Norah’s dermatologist shares do’s and don’ts for preventing and reversing skin damage

October 28, 2026 / 7:00 AM EDT / CBS News

Skin is your body's largest organ, and my dermatologist says it's a reflection of your overall health. Dr. Elizabeth Hale, a leading dermatologist and senior vice president of the Skin Cancer Foundation, says your skin can reveal signs of underlying health conditions, including anemia, jaundice, and the effects of toxins and smoking.

Hale is an expert on treating damaged skin and has science-backed advice on how we can not only reverse skin damage but also reduce risk of skin cancer using the latest technology in skin care as well as food and exercise.

Here's what she told me on this week's episode of "Healthful."

While at Hale's office, she performed a Fraxel laser procedure on my arms and chest to reverse my sun damage from growing up in Texas.

Fraxel, specifically, is a "fractionated non-ablative laser," as Hale describes it. Unlike older laser skin treatments that essentially remove the top layer of a patient's skin, Fraxel lasers keep most of the epidermis intact while delivering laser energy through the skin's micro thermal zones.

Previously, laser skin procedures were thought of primarily for cosmetic purposes. Hale herself used to share that…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/healthwatch/