Dr. Patricia Wexler On The Evolution of Dermatology
Photo: Arthur Belebeau/Trunk Archive
Dr. Patricia Wexler beautifies some of the world’s most famous faces. The 62-year-old dermatologist built her practice around examining her patients’ health internally and externally, so it’s no surprise why stars like Iman, Carolina Herrera, and Marchesa designer GeorginaChapman flock to her midtown offices for the latest cosmetic treatment orgeneral skincare maintenance. We sat down with Wexler to learn about how she fought her way into the male-dominated medical field and to glean some morsels of skincare knowledge.
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What was your first memory of beauty? Skincare?
My mother had beautiful skin. She always wore hats; she was very cautious and taught me to take care of my skin.
How did you relate to your own idea of beauty as a child?
I had a lot of girl cousins who were classic beauties with long, wavy hair and were very typical “Shirley Temple” cute. I had this orange curly hair and freckles. I was the “Annie” of the bunch. I never thought of myself as pretty, but I was the smart one.
When did you realize you wanted to work in the skin industry?
Growing up, my parents were both ill, so by age five I decided I was going to be a doctor and cure them. Dermatology was the hardest field to get into, so I practiced internal medicine and infectious diseases during the HIV epidemic. It made me very unhappy. Every patient was dying. Finally the chairman of the dermatology department said, “You seem to know more about dermatology than my residents,” so I jumped into it.
What was the field like then? How has it changed?
The first liposuction was in 1986 and Botox started in the 1990s, so I got to be a part of this huge shift in medicine. Now technology has advanced so much that you don’t need a scalpel with proper maintenance that starts at an early age.
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What do you love about dermatology?
I get to take care of people medically, those with skin cancer and other diagnoses, but I also love giving people confidence. So many lose their self-esteem with aging or acne and I get to help give it back. I’ve treated patients with cancer, and if you look in the mirror and you don’t look sick, your survival rates are better.
How has your skincare regimen changed or evolved over the years?
When I was young, I had severe acne and I remember my mom taking me to NYU to seek help. They gave me Retin-A in liquid form, which burned the skin off in those days. I didn’t know what to use for my skin type. Now my skincare has a daily routine that I do everyday.
Do tell…
I cleanse, moisturize, and exfoliate once a day, everyday. I use my microderm abrasion set, I use hyloraunic acid, my restoring barrier, and my night reversal and repair cream. During the day it’s SPF 30. If I’m going to be in the sun, it’s 50 plus. I use my eye cream every day and night. Before I put on night cream, I use Vitamin B complex and Niacin, which is great for people who tend to have red in their skin and are dry. I use my 3-In-1 day cream in the morning.
What are some beauty or skincare mistakes you made when you were younger?
I would go in the sun with a reflector and baby oil. I stopped doing that at age 13 and never went in the sun again. I’m a carrot redhead and got terrible blisters. I also had acne that I would pick.
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What are some tips you would offer a young woman from a skin and health perspective?
You have to be proactive about skin. What you don’t do now will show in 20 years. Sun damage you will see in 40 years. You also shouldn’t forget about your hands, neck, and chest. Melanoma can hit at every age.
What do you think are the biggest mistakes women are doing in caring for their skin?
They think the price of the product is the quality of the product. You don’t have to spend a fortune. Antioxidants, retinols, green tea, white tea—it’s all effective. A drugstore sunscreen is fine. If you’re 25 years old, you don’t need La Prairie.