Thursday, July 30, 2015

The benefit of exfoliation

chemical peel face
In our Orlando Medical Spa-Winter Park Laser & Anti-Aging Center, I must use the word "exfoliation" fifty times a day to clients because it is my favorite word & activity!!  Exfoliation can change everything in a woman or man's skin including texture, pore size, acne, pigmentation, and dullness.  Unfortunately, many people never exfoliate their skin, or do not do it correctly, which is sad because they are many the boat on it's effectiveness.  While, laser skin resurfacing and aesthetic injectables are so amazing in my opinion exfoliation is still necessary to enhance these procedures and improve skin texture.
Exfoliation is essential because at any age dead skin cells start to pile up on the skin which cause dull uneven skin tone & texture even preventing many skincare products penetrating properly.  Skin exfoliation should not only be done on the face but the body as well and at least on a weekly basis.  Exfoliation is the removal of the oldest dead skin cells that cling to the skin's outermost surface, or epidermis.
Exfoliation is easy with new medical grade skincare products that contain glycolics, exfoliating beads, or with medical grade chemical peels and dermaplaning.
Here are the Top Methods of Exfoliation:
Chemical Peel Exfoliation uses various enzymes, alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) or betahydroxy acids (BHAS) loosen the glue-like substance that holds the cells together, allowing them to slough away. Facial chemical peels are a form of chemical exfoliation. Chemical peels can be mild or stronger levels of exfoliation.
Dermaplaning is another new and amazing exfoliating treatment that provides an alternative to microdermabrasion and is a good choice for anyone with extremely sensitive skin. The dermaplaning treatment is performed by an experienced aesthetician who uses a modified blade to gently exfoliate the outer layer of dead skin cells. A noticeable improvement is immediate with smoother texture and fresh skin appearance. Hair returns softly and will not become coarser because of the treatment. Even products penetrate the skin better following this treatment and a chemical peel can even be performed directly after for deeper penetration.
Medical Grade Exfoliation Skincare products are those you purchase in a physician's office that you use at home once a week.  Typically they have various glycolic, or other AHA/BHA's in them to slough off dead skin.  Retinol is always a must product for constant exfoliation.
For more information on the benefits of exfoliation go to http://www.winterparklaser.com

Thursday, July 16, 2015

What is Melasma & How to Treat It

vi peel melasma before afterelasma is a term that has become more commonplace over the past decade especially in regions such as Florida with an excess of sun exposure.  Melasma is often referred to as "the mask of pregnancy" because it is usually caused by hormone changes especially with pregnancy, birth control or menopause, and is made increasingly worse by sun exposure.  Melasma can also be caused by medications or brought on by post imflammatory hyperpigmentation due to certain burns of laser treatments.  Melasma generally occurs when estrogen and/or progesterone stimulate pigmentation hormones, causing dark brown irregular sized patches on the face that are normally rather large.   Melasma is most common in ethnic skin types especially hispanic or meditteranean although it can occur in light skin types as well. Genetic predisposition may make one more susceptible to melasma, and thyroid dysfunction may also increase susceptibility.
Since our medical spa Winter Park Laser is located in Florida we see a lot of Melasma due to the to the amount of sun exposure and the high amount of hispanic population in Florida. Melasma can be very difficult to treat and the results rely heavily on patient compliance and the type of maintenance done by the patient.  Here are some of the top ways to treat and maintain melasma.
#1 The Vi PeelL this is a strong chemical peel safe for all skin types to treat melasma.  It is a proprietary blend of TCA, Retinoic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Phenol, Vitamin C and a mineral blend.
#2 At Home Skincare: It is crucial to use Skin Lightening Treatment products such as Hydroquinone bleaching creams, or Skinmedica lytera which will help to suppress the underlying pigmentation and prevent more patches of melasma from surfacing.
#3 Limited Sun Exposure: Sun can make Melasma worst so the more one stays away from sun by wearing a full broad spectrum minimum spf 30 everyday and reapplying,  and wearing large sunglasses and large hats to protect your skin.

For more information on treating Melasma in Orlando go to www.winterparklaser.com