As far as skin care is concerned, a lot of emphasis is put on taking care of your face. But what can we do to preserve and protect the skin on our bodies? Just like the visage, the body shows signs of sun damage and aging,as well as your skin care practices.

“Nothing is a bigger tell than a smooth, supple face with sun-damaged, wrinkled hands and neck,” says Dr. Elise P. Barnett, founder and medical director of Atlanta Skin Wellness Center. Here, she offers tips for taking care of your body’s largest organ from the chin down.

The Regular Routine

On a day-to-day basis, Dr. Barnett recommends sticking with the basics:

• Cleansing: Use an unscented and dye-free moisturizing bar soap.
• Moisturizing: Apply a ceramide-containing moisturizing cream within minutes of stepping out of the shower.
• Sun Protection: Apply a daily sunscreen with SPF 30 or above for sun-exposed skin. “Yes, 365 days of the year,” says Dr. Barnett. “It is the first line of defense against extrinsic aging.”

Specialized Care:

• Dry Skin: Look for moisturizers with lactic acid or urea to help exfoliate and retain moisture. (e.g., ISDIN Foot Care Uradin Podos Hydrating Gel Oil).
• Oily/Acne-Prone Skin: Benzoyl peroxide washes or products containing salicylic or glycolic acid can help tame breakouts.

Skin Brightening

To prevent or lighten sunspots on the body, topical Vitamin A products are highly effective. Dr. Barnett recommends products like Skinbetter Science’s AlphaRet Body Overnight Cream, which corrects sunspots through gentle exfoliation and suppression of melanocyte activity.

For more significant damage, in-office treatments like the Lumecca IPL or EVOLASER can target different aspects of sun damage to remove brown and red spots.

Tightening Up

To improve elasticity and skin quality, a combination of medical-grade products and in-office treatments works best.

• At-Home: Revision Skincare’s Bodifirm promotes collagen and elastin production to reduce fine lines and sagging.
• In-Office: Dr. Barnett suggests pairing topicals with Sofwave, a device that uses ultrasound to heat collagen and stimulate the production of new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. It is ideal for the elbows, arms, knees, abdomen, and neck.
• Injectables: Biostimulators like Sculptra or Hyperdilute Radiesse provide gradual skin tightening for areas like the elbows and knees.

Hand Helpers

Our hands often show age first through dark spots and loss of volume (exposing tendons and veins).

• Volume: Dr. Barnett uses Radiesse, a filler that provides an instant plumping effect while stimulating collagen over time.
• Texture/Tone: The EVOLASER corrects pigmentation, while Microneedling (collagen induction therapy) stimulates collagen through precise needle punctures to maintain long-term results.

Ready to Revitalize Your Skin from Neck to Toe?

Whether you're looking to build a medical-grade daily routine or interested in advanced tightening treatments like Sofwave, Dr. Elise Barnett and the team at Atlanta Skin Wellness Center are here to help you achieve radiant results.

Book an appointment with Dr. Barnett today!

This article was originally published in the November/December 2025 issue of Simply Buckhead. You can read the original feature here: From Neck to Toe: Preserving and protecting your body’s skin.