Anti-Aging Skin Regimen

Posted on November 21, 2011 by admin

I am frequently asked about the best combination of skin care products for particular skin conditions or skin care goals. This is first of a promised four -part series of blog posts, and this week’s subject is a popular one: anti-aging.

As you may know, medical grade treatments sold through doctors offices are made with stronger active ingredients than those sold over the counter in drug stores. The most important step is to start and end every day with a clean face, which means washing your face when you get up in the morning and before you go to sleep.

However, it is difficult to determine which cleansers work the most effectively without drying your face out. For those with sensitive skin, I generally recommend using Chamomile Cleanser. For all others, Salicylic Face And Body Wash works best.

After washing, I recommend applying Vita Soothe followed by Ultra Benefits. These products will moisturize the skin and protect it from the drying effects of changes in humidity in the environment.

Of course, with it currently being winter (and a harsh one at that, particularly here in Maine), it is very easy to forget this next step. However, before going out the door every day, rain or shine, no matter what time of year, put on your Daily Replenishing SPF 30+ Sunblock to protect yourself from the debilitating effects of the sun.

At the end of the day and after washing up, use Vita Soothe and Multi-Complex Night Creme (my wife’s favorite). These products specifically help to actively reduce signs of aging, such as wrinkles, while you sleep. For those who have already started developing wrinkles, several more products are available to help to combat the effects of aging.

Wri-Lax is a topical peptide that helps to relax the muscles and mimics the effects of Botox although only for short periods of time. For those who use Botox, regular Wri-Lax can prolong the time between Botox injections allowing “more bang for the buck”.

Ultra Firming Eye also helps to erase wrinkles around the eyes, decreasing dark circles and pesky undereye puffiness. Nutra Fill is also an excellent topical filler that helps to smooth deeper wrinkles.

All these treatments contain unique, clinically tested ingredient combinations that create impressive results. Click on the highlighted products to order the recommended medical-grade treatments to look younger and fight the onset and progression of that dreaded aging process.

Next week, I will reveal my “Healthy Skin Regimen”.

Posted in Facial Health, Sun Protection, Youthful Appearance | Leave a comment

SKIN 101

Posted on October 19, 2011 by admin

I have some high school and college students who are among the many readers of this blog, and I am sure that the last thing they want to be reminded about right is class.  Therefore, I was a little reluctant to name this week’s entry “SKIN 101″.  However, while the title may harken unwelcome images of sitting in a classroom, I chose it because it is succinct and to the point.  It also tells you (hopefully) that the information I am giving you is useful, but digestible.  In short, the more you know about your skin, the better you will be able to take care of it.

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and arguably the most important.  We actually cannot live without healthy skin, as it protects us from hostile environments and is the first line of defense against toxins and bacteria.  The skin keeps you hydrated, and plays a vital role in your immune system.

The skin heals its own wounds, controls loss of heat, cools the body when necessary, and produces vitamin D for your bones.  Glands within the skin produce oil that keeps the skin moist.  The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, consists of millions of epithelial cells in many layers.  New epithelial cells are formed every day in the deeper layers of the epidermis, and then they grow upwards to the surface to replace the older cells.  However, not all those cells get removed.  As they accumulate, the skin gradually looks older over time.

Anti-aging and skin-resurfacing technologies, such as Fraxel, remove the top layer of damaged older epithelial cells that are not replaced naturally.  Because the deeper, newer and healthier epithelial cells look better, the resurfaced skin has a healthy fresh glow.  The epidermis is a living and growing layer which can regenerate and renew itself, but applying topical products and laser technology to it regularly can help prevent and correct aging changes.

The next layer of skin beneath the epidermis is called the dermis.  The dermis is the pink layer of the skin that carries the blood vessels and provides the structural support for the outer layers.  The support structure consists of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.  Collagen and elastin are produced by special cells within the dermis called fibroblasts.  These cells are stimulated by Fraxel and other deeply penetrating lasers to produce more collagen.  Fibroblasts slow down in their production of collagen with age and when damaged by smoking and ultraviolet radiation.

A damaged dermis can cause striking changes associated with aging, especially on the face.  The loss of the skin’s basic foundation layer results in the wrinkling and sagging commonly attributed to the aging process.  Stimulating the fibroblasts to produce more collagen and replacing the foundation with hyaluronic acid fillers (Restylane, Juvederm) can start the process of reversing the damage.  As I frequently say to patients, we can turn back the clock on your appearance, although we still cannot stop the clock of aging.

I hope this basic outline of the skin structure does not conjure up images of a classroom, but rather helps you better understand how the skin works and how the latest technology can help undo some of the damage caused by the sun and the aging process.  In the future, I will try to fill in some other details about the structure and mechanics of the skin.

But for now, class is dismissed!

Posted in Acne, Facial Health, Sun Protection, Youthful Appearance | Leave a comment

Six Steps To Looking (Not Just Feeling) Younger

Posted on October 10, 2011 by admin

I have noticed that female patients who come in for any aesthetic treatment here at Maine Laser Skin Care are most especially aware of their bodies and care about their health.  They realize that being healthy on the inside improves their outer appearance.  As much as laser treatments help, they are not the finite solutions to improved cosmetic health.

That’s why a recent report on women’s health published on WebMD highlighted six simple, but important, steps for women of all ages to look and feel younger.   No matter how many candles were on your last birthday cake (or your next one for that matter), you can feel stronger, more youthful, and energized by implementing these measures:

#1: Bone Up

To keep a good posture and maintain your spine and hips in strong condition, women of all ages need at least 1200 milligrams of calcium per day, especially after menopause.  If you lack adequate dairy intake in your diet as is the case in many women, you need to take a calcium supplement to hit that milligram target.  Taking vitamin D at a dose of at least 1000 units per day is also essential.   Fortunately, many calcium supplements include vitamin D, as do multivitamins.

#2: Ban the Tan

This advice should be familiar to anyone who has listened to my advice or read my newsletters or blog.  As you get older, the drawbacks to youthful golden tans are frequently extra lines, spots and wrinkles.  In addition, the increased risk of skin cancer is real.   It’s never too early, or too late, to stop the sun damage with sunblocks, or simply by staying out of the sun whenever possible.  Of course, to erase some of the previous damage, Maine Laser Skin Care offers a wide range of treatments.

#3: Take Care of Your Heart

It does no good to look young if your heart is damaged.  Heart disease is the biggest killer of women, and a big cause of disability in heart attack survivors.  Heart risk factors including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and abdominal fat.  However, twenty to thirty minutes of moderate exercise every day can cut your heart disease risk in half, even if that exercise is taking a long walk in the morning.  The heart is a muscle.  Therefore, use it or lose it!

#4: Hit the Sack

While you sleep, your body, specifically your skin, regenerates faster than when you are awake.  That may be why they call it “beauty sleep”.  Also, people who sleep seven to eight hours per night are less likely to be overweight and/or depressed, and are generally healthier.

#5: Mind Your Memory

The brain is a very important part of your overall health.  Just like your muscles, your brain can benefit from a workout.  A cognitive fitness program includes doing a crossword or sudoku puzzle, learning a new language, or going to a museum.

#6: You Are What You Eat

Drinking lots of fluids and eating smaller and more frequent meals with lower carbohydrate and total calorie content can help you lose weight.  A healthy diet makes for a healthy body and healthy-looking skin.

Take good care of your body internally and you will feel good.  As a side benefit, you will look better externally.  Keep up the good work on the steps above, and you will age at your best.  Give Becky a call at (207) 873-2158 to set up a free consultation anytime to discuss any of your skin care needs.  Also, don’t forget to check the monthly specials on the website, and check out our webpage for updates on monthly specials or info on other skin topics within the Maine Laser blog.

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Wrinkle Erasing For Beginners

Posted on October 5, 2011 by admin

You may have noticed laugh lines that don’t go away anymore once you stop laughing.  You may have noticed furrow lines between your eyes or over your forehead even when you aren’t frowning or worried.  You may have noticed that your skin texture just isn’t the same after years of too much sun.

For all of us as we grow older, there is a point where a good night’s sleep and skin creams bought in the drugstore or from an infomercial are not sufficient to keep us looking as young and refreshed as we would like.  Many people turn to me for help in turning back the clock to improve their appearance.  Some want to just feel better about themselves, while others want to stay more competitive in a workplace that is increasingly youth-oriented.

Many people are turned off by the concept of facelifts and plastic surgery, as they should be because of the potential dangers such procedures bring.  Others see the widening array of minimally-invasive treatments that are now socially acceptable and financially accessible.  While the number of facelifts in the US fell 23% last year, Botox injections increased 3.8% to 2.6 million.  My use of Botox at Maine Laser Skin Care is up at least 10% from this time last year.

Dermal fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm and Radiesse can be used to plump lips, fill smile lines and decrease the volume loss of collagen that follows longterm skin damage and the aging process.  Many aesthetic specialists feel that injections of fillers can replace the collagen loss and delay the need for considering facelifts.

Last but not least, laser treatments, especially the use of Fraxel, can improve the superficial appearance of skin color and tone while also stimulating collagen production.  Increasing collagen will smooth the skin from the inside out while also improving the appearance of scars, especially acne scars.

From Botox to dermal fillers to Fraxel, Maine Laser Skin Care has treatments for real rejuvenation of your skin.  Give Becky a call at (207) 873-2158 to set up a free consultation anytime to discuss any of your skin care needs.  Also, be sure to check out our webpage for updates on monthly specials or info on other skin topics within the Maine Laser blog.

Posted in Facial Health, Youthful Appearance | Leave a comment

Got Eyelashes? Get Latisse For Less

Posted on August 15, 2011 by admin
I have written extensively in past newsletters about Latisse’s stimulation of eyelash growth and how it works. Just like Botox, there are some that are still skeptical as to whether or not Latisse is right for them. Fortunately, also like Botox, Maine Laser Skin Care is offering Latisse for a discount, so you can try it without breaking the bank.

From now through November 30, 2011, if you are a Brilliant Distinctions member, you will receive a $25 rebate when you buy Latisse. If you are not yet a Brilliant Distinctions member, read all about its benefits here. It is really easy to join, and Becky can help you sign up.

Additionally, we at Maine Laser Skin Care have a limited number of buy one-get one free Latisse sets available. We have 10 to offer, and they are on a first come-first serve basis. Call Becky as soon as possible to reserve your Latisse, and get the initial consult if you haven’t used Latisse before.

Finally, we had an incredible response to our 50% Botox offer. The phone rang off the hook on the Monday morning after we sent out the e-newsletter. We booked all three days of the Botox offer within 48 hours, which says a lot about the extent and responsiveness of our mailing list. Thank you all for your enthusiastic responses to our e-mails, and we encourage you to continue to spread the great word-of-mouth to your family and friends.
Posted in News, Other, Special Offers, Youthful Appearance | Leave a comment

Got Botox?

Posted on August 7, 2011 by admin

Becky and I recently met with the New England representative of Allergan, the company that makes Botox, Juvederm and Latisse.  Although Botox use has continued to grow slowly across the country since 2008 (5-6% per year), Maine Laser Skin Care has seen Botox use increase an average of over 25% per year among patients.  This number includes repeat customers and newcomers.  In fact, so far this year, we are 50% over last year’s rate of Botox use.
 
In recognition of these outstanding numbers, Allergan has rewarded us, and you, with “preferred pricing”.  This means that we will offer you, experienced and notive Botox users alike, 50% Off Botox For 3 Days Only this month!
 
This offer is good by appointment only.  The preferred pricing 50% off Botox days (and locations) will be:
 

  • Friday, August 19th, 2011 in Vassalboro
     
  • Wednesday, August 24th,2011 in Augusta
     
  • Friday, August 26th, 2011 in Vassalboro
     

If you are due for a Botox treatment,  have been wanting or meaning to try it, or have a friend or family member who wants in, this is a truly golden opportunity for you all.  If you’re still not sure if Botox is right for you, read all about its benefits in our blog.
 
Give Becky a call at (207) 873-2158 ASAP to book an appointment.  These are the only days we are allowed to offer this pricing.  Once appointments book up for these three days, the offer ends.
 
Also, if you are interested in Juvederm as a dermal filler, be on the lookout for the next newsletter.  Information concerning special pricing on Juvederm for the remainder of August will be on its way to you soon.

Posted in Botox, News, Special Offers | Leave a comment

Take Care Of Those Leg Veins

Posted on July 20, 2011 by admin

 

“Spider vein” is the unpleasant name for the unsightly small blood vessel that appears on the surface of the legs.  These vessels can be red, blue, or even purple depending on the size and amount of blood within the vessel.  Many women attribute spider veins to pregnancy, but they are just as common in women who have never been pregnant.  Men can also develop leg veins.

Spider veins are also sometimes called “broken capillaries”.  However, while they are frequently very small in diameter, they are not actually “broken”.  These small blood vessels dilate or enlarge, and become more visible as a result.  They enlarge due to increased pressure within the vessel such as pregnancy, as mentioned above, or prolonged standing.  Spider veins also become more prominent with age due to damage to the soft tissues and thinning of the skin over time.

However, there are many way spider veins can be treated.  Prevention is primarily focused on decreasing the pressure within the blood vessels.  Without a doctor’s support or supervision, simple leg elevation when possible helps.  Compression stockings (such as TED stockings) or a graduated pressure hose can also be used in occupations that require prolonged standing.  Those of you who are nurses, teachers, and retail workers should especially keep these tips in mind.

Ultimately, when spider veins present themselves, especially in very visible areas below the skirt or short lines, doctor-approved treatment will be needed to eradicate them.  In the past, doctors used sclerotherapy extensively, which involves injecting a sclerosing agent such as highly concentrated saline into the skin.  This chemical then causes irritation of the vessel lining which causes the vessel to collapse.  The injection has to be very precise because if the sclerosing agent gets into the soft tissue surrounding the blood vessel, scarring can occur

Not surprisingly, laser treatments of spider veins are becoming increasingly popular because they do not involve injection or scarring.  The laser literally heats up the blood within the vessel, which then induces the collapse of the vessel.  The body’s immune system then kicks in and reabsorbs the blood and the wall of the vessel itself.  Such an effect is similar to the skin’s reaction to a bruise.  The extent of the spider veins will determine the length of the individual treatment time and the number of treatments needed.  An initial consult can allow me to give a ballpark figure of the number of treatments, length of time involved, and associated cost.

As mentioned in the title, the fall and winter are good times to treat spider veins to prepare for next summer, a winter cruise, or a trip down south.  Give Becky a call at (207) 873-2158 to set up a free leg vein consultation. Don’t forget to follow Maine Laser Skin Care on twitter and Facebook.  Also, check out our webpage for updates on monthly specials or info on other skin topics within the Maine Laser blog.

Posted in Laser Treatments, Other, Youthful Appearance | Leave a comment

Expanding The Canvas

Posted on June 23, 2011 by admin

 

I spend the most time giving facial treatments to patients here at Maine Laser Skin Care above other procedures.  Many of my patients want to improve their appearances by reducing wrinkles, fill lines, and lessen sun-damage including visible spider veins and uneven skin tone.  As patients become more satisfied with non-invasive techniques to “turn back the hands of time” on their faces, interest in treating other areas of the body increases.

While many patients say that their faces now look younger, they simultaneously notice how much sun damage or photo-aging they have over other areas of their bodies, such as their hands, neck, and decolletage area (or upper chest, below the neck).  Since much of what I do for treatments is improve people’s aesthetic appearance, I frequently feel like an artist, hence the name of this article. Dealing with other areas of the body other than the face is “expanding the canvas”.

Botox or fillers in general do not work well to treat non-facial areas.  So which type of treatment do I use?  If there is one problem in a non-facial region that needs treatment, such as broken blood vessels, darkened “age spots” or melasma, I use a specific wavelength of laser for that skin problem.  If there is more than one type of skin damage combined with wrinkling and loss of collagen, Fraxel skin resurfacing usually works best.  Since the skin differs in thickness and sensitivity in different areas,  I have to vary the strength and depth of the Fraxel treatment.

The top, or dorsum, of the hands is easiest to treat.  Removing age spots, or “liver” spots as they are sometimes called, can restore a youthful appearance to the hands relatively quickly.  If I need to treat multiple age spots and volume loss over the hands, I use the Fraxel laser because it is the most effective long term treatment.

The neck is the most common area treated besides the face.  Many women have residual discoloration of melasma during or following pregnancy, age spots from years of sun exposure, and loss of skin volume and elasticity.  Again, I have had very good success with Fraxel on the neck.  Following treatment, almost all women notice improved appearance combined with a tightened feel and look to the skin of the area.

In the spring, as more women begin wearing fashions that exposes the upper chest, this area, also known as the decolletage area, becomes a very popular area of treatment.  Since the skin in this region is thinner, the Fraxel laser does not need to be as strong as on the face, and improvements develop faster.  Of course, as with all areas, sunblock needs to be generously and religiously used to avoid long term skin damage, even when summer has ended.

The abdomen and especially “stretch marks” can also be treated with Fraxel.  Since stretch marks are actually scars caused by stretching of the skin with pregnancy or weight, the Fraxel will improve the superficial discoloration while also rebuilding collagen below the surface, which will tighten and thin the scar making it less visible.  Fraxel also has a great website about that specific technology including “before and after” pictures of many typical conditions in many areas of the body.

I hope that I have opened your eyes to more of the other possibilities of laser and aesthetic treatments beyond the face.  The canvas of your skin can be treated with these expanding technologies in this exciting and expanding area of medicine.  If you have any questions about our treatments, feel free to call us at (207) 873-2158 or visit our web page.

P.S.–Another point I have emphasized in my blog: Don’t forget your sunblock! See our featured products.

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Melasma: The Tan That Doesn’t Want To Go Away

Posted on June 6, 2011 by admin

 

A lot of people, particularly certain Mainers who go on vacation somewhere hot like Florida, come home with a tan, and get mad during the wintertime when that tan fades, may find the idea of a tan that doesn’t want to go away appealing.  However, you may want to think twice about contracting melasma.  Keep reading.

Melasma is an abnormal hyperpigmentation, or darkening, of the facial skin that occurs in many women.  This condition occurs commonly during times of hormonal change and particularly in pregnancy where it is referred to as “mother’s mask”.  I have seen cases associated with all types of oral contraceptives, both starting and stopping the pill.  Nobody really knows why it occurs in some women and not others, but there does appear a correlation between increases in estrogen levels making the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light.

Melasma does not occur without UV light exposure, and appears to occur more in women who tend to tan more easily.  Melasma tends to be a blotchy darkening and tends to be symmetrical, although I have certainly seen many cases where one side was much worse than the other.  Occasionally the skin color will fade after delivery.  Unfortunately though, it does not tend to go away completely.

In the past, fading creams that contain a bleaching agent known as hydroquinone have been prescribed to combat melasma.  I personally don’t like to use this agent, as it has been banned in Europe due to concerns about association with skin cancer when used long-term.  The FDA in the U.S. is also considering banning its use here at home.

Laser treatment, on the other hand, does have a significant place in the treatment of melasma, and I have seen some amazing results from it firsthand.  The key is using a superficial laser that will not damage the underlying skin and make the discoloration worse.  This condition is known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.  I use a 532 nanometer laser with settings that target the discoloration in the very superficial layers of the skin.  The color is initially darker for several days, and I always warn patients about this phenomenon.  But then, in the next 2-3 days, a light peeling of the skin occurs which lightens the area.  This is followed by a 2-3 week period of more gradual lightening which is thought to be from the body’s immune cells reabsorbing some of the damaged melanocytes deeper in the skin.  After about a month, another laser treatment is generally needed to continue lightening further and more permanently.

The number of treatments depends on the darkness of the skin, the surface area involved, and how long the darkening has been present.  Most melasma patients are satisfied with the degree of lightening they see in 3-5 treatments.  The most important preventive measure is to limit ultraviolet exposure as much as possible with daily (even on cloudy days) sunblock of at least SPF 30.  Big floppy hats and strategic sun visor usage are also helpful, as long as your skin stays out of the sun for prolonged periods of time.

If anyone you know has this problem, let them know that there are treatments.  I have had many patients who have been able to stop using heavy concealing makeup and not be self-conscious about their faces with the help of these therapies.  Give Becky a call at (207) 873-2158 to discuss further or to set up a consultation.

Posted in Laser Treatments, Other, Sun Protection, Youthful Appearance | Leave a comment

More Heat On Tanning Beds

Posted on May 16, 2011 by admin

 

The International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organization (WHO), recently released studies that classify tanning, specifically indoor tanning beds, as a “definite human carcinogen”.  In other words, they put indoor tanning in the same category as smoking when it comes to long-term damage.  In their report, they included a 2006 analysis that showed that people who tanned indoors before the age of 30 increased their risk of developing melanoma by 75%.  Other studies cited also showed that the use of indoor tanning had risen from 1% of teens in 1998 to 27% in 2008.

Armed with the information, New York health officials are drafting regulations for the more than 2000 tanning locations in the Empire State (most of which are probably in New York City).  The American Cancer Society chapter in New York is pushing for a ban on exposure to indoor tanning for anyone under 18.  A spokespersion for the group stated, “While we’re not claiming that people get addicted to tanning the same way you do to nicotine, it is clearly a habit that you develop as a teenager.  That’s when most people start frequenting these cancer chambers.”   New York currently bans tanning under 14 and requires written parental consent for ages 14 to 18.  32 states currently regulate tanning by minors, and 20 states are considering banning it for minors altogether.

Obviously, you all know how I feel on this subject.  I highlight these recent facts not to say “I told you so”, but rather to emphasize the point that tanning booths are a bigger problem than most people realize.  Of course, for ultraviolet light we can’t avoid, like the summer sun, I still strongly recommend using sunblock.

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