Tag: medical grade skincare

Beautiful skin

Beautiful Skin in 12 Steps

AnewSkin Doc

It’s the age-old question all of us want to know – how do we achieve beautiful, radiant skin? It’s one of those questions that is common to us all, no matter your age, skin color, or even gender. It is the number one goal for all of our patients. There are many things you can do to make sure your skin looks and feels it’s best and they range from outward procedures to, well, you know the old phase, “healthy skin starts from within?” It’s not wrong! Below are 12 steps you can take both at home and in the salon to make sure your skin is glowing, smooth and flawless.

1: Hydrate! 

Hydration has got to be number one on this list because drinking enough water is crucial to literally every cellular process within your body, and it’s no different when it comes to the health and appearance of your skin. Staying hydrated is as basic as it comes. Do it for your skin and for your health overall. If you get sick of plain water, add some lemon or other fruits to spruce it up or reach for some herbal tea.

2: Eat your Way to Beautiful Skin

Healthy food for beautiful skin

Eating a fresh, mostly whole foods diet is crucial to the health and appearance of your skin. I’m talking Omega-3s for hydration and elasticity, Vitamin C to help stimulate collagen production, and Antioxidants to help combat free-radicals. The list doesn’t end there, of course –  plants and plant-based foods are bursting with vitamins, nutrients and minerals that all play a part in the health and glow of your skin. A healthy diet is essential.

3: Wash your Face Before Bed

I know you’re tired at nighttime, but this is one of those rituals you just can’t skip. Going to bed with makeup plus the dirt, oil, sweat and other buildup that has accumulated on your face during the day can actually age your skin 7x faster, not to mention the potential for breakouts and clogged pores. No thanks! 

4. Use a Cleanser that Fits your Skin Type.

Piggybacking off of #2, but while you’re at it, make sure you’ve chosen a cleanser that fits your skin type. If your face feels super dry or tight after cleansing, the cleanser you’ve chosen might be too strong. There are a slew of different types of cleansers on the market to choose from – from cleansing oil, micellar water, and milk-based cleansers to salicylic acid cleansers and cleansing grains. Having a better understanding of your skin will help you select the right face cleanser. Do you have lipid dry skin, oily skin or dehydrated skin? A detailed skin analysis can help answer those questions.Don’t forget to give your new cleanser a solid trial period of 4-6 weeks before you switch it up.

5: Create a Simple Skincare Routine.

Beautiful skin

A 12-Step Skincare regimen? Are you really going to do that every day? Let’s be honest, probably not. And you don’t need to. The best skincare routine is the one you’ll stick to – even if it is just as simple as cleansing, using a toner, moisturizing, sun protection and a little bit of exfoliation here and there. Make it simple, easy, and something you can commit to.

6: Sun protection

Too much sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and even skin cancer. You know this already! Avoid these skin woes by making sunscreen a non-negotiable in your routine – even in the wintertime. On a cloudy day, while the clouds can block out light, they may allow harmful UV rays to penetrate through and wreak havoc on your skin.

7: Sleep it Off!

Getting your beauty sleep – it’s a real thing. You need 6-8 hours of quality sleep per night to help your skin look its absolute best. During the night, your skin works hard to boost circulation and repair itself at the cellular level, allowing you to wake up looking and feeling refreshed. A lack of sleep or interrupted sleep disrupts this process.

8: Move that Body!

Regular exercise is important for the health of your body, but did you know it’s great for your skin health too? Cardiovascular exercise promotes blood circulation which nourishes your skin cells by delivering them with oxygen and nutrients – which for you, translates into radiant skin.

9: Exfoliate Weekly

Exfoliating skincare

An essential step in your plan to healthy skin is weekly exfoliation. Help the natural process of shedding dead skin cells as well as drawing out toxins and unclogging pores. Just as with your cleanser, your mask or exfoliant should work well with your skin type. 

10: Let’s talk about your Pillowcase

Pillowcase image.

Even after washing your face, your pillowcase is still likely to build up with oils, dirt, sweat and other bacteria. Ick! Change it every few days to keep it fresh and to prevent breakouts. Speaking of your pillowcase, switching to a silk pillowcase is said to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Worth a shot!

11: Start a Medical Facial Routine

Having a professional facial might sound like a luxury, but they have a special role in your plan to healthy skin. Having a facial every 3-4 weeks can help you maintain that radiant skin you’ve been working on as it will  detox, boost the blood flow to your face, flushing your skin cells with oxygen which helps to give your face a smooth glow. A good example is a regularly scheduled Dermal Infusion session which is designed to provide deep exfoliation while infusing your skin with nourishing serums.

12: Visit a Medical Spa.

Medical facial treatment for beautiful skin

Sometimes a little more in-depth action is necessary to get the results you desire for your skin. Years of sun damage and acne may need more involved corrective steps to get rid of acne, acne scars, wrinkles, sunspots, uneven tone and texture. Make an appointment at a MedSpa and talk to an aesthetic physician about options like medical grade chemical peels, hydrafacials, microdermabrasion, microneedling, laser treatments, facial fillers or Botox injections. Here, you’ll find the comfort of a spa combined with medical expertise and specialist supervision.

In your quest for healthy, beautiful skin, definitely give these 12 Steps a try and see how they can transform your visage for the better!

APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF ACNE SKIN DISORDERS:

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Effective acne treatment begins with improved understanding of the skin condition, Blemishes, whiteheads, blackheads, cysts, and any red, swollen bumps that give off warmth are signs of inflammation and acne. There are millions of people who struggle with acne all over the world; in fact, over 40 million people suffer from it.

Triggers of Acne flare:

  1. High levels of stress
  2. Hormones related to puberty or menstrual cycle
  3. Smoking
  4. Genetics

New medications or changes in medication dosages

Significant skin changes that lead to Acne:
Acne develops from

  1. follicular epidermal hyperkeratosis with subsequent plugging of the follicle,
  2. Increased sebum production which results in the development of microcomedones,
  3. The presence and activity of Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes), and
  4. inflammation

Acne can manifest in various ways:

Acne with clogged pores requires specialized treatment.
Clogged Pores associated with acne
Inflammatory acne requires specialized treatment
Inflammatory acne

The key to successful treatment of acne begins with understanding your skin type. It is important to know for example, whether you have dry sensitive skin or oily dehydrated skin. If your skin care products are not appropriate for your skin type, you may actually worsen your skin condition with your generic acne skin care products.

A successful acne program successful begins with a detailed skin analysis. Specialized skin analysis under 6 different light conditions, including UV light will identify your skin type and guide the most effective target for your acne. Once a proper assessment and diagnosis of your skin has been performed, your specific acne treatment will target all four major factors that contribute to your acne.

The key steps include adjusting sebum production, intense exfoliation and deep pore cleansing alongside antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapies results in a successful acne skin care program. 

  1. ADJUSTING SEBUM PRODUCTION:
    • Topical low dose retinoids in a high-quality medical grade formulation that improves the absorption. Over time the use can decrease sebum production and shrink the size of your pores.
    • Oil Control Chemical peel: utilizes a high concentration of medical grade chemicals to target and reduce oil production and shrink pore sizes.
    • Photodynamic therapy: This is most effective for inflammatory acne. A topical solution is applied to the skin. Once fully absorbed the skin is exposed to an intense light source to target and diminish sebum production
    • Non-Ablative laser treatment can be used to shrink the pore sizes, which over time will lead to a gradual reduction in oil production.
  2. INTENSE EXFOLIATION AND DEEP PORE CLEANSING:
    • Specialized combinations of beta hydroxyl and alpha hydroxyl acids can be applied to the skin in a medical grade, pH controlled formulation to provide gradual, daily exfoliation of the skin.
    • Clarifying chemical peels for acne: These types of medical grade chemical peels are designed to unclog your pores and exfoliate dead skin. This is very effective for improving the appearance of the acne problem skin. A custom chemical peel solution is applied to your skin that causes it to exfoliate, unclog pores and eventually peel off. The newly regenerated skin is therefore smoother with less acne and more even skin tone.
    • Dermal Infusion: This procedure will deeply clean and exfoliate your skin for a healthy glow. At the same time this procedure will suction and unclog your pores while infusing powerful acne fighting solution into your pores.
    • Laser skin resurfacing: Using targeted laser energy the superficial layer of the skin can be targeted and destroyed. This procedure will unveil, younger, healthier skin.
  3. ANTI- BACTERIAL AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY THERAPIES:
    • Topical solutions including benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acids can target and treat acne-causing bacteria and inflammation.
    • LED Phototherapy uses non-thermal and non-invasive light. This gentle treatment can be applied to the skin to achieve various therapeutic outcomes. The specific target chromophore with specific wavelengths are used either alone or in combination to target acne and pigmentation skin problems.
Blue LED light therapy for Acne
Blue LED light therapy

SCAR REMODELING AND SKIN REJUVENATION:

Once your acne is under control, the next step for improved skin texture should focus on scar treatment for smoother, healthy skin. This can be achieved in a variety of ways:

  • High concentration Medical grade deep chemical peels. These types of peels will penetrate deep within the skin and adequately treat acne scars after a series of treatments.
  • Skin microneedling procedure uses small needles to pierce the skin for the purpose of disrupting epidermal or dermal scars. Mild trauma from tiny micro-needles stimulate the skin to produce new collagen and elastin. As a result, a smoother, firmer, more toned skin with reduced acne scarring is revealed. Utilizing an FDA approved device is important for safety and efficacy.
Microneedling device for acne treatment.

SKIN EXFOLIATION:

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Skin exfoliation is the removal of dry/dead skin from the outermost layer of the skin. As a result, newer skin is revealed and this process represents an important skin care routine for healthy, glowing skin. Exfoliation also increases blood flow for a healthy skin complexion.

Different skin conditions will benefit from routine skin exfoliation. Skin that is blemish prone with blocked pores will benefit from exfoliation to remove dead skin and release congested pores. Problematic skin with hyperpigmentation will benefit from the skin renewal that is associated with exfoliation and removal of dry, hyperpigmented skin. Aging skin will also benefit from skin renewal and softening of fine lines that can be skin with regular skin exfoliation.

Skin exfoliation is 2 folds, a gentle once or twice weekly skin exfoliating regimen in addition to more advanced aesthetic skin exfoliation.

AT HOME EXFOLIATION:

Avoid harsh or abrasive methods of routine skin exfoliation that can irritate the skin and result in worsening of your skin condition. Instead stick to gentle skin exfoliation using beta enzymes. This is a gentle way to incorporate exfoliation into your home regimen. Check out our beta enzyme cleanser that is designed to do just that:

Gentle Beta Enzyme Cleanser

AESTHETIC MEDICAL EXFOLIATION:

There are various highly effective ways to exfoliate your skin with an in-office procedure that is designed to renew your skin for a healthy glow. These procedures have minimal to no downtime and should be performed once a month for optimal skin health.

Dermaplaning:

Dermaplaning is an extremely effective form of mechanical exfoliation using a surgical blade. This procedure will gently slough off your dead skin cells and fine hair. As a result, your skin texture is smoothed out to reveal more even skin texture and tone:

Dermaplaning with removal of the outermost layer of dead skin

Dermal Infusion:

A Dermal Infusion procedure will deeply clean and exfoliate your skin for a healthy glow. Our Dermal Infusion device by Envy Medical will combine intense, noninvasive exfoliation with the infusion of highly individualized skin nourishing, vitamin-rich serums. Therefore, you skin health is improved and your skin is revitalized.

Dermal Infusion facial at AnewSkin Medspa utilizes mechanical exfoliation without crystals or chemicals to remove the outermost layer of dead skin. In addition, we will simultaneous infuse individualized serums to treat specific skin concerns. Skin with problematic hyperpigmentation, acne, photodamage, premature aging and dehydration is adequately treated. Exfoliation is achieved with a hydrating solution, diamond tip device instead of crystals and thus, there is less irritation, pain and downtime.

Dermal Infusion Procedure with nourishing serums.

HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SKINCARE: REMEDY AND PROTECT

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REMEDY:

As you take serious steps towards achieving flawless skin, it is important to incorporate skin products that remedy the underlying skin condition. After a diagnostic skin analysis, these products are designed to target the problematic skin conditions. These include products to improve collagen production and address fine lines and wrinkles. Alternatively, your skin may demand products to address hyperpigmentation and acne.

Advanced Retinol serum designed to penetrate the skin while minimizing irritation with caffeine and green tea extracts.
Highly potent Vitamin C serum in multi-complex vitamin serum
Dual action toner effective acne treatment
Glycolic 10% Pads for optimal exfoliation
Broad spectrum UV protection with chemical free SPF 50+

A. Retinols: These vitamin A derivatives are applied to the skin at night and have been shown to boost collagen production, boost cell turn-over and unclog pores. Various concentrations are available to target your particular skin issue.

B. Vitamin C: Highly concentrated topical Vitamin C has potent anti-oxidant effects that can teat and prevent UV-induced photodamage. Vitamin C also plays a role in collagen synthesis that is important in treating and protecting against fine lines and wrinkles.

C. Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s): this includes glycolic acids, lactic acids, citric acids and malic acids. AHA’s are potent exfoliating agents that can help brighten your complexion and minimize fine lines and wrinkles. They are also effective in treating acne and increasing collagen production. The increased blood flow to the skin from AHA’s produces healthy, glowing skin. Glycolic acids exhibit the deepest penetration into the skin, and thus is the better option for anti-aging skin care.

D. Beta-Hydroxy Acids (BHA’s): Salicylic acid is a naturally occurring BHA that is a potent keratolytic agent. This means it will help dissolve dead skin at the surface of the skin. It will also penetrate the pores and help dissolve oils that can clog the pores.

E. Niacinamide: This is a form of vitamin B3 that helps to improve the skins hydrolipid barrier by increasing the production of ceramides. Niacinamide also has anti-inflammatory effects and some benefits in reducing hyperpigmentation.

SKIN REGIMENS:

  1. Hyperpigmentation: Retinol at night and vitamin C serum during the day will help increase cell turnover and effectively treat hyperpigmentation.
  2. Acne: Incorporating a low dose retinol at night and the extra exfoliating actions of AHA’s and BHA’s (such as our dual toner) will help treat and prevent acne.
  3. Melasma: Avoiding photodamage is essential with highly potent vitamin C serum which can be combined with our gentle 10% glycolic exfoliating pads to brighten up your complexion.
  4. Rosacea: Minimizing inflammation with niacinamide will help to calm your skin and prevent flare ups.
  5. Fine lines and Wrinkles: Most effectively treated with retinol therapy at night and glycolic acids for gentle exfoliation and an overall improvement in skin turnover.

PROTECT: The sun causes the most damage to the skin, and photoaging is accelerated in skin that is not protected from the sun. A vital part of a skin care regimen is SPF, this is particularly true after a medical cosmetic treatment. Sun block with SPF30+ should be used daily, and prolonged sun exposure should be avoided in the early days following a medical cosmetic procedure. Purely physical sunscreens without irritating chemicals is best for sensitive skin.

HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SKINCARE: RESTORE

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A medical cosmetic procedure will typically involve deep exfoliation and disruption of the skin’s barrier. When this happens, the skin is no longer protected from environmental stressors and pollution and loses its ability to protect and defend itself. If perfumes, emulsifiers and mineral oils are added to skin care products at this stage, the skin can quickly become further compromised.

The restore stage will therefore focus on recovery of the stratum corneum using a variety of different skin care products that are aimed at rebuilding the hydrolipid barrier function. These products should contain healthy lipids. The sebaceous lipids are primarily nonpolar lipids as triglycerides, wax esters and squalene, while epidermal lipids are a mixture of ceramides, free fatty acids and cholesterol.

  • Hyaluronic Acid Ultra hydrating serums
  • Hyaluronic Acid Collagen Booster
  1. Squalene: Squalane has powerful anti-aging properties and will help prevent premature skin aging. It also has anti-inflammatory benefits to help with skin conditions such as acne and eczema.
  2. Essential free fatty acids: Fatty acids such as linoleic acid has a direct role in maintaining the hydrolipid permeability barrier of the skin and so improves skin hydration. Linoleic acid can also decrease inflammation from acne skin conditions.
  3. Ceramides: Ceramides are an important component of the skin’s hydrolipid barrier. Skin that is found to be lipid dry will most benefit from this type of moisturizer
  4. Urea: Urea is made up of up to 40% amino acids and is strongly hygroscopic, which means it binds water to the skin. It has anti-microbial and anti-itch properties, It acts as a natural exfoliant and will aid in skin renewal for a youthful glow.
  5. Hyaluronic Acid: Hyaluronic acid is one of the main glycosaminoglycan in the skin. These are complex sugars that create a nutrient filled matrix in the skin with the ability to draw in and hold water in the skin. Think of this as skin hydration at its best.

Analyzing your skin under UV light can better reveal components of your hydrolipid barrier. This way the right skin care product can be prescribed to target your skin conditions.

HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SKINCARE: REPAIR

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After a medical cosmetic treatment, skin care therapy needs to focus on healing. This is the first step in building the optimal environment for wound healing. The products in this category are designed to decrease inflammation, while helping to heal and soothe the skin. This will ensure that potential complications such as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring are avoided.

             

  • Aloe Vera: this provides a cooling, soothing effect on the skin. Aloe Vera benefits the skin by providing both anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects, while also promoting cell proliferation and collagen synthesis and angiogenesis. This makes a good skin therapy regimen to recover from laser skin procedures.
  • Hydrogel: This consists of 90% water in a gel base. This has a marked cooling effect on the skin. This is great for skin procedures that result in dry flaky skin with exudates. Thus, this is our “go to” repair treatment for microneedling procedures. The hydrating effects helps to minimize inflammation and provide an optimal environment for skin healing.
  • Vitamin E: This is an effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant skin treatment that will help to create an optimal environment for healing after specific types of medical cosmetic procedures. This will also aid in decreasing redness, as a result this is our go to post procedure treatment after injectables, dermal Infusions and light chemical peels. Vita-Soothe post recovery treatment is enriched with vitamin E for this purpose.
  • Hydrocortisone: The anti-inflammatory properties of hydrocortisone is well established. Patients undergoing medium to deep chemical peels are susceptible to post- inflammatory hyperpigmentation that can diminish the result of the peel. Using topical hydrocortisone for the first 48 hours can be beneficial in avoiding this complication.

HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SKINCARE: HEALING AND NUTRITION

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After a medical cosmetic skin treatment, it is important to create an optimal environment for wound healing by utilizing a comprehensive set of skincare products designed to achieve maximal benefit from the procedure. These skincare products should decrease inflammation, decrease the potential complications from the procedure while also nourishing the skin to optimize the results from the procedure and reveal a healthy skin glow.

There are 4 major categories of skincare products that are the building blocks of good skin health and recovery:

REPAIR: This is the first step in building the optimal environment for wound healing after a medical cosmetic procedure. The products in this category are designed to decrease inflammation, while helping to heal and soothe the skin. This will ensure that potential complications such as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring are avoided.

REMEDY: It is important to incorporate skin products that remedy the underlying skin condition. After a diagnostic skin analysis, these products are designed to target the problematic skin conditions. These include products to improve collagen production and address fine lines and wrinkles, other products to address hyperpigmentation and acne.

RESTORE: Many medical cosmetic procedures can strip the outer layers of the skin, and with that the hydrolipid layer of the skin. This will leave skin susceptible to environmental and skin product irritation that will not only prevent appropriate healing but will make the skin intolerant of nutritious skin remedies and result in itchy, sensitive skin.

PROTECT: The sun causes the most damage to the skin, and photoaging is accelerated in skin that is not protected from the sun. A vital part of a skin care regimen is SPF, this is particularly true after a medical cosmetic treatment. Sun block with SPF 30+ should be used daily, and prolonged sun exposure should be avoided in the early days following a medical cosmetic procedure.

In the next few weeks we will go into more details on each of these essential building blocks and some examples of skincare products that can help create a comprehensive healing and nourishing environment for your skin.

Holistic Approach to Skin Care: Hydration and Cleansers

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Understanding skin structure and biology is key to selecting the most appropriate skin products that will best enhance your natural skin glow.

  

The outermost layer of the skin is the Stratum Corneum. On top of this site the ultra-thin moist layer comprised of a mixture of sweat and sebum. This is the famous acid mantle with a pH between 4 and 5.5, which means it is mildly acidic. The pH of the skin can change within small limits depending on the amount and quality of our sweat, which in turn relates to how much we drink.  The first step in achieving a glowing skin complexion is to drink plenty of fluids.

The beneficial acid mantle serves as a barrier to protect the underlying stratum corneum. Many of the soaps and cleansers we use on our face can disrupt this mantle and begin the process of damaging the underlying skin. Alkaline cleansers are the most notorious for stripping away this protective fat layer. However, even so called “pH balanced cleansers” can contain powerful detergents that can also strip away this protective layer. Your skin care should begin with a gentle skin cleanser like our mild chamomile cleanser with multiple botanicals and algae peptides that is gentle on the skin.

Remember that your skin is unique, while harsh detergents do not benefit a healthy skin, it might be difficult to know how well preserved your skin’s acid mantle is without a full examination of your skin under fluorescent light. This can identify skin areas with excessive sebum, inflamed sebum, versus altered pH sebum.  A scientific approach to your skin problems can help you achieve your skincare goals while minimizing skin irritation.

Skinny skincare

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Korean skin care regimens are well respected across the world, so much so that many have adopted the elaborate 10 step skin care routine. In some people such an elaborate routine can sometimes lead to an angry, irritated skin. In recent times there has been a gradual shift towards a “skinny skincare” regimen using highly effective skin products. The Korean “Skin-Care Diet” involves a simplified regimen of cleanser moisturizer and SPF. Carefully selecting highly effective skin care products can help you adopt a skinny skincare, yet still achieve your goal of healthy, glowing skin. Carefully select a gentle cleanser with calming, effective ingredients like green tea.
Green tea contains polyphenols called catechins which are potent antioxidants but also have anti inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. The green tea needs to be in sufficient quantities to be effective. A moisturizer with an ingredient such as niacinamide which can stabilize the skin barrier and improve the moisture contents, while also improving the skin structure to smoothen out wrinkles and calm irritation. A topical retinol at night is an effective anti-aging adjunct to a complete skincare regimen. Finally, using sunscreen daily is important to prevent UV photo damage. Choosing a trusted skincare line that uses high quality ingredients delivered to the skin is key. Every day there are new innovative technologies to optimize skin product absorption and make, so stay informed.