The Beauty of Hydrafacial Treatment

Looking in the mirror, you may have noticed that your skin needs help. You see blackheads, whiteheads, rough and/or oily patches, and dullness. No amount of washing, serums, or physical exfoliation seem to alleviate the issues. This is usually a key sign that your skin could use extra attention.

That attention can be given by booking a Hydrafacial treatment. Many issues can be addressed depending on your skincare concerns. You may be asking, how is a Hydrafacial different from normal facials? This is a great question. A Hydrafacial initially focuses on extraction. According to hydrafacial.com , the facial is a 3 step process, takes 30 minutes, and will give you the best skin of your life! The company uses patented technology to deeply cleanse, extract, and hydrate the skin, with options of different serums to address specific skin care concerns. The process can be personalized!

It starts with cleansing and exfoliation. This is a very comfortable process, and the idea is to reveal a new layer of skin. Instead of dermabrasion, Hydradermabrasion is used, with a tool that is described as a gentle handheld suction tool. The suction is used to remove impurities from your pores, such as excessive dirt and oil, as opposed to blasting or aggressive squeezing. The suction also stimulates circulation, which helps create a beautiful glow to the skin’s surface.

During the Hydradermabrasion process, your choice of serums are infused into the skin at the same time the dirt and debris are sucked out. But again, it is a very comfortable process. The booster serums you can choose from are as follows:

• Growth Factor Boost: Growth factors are naturally occurring proteins, which maintain healthy skin structure and function. This boost is specifically designed to diminish fine lines and wrinkles.

• Dermabuilder Boost: Key ingredients Acetyl octapeptide-3 and palmitoyl dipeptides-5 – skin conditioning peptides — address fine lines, skin tone, texture, and the overall evenness of the skin.

• Brightalive Boost: Hydrafacial’s Skin Brightening Complex is a unique blend of skin brighteners that are designed to block the production of pigmentation. The unique complex consists of Ogliopeptide-68, Nanopeptide-1, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, and N-Acetyl Glucosamine, and also contains glycerin. Glycerin restores hydration.

• Britenol Boost: This formula targets dark spots and areas with sun damage. It is clinically proven to create a more even complexion with the following ingredients: Alpha-Arbutin (derived from bearberry extract), and vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that also helps to lighten and brighten the skin.

With so many options, a Hydrafacial is literally for every skin type! Your skin will be plump and hydrated immediately after, and is perfect before special events as there is zero downtime. Dark spots and pigmentation will continue to diminish with regular treatments. Results are noticeable for up to a week, and treatment is recommended every 3-6 weeks to address ongoing issues and concerns.

Have more questions, or would like to book an appointment? Call 720.236.7541 and ask for Heather!

7 Reasons To Wear Sunscreen

While a little sun may not be harmful from time to time, excessive sun exposure can be dangerous, but do you know why?  Take a look at these top seven reasons to make a habit of including sunscreen in your everyday routine.

1.      Lowers skin cancer risks:

According to the FCPP, skin cancer is one of the top cancers in the United States, divided into two categories – melanoma and non-melanoma. While most skin cancers are curable, melanoma is the worst and can be life threatening.

2.      Sun damage is cumulative:

You cannot build up a safe tan, and every exposure can contribute to possible damage. It is estimated that only 23 percent of sun damage occurs by the age of 18, and 47 percent occurs between 19-40. It is also important to remember that the sun’s rays are still strong even when it isn’t sunny. While we covet a beautiful bronzy glow, this can be achieved through other options such as a spray tan, self-tanner, and tinted lotions. Nowadays there are many options, where you can achieve an instant tan, or build up a tan over time.

3.      Most visible signs of aging come from years of sun damage:

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, it is estimated that 90 percent (**) of skin aging comes from sun exposure. Wearing sunscreen daily can save your skin from years of aging down the line, especially on areas consistently exposed such as the face, neck, chest, and hands.

4.      Prevents uneven skin tone, skin irritations, and blotchiness:

Applying sunscreen on your face helps to prevent melasma, hyperpigmentation, redness, and even acne. However, it is important to choose the right kind of sunscreen that won’t further irritate these conditions. Studies have shown that mineral sunscreens (aka “physical sunscreens”) have the best success in prevention, especially if the top ingredient is zinc oxide. Sunscreens higher in synthetic ingredients can cause melasma and other spots to become darker. Zinc offers the best protections as it sits on the surface of the skin and reflects light, as opposed to synthetic ingredients, which absorb the UV rays within the skin and temporarily trap heat. Heat within the skin can cause inflammation. It is important to check the ingredients on the sunscreen you buy even if it says ‘mineral’ or ‘natural’, because the ingredients can still allow synthetic blockers. Applying topical antioxidants along with physical sunscreens can also help repair pigmentation disorders.

5.      Damage can occur with certain medications 

There are many medications that cause serious sun sensitivity. These can include Acne medications (retin-a, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide) and antibiotics (tetracyclines and fluoriqinolones). Some are surprised to learn that allergy medications can also cause photosensitivity (look for the ingredient diphenydramine found in Benadryl), as well as overheating. Additional medications to be aware of are antidepressants, NSAIDs, topical medications, and certain vitamins and herbs, such as St. John’s Wort and Niacin (Vitamin B3). Be sure to check all medications with your pharmacist.

6.      Enhances skin health and appearance longterm:

Sunscreen has the ability to protect the essential skin proteins, collagen, elastin, and keratin, which are affected by elements and time, and responsible for keeping the skin youthful. When exposed to sun and other elements, the skin suffers and photoaging occurs. Early signs include taut lips that lose fullness, definition and color, pigmentation (freckles and age spots), deeper wrinkles around the eyes and mouth, and a rough and/or leathery texture.

In a study published by Dermatologic Surgery, 100 percent of the 32 participants using sunscreen daily over 52 weeks showed significant improvement in the skin’s overall appearance. Once protected from sun damage, the skin was able to regenerate itself by producing new collagen. Collagen promotes skin elasticity, can reverse signs of skin aging, and has other significant health benefits.

7.      Can easily fit in your daily routine.

Long gone are the days where sunscreen turned you instantly into a greasy ghost with streaks on your face. Sunscreen can be found in everyday products such as moisturizer, foundation, and pressed and loose powder. With advanced technology, certain sunscreens have hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, which hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, and is excellent for arid climates and dry skin conditions. There are many ways to include sunscreen in your daily routine, and many options that reach a multitude of budgets and skincare concerns. However, if you prefer to use sunscreen separately, you can add a layer after moisturizer and before makeup, or after using primer and before makeup. To ensure your makeup goes on smoothly, it is best to use a sunscreen designed for the face.


Contact me at 720.236.7541 to stock up on sunscreen, and/or to ask any questions you may have. I offer treatments to help reverse sun damage and pigmentation issues such as melasma, and would love to get you on my books!

PRP for Anti-Aging

As mentioned in the previous blog discussing Micro-channeling, PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma, has been used in many medical fields for its wound healing abilities. Athletes use it to heal injuries, while others have used PRP to treat arthritis. In the cosmetic industry, it has been used for those who want a natural but noticeable improvement in their skin tone and texture as PRP offers excellent skin rejuvenation with little to no downtime.

While used topically in the cosmetic industry, PRP can also be used for injections to fill wrinkles as a natural filler. Areas of treatment are similar to areas treated with hyaluronic acid fillers, which include the eye area, decollete, cheeks, smile lines, and nasolabial folds. The PRP stimulates collagen production in the dermis of the skin to plump and fill for a natural look. PRP is an excellent alternative to hyaluronic acid fillers as it helps to restore volume while rejuvenating the skin from the inside out.

How does it work? Your blood is drawn into a vial, which is then placed into a centrifuge. The vial is spun in the centrifuge to concentrate and isolate platelets. After the spinning the PRP has separated and can then be used for injections. The time for the entire appointment from start to finish can take about 60-90 minutes, and while you can resume normal activities, is recommended that you do not exercise until the next day.

Since PRP is derived from your own body, the chances of an allergic reaction are minimal, as are lumps and bumps that can happen with hyaluronic acid fillers. In general, hyaluronic acid fillers are considered very safe, but for those concerned about reactions, PRP is a perfect alternative. However, PRP and hyaluronic acid fillers can be injected in the same appointment to address facial aging as well as the quality of the skin.

Interested in PRP injections? Call to make a consultation appointment at 720.236.7541!

The Amazing Benefits of Micro-Channeling

When it comes to skin rejuvenation, many associate significant downtown with most procedures. Not so with micro-channeling. This procedure is becoming very popular based on excellent results, and the ability to return to normal activities quickly.

How it works:

Microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, is different than micro-channeling. The procedure is a more aggressive treatment where tiny, sterile needles penetrate the skin more deeply to purposefully cause trauma. The trauma prompts the deeper layer of the skin, the derma, to rebuild collagen.

Collagen keeps our skin taut and youthful, but as we age, we lose collagen, which leads to wrinkles and the loss of firmness. Collagen makes up 30% of the protein in our body, 70% in our skin, and is a hard, insoluble, and fibrous protein

While Microneedling causes trauma to stimulate collagen production, micro-channeling is a less aggressive approach for the treatment of fine lines, hyperpigmentation, rosacea, age spots, and acne scars. Tiny needles create more controlled micro-injuries, which helps the production of collagen and elastin. The uniform micro-channels are surrounded by healthy tissue, which enhances the healing process, and the inflammatory response to the micro-channel initiates the new collagen production. When adding PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), healing is expedited, with additional benefits.

PRP has been used in many medical fields for its wound healing abilities. Benefits have been seen in patients with arthritis, those with tendonitis symptoms, plantar fasciitis, bulging disks, and even as a treatment for hair loss.  In micro-channeling, your blood is drawn, then placed in a centrifuge where the blood is spun to release various growth factors from platelets. After the micro-channeling procedure is complete, the PRP is applied topically to the treated area. 

In recent studies, PRP for facial rejuvenation showed positive aesthetic outcomes. All fourteen studies showed improvement in the volume, texture and tone of the facial skin, as well as a decrease in facial wrinkles.

Most healing is internal, and any side effects will not be prolonged. Your skin should appear and feel refreshed within 24 hours, but tone and texture will continue to improve. For the best benefits, 3-4 micro-channeling sessions with PRP are recommended spaced out between 4-6 weeks. Continued on-going maintenance can be conducted with longer intervals in-between after the initial treatments.

While excellent for the face, consider micro-channeling for the hands, neck, decollete, and for other parts of the body with crepey skin, stretch marks, and scarring. 

With so many benefits, micro-channeling is an excellent alternative to highly invasive procedures. You will love your results!

Have you tried micro-channeling? Any questions? Send them my way!

Botox Beyond Wrinkles

And on the 8th day, God created Botox.

Ok, that came many years later, but aren’t we thankful? We have wrinkles to slay, expressions to soften, and a serious need to combat our obvious signs of annoyance. Botox works wonders for our anti-aging concerns!

However, botox has many uses outside of anti-aging in the medical industry. The botulinum toxin has been used to treat a host of medical issues, including hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), strabismus (crossed eye/eyes), migraines, TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder), acne, and to reduce spasticity (contracted muscles)

Spasticity

At the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, OH., botox is injected into the patients specified muscle group(s) to reduce the contracted muscles and involuntary movements. The benefits may surprise you. According to the hospital, regular botox injections can show improvement in a range of motion. The increased range of motion can help improve hygiene for easier toileting and bathing, functional activity such as standing and walking, and to improve the fitting of orthodontics, such as braces and splints. For many children, botox can be advised as the best approach to addressing a child’s functional problems, and there are no limits in activity after the injections.

Strabismus

Treating strabismus (crossed eyes) patients with botox has proven effective results. Dr. Alastair Carruthers, after injecting 9 adult strabismus patients, showed an average of an 81% improvement 4-5 days after the injection. Further studies show a >50% reduction in ocular deviation in patients who receive injections, and infants and children who also receive botox injections for alignment have long term satisfactory results.

Hyperhidrosis

But how does Botox work for sweating? We all sweat, right? Yes, but for some, sweating can occur abnormally, causing discomfort and embarrassment, especially when sweating through clothing. This abnormal sweating occurs when not working out, and when it is not hot. It is also difficult to control with antiperspirants and prescription antiperspirants.

Botox works to block the nerves responsible for activating sweat glands, which are normally activated when body temperature rises. This is a normal and natural way for the body to cool itself, but in abnormal situations, these nerves are overactive, which causes the excess. Not only can botox be used to treat sweaty armpits, but also sweaty palms, scalp, and the soles of the feet.

Migraines

According to the American Migraine Foundation, botox is a treatment option best used for patients who have more frequents headaches – more than 15 days per month. Botox helps to block the nerves responsible for transmitting pain, but often takes a few sessions to fully work, according to Dr. Blumenfeld. A treatment can last for up to 12 weeks, and multiple treatments can reduce the number of days experiencing headaches by 50%.

Acne

While botox can be a successful treatment for acne, the treatment is usually limited to adults, as teenagers are not the best candidates. Botox blocks the acetylcholine in the skin dermis, which is responsible for oil production.

With less oil production, there is less of a breeding ground for bacteria, and patients are noticing less flare up. In a study by Anil Shah, MD, Marie Clare reports that out of a group of 20 patients, 85% who were injected with a single dose of botox saw improvement in the size of their pores, and less oil production. Melissa Kanchanpoomi Levin, MD, noted that patients saw a decrease in forehead acne and less oil when receiving injections in-between the brow area for cosmetic purposes. A unique and added perk!

While botox is still the go-to for softening expression lines, the benefits go above and beyond cosmetic purposes. Botox has become a safe, effective, and often quick alternative for a number of therapeutic conditions, and even more treatable conditions are on the rise.

Any questions? Send them my way!