Backstage With Dr. Nicholas Perricone: Skinsavers For Servicemembers
By Tamar Fleishman
Fall 2007
Dr. Nicholas Perricone is an Army veteran and a veterans’ doctor. He also may be the most famous dermatologist in the world.
Four of his books reached the New York Times Best Seller’s List: The Perricone Weight Loss Diet, The Perricone Promise, The Acne Prescription and The Perricone Prescription. He has just come out with Dr. Perricone’s 7 Secrets for Health, Beauty and Anti-Aging. You’ve probably seen him on TV shows such as Today, 20/20, Good Morning
He is an undisputed star in the retail market. His skin care preparations, vitamins and dietary supplements are sold in the world’s toniest department stores and through his website, www.nvperricone.com. He says he carefully researches the efficacy of his products himself to ensure solid medical know-how for his customers, not a marketing guru’s “hope in a bottle.”
Dr. Perricone believes wrinkles may be caused by cellular inflammation – not the redness visible to the naked eye but microscopic irritation that takes place in cells leading to cellular damage. He believes this inflammation is responsible for skin-related problems such as breakouts, wrinkles and loss of firmness. He says his skin care program slows the skin's aging process and even reverses existing damage.
Dr. Perricone shares his special advice for today’s servicemembers with Military Money:
MM: What are your latest projects?
Dr. Perricone: I’m working on some new products for anti-aging. They’ll be released in November, with new breakthroughs. I just came back from
MM: With the latest revelations about
Dr. Perricone: It pretty much depends on the individual hospital. Each needs to be properly funded. I was on staff at a veterans’ hospital. I believe that our vets deserve the best quality of care in the world. Some hospitals need major changes, and it will take somebody with a lot of clout to get that done.
MM: How long were you in the Army?
Dr. Perricone: I was active duty from 1970 to 1971, then I was in the Reserves until 1976. I was hurt in training.
MM: How did you decide to practice medicine in
Dr. Perricone: I was doing clinical dermatology at Yale. Then they would ask if we would do dematologic clinics at the veterans’ hospital. Once a year, we would donate our time to run a clinic for homeless veterans. Then, I became Chief of Dermatology at the state veterans’ hospital in
MM: How would you describe the importance of the military to your life?
Dr. Perricone: Extremely important. The military is necessary to maintain the freedom we all enjoy. Plus, I made lifelong contacts and friends. It gave me a bigger picture of the world. I learned about the kind of care our veterans need.
MM: What skin care advice do you have for our soldiers serving in such harsh climates as
Dr. Perricone: First off, they should see their dermatologist for a very thorough skin exam. They should be checking for growths and moles. They should also look for exotic things, parasites, irritations from sweaty boots. Then they should have a good follow-up exam. Also, they should see a nutritionist. This is extremely important. They have been eating food that’s not fresh and doesn’t have the nutrients they need under stress. They should get back to the basics, because they have been fatigued. They can read a good book on nutrition and stress – like mine! – and add fish oils for the brain.
MM: Do you believe post-traumatic stress disorder could be helped with supplements?
Dr. Perricone: The data is extremely interesting. There has been a greater alleviation of symptoms with salmon than with traditional treatments. I believe it could be cost-effective for the Army to add supplements and salmon to its MREs.
MM: Do you have investments?
Dr. Perricone: I’m pretty conservative. I have U.S. Treasury bills; they’re the safest. I’m not a stock market person.
MM: Regardless of how much money you had, what do you consider a waste of money?
Dr. Perricone: I see a lot of wealth here in
MM: Are you involved with any charities?
Dr. Perricone: I contribute through Catholic Family Services to help the street children of
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Tamar Alexia Fleishman is an attorney and writer in