An expert in skincare, Botox, fillers, skin rejuvenation, skin diseases, hair and nail diseases, Dr. Zeina Nehme is one of the most sought after specialists in Lebanon, who is in private practice and has her own cosmetic center, Marina Clinic in downtown Beirut. Received her medical degree from The American University of Beirut (AUB) in 1998 and pursued her specialty degree in dermatology also from AUB in 2002.
Her skin-care approach relies on working with products that properly stimulate the skin and the production of collagen, essentially to make the skin healthy-looking and beautiful. Below Dr. Nehme, dermatologist to an exclusive list of clientele reveals her secrets for healthy, glowing skin and how she gets her patients wedding-ready!
What’s the most common mistake women make with their skincare routine?
There many mistakes that women do during their daily skincare routine, but the two most common are- skipping the application of sunscreen in the morning, which is the most essential step for both women and men; and by applying sunscreen one will prevent rapid skin aging, the appearance of skin cancer, and skin pigmentation. The second mistake is to sleeping with your makeup on or not washing your face before going to bed at night. This mistake is vital, it is when pimples start to appear because all the pollutants and particles blocks the pores, which eventually leads to many facial skin problems such as acne and skin infections.
How important does diet really play as far as our skin is concerned, and what is the ideal diet for a radiant complexion?
A balanced diet is very important for everyone. As for the skin it loves Vitamin A, because it regulates the cells that develop the skin and it is the main ingredient that produces a smooth complexion. All antioxidants including Vitamin C and E act as anti-aging ingredients that helps in delaying the degeneration of the skin and the effect of pollution on the collagen fibers in the skin. Proteins are also a main source, because they are the building blocks of the entire body; and lastly in order to have a glowing and radiant skin it is extremely important to stay away from smoking.
Is the eight-glasses-of-water rule really is true? How do you define hydration and why is that important?
When it comes to the hydration rule it is very true, but if someone drinks lots of fluids, and eat fruits and vegetables the 8-glasses of water myth may not apply in particular. Again, water is very essential to keep a hydrated and more radiant skin, and it is also important for a good blood circulation, which helps the colour of the skin to look better and healthier. For instance, when someone is dehydrated the blood reaches less to the skin that’s why the skin starts to look pale and dry.
Which ingredient is the most important in skincare?
There isn’t just one specific ingredient, but if I must choose I will go with Vitamin A. Vitamin A is present in retinol containing creams, this has definitely been proven to be one of the most effective anti-aging when applied properly. I would also go with Vitamin C to be applied locally on the skin. Both ingredients are as important because they contain collagen synthesis, which helps repair the skin to be resilient yet flexible, reduces blemishes and it is likely to look more radiant. Plus, when you apply Vitamin C especially in the morning, it will give an antioxidant and a partial anti-ultraviolet effect.
With wedding season just around the corner, what are your secret ways to get the skin wedding-ready?
A lady must always be ready! The earlier we start taking precautions and applying conditioning creams and using face washes adapted to our skin type the better. Now, a bride who does not have a daily skin routine must start taking care at least two to three months before the wedding date; in order to note any allergic or irritation reactions to the applied products. If there is an acne problem we need a minimum of three months to treat it in order to maintain a more healthy-looking skin during and after the wedding. Again, I tell my patients to take care of their skin at an early age, because there isn’t one magic treatment that will remove pimples or freckles or solve major skin diseases. However, if the bride-to-be would like to undergo any interventions like Botox or Fillers, I would recommend it a month before the wedding date, because Botox needs around 10 to 14 days to settle in, and in a months’ time the bruising or the swelling from the fillers would have been gone and the bride will look flawless on her big day.
How far in advance should a bride-to-be get a facial? What type of facials do you recommend?
There are many facial treatments that are adapted for each skin type from patients who have red skin to black heads and white heads, you name it. If the bride-to-be has a dull, dry and flaky skin type she should ask from a hydrating facial, one that would apply more moisturizers, hyaluronic acid, and masks that are specifically calming and soothing. However, if a patient has a good-looking skin, she could come in for a skin-glow like a microdermabrasion treatment that removes all the dead cells, and then apply a vitamin mask a week before the wedding date.
Let’s say a bride-to-be is browsing the skincare aisle for products. What ingredients should she look out for?
We always take into consideration the patient’s age and the type of skin. Let’s say a young bride between the ages of 18-25, the most important products she should look out for are a facial cleanser and a moisturizer with an SPF factor for the morning. As for ages between 25- 30, I would recommend by adding Vitamin C in the morning before the moisturizer to keep a healthy-looking and glowing skin, plus adding an eye cream is a must at this age, look out for anti-aging creams containing retinoid and Vitamin E ingredients, which help delay the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes; and I also suggest adding a mild anti-aging night cream. However, if someone starts to experience pigmentation issues then we might have to add a bleaching cream to be used at night and a proper sunscreen for the morning, again it all depends on the patient’s skin type and age.
If brides-to-be could eat and drink only the most beautifying skin foods, what would their diet look like?
A diet full of vitamins, fruits and vegetables, eating a lot of berries from blue berries to raspberries all are a great source of antioxidants, plus to have the perfect-looking skin I suggest drinking at least one cup of green tea per day. Proper hydration is a must, and staying away from direct sunlight and smoking is vital. Also, try to stop consuming refined sugars, because desserts in high sugar will accelerate the degradation and the breakdown of the collagen fibers, which eventually leads to older-looking and aging skin.
Lastly, what’s the most popular treatment at your clinic?
I would say it is definitely Botox. As we mentioned in the case of a bride-to-be, she should come in for Botox at least two to three months before the wedding date. Especially if a patient has skin pigmentation problems, then we would need to apply pealing treatments or use masks to whiten the skin; therefore I aim to cure and solve all skin issues before my patient undergoes any skin intervention.
What’s the one skin care message you’d like to spread?
If you are a smoker quit smoking! Wear sunscreen daily. Keep a balanced diet enriched with fruits and vegetables; and lastly start taking good care of your skin at an early age and do not wait until it’s too late to act.
Marina Clinic Downtown Beirut, Lebanon- Tel: +961 1 999 292
By Dana Mortada
