If you own a television set or browse the internet, surely you can't help but be aware that the biggest news outside of who scored an Oscar was how fantastic (or not) each celebrity looked. Getting ready for an event like the Academy Awards doesn't just happen over night. Body barring dressing requires skin that is flawless for pulling off "The Look". In fact it can take weeks or even months of planning and primping to look your best whether it's attending a celebrity-rich party, a wedding or even prom.

Most of us who attend a milestone function will take the time to try to lose those extra few pounds, tone up and make the ever important hair, nails and even make-up appointments. But the skin is often a neglected yet vital part of one's ensemble. Gorgeous skin is definitely the most important accessory for any designer gown (sorry Harry Winston). So look like a star, even if you can't attend the Academy Awards! Here is the timetable anyone "in the know" follows to get skin picture perfect for any big event.

3 Months in Advance

Skin preparations should begin a minimum of 3 months prior to the occasion Ongoing skin conditions like psoriasis, acne or eczema aren't going to go away with a mere week of prescription treatment. As dermatologists are notoriously booked through the Millenium, make your appointment well in advance. You'd hate to find out there's a 10 week wait!

Preparedness comes in handy when addressing the removal of nuisance skin growths, too. It's not the removal that's the issue; it's the healing. Skin tags, seborrheic keratoses and nuisance moles can easily be removed. Afterwards, products such as Mederma can be applied to the treated area once skin is intact. Such tactics help speed up the process and improve results. Wear SPF 30 religiously. Sun exposure is a sure thing to keeping that freshly removed mole visible.

N.B.: if skin tone is olive or darker and said mole is on the face, 6 months lead time is preferable. I once had a facial mole removed and the redness took longer than this to fully resolve.

Still have a tad bit of redness or discoloration? Try a concealer under your foundation. Remember green neutralizes red (go for Napoleon Perdis Pro-Palette Correct & Conceal. It's the intensity of the redness that becomes blended and neutralized by the green. Green must be covered then with foundation and/or a flesh toned concealer such as T. LeClerc Professional Concealer - Clair 01 (there are 4 colors to choose from, select the one most like your own skin tone).

A 3 month head start is also the perfect lead time to eradicate spider vein issues where ever they reside. Those leg and facial spider veins didn't just put in an appearance overnight. Nor does the aftermath of their destruction magically disappear.

Let's face it, (pun most definitely intended) facial veins mar that sought after peaches and cream complexion (far more likely to form on those with a fair skin tone). Who wants to look hot and bothered with anxiety rather than beautifully flushed with anticipation? Getting rid of those unwanted veins is a perfect solution. A bit of electrical or laser zapping of facial veins also can leave skin looking somewhat red or puffy. Allow the face time for healing and create a glowing palette for make-up.

Spider veins on the thighs are not going to accent a dress that shows a bit of leg. The solution, sclerotherapy, can leave legs looking mosquito-bitten for days followed by less desirable (and fortunately unlikely) spotty brown discoloration. This does go away with time, but if it does occur, the 3+ month lead time allows those bleaching products time to do their work. No sense in wearing a dress slit up daringly high to show a bit of thigh resembling a speckled trout.

While the magic of photography creates the illusion that celebrities have perfect skin (and many of them do have enviable complexions), not everyone is so blessed. If blemishes are the bane of your existence, plan ahead. Acne therapy routinely takes 6-8 weeks to start to show significant results, and longer to attain flawless complexion perfection.

Skin rejuvenation is all about maintenance, so products are used continuously. Typically 6 weeks to a more realistic 6 months is necessary for them to work their wonders. Most stars are already on some form of program which they will continue, and perhaps upgrade or tweak their regimen to enhance results.

Products that help to retard the appearance of aging skin include Cellex-C, Neova, SkinCeuticals, AHAs like MD Formulations. Prescription Vitamin A treatments such as Avage or Renova are also ideal for those able to tolerate such therapy (Afirm is a great OTC retinol options as well). A combination of products, depending upon the skin's needs is used to help enhance overall results.

Three months prior to an event seems like a long time, but it's really not when it comes to complete skin healing. So I don't recommend a quicky full facial laser resurfacing at this time. Save it for later, or plan ahead earlier. However, non-ablative laser treatments performed in a series such as N-Lite, IPL, etc., can be helpful during this time.

The same can be said about deeper chemical peels. TCA and phenol peels can leave skin looking burned for a prolonged period of time. It is again advisable to either undergo this type of procedure earlier or after the event.

6-8 Weeks in Advance

Six to eight weeks beforehand is the perfect time to undergo non-surgical touch-ups or initial procedures. Not only can they dramatically improve one's appearance but create an overall healthiness to the skin. This in turn gives the illusion of a rested or youthful look.

It's personal preference, but I like to allow a few weeks for filler agents to settle into the dermis and look a bit more natural. Traditionally a filler agent is over injected into the area. Now is the perfect time to have lip augmentation, injection of small, depressed scars or fill smile lines that have left their mark. A lip augmentation can leave lips looking like a goldfish for a day or two.

Four to six weeks allows for any residual swelling to resolve and should an undesirable result occur, allow the area to relax. And it's always easier to get a touch up if necessary a few weeks beforehand than get an overdone look that may be ridiculed whenever photos surface for eternity. Collagen type fillers usually last about 3-6 months (count on the earlier end of the range and be thrilled if it lasts longer).

Deeper wrinkles that involve facial expression lines are usually eliminated with Botox injections. It's just not dignified to look mad when one is concentrating on listening for their name to be called as a winner. Botox leaves the forehead, frown lines and crow's feet area calm and smooth. Botox may take up to 2 weeks to kick in and should any unwanted problems arise, like a droopy eyelid, it usually takes 3 weeks to go away. This lead-time provides a safety net for looking perfect on Awards night.

Who said Botox was just for wrinkles? Well it isn't anymore. It's now de rigour for docs to make the circuit of celeb Hollywood homes and perform discreet Botox injections of the underarms. No, it's not for wrinkle-free axillae, it's to keep unpleasant sweat stains off one's dress (or tux shirt). Can you just imagine listening to the fashionistas rave about the great designer gown, too bad it was ruined with sweat marks?

Nerves, warm weather, large crowds, and hot lights can transform the most calm and collected into a frazzled mess that's a bit hot under the collar. The use of Botox for sweat reduction has really taken off because of its popularity amongst the Hollywood In Crowd. Here again, it takes a few weeks at least to kick in, so underarms treatments may be a sought after commodity anywhere from 4-6 weeks prior to walking down the red carpet.

Start a series of mild glycolic acid peels, like MD Formulations My Personal Peel System or microdermabrasion (think DERMAdoctor Physical Chemistry facial microdermabrasion + multiacid chemical peel or DermaNew Facial Rejuvenation System) to leave the skin looking fresh and glowing. These are typically done as a weekly series and at least 6 are required for their results to be complete. Maintenance peels once weekly help keep skin sparkling.

3 Weeks in Advance

Time to refresh and hydrate the skin to show off smooth silky skin. The use of a rejuvenation Masque like the MD Formulations Vit-A-Plus Firming Treatment Masque or Neova Copper Moisture Mask 2-3 nights a week for just 15 minutes will hydrate and keep the skin glowing. Apply Cellex-C Sea Silk Oil-Free Moisturizer to seal the skin and maintain a dewey appearance. Body moisturizers like PRIORI Advanced AHA Hand & Body Revitalizing Lotion, which contain 16% LCA Complex, will soften the skin to make manicures and pedicures more beautiful.

Gorgeous dresses exposing areas such as the back, dcolletage, arms and legs should look sleek without a blemish anywhere. Depending upon the individual's needs, skin care products like MD Formulations Glycare Acne Gel, DERMAdoctor Ain't Misbehavin' Medicated Acne Control Serum or Peter Thomas Roth Sulfur Cooling Masque may be employed.

Trouble with dark circles due to lack of sleep and stress? Not to worry. We know that Vitamin K, especially if combined in a routine with a retinol, or antioxidant/fibroblast stimulating Vitamin C (Cellex-C). Peter Thomas Roth Power K Eye Rescue can help combine many of these features (excluding the retinol) to help with dark circles. Certainly the earlier they are started, the better the results. Fortunately for the last-minute dark circle, a yellow cover-up make such as T. LeClerc Correcting Fluid Pen can work like a charm.

1 Week in Advance

Adequate hair removal is important for those areas about to be shown off by gorgeous designer gowns. For those who wax or use methods which have led to these sorts of problems, the use of products like MD Formulations Glycare Acne Gel are employed but are not applied to freshly treated areas (irritation may occur). Barc Bump Down Razor Bump Relief helps reduce inflammation associated with shaving bumps. The presence of visible hair or shaving bumps is not acceptable in a polished, pulled-together look.

Home exfoliation with DermaNew Total Body Experience Kit a few days the week of the big event or daily use of an exfoliant in the shower like DERMAdoctor KP Duty Dermatologist Body Scrub with Chemical + Physical Medi-Exfoliation can help polish the skin (for the face, use DERMAdoctor Physical Chemistry facial microdermabrasion + multiacid chemical peel). This final exfoliation helps remove dead dry skin and leave your skin the flawless canvas upon which to apply your make-up and show off those arms and legs.

During the days leading up to the Awards Ceremony, nerves may lead to the formation of the stray pimple. For milder problematic blemishes, a product like Cellex-C Skin Perfecting Pen may work wonders. For more inflamed blemishes, prescription medications, both topical, or oral, and perhaps an emergency injection of a steroid solution directly into the cyst may be required.

Major skin care improvements typically are not going to occur with in a day or 2 of an important event, so preparation is key to having fantastic looking skin. While not everyone will attend the Academy Awards, there's sure to be an important occasion on your social calendar. Keep these skin care tips in mind when preparing for YOUR big day.

Audrey Kunin, M.D.

(Any topic discussed in this article is not intended as medical advice. If you have a medical concern, please check with your doctor.)

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