Skincare Awareness Month: Your Dermatologist’s Guide to Better Skin

With endless skincare products, viral routines and treatment trends competing for our attention, taking care of your skin can quickly become complicated. Healthy skin isn't about doing more. It's about making informed choices based on your individual skin, concerns and goals.

At Ross Dermatology, we believe a well-rounded approach to skin health includes protecting your skin from future damage, recognizing changes that shouldn't be ignored, addressing existing concerns and choosing professional treatments and at-home skincare that work together.

1. PROTECT: SPF Isn't Just for Summer

The end of summer doesn't mean the end of sun protection. UV rays reaches your skin throughout the year, including on cloudy days and during the cooler fall and winter months. Consistent sun protection can help reduce UV-related skin damage while also helping prevent many of the visible signs of premature skin aging, including discoloration, uneven tone and fine lines.

One of the easiest habits you can establish for healthier skin is applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning to exposed skin. Finding a formula that works with your skin type and lifestyle can make it much easier to stay consistent.

At Ross Dermatology, we carry a selection of EltaMD sunscreens, with options designed for different skin types and everyday needs.

September Skincare Awareness Month Special:
Purchase one EltaMD SPF and receive your second 25% off through September 30, 2026.

2. CHECK: Pay Attention to Changes

Skincare awareness isn't only about achieving smoother, brighter or younger-looking skin. It's also about understanding what's normal for your skin and recognizing when something changes. Make a habit of periodically looking over your skin. Pay attention to:

• New or changing moles
• Spots that change in size, shape or color
• Lesions that repeatedly bleed, crust or don't seem to heal
• Persistent areas of irritation
• Any spot that simply looks or behaves differently from the others

The **ABCDEs of melanoma—Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter and Evolving—**can also provide a helpful framework for recognizing suspicious changes. Routine professional skin examinations are always recommended.

3. CORRECT: Address the Concerns You Can Already See

After a long Texas summer, you may start noticing that your skin looks a little different than it did a few months ago. Sun exposure, heat and environmental stress can contribute to concerns such as uneven pigmentation, visible redness, dryness, rough texture and a generally dull appearance.

September is a great time to take inventory of these concerns and start planning how you'd like to address them.  Depending on your skin and goals, the aesthetic team at Ross Dermatology may recommend options such as:

IPL & Laser Treatment for Dark Spots and Hyperpigmentation:
Intense Pulsed Light can be used to target concerns such as visible sun damage, brown spots and redness, helping create a clearer and more even-looking complexion.

Chemical Peels:
Professional chemical peels help exfoliate the skin and can be customized to address concerns such as dullness, uneven tone, pigmentation and texture.

Microneedling + Exosomes:
Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries that stimulate the skin's natural renewal response. When paired with exosomes, the treatment is designed to further support rejuvenation and improve the appearance of tone, texture and signs of aging.

Morpheus8:
For patients looking for more advanced skin remodeling, Morpheus8 combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to address concerns such as skin laxity, texture and visible signs of aging.

Cervello Laser Hair Removal:
Skin confidence can also mean addressing unwanted hair. Cervello offers advanced laser hair reduction with integrated cooling technology for a more comfortable treatment experience.

4. SUPPORT: At-Home Skincare Routine

Professional treatments are only one part of the equation. What you do with your skin every day matters, too. You don't necessarily need more skincare. You need the right skincare.

A bathroom cabinet overflowing with serums, acids, masks and trending ingredients doesn't automatically translate into healthier skin. In fact, combining too many active ingredients or using products that aren't appropriate for your skin can sometimes lead to dryness, irritation and a compromised skin barrier. A good skincare routine can often begin with a few fundamentals: an appropriate cleanser, targeted treatment products based on your concerns, moisturizer and daily SPF.

From there, products can be added strategically. Ross Dermatology carries several professional skincare brands so we can help patients find options suited to their individual needs.

SkinCeuticals offers advanced antioxidant, corrective and anti-aging formulas designed to support a comprehensive skincare regimen.

Face Reality specializes in acne-focused skincare, with targeted products designed to support clearer-looking skin and customized routines based on individual acne concerns.

PCA Skin offers targeted at-home skincare as well as professional peel options that can be incorporated into customized treatment plans.

Avène provides gentle skincare options particularly suited to patients looking for soothing, hydrating support for sensitive or reactive skin.

And, of course, EltaMD offers a variety of sunscreen options that make daily UV protection easier to incorporate into your routine.

The goal isn't to use every product available. It's to determine which ingredients and formulations make sense for your skin.

Make September the Month You Get to Know Your Skin Better

At Ross Dermatology, our medical and aesthetic teams are here to help you better understand your skin and develop an individualized approach to keeping it healthy and looking its best. Protect it. Check it. Correct it. Support it. Personalize it.

Ready to create a plan for your skin? Contact Ross Dermatology to schedule an appointment or aesthetic consultation. Call 210-225-2769