Recently, I was honored with the opportunity to interview renowned dermatologist Dr. David E. Bank, M.D. As the Director of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic and Laser Surgery in Westchester, NY, Dr. Bank is triply-Ivy League-trained (undergrad at Yale, med and residency at Columbia, research elective at Penn), board-certified, and well-versed in dermatology (he has authored numerous studies and the popular book Beautiful Skin: A Woman’s Guide to Looking Her Best at Any Age). Thank you for taking the time to talk to us, Dr. Bank!
FutureDerm: If you could issue my readers any pieces of skin care advice, what would they be?
Dr. Bank: First and foremost, as a dermatologist, I have to say sunscreen or sun protection. After that, keep in mind that the skin is the largest organ of the body. What is good for your health is good for your skin. With that said, eat a healthy but balanced diet. If you smoke, try to quit smoking. Try to minimize or reduce stress. And get enough sleep.
Other things to keep in mind are to have your skin and moles checked once a year by a dermatologist, who can assess you for early signs of skin cancer. Moisturizer and other daily treatments that are customized to your skin (oily, dry, etc.) can also provide the youthful, radiant glow of young, healthy skin.
FutureDerm:Â How does the new formulation & packaging of Renova play a part in this?
Dr. Bank: Renova is very beneficial. In its new packaging, its new pump is important and very beneficial. Tretinoin is still the active ingredient, and still the original retinoid used in Retin-A, which is still the gold standard of anti-aging, anti-wrinkling, and in reversing signs of sun damage. However, tretinoin can be drying or irritating, especially if people use too much. The old American mentality of “If a little is good, more must be better” does not apply to tretinoin! The key is in the way that the pump is designed – you get just the right amount, and this limits overuse so that patients achieve beneficial results. There is also eliminates a lot of the dryness, redness, and flaking that overuse of tretinoin can cause.
FutureDerm: I’m still a medical student myself, and there are many others who are feeling the brunt of financial burden with this economy. Is Renova cost-effective?
Dr. Bank:  Renova‘s new packaging actually makes the product more cost effective. The bottle with the new pump is about the same size and price [just $10.00 more for 4 grams more] as the original tube, but the new pump eliminates overuse, so the product lasts longer. I would estimate that one bottle with the new pump should last about six months.  [The cost of Renova varies with health insurance and area – the cash price in Pittsburgh, PA for 44 grams is $217.00 with the new pump. The cash price (no insurance) in Pittsburgh, PA for 40 grams is $207.00 without the pump, and for 60 grams is $248.00 without the pump].
FutureDerm: I’m working to become a dermatologist. What do you like about it?
Dr. Bank: Everything is great about being a dermatologist. It is fun and rewarding at the same time. The patients are also diverse – see very young to very old, medical as well as surgical procedures, and the ability to balance traditional medicine, surgery, and dermatology. By this I mean that we see everything from acnce to psoriasis to skin cancer to cosmetics, from fillers to Botox to lasers. The field is growing and changing very rapidly. I am certainly never bored. Also, 99% of the time, we get to make people better, which is very rewarding.
FutureDerm: That sounds fantastic, and just what I hoped it would be. With regards to your personal practice [The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic and Laser Surgery in Westchester, NY, what would you like for potential patients to know about your practice?
Dr. Bank: The practice is a very nice, diverse, integrated group under one roof. We have dermatologists and a board-certified plastic surgeon, as well as a vascular surgeon (very useful for the treatment of larger-than-usual spider veins) , physician assistants, and aestheticians on staff. It is really one-stop shopping: patients love and appreciate that everything is under one roof. Everything is connected – we even sometimes have joint consults, where we can all sit down together. So the patient has the option to sit down and have a treatment plan that is unique and special just for them, all in one place.
FutureDerm: That sounds wonderful! Thank you for your time, Dr. Bank.
Dr. Bank: Thank you.
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For more information about the new formulation of Renova, please click here.
For more on Dr. Bank and The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic and Laser Surgery in Westchester, NY, please click here.