It isn’t everyday that I get the chance to meet and greet one of the top dermatologists in the U.S., as well as an expert in her field. Take a look at my lunchmate’s credentials,
Jennifer Linder, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist, a fellowship-trained Mohs and laser surgeon and one of the foremost U.S. experts in the use of the cosmetic filler Sculptra. Dr. Linder completed medical school and fellowship training at Washington University in St. Louis, a surgery internship at the University of Pennsylvania, and a dermatology residency at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
A biomedical engineer and chemist, Dr. Linder holds a clinical faculty position in the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, instructing other dermatologists in skin cancer surgery and the use of cosmetic injectibles. Dr. Linder is Chief Scientist for PCA SKIN, an industry leader since 1990 in the development of professional chemical peels and advanced topicals that aid in the treatment of acne, eczema, psoriasis, hyperpigmentation, rosacea, and aging skin. Dr. Linder guides all product development and clinical trials for PCA SKIN and is currently in private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona, specializing in dermatology and Mohs skin cancer surgery.
Given that, the Swiper and I rushed to meet and get to have a chat with Dr. Jennifer Linder, courtesy of PCA Skin, which is going to be launched in the Philippines tomorrow, to be available exclusively at your local dermatologist’s office. Boy, we learned alot from Dr. Linder as I could not quite explain - technical words glided effortlessly from her as if it was her everyday language ( and indeed it is! ), but I felt like we were educated about acne like teenagers, the way she talked, despite a mixture of jargon, seemed so easy to be understood ( I gotta give it to her! )
Of course, we all share what we learn, and I hope it would answer some skin care questions and concerns, out there!
Things I have learned :
Acne is one of the most common problems, affects self esteem, and is an underappreciated topic. Acne should be controlling during it’s “stages.”
( I tried remembering everything with the story of acne! ) Acne starts from hormones, and our continuous oil production that gets clogged when pores are clogged, and as bacteria mixes with the oil, inflammation starts, and the rest is history. Products with Retin-A and Salicylic Acid are great as they open up the pores. Salicylic Acid also kills bacteria, and great skin care is still the best prevention for acne.
One noteworthy product that she was raving about is the PCA Skin Detox Gel Deep Pore Treatment. I was shown a photo of someone with blackheads on the nose, and just one layer of application, without any strips, or pulling, or extraction, the nose was instantly cleared. So I have my eyes on that product. Heehee.
Good skin care means effective skin care without the risk of inflammation.
Lactic acid is a great ingredient for cleansers. Take note : lactic acid!
Dr. Linder remarks that good skin care can be effective without the irritations. Work what’s best for you. One thing that she pointed out was the ingredient lactic acid, which is naturally occuring in our bodies, that is a great cleanser, but still maintains our skin hydrated and does not strip our skin off moisture, thus, an ingredient noteworthy of being remembered when choosing skin cleansers. Lactic acid also has AHA ( alpha hydroxy acids ) but gets to retain moisture on the skin, so it keeps skin youthful but retains moisture, unlike other AHA products that provide anti-aging and great cleansing but risk stripping the skin off its natural oils.
Applying sunscreen/sunblock is still the best anti-aging practice
Just because 80-90% of aging comes from the sun. She was telling us about someone who worked in an office for about 15 years, with a window facing her face ( for example , right ). Turns out, her right part of her face looked 15 years older than her left. Now, that alarmed me outright and made me promise to wear sunscreen every single day! But the ick factor, it’s just so humid here!
Those who have acne or oily skin ( like me ) might hate sunscreen, but Dr. Linder gave us the good news that there are Sunscreens from PCA Skin that are formulated for oily and acne-prone skin that has less oil in it, to get rid of the ick-factor. Thank God.
Oil can sometimes be good.
Dr. Linder just loves fish oil, omega 6 fatty acids, and omega 3 fatty acids as ingredients as they actually help control oil! It’s not about oil being oil, but there are actually good kinds of oil that actually inhibit oil production in the skin! So, cleansing oils are good after all! ( so, I have to get over my oil phobia! )
Great skin care means a mixture of good ingredients, and not just focusing on one.
Dr. Linder believes, just like in the kitchen, several ingredients make up a good meal, as great skincare is a mixture of different, but great products that work together. For example, the Detox Gel is a combination of lactic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl and salicylic acid! Woah.
Anti-aging means getting skin to be as healthy as possible
Because what prevents aging is having and maintaining great skin!
Peels are very effective in maintaining good skin, whether you are acne-prone, seeking for anti-aging treatments, or just want to keep your skin beautiful.
PCA Skin’s core products are their chemical peels, and I could feel that Dr. Linder is very much an advocate and strong believer of chemical peels as an integral part of maintaining good skin. As from her personal experience of having melasma, it was treated successfully by chemical peeling!
Peels open up the skin, opens up block pores ( and cleans them up ), and makes treatment get in the skin , ensuring effectivity, that they can even get rid of acne, and prevent it! Peels are for everyone, young and old, and PCA Skin chemical peels promises very minimal downtime that you won’t be leaving the dermatologist’s office with a red face. They’re leave-on peels that you wash off the next day.
Dr. Linder’s thoughts about whitening and tanning…and some advice about self-tanning!
I asked Dr. Linder her thoughts on this because whitening is a really hot topic in the Philippines, as well as Asia, and tanning, very much practiced in the U.S. Tanning, as suspected, is a very very bad practice, and Dr. Linder recommends sunless tanning as a good alternative from basking yourself out in the sun ( oh men. ). She recommends thorough exfoliation of the body, or peeling before applying sunless tanners to make sure that the tanners are applied evenly on the skin. People who have self-tanners on their skin must also be careful with chlorine ( at pools ).
As for whitening, she’s heard so much about Glutathione, learning that it’s a big hit here in our country ( as well as a very controversial topic nowadays ). She remarks that Glutathione is naturally occuring in our bodies, but hasn’t found any studies that directly links to taking an increased dosage of glutathione to skin whitening. Well, I’d love to learn more about the relationship between glutathione and whitening, but looks like it’s a hit here, and people are indeed getting fairer with taking glutathione!
Mineral makeup is great for acne-prone skin.
This made me smile ( thanks Phoebe for mentioning it! ). I got the word from a top dermatologist that mineral makeup is indeed great for acne patients as it would not clog pores and aggravate acne. Dr. Linder reminds us to stay away from talc, an ingredient that clogs pores. This goes to my Mineral Makeup Blog!
Well, there you go, a summary of what we’ve learned during our lovely lunch with Dr. Linder! Oh, did I also mention that dermatologists are mostly visual artists, as Dr. Linder loves oil painting? As she is on her way to Bohol in a few days for her diving trip, I hope that she get to love Bohol as it is a great, great place with fine-sand beaches! I’ve learned alot, as information that was passed on to us, beauty bloggers were indeed very very enlightening, busting myths and common perceptions, and hearing it from the expert about our skin care concerns is just very rewarding.
Now, I’m still looking at that Detox Gel and look forward to have my skin undergo a peeling session to try my luck at controlling my hopeless acne. I think I’m close to being a convert!
*For PCA Skin products, contact your local dermatologist for them, or email pcaskinphi@gmail.com for more information
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[...] the PCA Skin luncheon awhile ago, me and Phoebe were able to get to know Dr. Jennifer Linder, one of the top [...]
WOW. The one before you is Dr. Sumilang right? She’s my good friend’s mom.
Yep! That’s her
Hi Sophie! Joey here from CSB. I cant wait to try the products. I’ve tried so many acne prudtcs and no one seems to work. Im so tired na of acne. Hay! When will they be available?
I’ve just read that PCA Skin’s gonna bring their products here in the Philippines. If I’m not mistaken, there’s for RX and for OTC.
Roanne, they’d be only available via dermatologists, and currently planning a flagship store
The launch is marked for today! 
Joey : The launch is today, so you can inquire at your local dermatologist if they already have them available!
( but when did I ever remember that you had acne? your skin’s beautiful! ). You can also email pcaskinphi@gmail.com to ask about it 
Please direct the Q’s to Ms. Eileen Marcelo 
Congrats Sophie for the interview and the wonderful post! I love learning stuffs like this and coming from you!!!! Thanks dear! Keep up the great post!
Soph! Thanks for the info. Im visiting my derma today to unquire. So sad but im breaking out in my 20’s…huhuhu. So far the only thing that works for me is differin and the constant injections. hehehe. Hope PCA works though! Thanks again!
Joey : That’s great! Best of luck, argh, I just hate, hate acne! I’m going to try this line as well and try my luck. It seems promising. Yep, injections, Ive been having them lately, too, plus this very strong serum from Obagi Clenziderm.
Nikki : Thank you, I’m glad you loved the post. You’re always so cheerful and nice, it brightens my day everytime I hear from you:)
OH no Sophie, I am only cheerful and nice to people I like, you wouldn’t want to see the dark side of me *growls* lol
[...] interviews PCA Skin Head Scientist/Dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Linder about PCA Skin and gets to learn alot about skin [...]
[...] interviews PCA Skin Head Scientist/Dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Linder about PCA Skin and gets to learn alot about skin [...]
[...] interviews PCA Skin Head Scientist/Dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Linder about PCA Skin and gets to learn alot about skin [...]
[...] interviews PCA Skin Head Scientist/Dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Linder about PCA Skin and gets to learn alot about skin [...]
[...] interviews PCA Skin Head Scientist/Dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Linder about PCA Skin and gets to learn alot about skin [...]
[...] interviews PCA Skin Head Scientist/Dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Linder about PCA Skin and gets to learn alot about skin [...]
[...] interviews PCA Skin Head Scientist/Dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Linder about PCA Skin and gets to learn alot about skin [...]
[...] interviews PCA Skin Head Scientist/Dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Linder about PCA Skin and gets to learn alot about skin [...]
[...] interviews PCA Skin Head Scientist/Dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Linder about PCA Skin and gets to learn alot about skin [...]