Summer means bar-b-ques, swimming, fireworks, and sun. Lots and lots of sun. And sun on our skin creates damage, which shows up as rough patches and unwanted brown spots.
Thankfully, there's a great laser treatment called the Fraxel Dual that can treat pigmentation. The thulium laser creates little superficial zones while leaving normal skin in between, allowing for less downtime, minimal discomfort, and faster recovery time. After about 3-5 days of light peeling, brighter, refreshed skin is revealed. In addition to pigment, it helps to smooth fine lines and treats precancerous rough spots. Usually 2-3 treatments, performed a month apart, are recommended. Other body sites, like the neck, chest, arms, and hands can also be treated. With regular sunscreen use and minimal sun exposure, the great results can be maintained.
Undo the damage from the summer and start the fall season with brighter skin!
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Get cheeky
The secret is out. The fountain of youth is here, and it ain't made of water. It's made of hyaluronic acid, and it's called Voluma: an injectable filler from Allergan, the folks who make Botox (for wrinkles), Juvederm (filler) and Latisse (grows/thickens/lengthens lashes). Approved since last October, it is quickly becoming one of my favorite fillers.
Over time, we lose bone and fat in our faces. Think of our skulls as a deflating balloon. As it shrinks, the skin overlying it begins to sag and drape- leading to hollows under the eyes, sunken-in cheeks, folds around the mouths (the parentheses), folds under our mouth (marionette lines), and a sagging jawline. All of this makes us look tired and older.
It was thought that the answer was just a face lift- pulling the skin tighter. Now we know that without replacing volume, or re-inflating the balloon, that more youthful look just won't be achieved.
Enter Voluma. By restoring volume, cheeks are returned to their rightful place: resting on top of cheekbones, rather than sagging and folding down towards mouths. When injected properly, The result is a natural, soft, youthful, subtle look.
And the best part? It lasts two years. This is one time where being cheeky is a good thing!
Over time, we lose bone and fat in our faces. Think of our skulls as a deflating balloon. As it shrinks, the skin overlying it begins to sag and drape- leading to hollows under the eyes, sunken-in cheeks, folds around the mouths (the parentheses), folds under our mouth (marionette lines), and a sagging jawline. All of this makes us look tired and older.
It was thought that the answer was just a face lift- pulling the skin tighter. Now we know that without replacing volume, or re-inflating the balloon, that more youthful look just won't be achieved.
Enter Voluma. By restoring volume, cheeks are returned to their rightful place: resting on top of cheekbones, rather than sagging and folding down towards mouths. When injected properly, The result is a natural, soft, youthful, subtle look.
And the best part? It lasts two years. This is one time where being cheeky is a good thing!
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Love the baby, Lose the hair
Ah, an adorable bouncing baby. The gummy grin and wide eyes brighten my day.
What doesn't brighten my day? All the hair in my brush, shower drain, back of my white coat, and pillowcase. Yes, as a result of my little sweet bundle of joy, i now have telogen effluvium, which is a loss of hair that occurs a few months after pregnancy to 50% of women.
Hair grows in cycles. The growth phase is called anagen. The catagen phase is a transitional stage, and about 3% of hairs are in this stage at any given time. The resting phase is called telogen. Normally, 6-8% of all hairs are in this phase, and about 100 hairs a day are normally shed. And even though that's a normal number, it can still look like a lot of hair and be alarming.
During pregnancy, increased numbers of hair follicles stay in the anagen (growth) phase for longer periods of time, due to changes in hormones. This explains the lush, thick locks that so many women experience when they're pregnant.
But about 3-6 months after delivery, when the hormone levels drop, hair returns to the telogen phase. This causes an increase in hair loss called telogen effluvium. Other stressful events cause this as well, such as illness, new medications, etc. And it ain't fun.
The good news is that the loss is temporary and usually returns to normal between 6-12 months. Loose skin, stretch marks, wider hips, varicose veins, and hair loss... It's a trade-off, but that smile makes it all worthwhile.
What doesn't brighten my day? All the hair in my brush, shower drain, back of my white coat, and pillowcase. Yes, as a result of my little sweet bundle of joy, i now have telogen effluvium, which is a loss of hair that occurs a few months after pregnancy to 50% of women.
Hair grows in cycles. The growth phase is called anagen. The catagen phase is a transitional stage, and about 3% of hairs are in this stage at any given time. The resting phase is called telogen. Normally, 6-8% of all hairs are in this phase, and about 100 hairs a day are normally shed. And even though that's a normal number, it can still look like a lot of hair and be alarming.
During pregnancy, increased numbers of hair follicles stay in the anagen (growth) phase for longer periods of time, due to changes in hormones. This explains the lush, thick locks that so many women experience when they're pregnant.
But about 3-6 months after delivery, when the hormone levels drop, hair returns to the telogen phase. This causes an increase in hair loss called telogen effluvium. Other stressful events cause this as well, such as illness, new medications, etc. And it ain't fun.
The good news is that the loss is temporary and usually returns to normal between 6-12 months. Loose skin, stretch marks, wider hips, varicose veins, and hair loss... It's a trade-off, but that smile makes it all worthwhile.
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