06-08-11 | Posted by Wendy Lewis

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Extreme Makeover (ABC) Santa Monica and Beverly Hills Dermatologist Ava Shamban shamban-md.com is on a mission; she wants to educate women who may not already have a cosmetic dermatologist on speed dial on how to take care of their skin in a healthy way. In her new book, Dr Shamban reveals some of the secrets she gives to her well heeled celebrity patients on how skin works, fitness 101, good nutrition, pregnancy, menopause, adult acne and her list of enemies as well as allies of the skin.

Beautyinthebag Editor in Chief Wendy Lewis sat down with Dr Shamban in New York, at the office of her longtime friend and colleague Dermatologist Sheryl Clark. Together they have formed an west coast-east coast collaboration called ‘Center for Aesthetic and Preventative Dermatology.’

As Dr Shamban says, “I wrote this book to give women solutions to the most common problems I hear from my patients every day. I was also inspired to write about how you can renew your skin after chemotherapy by one of my patients who battled cancer. She was a wife and mother with an active career and had no intention of letting pancreatic cancer get in her way, so we formulated a plan to keep her looking good and feeling better because of it.  So many women have nowhere to turn for help with skin conditions induced by cancer treatments. Fortunately, there are a lot of things you can do to minimize the side effects.”   The book covers what to expect after chemo and how it may affect your skin. For example, chemotherapy shuts down the sebaceous glands, resulting in dryness and dehydration. It can also throw you into a state of premature menopause. Dr. Shamban’s menu of targeted treatments offers a road map for what to do before, during and after chemotherapy.

As an in the know cosmetic dermatologist, Dr Shamban has her share of favorite products. Among these are her top picks from many brands including Cetaphil, CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, Dove, Aveeno, Nature’s Gate, Lindi Skin, SkinCeuticals, Vaseline, Origins, Neutrogena, EltaMD and Eucerin.  But her book is brand agnostic – and she offers recommendations for products at all price points, so even readers on a tight budget can have great skin.

Lastly, are the at-home skin care recipes that read like something out of a Top Chef (Bravo) episode. Dr Shamban’s remedies will have you raiding the fridge and smacking your lips. She uses all natural ingredients that you can find at your local grocery store, farmer’s market or even your garden. She refers  to some of her complexion recipes as “skin smoothies” and they sound just as good.  We love this yummy avocado scrub and mask duo – pass the tortilla chips please…!

(Excerpted with permission)

For the Avocado Scrub

You will need:
1/2 avocado
1 tablespoon cornmeal
1 teaspoon honey

Mix all ingredients in a glass bowl. Dampen your face with warm water and gently massage in the scrub. Rinse off with warm water.

For the Avocado Refreshing and Soothing Mask

You will need:
1/2 avocado
1 tablespoon yogurt
1 egg white
1/3 teaspoon lemon juice

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Apply to damp skin and leave on face for ten to fifteen minutes. Rinse off with room-temperature water. Pat dry and follow with a non-comedogenic moisturizer.

The Breakthrough Plan for Renewal HEAL YOUR SKIN By Ava Shamban, MD is available at Amazon.com, BN.com and bookstores nationwide, $17.95.