Here Comes the Sun!
As the number of laser patients that I see daily escalates, so does the frequency of my number one screening question: “Do you frequent the tanning beds?” Surprisingly, the answer is, more often than not, “yes.”
Let me share some important information with you. Appearing recently ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, Skin Cancer Foundation Senior Vice President, Dr. Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD took advantage of her on-air time to educate viewers on the dangers of indoor tanning. The Skin Cancer Foundation has determined that indoor tanning before the age of 35 increases the risk of Melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer – by 75%. In addition, the World Health Organization recently added tanning beds to their “Group 1 List” of cancer causing substances. Cigarettes are also classified in this “Group 1 List.”
I hope that this information makes you more cautious about how you get your color and how your daughter or son decides to get his/her color. Let’s help educate our children. Just as we all should put on our seatbelts before pulling out of the driveway, we should all apply our daily or active sunscreens to help protect against skin cancer. Also, those of you who spend your hard-earned money with us at Trace Skin Care should do your best to maintain the positive results of the laser, injections, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion treatments, and help promote a healthier and cleaner canvas.
As most of you have already heard me say, “It takes more than one pair of cute flip flops to get me through the summer.” The same is true for sunscreens.
Come pay us a visit or schedule time with me or with Brittany Wood. We’ll help you decide what you need to utilize in your defense against aging. Sunscreens come in powders, tints, heavier creams, thinner lotions, and even roll-on!
Bring on the sun!
Beat Those “Red-Skinned” Holiday Blues
Are you starting to feel a bit like Rudolph or Saint Nick with a rosy nose and cheeks? Don’t fret, because Santa’s little helper here at Trace Skin Care has a laser option and some amazing products to tone down the redness.
Our laser option – the acclaimed Apogee Elite – has the 1064nm wavelength, which “selectively” targets problem veins while sparing surrounding areas. After treatment, the vessel will naturally disappear. Depending on the severity of the redness, only one to two treatments could be required and results can be seen in 3-4 weeks.
You will experience minimal discomfort and any redness or swelling associated with the procedure should be gone within a day. There is no recovery time as make-up may be worn immediately after the treatment.
To enhance the laser treatments and maintain your skin in between visits, we recommend the Swiss line Neocutis. The Neocutis products are formulated with a blend of science and Swiss technology to enhance the skin’s natural beauty. Each product helps diminish the visible signs of skin aging and soothes stressed irritated skin. Results have been absolutely phenomenal with those clients just using the Neocutis line only without laser treatments. However, for optimal results, a combination approach is recommended.
Ask And You Shall Receive
Every day I get asked about a ‘quick-but-long-term fix’ to the lines around the mouth, eyes, and neck….Oh, and then there’s that last hesitant question of possible tightening as well without surgery?….Well, you asked and I’m here with the answers….
Since I started my career in skin care, complaints about the skin have not changed. The most common problems involve the following: lines and wrinkles, lip lines, under-eye puffiness and wrinkling, large pores, loss of volume leading to sagging skin and creepiness, and discoloration causing uneven skin tone.
All of these are caused by intrinsic and extrinsic aging (which will be the subject of a future blog). You know my mantra, “Vitamin C, sunscreen and topical retinoids are the basic treatment options, proven to be valuable in treating wrinkled skin and photo-damaged skin.”
It is my job to educate you on the importance of these products, the benefits of treatments and behavioral changes and the disadvantages of noncompliance. My services would be lacking without your participation at home, and I applaud you all for doing so well!
I continue to stand by my wonderful product lines, injectable options including neurotoxins and fillers, chemical peels, and my amazing laser, the Apogee Elite, which treats broken capillaries, sun damage, unwanted hair in all skin types, and skin rejuvenation. And with that, I am thrilled to announce the recent addition of The Smart Skin, CO2 Laser Skin Renewal Workstation to my practice.
Resurfacing with the CO2 laser has been performed since 1968 for the treatment of acne scars, wrinkles, and other symptoms of photo aging. Tightening is most dramatic with CO2 lasers. However, until recently, increased down time and complications resulted in a decrease in the use of these systems for rejuvenation. Then came the introduction of Fractional Resurfacing. The Smart Skin is a fractional ablative device. This means that the spot spacing may be adjusted allowing for a controlled amount of injured tissue. These untreated areas make for faster re-epithelialization (re-growth of skin) and decreased downtime. It is indicated for the following:
Wrinkle reduction- Tighten loose skin
- Treat sun damaged skin
- Brighten dark under eye circles
- Rejuvenate hands and neckline
- Smooth and treat uneven pigmentation
- Reduce pore size
- Improve skin irregularity
Yes, Less Is More
I have always felt that less is more, and this philosophy has carried over into my light hand as an injector and in sculpting the face. I find those areas under the eyes and above the lip that patients are so eager to have injected with filler highly inappropriate anatomical sites for adding volume. I don’t oppose adding volume to enhance cheeks, raise eyebrows, fill laugh lines or help augment the vermillion border of the lip for a subtle smoothing effect. But to chase the vertical lines from the top of your lip to under your nose, or to fill in what we term ‘tear troughs’ or the hollow area under the eye is just not my thing. I have seen more complaints from clients who have had this done. That is where we get into the ‘non-natural’ look.
I’m saying all of this to salvage the reputation of filler and to promote my new Fractional CO2 as a wonderful treatment option for these areas that have given us all grief over the years. Now that summer is on its way out, find the time to visit with me about the procedure and all of the client-specific questions I know you have.
We look forward to answering all of your questions and hope you are as excited as we are!
Healthy Skin 101
I have some words of wisdom when it comes to seeking out the perfect treatment for your skin, and challenge you to enter the consultation with your skin care specialist in a manner that allows you both to have a turn in the driver seat. You must remember that you are the paying client. That being said, these are medical treatments that you are interested in, and the provider’s responsibility is deciding what treatment is safest, most beneficial and most complimentary to your lifestyle and financial situation. But we can’t do this without your help.