A board certified, clinical and research dermatologist, Dr. Graf is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, where she has been recognized for excellence in education with the 2011 Mount Sinai Medical Center Teacher of the Year Award.

She is the author of Stop Aging, Start Living (Crown, Fall 2007), which shows readers simple ways to achieve alkalinity through her revolutionary two-week pH-balancing diet.

You have such a fabulous career! What made you want to become a dermatologist?

Dr. Graf: I have always been an artist with a particular fascination with the human face. I used to love working with charcoals to sketch faces, which allowed me to truly study the expressiveness of the human face. When you put art and science (my other love) together you have – a dermatologist.

If a patient has $100 to spend on procedures or skin care, what do you recommend?

Dr. Graf: I almost always recommend a light chemical peel – usually with glycolic acid to deliver immediate results for glowing, fresher-looking skin.

Do you recommend any books on skin care for our readers?

Dr. Graf: Yes – mine (Stop Aging, Start Living: The Revolutionary 2-Week pH Diet That Erases Wrinkles, Beautifies Skin, and Makes You Feel Fantastic) – because I stress an alkaline diet in addition to skin care for the inside-out connection.

What if skin care products don’t contain parabens or preservatives?

Dr. Graf: The consequences of excluding parabens can be far worse. If we do not include parabens in formulations the resulting overgrowth of bacteria, fungi and parasites can be far more dangerous. If any of these pathogens are applied to the skin and we do not have the appropriate probiotics and microflora in our own skin needed to neutralize them, the possibility of developing severe skin infections is much greater.

Why do you feel it is important for people to read blogs like FutureDerm.com, uncovering the science
behind beauty products?

Dr. Graf: Reading blogs such as FutureDerm.com provides an important educational forum for readers to help them gain more insight into the effectiveness of skin care products based on science, as well as their proper use.

Thank you, Dr. Graf!

Be sure to follow Dr. Graf:

Dr. Graf’s website: www.askdrgraf.com
Email: info@askdrgraf.com
Twitter: @ask_drgraf
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AskDrGraf