David Kim, MD, has cultivated a massive following on social media for his simple, evidence-based skincare advice. The board-certified dermatologist breaks down the science behind your favorite drugstore treatments and what techniques help (and don’t help) keep your body’s biggest organ looking fresh and healthy for years to come.
You lit up our inbox last week with questions for Dr. Kim, and now he’s here to tackle them head-on. Here are his top tips for banishing sun spots, the best products for mature skin, and much more.
“Is there an over-the-counter product that works for treating sun spots?”
Dr. Kim: Absolutely! Prescription creams containing hydroquinone (4 percent or higher) can help fade melasma or hyperpigmentation resulting from sun damage. SkinCeuticals has a great option called Discoloration Defense. For OTC products, you want to look for ingredients like tranexamic acid, kojic acid, arbutin, and vitamin C to brighten your skin.
SPF is crucial in preventing sun damage and discoloration, so wearing sunscreen every day — all year round — is a must. Look for one with broad-spectrum UV protection with SPF 30 or higher.
“What are the three best products you’d recommend for mature skin?”
- Sunscreen: SPF is so important for anti-aging. It will help protect your skin from UV damage, prevent sun spots and hyperpigmentation, and create an even skin tone. I recommend LIGHTSAVER’s Triplesome Serum SPF 40.
- Vitamin A derivatives such as retinol and tretinoin: These will help with collagen production, skin texture, and hyperpigmentation, and they’ll make your skin glow.
- Rich hydrating moisturizer: As we get older, our skin loses the ability to hold on to moisture and our skin barrier becomes increasingly important. Keeping your skin hydrated and moisturized will help maintain its plumpness and suppleness. SkinCeuticals’ Triple Lipid Restore Moisturizer is a product I’d recommend trying.
“I’m 58 — should I use an estrogen moisturizer on my face?”
Topical estrogen cream can help your skin retain moisture and improve elasticity, especially if you’re post-menopausal. But if you have a history of breast cancer or estrogen-dependent cancer, you shouldn’t use it.
“Is there a cure for rosacea?”
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition, and there are various ways to treat its symptoms. A treatment called the pulsed dye laser, which uses a concentrated beam of light to target blood vessels, can significantly reduce the redness and broken capillaries, and help your skin look more even. You can also use a combination of prescription creams, such as metronidazole gel and ivermectin, and over-the-counter products with calming ingredients like centella asiatica, panthenol, and colloidal oatmeal to soothe your skin.
“What do you think about trends like using beef tallow on your face?”
I’m not a big fan. There are so many other ingredients out there that have been scientifically proven to be effective and beneficial to the skin. Ceramide, glycerin, fatty acids — these are ingredients you should be looking for to help restore and moisturize your skin.
