Don't be fooled. Having bathing beauty-ful skin isn't as simple as throwing on the latest micro-mini bikini or trendy tankini. Exposed skin is vulnerable to a variety of environmental insults, not to mention needing to overcome a season or two worth of neglect.

Before You Hit The Beach

Let's face it, everyone fantasizes about golden, glistening, gorgeous looking skin. So if you've got it, flaunt it. If you don't, work on it. Chances are, you'll be pretty happy with your efforts.

First a few simple steps to getting healthy looking beach-y skin. Exfoliate, hydrate, glisten and protect.

Rough, dry skin isn't glamorous. In fact it's just plain unhealthy looking. Simple fixes include light physical exfoliation (look to DERMAdoctor KP Duty Dermatologist Body Scrub with Chemical + Physical Medi-Exfoliation) and/or a bit of chemical exfoliation blended with a hydrating factor. Products containing AHAs such as PRIORI Advanced AHA Hand & Body Revitalizing Lotion or Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Body Peel will work wonders in no time. Skip applying these immediately after any physical exfoliation. Instead, apply a bland emollient such as Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream, 4 oz or Nutraderm Therapeutic Lotion - Original Sensitive Skin Formula to help seal and soften skin. Later in the day, apply your "active" moisturizer and save yourself possible stinging that may occur if applied immediately after home microdermabrasion.

You've exfoliated, you've hydrated, now you want your skin looking "sun kissed" before you put in an appearance at your favorite hot spot. Everyone knows it's unhealthy to get suntanned the old-fashioned way. The question remains, how to look bronzed and beautiful without the damage?

What of your concerns, you say, about the need to get a "base" tan at a tanning salon before heading poolside? Despite the popular notion that tanning beds offer a "safe" alternative to getting a tan, nothing could be further from the truth. Most of the more than 1 million Americans who seek out tanning salons nationwide are unaware that a mere 20 minutes spent in a tanning booth is the equivalent of spending an entire day at the beach. And in addition to the intensity of tanning bed rays, you're also likely doing more damage in the tanning bed since you probably apply sunscreen at the beach. Recent UV exposure in a tanning bed can make the skin even more vulnerable to outdoor sunburns. So, there really is no such thing as helping protect your skin by getting a base tan.

Get A Healthy Tan The Old Fashioned Way - Out Of A Bottle (Or Booth)!

Self tanners continue to be the mainstay of achieving that bronzed look safely. No longer the foul smelling, orange staining concoctions of our youth, self-tanners have matured along with the rest of us.

Self-tanners contain the active agent dihydroxyacetone. This ingredient works by way of a chemical reaction with the most superficial cells of the epidermis that colors the skin. The intensity of color depends on the amount of DHA, usually from 3.5 to about 5 percent as well as the number of applications and the frequency of use. DHA has been determined to be a safe ingredient by the FDA. Self-tanners typically last between 3-4 days. Reapplication of a self-tanner every few days will maintain your bronzed appearance.

Not safe, however, are tanning pills. These contain canthaxanthin an ingredient implicated in causing hives and drug induced hepatitis. Others contain large amounts of beta carotene, and related color additives that produce a tan by colorizing the skin. The color will vary by individual and may look tan but some unfortunates will find their skin looking orange (think about consuming far too many carrots and developing carotenemia) or even pink! None of these additives are FDA approved for use as a tanning agent.

Sunless tanning products that contain sunscreens can be confusing. The sunscreen only lasts until the area has gotten wet from water contact or sweat. Sunless tanners do not provide sun protection on their own. The brown color has no ability to guard against the sun. Don't forget your sunscreen!

If you want to feel like you're experiencing the hedonism of the tropics try a self-tanner like California North Titanium Self Tanner - 8 oz bottle. Or if trying a self tanner at home seems daunting, consider going for a Mystic Tan. Now available under a number of names (sort of how the names Aspirin and Kleenex are now "generic" over their original brands), one stands in a specially designed booth and evenly sprays a fine mist of self-tanner onto every uncovered surface. Some contain a visible bronzer like Luminess Air Airbrush Bronzer so that color is visible from the moment the treatment is performed. Whether containing a bronzing agent or not, it will still take the DHA a few hours to make the skin look tanned.

Final Details

Other things to keep in mind for your day in the sun:

• Watch Your Sun Exposure
  Yes, it seems obvious, but make certain a broad spectrum SPF 30 is applied at least 15 minutes before getting out into the sun's harsh rays. And reapply, reapply, reapply. When you get out of the water, towel off, or are sweating from a great game of volleyball, reapply your sunscreen no matter if the label says "waterproof" or not. It's the main way to protect your skin.
• Wear Your Shades
  Take along, and wear, your UV protective sunglasses by Physician Endorsed. Your eyes will thank you for the protection against cataract and melanoma formation. Plus it will make it all the easier to focus and look cool, too.
• Don't Forget Your Lips
  Apply Coola LipLux SPF 30 original lip treatment or Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 with Natural Mint and Shea Butter to provide the lips with a sun protective barrier. Top them off with LipFusion Micro Collagen Lip Plump Color Shine - Bling Fusion Beach Baby for gorgeous, plumped lips.
• Rinse Off The Chlorine
  Chlorine is extremely harsh to the skin. High alkalinity disrupts the protective acid mantle and can leave skin dry, sensitive and irritated. It can also discolor color-treated hair, especially those with blonde tresses, so wash that chlorine right out of your hair with Fekkai Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo!
• Protect Color Treated Hair
  On another note, it's not just the chlorine that can do a number to your hair. It's the sun. UV rays will bleach out hair color, we all remember trying to add lemon highlights to our hair when we were younger. But after paying for hair color (even brunettes), the sun can discolor the hair. If you have a sun-protective hair leave-in conditioner like Fekkai Marine Summer Hair Beachcomber Leave-In Conditioner it would be ideal to apply it. A hat works wonders, too.

Bikini Bumps

Think of putting on a bathing suit and concern for preventing pubic hair from putting in a "peek a boo" appearance leads to the inevitable question of hair removal. When contemplating a sleek bikini line sans bikini bumps, concentrate upon both removal technique and treatment.

Try using the Whish Original Body Brush and California North Razor Shavecream or your favorite shaving cream. The brush helps to lift the hair, allowing for a very close shave, helping to prevent bumps afterward.

Are you acne prone after shaving? Then fall back upon a standard medicated ingredient for prevention: Benzoyl peroxide. Using a benzoyl peroxide after shaving product such as Menscience Acne Therapy Lotion can make a world of difference.

Whether shaving, waxing, lasering or using a chemical depilatory, inflammation breeds bikini bumps. To help counteract irritation and trauma, some experts recommend rubbing an ice cube over the shaved bikini area to reduce redness and discomfort. The use of Shaveworks The Cool Fix Targeted Gel Lotion - 5.3 oz. stops ingrown hairs, razor bumps, razor burn and redness.

Or consider taking a Tylenol or Advil before you shave to reduce the amount of inflammation that may arise.

Cellulite

Between 80 and 90 percent of women will develop cellulite after the age of 18. Few men will develop cellulite. Hardly fair, the causes of cellulite are thought to be due to a combination of factors including hormonal, aging, genetics and possibly a female difference in fat layer architecture. Cellulite may not be curable but you can improve unsightly puckering by understanding cellulite and how to take control. What exactly is cellulite?

Cellulite is the unsightly dimpling and puckering of the skin most often involving the thighs and buttocks. While most women carry their weight gain in these areas, you don't have to be overweight to have cellulite. As we age, collagen and elastin bundles break down, weakening the dermis. We are all familiar with what the end result is upon our face... wrinkles. But on the legs and buttocks, in response to this loss of dermal elasticity, the fat can become displaced into the lower dermis. Fibrous bands that are supposed to tether the skin down start to trap this displaced fat creating the lumpy bumpy appearance of cellulite. Think of a quilted mattress (the fat) with the buttons as the tether points (the fibrous bands) and you get the idea.

So how do you get rid of that cottage cheese sitting on your thighs? Seems like there are cellulite "cures" advertised in every magazine you pick up or every infomercial you watch. So far, the FDA has only approved a nonsurgical form of deep massage called endermologie for temporary improvement in the appearance of cellulite. Endermologie came to us from France where it has been used for 15+ years.

Deep mechanical massage can indeed help improve the appearance of cellulite (although highly dependent upon the skill of the masseuse), there has been great interest in home massage. A variety of massage tools like Bliss Fat Girl Slimulator, wooden balls and even motorized massage heads are sold with claims of helping improve the appearance of cellulite. These devices tend to be inexpensive for the simple wooden tools. From a practical standpoint, I think you may increase your chances by having someone else administer the home massage as they can apply a more direct pressure upon the skin. I take a realistic view of these. While I don't think they'll harm you, provided you're not massaging to the point of bruising, I think they will provide limited improvement. Still, a modicum of improvement if it happens is better than none at all.

As we age, collagen and elastin bundles break down, weakening the dermis. We are all familiar with what the end result is upon our face... wrinkles. But on the legs and buttocks, in response to this loss of dermal elasticity, the fat can become displaced upwards into the lower dermis. Fibrous bands that are supposed to tether the skin down start to trap this displaced fat creating the lumpy bumpy appearance of cellulite. Think of a quilted mattress (the fat) with the buttons as the tether points (the fibrous bands) and you quicky get the idea.

PRESCRIBEDsolutions Body of Knowledge Slimming and Contouring Cream helps firm the skin and target unwanted pockets of fatty tissue.

Body of Knowledge contains composed of Theophylline Acetic, Alginic Acids and a Proliposome of Tea-Hydroiodide, Tripeptides, Escin and Caffeine, which promotes a smoother, firmer, more toned appearance.

In some way it is comforting to know that almost all women get some degree of cellulite. It seems to be one of those sisterhood things and you will most definitely not be the only one in a bathing suit with a hint of dimpling. It is equally comforting to know that there are some steps we can take to help improve its appearance.

Prepping for swimsuit season goes far beyond the agony of finding a new bathing suit. But taking the time to fine tune your skin-protection strategy can leave it looking like "beaches and cream"!

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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