Confused Winter Skin

Winter is not your skin’s friend.

In colder temperatures we need to adjust our skincare routine to ensure healthy barrier function. Prolonged exposure to reduced humidity, is a well-known risk factor for AD (Atopic dermatitis). AD increases the natural process of water loss through our skin, which causes dry/itchy skin and signals inflammation (redness). It can also make your body dehydrated and make your lips feel super dry.

To make things worse, as we age, we get dryer as well. Excess dead skin can clog pores and PH levels get less acidic, making skin susceptible to bacterial growth. And this time of year, holiday stress can stimulate oil production. The extra oil produced mingles with the loitering dry skin and you can develop acne. 

This situation is not easy to remedy because lotions and creams can be too thick and cause more acne, while acne medications and products are very drying and cause dry skin to persist or get worse. It’s very important to see a professional esthetician, even just for a skin assessment and product suggestions so that you don’t make your skin worse and end up in the dermatologist’s office for medication. Knowing the proper skin care routine for your skin not only saves you time and money, if handled promptly, it can save you weeks or even months of skin issues. Prevention is always easier and cheaper than reversal.

Tips for preventing skin damage in the winter months:

1: Cleanse. Twice a day and after exercising with a gentle, exfoliating cleanser for your skin type.  

2: Tone. Balance PH levels after cleansing. Rinsing with just water is the worst option when cleansing, water alters healthy PH levels, leaving your skin dry and prone to irritation.

3: Moisturize. You don’t need a night cream/day cream/eye cream...  Shoot for a moisturizer that your skin likes and use it from your chest- up, every day, twice a day.  Make sure it’s right for your skin type and current skin health.

4: WEAR SUNSCREEN!  UV rays cause inflammation, acne scarring, wrinkles, age spots and cancer. I’m not a fan of 2 in 1 moisturizer with sunscreen, they don’t work well for moisture or for sun protection (think all-in-one printers, something is always on the fritz). Instead, use SPF of at least 30 on your face (over your moisturizer) when you’re going to be outdoors; if only inside the whole day, skip this step.

5: Schedule an exfoliating skincare service like a peel, facial or microdermabrasion. This will remove dead skin and unclog pores, kill bad bacteria that causes acne and allows moisturizer to soak in better, saving you money on products.

• Shelly Todd, Esthetician

Atopic Dermatitis

Microneedle: Increase collagen by 400%!

Microneedling: My Go-To for Sensitive Aging Skin

In the 2008 research, it was proven that after repeated micro-needling procedures, the amount of collagen and elastin in the skin of the patients increased by 400% after 6 months and the skin became noticeably plump after 1 year.

Microneedling causes “micro-injuries” that help stimulate the skin to repair itself naturally through a process called dermal remodeling. This remodeling kick-starts your natural healing process, which stokes collagen production.

The tiny punctures immediately stimulate fibroblast activity, which starts the one-week stage of inflammation. The next phase (proliferation), is where fibroblasts and keratinocytes produce collagen. The structure of the new collagen fibers is similar to that of undamaged, youthful skin. Simultaneously, new blood vessels are created that provide adequate vascularization and oxygenation for the newly formed tissue. During the last phase (remodeling), the skin becomes thicker and creates the support, strength and flexibility for the new skin.

To maintain the treatment effects and provide time for all the described stages, it’s important to wait 3–6 weeks between micro-needling sessions. For older, more wrinkled skin, or skin that has extensive acne scarring or other scarring, several micro-needling sessions should be performed.

Because sensitive skin can’t handle stronger peels & sometimes microdermabrasion, Microneedle treatments are my go-to for not only my own sensitive skin, but all of my aging client’s skin, even if they are extremely sensitive.

Microneedling is proven to help with:

• Acne and other scars, lessen depth, even skin tone

• Dark spots: age spots, sun spots, scars, etc.

• Large pores, plumps skin to make pores appear smaller

• Sagging skin, rebuilds skin structure

• Stretch marks

• Uneven skin texture and tone

• Wrinkles and fine lines

• Repigment skin in vitiligo patients

• Even skin tone in melasma conditions

Shelly Todd, Esthetician

MICRONEEDLE BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL:

Nip teen acne in the bud.

Stop teen acne from becoming adult acne scars. Get you child on the right preventative skincare routine now. Prevent the acne before it erupts.