The Interview: CeraVe consultant dermatologist, Dr Alexis Granite

Dr Alexis Granite is a consultant dermatologist for CeraVe, the ceramide-based, no-nonsense skincare brand that was developed with the backing of dermatologists in 2005 to address skin conditions that arose a result of a compromised skin barrier.

Compromised skin barriers are back at the forefront of the conversation around skin care in the post-pandemic era, after lockdown led to many of us adopting DIY skincare regimes (with the encouragement of social media influencers), which often went overboard on active ingredients in a bid to achieve the highly desired skin 'glow'.

Dr Alexis Granite, who practises at Skinesis Medical at Sarah Chapman in Chelsea, is an advocate for 'skin cycling' whereby active ingredients, such as Vitamin C and Retinol, are only used on certain days with 'rest' days in between.

She explains: "The concept of skin cycling applies to a night time routine and involves using specific active ingredients only on certain days, followed by 'rest' days. The rest phase allows the skin to repair and reduce the risk of irritation. A four-day cycle is the most popular, so using an active ingredient for two nights, followed by two nights of rest, then repeating, and so on.

"Anyone can benefit from skin cycling, but particularly those with sensitive skin. Cycling is a nice option when starting potentially irritating ingredients such as retinol and exfoliators.”

CeraVe is a favourite among dermatologists worldwide for its workhorse products containing a unique formula of three essential ceramides; ceramides are essentially the glue that holds skin cells together and keeps the skin barrier intact. The range was created using patented MVE technology (MultiVesicular Emulsion technology which enables the creation of skin-identical ceramides) that gradually releases the ceramide-enriched formula over an extended period of time.

CeraVe's Resurfacing Retinol Serum

We caught up with Dr Granite at Skinesis to find out more about her views on at home versus in salon skincare, how best to use actives and which other key ingredients are often overlooked in skincare.

Post pandemic where we saw DIY skincare trends, are people gravitating towards professionals again to seek advice rather than trying to do everything themselves?

I would say yes, people are really looking to complement the things they are doing at home. I think products you use at home are so important, but there are also going to be things you can do in clinic like facials or laser to complement your at home routine.

Vitamin A and C have been trending ingredients for a few years now, are these ingredients right for everyone and who are they not right for?

Both of these are great ingredients, unfortunately they are not always right for everyone. Patients with rosacea, dermatitis and sensitive, can not always use Retinol and Vitamin C.

Have you seen people that have gone overboard with actives? What products would you recommend to resolving this?

For sure, I think the important things when it comes to actives is to introduce one at a time and give yourself a week to adjust. Too much too soon can cause irritation. Give your skin a wash out, pare it all back, just use a simple cleanser like CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser and moisturiser such as CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion with your sun cream (I would recommend CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 50). Then start back one active at a time.

Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF 50

What are the big skincare concerns that clients are coming to you with at the moment?

Confusion about how to apply products and when. There is so much information about ingredients, I feel like people don’t know where to start. Probably the main concerns are acne and breakouts, pigmentation and redness.

The menopause is another are that has been in the headlines, do you need a specific routine for menopausal skin?

No, not necessarily; hormones, play a role in your skincare your whole life. Because your hormones change during menopause, your skin may also change. Some women will see changes such as breakouts and dryness and may need to alter their routine, whereas, some women may not need to.

Acne and breakouts are likely to need a specific regime, however, aren't they?

Most likely yes, acne is one where you can try over the counter products first that contain things like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. CeraVe's Blemish Control Gel has both these ingredients. The threshold before seeking professional advice for acne is low as many cases need prescription to avoid scarring. 

CeraVe's Blemish Control range

There is such a temptation to try new products and to not stick to one routine. Is it best to stick with a skincare routine to give it chance? How long should you wait before changing?

You should leave it at least six to eight weeks to see changes.

There is so much focus on the face, are we in danger of neglecting our bodies? Are there actives or any particular ingredients we should be looking at for our body skincare?

Yes, body care is incredibly important. The main thing is hydration, so using products that contain hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, glycerine and ceramides.

Also, for breakouts and pigmentation on the body, people might need salicylic acid and vitamin C.

Are there other key ingredients that may be being overlooked?

Yes, there are so many great ingredients out there it’s about how to put them together. Ceramides, squalene, glycerine are all great for hydrating. There are a number of great ingredients for pigmentation including azelaic acid, tranexamic acid.

There also any botanical extracts that work great in skincare. The combinations are endless.