do your best to avoid things that can dry out your nails further — like washing your hands too often or alcohol-based sanitizers. [NOTE: These tips only apply to vertical nail ridges, as horizontal lines can be a sign of an underlying health condition. If this is the case, please consult your doctor.] Question #2: Why do I get those pesky skin tags? Similar to nail ridges — skin tags (those small, often discolored, ‘balloon’ pieces of skin) are totally benign. But, odd as it sounds, there is actually no known ‘cause’ for skin tags. What we do know, however, is that they form when loose collagen fibers and blood vessels get 'trapped’ inside thicker pieces of skin… And since they often fall off on their own, they aren’t something that technically need to be removed. However, I understand how these tiny ‘skin flaps’ can be extremely annoying — since they usually crop up on the eyelids, neck, chest, and even armpits. So, here are 2 things I recommend trying: 1. If you want to go the DIY route, you can try using the tea tree oil method. Simply apply 1-2 drops of tea tree oil to a cotton ball and affix it to the tag with a bandage for 10 minutes, twice a day for 2 weeks. The idea is that the tea tree oil will help ‘dry out’ the skin tag, encouraging it to fall away faster. Avoid this method if your skin tag is located on your eyelid OR around the eye area, since tea tree oil can cause irritation. OR 2. Head to your dermatologist! They can easily (and safely) remove your skin tag for you — typically by using cauterization OR cryotherapy to ‘freeze’ them off. While at-home ‘freeze off’ kits ARE available, I personally suggest you steer clear of them, as they can lead to irritation and even burns on the skin if used incorrectly. *Please remember to always schedule an annual skin screening to help detect any growths or changes that may not be harmless.* Question #3: Do you recommend trying those trendy LED face masks? If yes — is it something I can do from home? While I do think LED treatments can be a great way to help keep your complexion looking vibrant and youthful… I’m still on-the-outs when it comes to at-home LED face masks. See, this method uses Light Emitting Diode (LED) to emit different wavelengths of light to help address a variety of skin concerns. (Red LED light, for example, can help stimulate collagen and elastin, while blue light is best for addressing bacterial issues.) However, as soon as you begin to use this method at home — you may run into a couple different issues. For starters, this ‘skin-therapy’ treatment relies on very bright LED lights… Meaning if you’re NOT using proper eye-protection — you run the risk of a serious eye injury. Totally not worth it, in my opinion. Not to mention, the actual efficiency of store-bought LED masks truly pales in comparison to the type you’d find in a salon or dermatologist office. But like I said: LED masks can be an awesome way to promote more youthful-looking skin. So if you ARE interested in this type of treatment, I highly suggest heading to your local med-spa… This way, you can sit back, relax, and let a licensed professional do the work for you. :) Alrighty, {NAME} — that’s all I have time for today. But believe me: I have a laundry list of questions still on my agenda… So keep an eye out for another round of Q&A in the coming weeks. After all, I absolutely love digging into these types of topics — so keep your questions coming!! Your Beverly Hills MD, Dr. John Layke //links.beverlyhills-md.com/a/141/click/9563053/742234759/_f6aefd14dbab967270a4db976d0f2967892d5235/47132145bb662f6852ac58b91b4fb33a5758d363     This email was sent to {EMAIL} by jlayke@beverlyhills-md.com Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group 436 N. Bedford Dr. Suite 214 Beverly Hills, CA 90210  [Edit Profile]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Report Spam]( | [Subscribe](  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Â