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Beauty and Skin Tips for those on a budget.

This blog will elucidate that small changes to one’s lifestyle and a small investment in skin products, will lead to significant improvements in one’s skin health and beauty.

  1. Protect from the sun with daily sunscreen, sun protection, and Heliocare.  The number one enemy to skin is sun exposure.  The sun’s UVB rays lead to activation of enzymes that destroy the skin’s collagen leading to wrinkling and thinner skin.  Skin pigmentation problems (melasma, solar lentigos) are exacerbated by the sun.  Skin cancers are almost always related to exposure to the sun’s damaging rays.  Studies have shown that just using sunscreen can improve ones looks.  Heliocare contains Polypodium leucotomos which is a fern extract that is an antioxidant that reverses and protects against the radiation effects of the sun on skin cells.  Heliocare has also been shown to improve melasma, because even indoor artificial light can exacerbate this condition where sunscreens don’t offer protection.  Wearing a large brimmed hat, SPF rash guard (if at the beach), and staying under an umbrella/shade should be considered during periods of prolonged outdoor sun exposure.
  2. Stop smoking.  Smoking is probably a close second to the sun as a factor affecting skin health and beauty.  The toxins in smoking cause contraction in vessels in the skin, leading to poor oxygenation of the skin cells.  Smoking essentially strangulates one’s skin causing loss of elasticity, viability, and thickness.  Other side effects include increased wrinkles, a change in the color of the skin, thinning of the hair, halitosis, and dental disease.
  3. Apply topical Retin A or Retinol.  It has been well established with research dating back over 25 years, that Retin A has anti-aging qualities.  It has been shown to increase cellular turnover in the skin, thus creating skin cells that are younger and more vibrant.  It increases collagen in the skin and improves hydration in the skin by increasing the GAG’s.  Pigmentation abnormalities are improved as well.  Precancerous changes are reversed and prevented to a certain extent.  Wrinkles and photodamage have been shown to improve with just using Retin A.  One word of caution.  If you choose to use Retinol because it has less peeling, you have to use a strength that is higher than what is found in most OTC cosmetics.
  4. Maintain hydration, drink plenty of water.  This is somewhat controversial, but there are anecdotal reports of improvements in overall looks with just making sure you are fully hydrated.  There are obvious other benefits as well including kidney, bladder, blood pressure and circulatory health.
  5. Topical Growth Factors and Antioxidants.  Growth factors stimulate skin cells to become more youthful and recruit stem cells which may lay dormant in the skin.  Antioxidants help the skin fight off the environmental stress that attacks the skin, including the sun’s damaging radiation.  Products that fall into this category are:  TNS Essential Serum, Lifeline Day and Night Cream, and Neocutis Journee.

These recommendations are a good start to improve skin health for all individuals, regardless of budgetary concerns.  The younger these are implemented, the less correction that will be needed in the future.  Consider following these guidelines as an “investment in the future”.

How to improve your melasma

Melasma is skin pigment disorder (hyperpigmentation) which occurs in patches, which is often caused by fluctuations in hormones.  It occurs mostly in females, most commonly affects the cheeks, forehead, nose, jawline, and upper lip.  When associated with pregnancy it is called Chloasma, “mask of pregnancy”.  It is exacerbated by oral contraceptives and exposure to sunlight and heat.  Most people have fluctuations in their pigmentation,  with the summer months being the worst.

There still is no consensus as to the exact etiology of the disorder.  It seems that the melanocytes, the cells which produce pigment (melanin),  are abnormally hyperactive.  There are 3 forms of the disease:  epidermal (superficial), dermal(deep), and mixed.  It is often a frustrating disease for both patients and physicians because there is no easy cure.  Recurrences are the rule.  Often after taking months to improve, one or two sun exposures will reverse the disorder to it’s original state.

The first steps to improve melasma are:

  1. Limit sun exposure.  Use hats, suncreens, and sunglasses daily!  Physical sunscreens are better because they also reduce the skin temperature.
  2. Try to reduce the hormones in your BCP’s or use another form of birth control
  3. Even if you are fully protected from the sun, heat can exacerbate the pigment, so try to limit outdoor exposure.
  4. Even visible light has been shown to exacerbate melasma.  We now recommend daily use of Heliocare to combat this.

If simple measures don’t improve melasma to your satisfaction, then try these measures from your Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon:

  1. Begin Retin A or Retinol.  This suppresses the melanocyte and increases cellular turnover thereby decreasing pigmentation.
  2. Hydroquinone 4%.  This is a cream which suppresses the pigmentation production from the melanocyte.  Although some physicians go to higher strengths, there are more risks of getting complications and rebound hyperpigmentation.  (Please see the link, hydroquinones are on the way out.)
  3. Lytera from SkinMedica.  This is a new product that attacks pigmentation at 4 different levels.
  4. Chemical Peels.  Regular chemical peels seem to help control melasma and are the mainstay of therapy at The Aesthetic Clinique.  It seems the consensus among Dermatologists as well.

After exhausting all the above measures and your melasma is still a concern, it’s time to consider using lasers.  Only as a last resort are laser used because there are risks of making melasma worse.  There are 2 lasers FDA approved for melasma and The Aesthetic Clinique has both of them.  The Fraxel Dual is a resurfacing laser and treats the superficial epidermal form of melasma.  Usually one to three treatments are needed and there are a few days of downtime.  The other laser is the Lutronic Spectra Q switched laser.  This is used for all types of melasma and there is no downtime.  The Spectra can require 5 to 10 treatments with 1-2 touch ups per year.  This laser might give a longer term solution to the problem because it actually causes permanent change to the melanocyte whereas the Fraxel Dual affects the pigmentation secreted  from the melanocyte.

Although melasma can be a frustrating stubborn disease, there are many treatment options available.  The Aesthetic Clinique has the 2 lasers which are FDA approved for treating melasma.

Please call our office to see what treatment options are available for you melasma.  850.622.1214.  The Aesthetic Clinique, Steve Weiner, MD, Facial Plastic Surgeon, between Destin and Panama City Beach, Florida.

Oral Supplements for Skin Health, Beauty, and Longevity – Heliocare, GliSODin Skin Nutrients, TA65 and Megaresveratrol

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpEgSjiqMJk]

The focus of the Aesthetic Clinique is restoring and optimizing one’s appearance.  Skin treatments such as lasers, injectables, and topical creams cannot entirely achieve these results.  Hence, oral supplements are needed to help us improve our beauty at the cellular level.  The Aesthetic Clinique has been recommending GliSODin Skin Nutrients and Heliocare for over 5 years and we have recently added TA65 to our repertoire.

Heliocare

The first product that we selected almost 7 years ago was Heliocare.  Heliocare is an oral supplement used to protect the skin from the sun.  UV rays from the sun can increase free radicals on the skin’s surface, which leads to cell damage and premature aging. Antioxidants help to stabilize free radicals within the body.  Heliocare uses the natural antioxidants in Polypodium leucotomos extract- derived from a tropical fern plant- to help maintain the skin’s ability to protect against sun related aging.  This product has been researched at Harvard Medical School.  It is a product of Spain and has been used in Europe for over 30 years, there are no known side effects.  Heliocare starts working with the first dose, thirty minutes after taking it.  Sunscreen is meant to be used in conjunction with this product.  Suggested use is 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and if a full day in the sun is planned a second dose should be taken midday.  For clients with melasma recent research has shown this condition to worsen even with visible light.   Sunscreens do not provide protection for these wavelengths but Heliocare does, so daily use is highly recommended by Dr. Weiner for melasma suffers.

GliSODin Skin Nutrients

GliSODin Skin Nutrients are a nutritional beauty product line that is taken orally to give you healthy, radiant skin. Formulated by dermatologists and nutritionists the product contains 100% natural ingredients that are easily absorbed into your system. GliSODin is the key ingredient in every GSN product.  It is extracted from a non genetically modified melon that contain high levels of SOD (Superoxide Dismutase), also known as “the enzyme of life”.  SOD acts as the first line of defense against toxins and cellular breakdown caused by free radicals.  GliSODin has a patented protective coating that enables the body to safely absorb the powerful enzyme.  Primary antioxidants like SOD have a huge benefit. One SOD molecule can attack a free radical and go on to the next, targeting up to one million free radicals.  Secondary antioxidants like Vit C, cocoa and super fruits can only neutralize one free radical at a time.  SOD targets free radicals allowing secondary antioxidants to focus on their essential cellular tasks.  Aesthetic Clinique has researched this product line, traveling to their headquarters in Toronto to meet with their executive director and endorses it.  The GliSODin Skin Nutrients consist of formulas to promote beautiful healthy skin and compliment medical aesthetic procedures.  It is recommended to start with the Advanced Detoxification Formula first to help flush out unnecessary and harmful toxins from your system, while promoting total body wellness and increasing energy levels.  The Detox not only cleanses your system, it rejuvenates your skin, leaving you with a clearer smoother complexion.  Our staff can help you determine which of the formulas to use to address your specific goals and needs.  The formulas the Aesthetic Clinique provides include: Advanced Anti-aging Formula to hydrate and nourish your skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  It provides your skin with nutrients and minimizes the effects of aging by boosting your body’s natural antioxidant system and reducing inflammation, resulting in younger looking skin.  Advanced Brightening Formula promotes a bright, smooth and even complexion by helping to repair skin damage caused by exposure to the sun.  Used along with a topical SPF, this formula provides you with an extra layer of protection against UV rays, and supports a healthy, even skin especially after aesthetic treatments.  It is a great compliment to laser treatments, peels and topical skin brighteners and topical antioxidants.  Advanced Slimming Formula is a safe and effective product that promotes healthy weight loss and management by supporting the body for proper metabolism and use of nutrients.  By promoting lean muscle mass, balancing sugar levels, controlling appetite and increasing fat metabolism, the Slimming Formula is a safe and effective way to achieve and maintain your weight.

TA 65

TA 65 is a supplement that can help restore telomere length.  Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences located at the ends of chromosomes.  Telomeres are responsible for maintaining the integrity of our DNA and play a role in cell aging.  Every time a cell divides the telomeres get shorter and when they become critically short, the cell no longer functions properly and dies.  A Nobel Prize was awarded for the discovery of the role of telomeres in aging and cell death.  Telomerase is the enzyme that maintains telomere length in order to prevent cell death.  TA65 is the only proven telomerase activator on the market.  It is a single small molecule obtained by ultra purifying and concentrating one of the many bioactive compounds found in the astragalus root.  When the telomerase gene is activated it adds new DNA onto the ends of telomeres thus lengthening  the shortened telomeres.  TA65 is a telomerase activator, which has the ability to activate the telomerase gene to create telomerase.  This causes the telomeres to grow longer which allows cells to continue to divide and proliferate.  TA 65 was launched in 2007 as a dietary supplement to maintain and improve telomere length and inhibit accelerated aging.  Research has shown a wide range of health benefits including improvements in skin elasticity, bone health and insulin balance.  It is one of the only supplements that not just stops the clock, but reverses it!  There is actually a blood test which can be run to check your telomere length so you can see where you stand before and throughout treatment.

UPDATE:  We have added Megaresveratrol, please see the link for more information.

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The Aesthetic Clinique
2050 West County Highway 30A Suite 114
Santa Rosa Beach, Fl 32459
Phone: 850-622-1214

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