You might think my only focus is on how to keep the skin healthy and free of cancer as the bulk of my professional time as a Mohs surgeon is spent on removing skin cancers and cosmetically repairing the face. The remainder of my time is spent at the Center for Cosmetic Services where I spend my time offering many varied services such as Botox, Fillers, Thermage, sclerotherapy, laser services, etc. Part of feeling good not includes taking care of yourself but also making yourself look good.

I think I’m doing pretty well for an old guy. A lot of people ask me what I do to keep so fit and particularly why my skin looks so great. There is no one big ‘trade’ secret. I think it is a combination of good genes as well as doing simple things on a daily basis that everyone should do:

Exercise: I try to exercise and get at least 40+ minutes of good uninterrupted exercise each day. That usually lap swimming ( 2500 yards per day), lifting weights, cycling or on weekend days, taking a break from the routine to walk the dog, take a hike along the coast, kayaking, or spending the day working in the garden. I even skip a day now and then as no body is perfect, right? Additionally, I always make a point during my work day to walk up stairs, park the car at the far end of the parking lot, stretch, etc. Again, you try to do your best. Mix it up and do little exercises on the fly. Exercise on a daily basis really makes a difference on adjusting your metabolic rate to a higher level. The more muscle mass you have, the higher your metabolic rate and therefore, the more calories you burn. You feel better afterwards too. Mix it up and never, never make anything easy for yourself.

Always try to keep a regular exercise program in perspective. Going to the club or gym may seem like a boring use of time, but it isn’t. It is a means to an end. Keeping your aerobic health, strength and tone at the best level you can for your age will promote further good health, greater resistance to illness, a better mind-set and the physical capacity to engage in other activities with ease and minimal risk of injury. Belonging to, and using a club can be a social avenue as well. Healthy people like to be with other healthy people.

Skin health: A lot of press on this most of which is advertising hoopla. The basics are what are really important. First of all we’ve got to live with what we inherited from our parents. Your skin color and texture are really not going to change for your entire life so you have to protect and take care of your skin from day one. Sun avoidance is a must. The effect of sun on the skin, no matter what the level adds an ever accumulating amount of damage over your lifetime. To see the effect of sun vs. no sun, compare skin of your face, chest and back with your inner arms and buttocks. As we age, our skin’s ability to repair the damage and recover diminishes. I recommend that everyone use at least an SPF 15 or 30 on a daily basis. For those exercising or vacationing in intense sun areas I recommend going even higher and never forgetting the benefit of a hat, protective clothing and planning activities when the sun is lower in the sky. The old rule of thumb which is almost gospel in Australia is ‘never be out in the sun when your shadow is shorter than you are’. What do I personally use? Well, I’m a firm believer in using a retinoid at night, such as Tazorac or Retin A. Retinoids truly have pharmacologic effect on the skin by causing increased turnover and a thickening of the epidermis. Daytime I alternate a topical antioxidant (Active C) with a copper peptide complex (Neova). Each of these has free radical quenching and collagen repair supporting functions respectively. Instead of using a sunscreen on top, I use a Jane Iredale mineral based, oil and lotion free powder on my skin which gives me an SPF of about 30 without having to have another lotion on my face. They now have a men’s line! Aside from that, there is always a bit of Botox and the occasional microdermabrasion as well as photorejuvenations using the V-Beam. All of these are available at the Center for Cosmetic Services.