When Dr. Candace Thrash opened her practice in Lakeway, she put a lot of thought into the name. She wanted it to invoke a sense of a happy work environment that supports its staff and its community, a business that is sensitive to its surroundings and conducts itself with integrity. She also wanted a name that represented her goals for her clients. Candace wants them be healthy, feel youthful and above all, be the best version of themselves. So in 2013, Fresh Dermatology was born.
Candace is a graduate of the University of Texas and earned her medical degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. After completing her internship at Northwestern University and her residency at the world-famous Cook County Hospital in Chicago, she operated her own practice. Then Candace and her family moved to Austin and the rest as they say, is history.
She loves living and working in the Lake Travis area and she actively supports local organizations like the Lake Travis Education Foundation and Leadership Lake Travis. This summer, she’ll host an important skincare event for girls called Camp Fresh.
In addition to chatting about living local, Candace shares the REAL scoop about sunscreen, cosmetic treatments and her favorite go-to skin products. LTL readers, meet Dr. Thrash:
Q: You’ve been a board certified dermatologist for over 10 years. What inspired you to open your own practice in Lakeway?
A: I love living and working among my friends and neighbors. It’s fun to run into patients when I’m out with friends and even more fun when friends come to see me as patients. I feel very invested in this community since I make my home here, my children go to school here and my business serves this community.
Q: What do you like about living in the Lake Travis area?
A: The hills! I’m not the fastest runner in the world but I love running up steep hills. I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I make it to the top. I also love hiking the primitive trails off the Hamilton Greenbelt. If you didn’t know better you would think you were in a national park. We are so blessed to have such natural beauty in our own backyard.
Q: Since warm weather has officially arrived, let’s talk about being safe in the sun. What’s your sunscreen advice for adults and children?
A: The best sunscreen is the one you are willing to wear! Look for an SPF of 30-45, apply before you get dressed so you don’t miss any spots, and plan to reapply every two hours, or even more often if you’re spending time in the water.
Read the front of the label! Make sure it says that is guards against both UVA and UVB rays, and that it is water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Then check the back label for active ingredients: sunscreens with a high concentration of zinc or titanium dioxide are best, especially for kids. For kiddos less than six months of age it’s best to keep them out of the sun altogether, but a sunscreen made with only zinc or titanium would always be better than letting them get a burn.
Q: When it comes to cosmetic procedures like Botox and filler, what’s your advice for women (and men!) who’d like to give it a try?
A: As with anything, the best recipe for success is to have a goal. What are you hoping to achieve? Figure out what bothers you most when you look in the mirror and address that first. It can be helpful to pull out a favorite picture from 10 or 20 years ago and bring it to the consultation so we can pinpoint what has changed. I’m a big fan of the concept of “restoration” not “renovation.” I want you to look like the best version of yourself, not someone you don’t recognize.
Q: This summer you will host Camp Fresh for teenage girls. Can you talk about the importance of that event and why it’s meaningful to you?
A: Somewhere between 4th and 9th grade, many girls start to take an interest in their appearance. Unfortunately, this happens to coincide with the time in life when they are most likely to get acne. Breakouts and a variety of other skin problems can make girls this age self-conscious and emotional, which leads to fights at home.
The idea behind Camp Fresh is to provide girls 11-16 with information and instruction about skin care in a non-confrontational environment. Kids are much more likely to be receptive to ideas if they are able to discuss them with an unbiased 3rd party, and who better than a board-certified dermatologist?
Q: Can you share your daily home skin care regimen with us?
A: I admit I’m a product junkie! My bathroom counter is lined with more bottles than the dining room at The Grove! But although I switch things around from time to time, here are the ones I can’t live without:
1) Jan Marini C-Esta vitamin C serum: It smells amazing and makes such a difference in the tone and texture of my skin.
2) EltaMD Sunscreen: I love them all so which one I pick depends on the day.
3) Jan Marini Transformations Face Cream: It’s the perfect weight and loaded with beneficial anti aging ingredients.
4) NeoCutis Lumieré Riche Eye cream: Its light reflecting properties lighten shadows while growth factors work to build new collagen and fill in fine lines.
Q: Speaking as a resident and a business owner in Lake Travis, how do you feel about the impending growth of our community?
A: I love welcoming new people to the area. We have a great thing going on in this community, and I’m happy to share it. The best way to preserve the character and pride of this community is to lead by example. As we grow we may have to make a few changes: from how we commute to how we conserve water, and new people bring innovative ideas that can make us better than ever.
Q: When you’re not working, what’s your favorite thing to do?
A: Running, hiking, and reading. I love finding great children’s books and sharing them with my kids.
Q: If I walk into ____ (place) on a __(day) there’s a good chance I’ll see you there.
A: Juiceland on a Wednesday. I’m addicted to The Originator!
