Dr. Loretta on Skin, Women of Substance, and Walks in the Pool
Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, MD, FAAD, is a board certified dermatologist with over 40 years of experience. While in medical school she took part in groundbreaking early testing on the effects of UVA on the skin, which at the time was not well known. Since then, she has conducted thousands of total body exams through her practice, and taken careful notice of the stark differences between skin that has been exposed to light and the environment (like our faces, necks, and hands) versus skin that is rarely exposed to light (like our torsos). Although most dermatologists attribute skin aging only to the effects of the sun, through her clinical experience and research Dr. Loretta found that the four main contributing factors are pollution, light, climate, and irritants. She and Myriam Zaoui Malka co-founded the Dr. Loretta line of anti-aging skincare products to help keep skin protected from these factors. Her serums, cleansers, and moisturizers are formulated with high concentrations of medical grade actives and blends of essential oils, also using marine and botanical ingredients to help make products safe, efficient, and effective. A sought after skincare expert, Dr. Loretta has appeared on Good Morning America, The Rachael Ray Show, and NBC’s Today in South Florida and has been featured in O (Oprah), Shape, and Seventeen, amongst many others. We caught up with the busy dermatologist to ask her to share the seven things she’s vibing on most currently. This is what she said...
1 | A one-on-one mother/child vacay --
This summer our daughter (who is a resident physician) was assigned a random week off when none of her friends were free. She wanted to go to Iceland, a place I wouldn’t have ever listed in my “must sees.” However, we went in August and I couldn’t believe how much I loved it! The country itself is full of natural wonders, from waterfalls and geysers to volcano rock and craters. Most of all, spending one-on-one time with our 32-year-old daughter (something I haven’t done since she’s reached adulthood) was priceless. Now I plan to do this with each of my four children!
2 | Sunday brunch with family or close friends --
Sundays are a great catch up day (where it’s completely acceptable to get off to a later start). And there’s no better catch up than to spend the day with family or close friends in order to see what’s going on in their lives and share with them mine. I’ve made this a weekly ritual that’s truly enriched the rest of my week.
3 | Pilates --
I started going to pilates twice a week and feel much more energized and am walking taller. I recommend it highly as an amazing supplement to aerobic workouts!
4 | Editing the clothes in my “closet” --
I live in a lovely home built in 1939 in Colonial Revival style. Instead of closets we have built in armoires in the bedrooms and hallways. I’m into keeping a well-edited collection of clothes and accessories -- giving away a like piece of clothing for each new one I buy, including shoes, scarves, etc. I get more joy imagining the pleasure that the recipient of my giveaway will have than I get from wearing the new stuff… it’s a second life for clothes that were going to pasture in my old closet.
5 | Spending time with women of substance --
I find that many women in my own community are people I can learn from. Now that I see patients only two days a week and have a more flexible schedule with Dr. Loretta (thanks in large part to my daughters Gina and Liza working at it full time), I thrive on getting together with women I’ve known for years, but have never really “gotten to know.” I don’t remember a time in our country when women supporting other women was more important than right now.
6 | Walking in the pool --
As a kid growing up in NYC I rarely went to the beach or a pool, so here I am at 65 unable to swim. When I recently ran into someone who’d lost 100 pounds over a two year period I thought she must have had a lap band or gone on a very strict diet. Instead, she told me she started walking in the pool two hours a day!
7 | Listening to books on Audible --
I recently got into this as a great way to make the most enjoyable use of my commuting time. I just finished Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime.
