VIVIAN LEE: Welcome, everybody. Thank you for sharing your time with us this evening. Our guest tonight is Dr. Marie Jhin. We plan to have a candid discussion about Asian beauty. Dr. Jhin will talk about some of the differences between the way Eastern and Western beauty is defined, and share some wonderful Asian beauty tips for you to add to your beauty regimen.
Beauty is something that most of us desire, and we spend a lot of time and effort incorporating beauty practices into our lives. At a time when the economy is still very much a factor as to choices people make, beauty is one of the leading economic engines internationally. Thank you very much for joining us, Dr. Jhin.
Before we go into a more in-depth discussion, I would like to share with you Dr. Jhin's background. Of course, we are here to discuss the book that she just published titled Asian Beauty Secrets. Dr. Jhin will be signing copies after tonight's discussion, and it will be available for your review.
Dr. Marie Jhin was born in Seoul, South Korea. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and Cornell University Medical College. Dr. Jhin is a board certified dermatologist and Asian Skin expert, and is director of Premier Dermatology in the San Francisco Bay area. She has been featured in numerous magazines, including Seventeen and Oprah, and has been interviewed on local news programs, on television shows, in newspapers, and on the Internet.
Dr. Jhin is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. She is a member of the Women's Dermatologic Society and American Society for Mohs Surgery. She has been rated as America's Top Doctor for the past three years, and has been an adjunct clinical instructor of dermatology at Stanford University since 2001.
Ladies and gentlemen, would you please help me welcome Dr. Marie Jhin. [Applause]
DR. MARIE JHIN: Thank you, Vivian. I wish to take this opportunity to thank The Korea Society for inviting me here tonight. I'd like to thank Susan for introducing me to The Korea Society, Vivian for being here as a co-host, Kevin for the introduction, and Fran for acting as hostess.
VIVIAN LEE: Dr. Jhin, I would like the audience to learn a little more about you. Perhaps you can talk some more about your background, and how it has all culminated in the writing of this book.
DR. MARIE JHIN: Thank you, Vivian. New York is my hometown, and I love coming back here. I became a dermatologist after taking several different paths in the field of medicine. I have traveled the world, and at one point wanted to save the world. I'm now a dermatologist, and am dedicated to making everyone beautiful.
I was born in Korea. One of my fondest memories is spending time at the communal bath with my aunt, grandmother and mother. We would spend hours there. I can remember my grandmother asking me to scrub her back with an exfoliating cloth. That tradition continued once we moved to the States. In fact, I spent two hours at a Korean spa today. It is still a tradition in which I take part.
I can remember my mother commenting one day about how tired I looked. I was a medical student at the time. She went to an herbalist and brought back a concoction of something that tasted terrible. I remember taking it but never questioning what it was. This continued even after I had my own children. After every pregnancy, my mom would make seaweed soup to keep me warm.
I always wondered. Are these practices part of a tradition? Do they come from folklore? Are they based on scientific research? These questions persisted while I was a resident in dermatology. I remember the director of my residency program asking me what I was interested in pursuing. I realized I wanted to learn more about Korean beauty and health secrets. I wanted to know why Koreans spend so much time and effort exfoliating their skin. I wanted to know what exfoliation does for the skin. I was interested in the studying the histology of skin.
After being in practice for ten years, I decided I wanted to do more research about the cultural aspects behind Asian beauty and I set about to write this book. I've had so many questions since I was a child, and I realized that if I had these questions, others probably did, as well. This was to be a journey that would help me answer some of my questions.
Culturally I think it is a good time to learn more about this. As Asia becomes more open, the markets are booming. This book is for everyone, not just for Asians. I believe people are fascinated with Asia, Asian beauty and the business of beauty. This is my way of exploring some of these issues and sharing what I've learned with others.
VIVIAN LEE: It's funny. When you mentioned exfoliation, it brought back memories for me, as well. I was a child, and my mom insisted on doing the Taemileo. I don't know how to say it in English…
DR. MARIE JHIN: Taemilio, yes.
VIVIAN LEE: It's similar to what the Romans did centuries ago in order to remove that layer of dirty skin. I would howl in pain. You had to soak in this bath for such a long time, and the water was steaming hot. Whenever the family would get together, the kids would compare notes on our experiences with Taemileo. I'm so glad to hear that, that has led to a very successful career for you.
Let's talk about the specific differences between the Eastern and Western perception of beauty. In Asian culture, packaging is very important. What I mean by packaging is the way
a person looks. How an object looks. How it's prepared. How well it's wrapped. All of that is very important in Asian culture.
Now, Western culture tends to see that perspective as superficial, but I think that is a disconnect we might be able to repair. Perhaps you can discuss the perceived definition of beauty in the three Asian cultures of Korea, Japan and China, and how these perceptions compare with the West.
DR. MARIE JHIN: When I started doing my research, I decided to limit it to only Korea, Japan and China. I see a lot of Asian patients. I'm from a Korean background (Indian skin or Middle Eastern skin is very different from Asian skin) and there's a lot of similarity between the three countries.
The most interesting similarity of the definition of beauty among these three countries is the concept of yin-yang, black-white, and outer-inner. This is a recurring theme. With the Eastern countries, as Vivian said, outer beauty is important, but you can't have that outer packaging without inner harmony. In my book, I talk a lot about finding that harmony between your inner and outer beauty.
I believe what's different in Western society is a lack of that harmony. In Western society, the definition of beauty is not so much how you present yourself, but how you present the whole outer package of hair, makeup, and skin. Beauty is based on what is seen on the outside versus what is conveyed from the inside out.
VIVIAN LEE: How can one develop that inner beauty? Perhaps you could give some examples of what we can do to make our insides beautiful in order to make our outside beautiful, as well?
DR. MARIE JHIN: I found that in all three countries, food and nutrition is very important. The Japanese are really into shun or food. They believe that if you don't eat well, you cannot have health and beauty. The Chinese do a lot of movement exercises like Tai Chi. That gives them the harmony of movement, energy and flow that results in good health. That is one important factor.
In Korea, the communal bath ritual is significant for both the inner and outer self. Exfoliating skin is very good, and it also gives you some time to be at peace. You can develop friendships with other women. How many of us spend two hours every day to make ourselves more beautiful and build friendships? The development of that kind of harmony magnifies your outer beauty.
VIVIAN LEE: Do you believe that this is becoming better understood in the United States? It seems to me that American culture is starting to incorporate these values more and more. You now see products that contain green tea. There is hot stone therapy at spas. Although these practices are becoming more popular now, it was incorporated in our family life when I was a child in Korea.
DR. MARIE JHIN: Yes, I think that is happening. Americans are the busiest society with the least time off. Europeans have their summers. The Spanish have their siestas. Americans are hardworking people. For us, relaxation is a one-hour massage, and we're lucky if we find time for that once a month.
I'm happy to see that yoga has really taken off in the past ten years. There are so many more yoga studios. People are interested in learning more about meditation and similar practices. We're also seeing a greater interest in Asian products, like the green tea you mentioned—both as something to be taken internally and used externally. Sometimes I'll visit a Korean bath house, and there are only Caucasians. It is becoming more popular.
VIVIAN LEE: We've discussed the specific differences between Japanese, Chinese and Korean definitions of beauty. What are some beauty and health tips from each culture's customs that you can share with us? I know you go into it in some detail in the book. I must say I was really surprised to read that nightingale bird poop is good for the skin (especially if you have acne or sensitive skin). Do you have any more tips that you could share?
DR. MARIE JHIN: Yes, definitely. Let's start with Korea and talk about ginseng. Ginseng is a very important herb that was developed in Korea. It has anti-inflammatory benefits. A lot of Chinese medicine doctors use ginseng. They refer to it as "moving the energy." There has been scientific research about the benefits of ginseng, and I think that's one of the reasons people are becoming interested in it. Ginseng is an important part of Korea's history of beauty.
In the book, I discuss Japan's custom of using nightingale poop. Victoria Beckham uses it in her facials. In the nightingale droppings, there is something called guanine which is actually in your DNA. It helps stimulate the collagen in your skin. It is excellent for sensitive skin, as it lightly exfoliates and can be used as a light acid for your face.
VIVIAN LEE: Can you get nightingale poop here?
DR. MARIE JHIN: You can. You just have to look on the Internet.
VIVIAN LEE: I can call up my local spa and ask, "Do you have any nightingale poop I can put on my face?"
DR. MARIE JHIN: The Chinese have a long history of developing beauty regimens, and a lot of it is based on herbs. One of their secrets is pearl powder. The empress, Wu Ze Tian, would use ground pearl powder, which is full of calcium. The Chinese take it internally and apply it topically. I work with a patient who spends time in China, and she uses pearl powder.
VIVIAN LEE: You can actually ingest it, as well as apply it. I remember some years back people talking about gold leaf as something that could be both ingested and applied, but it is a very expensive product to be using on your face on a regular basis. There is definitely a quality of luxuriousness about gold leaf. Do you have any other suggestions as to what people both should and should not do? What else can you share with us about the Asian beauty tradition?
DR. MARIE JHIN: I find people are fascinated by the beauty of Asian skin. They always ask me if it's genetic. The first secret is that the whiteness of one's skin is related to beauty. The geishas are a good example. The Japanese considered mochihada (which means smooth white skin) to be beautiful. Geishas apply a lot of white powder, and this was practiced long before colonialism. That's what's so fascinating. Even if you look to Africa or India, people historically wanted to be white.
The beauty secret is to avoid the sun. If you want lasting, beautiful skin, look at the Asian culture. Asians avoid the sun. They wear gloves while driving. They carry umbrellas. And Asians have beautiful skin. That is one thing you can do.
The second thing I've learned is that Asian beauty is about maintenance and diligence. When you find something that works for you, particularly if it is being used topically, you should continue using it for at least six months to a year before deciding it doesn't work. Make sure there is scientific research behind it. Don't just pick a product based on the packaging. Asian women are very diligent about taking care of their skin. Getting facials or going to a dermatologist is part of their regimen. It's a normal part of their lives.
VIVIAN LEE: I just came back from Korea a couple of months ago. I was visiting with my mother's friends. They wanted to know how I kept my skin so healthy (I have to wear a lot of makeup because I'm on television). I actually have very unhealthy skin. The makeup clogs my pores and I am constantly breaking out. I spend a lot of money on facials.
My friends told me the newest thing in Korea is thoroughly cleansing the face using the "little pinky finger" routine. I don't mean just splashing water and using a little facial cleanser. They move their pinky finger in tiny circles to massage their entire face. They begin at the inside of the nose and inside their ears, because those are considered the dirtiest parts of the head.
Staying with the same products (and not constantly changing them) is a new practice in Korea. There's also been another cultural change, and that is to have your makeup look as natural as possible. If you can tell someone's wearing makeup, that's considered to be unattractive. Have you heard about this?
DR. MARIE JHIN: A friend of mine who is a dermatologist practicing in Chicago worked with Oprah as a patient. She told me Oprah's skin was in terrible condition for the same reason. When you're on TV, you're constantly wearing makeup and you're under hot lights. I see this pattern with my teenage patients who have acne. They cover up the acne by wearing makeup, which causes problems with the skin. It's a vicious cycle.
Koreans like to set beauty standards. They like to try out different procedures while taking care of their skin. They are much more innovative than the Japanese or the Chinese.
VIVIAN LEE: What is your take on products that have bleach in them? Would you advise a patient to use them? Bleach is very popular throughout Asia. Estée Lauder's products sold in Asia specifically have whitening agents in them. How do you feel about this?
DR. MARIE JHIN: The ingredient that you're referring to is hydroquinone, and recently there has been a lot of controversy about this. The reason it's controversial is because it can be misused. It can be toxic if the product contains more than 20 percent hydroquinone. The percentages we prescribe, or what you buy over the counter is very safe. Unfortunately, if someone buys it in another country illegally, the concentration of hydroquinone might be too high, and they will have problems with it.
There are different types of bleaching agents. As Asian skin gets older, it doesn't get too many wrinkles, but we get brown spots, especially if we spend too much time in the sun. Brown spots define aging and everybody wants pure, white skin. I'm not against it. I feel that if it's used correctly, it can be beneficial.
A few years ago, I was invited by a large cosmetics company to have dinner in San Francisco with some top beauty editors from China—editors from magazines like Vogue China and Glamour China. I was the only dermatologist invited to the dinner. I was so excited. I got all dressed up. When I got there, I was shocked to see that they were all twenty-year-olds.
Because China was a Communist country for so long and now has opened up, beauty is being defined by the younger generation. They couldn't care less about wrinkles or BOTOX. They actually had nothing interesting to ask me except they wanted to know how to keep one's skin white. I thought that was fascinating. That was all that they were interested in.
VIVIAN LEE: That's something I find interesting, as well. In college, I took courses in sociology and history, and your point about white skin being coveted in almost every culture around the world is well taken. I believe it is based in socioeconomics. It used to be that the whiter your skin, the richer you appeared. It meant you were not working outdoors.
Of course, these days it's more about health. You avoid the sun to decrease the incidence of skin cancer and also because of vanity. You get more brown spots, indeed. Maybe you can talk a little about Asian women coming of age, including about plastic surgery. You make a point that Korea is considered the center of plastic surgery in Asia. It currently has the second highest per capita rate of plastic surgery operations in the world. What do you advise your patients when they ask you about having plastic surgery?
DR. MARIE JHIN: Having plastic surgery is a very personal choice and it is not my decision to make. Most people have a picture of their own definition of beauty. I was just in Korea in May to do my book launch. I was told there is at least one plastic surgeon and dermatologist on every block in South Korea. It is very affordable. In fact, is it is very competitive. These doctors do not make tons of money, because they have to keep their prices low.
Now for the consumer, it's great. It's a very affordable option. I think a lot of people decide they want it based on what they watch on television, as so many actors and actresses have plastic surgery. It's like going to Southern California and seeing so many women that have had breast augmentation. It's the norm. In Korea, plastic surgery is not taboo. It's a very common thing.
I do agree there appears to be a shift towards looking more natural and looking more Asian, but there still is a great amount of Western influence, in particular, having a double eyelid and pointy nose. I think those are here to stay.
VIVIAN LEE: It seems to be more prevalent in Korea than in other Asian cultures. Why is that?
DR. MARIE JHIN: The Koreans put about 80 percent of their attention on their faces and 20 percent on their bodies. If you go to Brazil, it's 80 percent on their bodies and 20 percent on their faces. Brazil is another country with a large amount of plastic surgery procedures per capita.
I do believe that Koreans are trendsetters. The Japanese are purists. They don't do a lot of plastic surgery. They are individualistic in the way they dress, unlike Koreans. I wore short sleeves one day while in Korea. When I asked my friend why I was the only person wearing short sleeves, she told me it was because it was the wrong clothing for the season. It was still spring. China is rapidly approaching Korea, but Korea is currently a trendsetter.
VIVIAN LEE: Men are wearing makeup, as well, in Korea.
DR. MARIE JHIN: Yes.
VIVIAN LEE: They're marketing makeup products to men as solutions to improving the look of their complexions. My cousin is a journalist living in Seoul, and she has done some stories about this. For men, appearance is the key to getting promotions and positions that they want. This even applies to coveted entry level jobs. Being hired is completely based on looks, along with level of expertise and pedigree.
DR. MARIE JHIN: I touch on that in my book, and that is correct. You can have two men of equal intelligence with degrees from Seoul University (the top university in Korea) and the one who is better looking will get the job. Now in China, they have a procedure where they break your bones to elongate them so one can be taller. You have a better chance of getting a job if you're taller. It's amazing what people will go through to get a girlfriend, a boyfriend or a job.
I see this in my practice, as well. The Silicon Valley tech industry is highly competitive. A lot of my patients tell me their competition is getting younger and younger. You have all these kids working at Google and Facebook. And as they get older, they want to look younger.
VIVIAN LEE: I think we've teased our audience enough. Let's open the discussion up to the floor.
BEVERLY CHAN: I'm Beverly Chan. I'm with Asian Women in Business. You brought up the topic of aging and age spots, which are a major concern for Asian women. I've been looking at Costco. They sell a product for less than $300 that works with light therapy. It's called Baby Quasar. Does it work effectively with Asian skin?
DR. MARIE JHIN: That is an LED (light emitting device), and as far as I know, it will not help you with discoloration, unfortunately. We do have an LED in our practice, but it's more for fine lines, not discoloration. The problem is that Asian skin is very difficult to treat. I do recommend using lasers along with topical treatment, but there is no one device that's going to help.
MALE: What do you believe is the potential for Asian cosmetic products (like from Amore Pacific) to become mainstream here in the United States and popular with Americans, not just Asian-Americans?
DR. MARIE JHIN: I think there is great potential, actually, if they market the products well. As I said, Asia is hot, so the trend is going to be towards following whatever Asians are doing and whatever products Asians are using. It's similar to where French products used to be. If they are marketed well and they have scientific research behind them, I think they are very likely to become popular in the United States. Some of these products have excellent ingredients.
VIVIAN LEE: By marketing, do you mean getting a celebrity spokesperson? I think Kate Blanchett is a spokesperson for SK-II, which is manufactured in Japan. In Europe, it has totally taken off.
DR. MARIE JHIN: If it can be done in a way that creates a belief that the product will enhance Asian beauty and the standard of Asian beauty; then yes, I think SK-II could be very popular.
ANGELA: My name is Angela. I have two questions. I've noticed the prevalence of medical spas going up everywhere, both here and in Korea. What are your thoughts about allowing non-doctors to perform laser and similar procedures? The second question is about Asian secrets that work. I was wondering if you knew of any that don't work and that we should totally ignore?
DR. MARIE JHIN: I'm sure many don't work. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with all of them so I can't specifically point to one. There is a lot of hocus-pocus. In terms of medical spas, it depends on many factors. As far as I know in Korea, a lot of the medical spas are chains run by doctors. In the United States, it depends on the state and its particular regulations. For example, in New York, anyone can treat with a laser. Right next door in New Jersey, only a doctor can do that. It really depends upon the state in which you practice.
I have seen a lot of negative outcomes, especially with Asian patients. A lot of them come to me after getting bad results from other practitioners. They have side effects from having a laser used improperly, and that's often because people aren't educated enough about the characteristics of Asian skin. For instance, if you have any type of inflammation (like if you get a cut on your hand) it will hyperpigment if the laser is used incorrectly. Hyperpigmentation, or discoloration, is very difficult to treat.
Many Asians have sensitive skin, and you cannot just use any products or any type of treatment. You do have to be very careful where you go to get your treatments done.
MALE: Blood is characterized by different types (Type A, Type B). Is skin also classified by different types? Is there a biological difference between Asian skin, Caucasian skin and other types? If there is a difference, does the brand of cosmetics you use matter? Say you need a skin graft. Could you use skin from a different racial type?
DR. MARIE JHIN: That's an excellent question. Of course, everyone's skin is different, but it's not similar to blood where you might get a rejection. Skin is made up of melanocytes—pigment cells in your skin. With Caucasian skin, there are fewer melanocytes. And there are grades of skin types. Type 6 skin (which is dark African-American skin) has a lot of melanocytes. If you did a biopsy on their skin, you would find a multitude of pigment cells. Caucasian skin has a whiter type of melanocyte with less of a dark pigment.
Asians are in the gray area in terms of melanocytes. Sometimes we tan very easily. That means we can also have problems, because we're not completely white or completely dark. There are different issues with different types of skin, and scientific research has documented it.
FEMALE: Thank you so much for coming. I have really been looking forward to reading Asian Beauty Secrets and finding out how I can become more beautiful. As a woman, I am naturally drawn to all kinds of candy in the department stores. When I visit doctors, I ask them what products I should use, and they always say Cetaphil and a good sun block. I always respond, "But La Mer is so good." Is there a certain product line that you would endorse as being more beneficial for Asian skin?
DR. MARIE JHIN: There are good products out there for Asian skin. I'm not going to endorse any one particular product, but I can say a lot depends on the type of dermatologist you see. Yes, you need a very good sun block. I would recommend a good physical block. Nowadays everyone is moving away from chemical blocks.
Physical blocks actually prevent penetration of the sun's rays. They have micronite titanium or zinc oxide, and you can find a really good one. Asians tend to be sensitive to the chemical sun block, so I advise you buy a physical sun block. Also, Asians are very sensitive to acids. That includes salicylic acid, retinoic acid, and even benzoyl peroxide which is not an acid. They're sensitive to some chemical peels.
One good anti-aging regimen for Asian skin includes a retinol or Retin-A, and a lot of products out there contain that. The key is to start with a low percentage and apply it every other night, using a moisturizer over it so it dilutes the acid. One good over-the-counter retinol product is RoC. With any retinol products, just start with the lowest percentage, or go to a dermatologist. A lot of them carry a lower-level retinol product.
You then want to incorporate some antioxidants. That can include Vitamin C. If you look in Asian Beauty Secrets, ginseng is a good antioxidant. Green tea facials are also a good antioxidant. Free radicals form as you start to age. Antioxidants block the free radicals.
Those are the three things I would start with first. La Mer does great marketing. It's a good enough product. It's a good moisturizer. The reason the dermatologist tells you to use Cetaphil is because Cetaphil works just as well as a moisturizer like La Mer. But if you like La Mer, and you can afford to spend however much it costs, then you can incorporate it, as well. But make sure you incorporate some other stuff that has acid ingredients, and make sure the product has scientific research to back it up.
ERIN KIL: My name is Erin Kil, and I'm a dermatologist here in New York. I, myself, was in Korea during May for the World Congress of Dermatology and noticed a lot of Korean vendors trying to promote their products. Some of these products are great, but not available in the U.S. They say this is because of the FDA.
La Roche creates products in Asia. Do you know of any great products that are unavailable here but can be purchased in Korea? Do you see that changing in the future, and does it have to do with perception? Are these products not tested enough for them to receive approval?
DR. MARIE JHIN: Actually, I don't believe that's true. I have spoken with some of those cosmetic companies. I can't say the reason it's not in the United States is because of the ingredients. It's heavily marketed to attract the Asian population. La Roche does not have any unique ingredients that could not be brought into this country. I believe it is simply because they are skillfully marketing these products to appeal to those desiring very white skin. As far as I know, there aren't any special ingredients that cannot be brought here because of the FDA.
FEMALE: You mentioned that Asian skin is very sensitive to acids (retinol and salicylic acids). You also mentioned that lasers can cause hyperpigmentation on Asian skin. Asian skin can be very traumatized by acid which results in hyperpigmentation. I'm not a specialist in Asian skin, but I do go to YouTube a lot looking for Asian treatments for skin. One that is very common is the use of aspirin as a mask. White rice is also used. Can you comment on that?
DR. MARIE JHIN: Yes. Aspirin is salicylic acid, and that's very commonly used for a chemical peel. Most Asians can tolerate it, but you would have to start with the lowest grade percentage (like 20 percent) of salicylic acid. You might even go up to 30 percent. When you go from a salicylic acid to a glycolic acid or to a Jessner's peel, you have to be very careful. Salicylic acid is a very common chemical acid that Asians can use.
Rice is also very common. In fact, they combine rice with the nightingale poop to make a facial peel. Rice bran is actually one of the book's secrets in the Japanese section. You can look that up.
VIVIAN LEE: I wish to follow up on what you said. You said you're looking this up on YouTube? Are people making home remedies on their own? They're grinding aspirin tablets and applying it? Would you suggest doing that?
DR. MARIE JHIN: Not really.
VIVIAN LEE: Since we brought an expert here, I just had to know. Wow. I go to YouTube to get knitting patterns. Who would have thought?
FEMALE: Can you comment on fillers? Like RADIESSE? Restylane?
DR. MARIE JHIN: What would you want to know about fillers?
FEMALE: How you feel about them.
DR. MARIE JHIN: I love fillers. I love fillers.
FEMALE: Me, too.
DR. MARIE JHIN: A filler is an injectable. There are different types of fillers that plump up parts of the face. Meg Ryan has filler in her lips. A filler is something you inject in your face to either plump it up or to erase wrinkles. Depending on the filler, you can add cheekbones. You can enhance your lips. Nobody likes nasolabial folds or smile lines. Those are very common areas to use a filler. Fillers are very popular in Korea, and I like them.
FEMALE: What about facials? Do they really do anything?
DR. MARIE JHIN: It depends on what type of facial you're getting. If it just feels good, and they just kind of pat you down, then it probably won't do much. In my office, we do pretty aggressive facials. My acne patients get really good extractions. It can be very beneficial and I do see a lot of improvement with my patients.
FEMALE: There are so many skin care regimens in the States, I see three steps, but when in Korea, they start at like eight steps. It can go up to thirteen steps. When I went to a doctor, he told me I shouldn't even be using a toner. I was wondering what you thought about that.
DR. MARIE JHIN: Koreans are willing to do that, but most of my patients would never use regimens that require thirteen steps
VIVIAN LEE: They're not going to make it. They're not going to last.
DR. MARIE JHIN: They're not going to do it. Sometimes Koreans think more is better. They think if they do more, they'll get more results.
FEMALE: I hear that your skin gets used to a routine when you do it every day. How often should you change your skin routine by adding new products or using different products?
DR. MARIE JHIN: That's a myth. A lot of people talk about their skin becoming used to their regimen. That drives me nuts. If you're getting good results, why would you change anything? I think people just like something different or something new.
There are only a few cases where you might step it up. Let's say you are getting older and you have been using a retinol or Retin-A successfully. Then you might use a slightly higher percentage. You could change it at times like that. Perhaps you see more wrinkles or you have a brown spot. Then you're missing something there that's not helping that problem, and it makes sense to change your routine. But if you're doing well with your routine, I would stick with it.
FEMALE: Does resveratrol really help?
VIVIAN LEE: Resveratrol comes from grapes.
DR. MARIE JHIN: Resveratrol?
FEMALE: They come in tablets, too. They sell them in Healthnut. Do they really help?
DR. MARIE JHIN: I don't know anything about that.
FEMALE: I have family members who visit saunas and steam rooms all the time. Does that really help your skin?
DR. MARIE JHIN: When you get a facial, you get your face steamed. It does help open up your pores. If you have really bad rosacea or you turn very red, then you probably shouldn't go anyplace where you will get very hot and be turning red. Otherwise, I think a sauna or steam is fine.
FEMALE: My question relates to beauty trends. Right now laser hair removal is very popular. What do you foresee as the hot new trend in the next couple of years?
DR. MARIE JHIN: The hot new trends are skin tightening and fat melting. People would far prefer not going under the knife. The machines for these new procedures are improving all the time. You no longer have to get a facelift or a tummy tuck. Keep in mind that Asians scar very easily. A lot of people get hypertrophic, raised scars. Skin tightening and fat melting are very hot right now.
FEMALE: Can you describe what fat melting is?
DR. MARIE JHIN: Traditionally, people would have to go under the knife to do liposuction. They would actually have to cut into the stomach and suck out all the fat, or do a tummy tuck if there was loose skin. You have to cut the skin.
These new machines come in different types, depending on the modality. They can be ultrasound-based, cold-based or heat-based. There are several different technologies. Fat melting actually melts the fat under your skin after you've done the treatment. Your kidney then releases it through your urine, etc. It's fascinating, and I have seen it work.
FEMALE: How long does it take?
DR. MARIE JHIN: You do have to do multiple treatments.
VIVIAN LEE: We have some time for you to take a look at Dr. Marie Jhin's book and get it signed. Dr. Marie Jhin is going to hang out a little bit longer.
DR. MARIE JHIN: Please note that any money collected from the purchase of my book will be donated to The Korea Society. I will be here signing books, so please buy one.
VIVIAN LEE: I hope everyone learned something new today. I know I did. Dr. Marie Jhin, everyone. [Applause]
DR. MARIE JHIN: Thank you so much.
Dr. Marie Jhin was born in Seoul and is a graduate of Wellesley College and Cornell University Medical College. She is a board certified dermatologist, Asian Skin expert, and director of Premier Dermatology in the San Francisco Bay area. She has been featured in numerous magazines, including Seventeen and Oprah, as well as on the local news, TV shows, newspapers, and on the internet. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and member of the Women's Dermatologic Society and American Society for Mohs Surgery. She has been rated as America's Top Doctor for the past 3 years and has been an Adjunct Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at Stanford University since 2001.
