Repair (and Even Reverse) Signs of Sun Damage

source: http://www.skincancer.org/healthy-lifestyle/anti-aging/repair-and-even-reverse-signs-of-sun-damage

Are you concerned about wrinkles, brown spots, and leathery skin? Following some simple guidelines from The Skin Cancer Foundation can help you repair and possibly even reverse these signs of skin aging, up to 90 percent of which are caused by the sun.

Overexposure to the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet (UV) light can also lead to skin cancer and precancers like actinic keratoses (AKs). Since sun damage accumulates over time, it’s never too late to start a sun protection regimen.

Although most people know enough to wear sunscreen when the sun is beating down, “Protecting your skin from the sun does not end with the summer months,” says Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD, a New York City dermatologist and educational spokesperson for The Skin Cancer Foundation. “By carefully practicing sun protection year-round, you can prevent further sun damage and may even reverse some of the damage already done.”

To help stop or even reverse sun damage to the skin:
1.
Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Sunscreen is one of the keys to radiant, youthful-looking skin. Daily use may even lower your long-term risk of skin cancer. By reducing your daily sun exposure, sunscreen allows your skin time to heal and your immune system the chance to repair some existing damage.

2.
Exfoliate. The buildup of stratum corneum (the dead, outermost skin cell layer) can make skin appear blotchy and uneven. Also, remnants of self-tanning products can collect in typically dry areas (such as the elbows), causing the skin to lose its luster and appear “dirty.” Loofahs, scrubs, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA)* cleansers, and home microdermabrasion kits (in which tiny crystals are sprayed on the skin) can remove dead skin cells, leaving skin looking smoother.

3.
Bleach the brown spots. Skin lightener does not actually make the skin white; it simply helps to lighten accumulations of unwanted color. Dr. Sarnoff recommends using an over-the-counter product that contains kojic acid in combination with hydroquinone, Retin-A*, and a mild steroid cream, which is useful for stubborn brown spots and blotchy brown discoloration.

4.
Hydrate. Summer exposure to sun, chlorine, and salt water can dry out your skin – even the heels of your feet can be affected. Try a hand and body cream, and, for the heels, a moisturizing foot cream. A moisturizer with AHA or facial serum with hyaluronic acid can plump up dry skin around the eyes, making skin instantly appear less wrinkled. Continued use may help stimulate the production of new collagen, a protein that helps give skin its texture and appearance.

5.
Try a light-emitting diode (LED). Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are electronic light sources, and some home units are available. Dr. Sarnoff recommends a low energy LED called the Tanda, which can help promote collagen production, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and improve acne.

6.
Visit a dermatologist. Professional laser treatments can improve everything from blotchiness and discoloration to wrinkles. Photodynamic therapy – laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) in combination with a topical solution known as Levulan (aminolevulinic acid) – can remove scaly patches of actinic keratoses from your skin.

* These products can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Use with caution! For more information about sun sensitivity, please see this article.

Skin Care by Donna: An Organic Skin Spa

“Devoted to helping you look and feel beautiful!”

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What is Sonophoresis?

 

Get fast results, with Sonophoresis treatments!

Sonophoresis is a process that rapidly increases the absorption of topical compounds ~ driving them deep into the layers of the skin to target early signs of aging, dehydration, acne, photo damage, pigmentation and poor skin texture.

Sonophoresis stimulates the tissues of the skin, producing micro-capillary circulation created by sound waves up to 28,000 cycles per second, ensuring optimal delivery of moisture and nutrients. Sonophoresis can increase absorption up to 1000 times!

This treatment is comfortable and painless. Clients do not feel the sound wave vibrations.
Skin Care by Donna offers Sonophoresis / Ultrasound Product Infusion with the use of Vitamin C, Customized Topical Serums and moisturizers.

*A professional skincare consultation is required prior to this treatment.
We offers FREE consultations. Call us at 352-678-6043 or message us here!

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6 Easy New Year’s Resolutions for Your Skin

1.  Never skip your skin routine at night.  It is critical to remove all traces of dirt, debris and makeup each night.  Look for a cleanser that also removes your makeup.

2.  Schedule regular facials.  Monthly facials deep clean your skin, prevent signs of aging, and improve imperfections.  Commit to following your home care recommendations as well for maximum benefits.

3.  If you’re over 35…..add an anti-aging serum to your routine. The active ingredients in a serum will bring anti-oxidants to the skin and stimulate cell renewal.  Prevention is always easier than repair.

4.  Commit to using sunscreen daily.  Everyday. And reapply as directed.

5.  If you wear foundation…..add a primer.  Primer will provide a smooth canvas for better makeup application.  Applying primer also locks in your serum and moisturizer so they work more effectively.

6.  Always follow directions on your skin care exactly.  Use the recommended amounts…don’t skimp or you will not receive the true benefits of your products.  Leaving a product on longer than instructed does not make it work better.

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Overnight Skin Care

After a day of coming in contact with harsh environmental conditions, our skin has been exposed to a lot of harmful elements. Over time this can result in damage to the skin and cause pre-mature aging. Because of the harm, it is important to take care of your skin. The benefits of a night skin care routine include improving skin tone and color, reducing skin blemishes, and hydrating and rejuvenating the skin. Establishing a night skin care routine will allow the skin to breathe, heal, and restore to a healthy young glow

At night, skin experiences several changes:

• Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) increases, causing the skin’s protective hydrolipid barrier to weaken, allowing for greater penetration of active ingredients.
• The skin’s own natural antioxidant levels increase.
• Skin repairs from the day’s damage from exposure to environmental aggressors, such as UV rays, smog, nicotine, etc. and rejuvenates itself.
• Stress hormones decrease during sleep, so the skin is better able to repair itself.
• Oil production is two times lower at night than during the day.

The time that the body spends sleeping is one of regeneration. It is the time that your body can undo a lot of the harm that you encounter during the day, and it is this time that a night cream can attempt to manage the harm done to your skin. While a day cream is suited towards protection, guarding you from the various effects of your environment, including harsh light from the sun and pollutants you may encounter, a night cream should be oriented towards healing what you encountered in the time available.

What are the benefits of a dedicated nighttime skin care plan?

Night creams and serums are especially designed to improve your skin while you sleep. Packed with vitamins and active moisturizing ingredients, night creams or serums are especially beneficial for those past the age of 30 when skin begins to show the first signs of aging. That’s the time when fine lines appear, the skin becomes drier and less elastic, and skin begins to look dull and patchy.

In your 30s, opt for an anti-aging eye cream. In your 40s, night is a good time to apply your anti-wrinkle cream.  It’s important to avoid applying eye cream too close to the lash line as the product will actually end up in your eyes, picked up by your eyelashes. Every time you blink the hairs will lift microscopic amounts of product and it can eventually deposit into your eyes.  Anything that enters the eyes can be an obvious irritant and cause unnecessary puffiness

Use products with performance ingredients – During the day your skin requires environmental-protecting ingredients but at night when your skin is regenerating, look for repair, exfoliating and anti-inflammatory ingredients.

-Repair ingredients like glycolic acid, retinol, Peptides,and Red Marine Algae to encourage collagen activity.
–Exfoliation to stimulate new, healthy skin cell growth while removing surface dry skin cells. Skin rejuvenation is all about “out with the old, in with the new.”
-Soothing ingredients like White Tea Extract and Azulene to provide anti-inflammatory relief.

Get your beauty sleep – There is no doubt that getting enough sleep every night can offer many skin benefits. Sleep can reduce dark circles because a lack of sleep compromises your body’s circulatory system and you get stagnant blood in the vessels under the eyes because it hasn’t properly drained. Lack of sleep also causes the skin to look pale and tired because the circulation has been impaired. In addition, it’s important to get a good night’s sleep because sleep deprivation also causes stress, which can aggravate all skin conditions, including acne, eczema and psoriasis. Bottom line: when you’re tired, you look it!

Last but not least,

 Change your pillowcases frequently – Why? Bacteria and oil may get reintroduced into the skin when you sleep so it’s always suggested for acne-prone skin to have a fresh, clean pillowcase to sleep on.

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How to Look Great at Any Age

As a general rule of thumb, here is what you should know to care for skin at any age:  

30s: In your 30s, your skin loses its ability to retain water as it once did. Its renewal powers also slow down and it starts producing less collagen and elastin. Due to these factors, fine lines can start to develop, skin tone can turn dull and skin can begin to obtain a rough texture. Another common problem for this age group is increased skin sensitivity or conditions like rosacea.

40s: When we are in our 40’s, the aging process becomes more evident. You are more likely to have wrinkles and deep-set lines caused by exposure to the sun, pollution and stress. Skin also loses some of its elasticity. You may experience dry, chapped skin and discoloration. Try to avoid sun exposure and use other products to minimize the effects of aging before they become too difficult to get rid of!

50s: As you enter your 50’s, your skin has also gone through five decades of wear and tear and will show clear signs of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, age spots and more. It’s time to acknowledge that you can’t get back the flawless skin of the past, but you can take steps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines. To keep your skin looking luminous, try updating your skin care routine, invest in effective anti-aging products and make sure you moisturize.

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Facials at Home

Here are a collection of recipes to make and use at home:

For All Skin Types

Brighten: Cut a slice of ripe papaya and remove the seeds and pulp (save the pulp for a snack later—it’s great for digestion). Rub the inside of the papaya peel on your cleansed face, focusing on lines around the mouth and eyes, crow’s feet, thinning temples, neck and hands. Let it dry for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse with tepid water. This mask can be done twice a week. The enzymes in papaya exfoliate, repair sun damage, diminish age spots and smooth skin. Your skin will look brighter, with a more polished finish.

 

Exfoliate: Combine 1 tsp honey and 1 tsp olive oil. Separately, prepare a packet of plain oatmeal, using less water than called for so it forms a thick paste. Next, add the honey and olive oil mixture to the cooked oatmeal. Apply as a scrub, gently rubbing it in small circles over your skin, avoiding the eye area. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry. This mask can be done twice weekly. The oatmeal in this scrub exfoliates, while the honey and olive oil moisturize.

 

Cleanse: Oils can make an excellent cleanser.  For this facial, combine 1 Tbsp plain Greek yogurt with 2 tsp olive oil and 1/2 tsp lemon oil (not to be confused with lemon juice; lemon oil is an essential oil that can be found at health food stores). The mixture should be a little bit runny but not easily poured out. Massage it over skin, then immediately wipe it off with a washcloth soaked in tepid water. This can be done daily. You want to use good-quality oil and you’ll be surprised at how clean your skin will feel.  You don’t need a harsher product, even for skin with acne. Just be careful around the eye area as this recipe tends to be very sticky.

For Oil- and Blemish-Prone Skin

Lift & Tighten: Combine 2 Tbsp plain yogurt with 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (the juice of one lemon) and apply to your cleansed face and neck. Let it dry for 20 to 30 minutes. You’ll feel the mask tighten on your face and neck, which creates a lifting and firming effect. Leave it on longer (up to one hour) for even more face-lifting effects. Once done, rinse with tepid water followed by a cool rinse. This mask can be done two to three times a week or whenever you need a face lift. This instant face-lifting mask helps fade age-spots, acne scars and even helps keep blemishes and acne in check. It also gets rid of uneven-looking skin tone.

Tone: This toning eye treatment helps to de-puff, relax, refresh and energize your skin. It’s much more cooling than the traditional cucumber slices.  After cleansing your skin, brew a cup of chamomile or green tea and allow it to cool. Then soak two clean, round makeup sponges in the tea and squeeze out any excess liquid. Place one on each of your eyes for 15 minutes. Do this daily. You should use an alcohol-free toner on your skin to cleanse and tighten pores.  Alcohol is very detrimental, and tea works just as well.

 

 

For Dry Skin

Soothe: Combine 2 Tbsp honey with 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Apply to your clean face and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with tepid water followed by a cool rinse. This can be done three times a week. This mask heals, moisturizes and balances the pH of the skin. Honey is a humectant and natural antibiotic that heals and moisturizes. Apple cider vinegar helps balance the pH of skin and soothes damaged skin.

 

Moisturize: Try oatmeal and fennel to help moisturize dry skin. Grind 1 Tbsp oatmeal in a blender and set aside. Add 1 Tbsp fennel seeds to 1/2 cup boiling water to make a tea. Allow the seeds to steep for 10 minutes; strain the seeds and discard. Let it cool down to room temperature and then combine 1 Tbsp of the fennel tea with 1 Tbsp ground oatmeal and 1 Tbsp honey. Apply the mixture to your clean face and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with tepid water followed by a cool rinse. This mask can be done twice weekly.

 

Brighten: Combine 2 Tbsp sour cream with 2 Tbsp honey and 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Apply to your cleansed face and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with tepid water followed by a cool (not cold) rinse. This mask can be done twice a week. This mask heals, exfoliates, brightens and moisturizes skin. It refines pores, fades acne marks and prevents blemishes from coming up.

 

 

 

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Microdermabrasion

 

 

Microdermabrasion treatments make use of a minimally abrasive instrument to gently sand the skin, removing the thicker, uneven outer layer. This type of skin rejuvenation is used to treat light scarring, discoloration and sun damage and there’s even microdermabrasion for stretch marks.

There are two kinds of microdermabrasion treatments. One approach involves a hand-held device that streams tiny crystals across your skin. An attached vacuum simultaneously suctions those exfoliating crystals back into the machine, along with the dead or loosened skin. The newer approach uses a diamond-tip wand that is gently moved across your skin to exfoliate.

Each treatment will last about a half hour. You may feel a mild scratching as the procedure removes the superficial skin cells. Additionally, you’ll notice a vibrating sensation similar to a massage. There is also a vacuum mechanism to lift off the dead skin.

Microdermabrasion can:

Eliminate age spots and black heads.

Eliminate hyperpigmentation (patches of darkened skin).

Exfoliate your skin, resulting in a refreshed appearance.

Lessen the appearance of stretch marks.

Reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Reduce or eliminate enlarged pores.

Treat acne and the scars left by acne

 

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SOAP is a 4 Letter Word

The reason that bar soaps are particularly harsh on the skin is because they strip away the healthy, natural oils that the skin produces in order protect it. Many bar soaps strip this necessary oil, damaging the skin. As you know, bacteria thrive in low pH, so soaps with higher pH actually cleanse the skin better. This is for a number of reasons that have to do with the chemical formation of your skin. When skin is cleansed in high pH cleanser, very little, if any, dirt or make up is left behind. This ultimately will make your skin cleaner, smoother, and softer. That is why bar soaps should not be used on the face. Instead use a good cleanser formulated for your skin type.  Facial cleansers are mild and are capable of maintaining the proper pH for your skin.

 

Harmful Effects of Soap on Facial Skin

Alters Normal Skin pH
The normal pH of the skin is between 5.0-5.6. This pH range means that skin’s normal pH is between the acidic and neutral range. Soaps are usually more alkaline in nature owing to their cleansing properties. This alkaline nature is not good for facial skin and tends to make it dull and dry. Facial skin is naturally hydrated with oils that the skin secrets for itself. Using harsh soaps for washing face removes the protective oils from the skin leaving it extremely dry. Excessive dryness triggers the oil glands of the skin to secrete more oils thereby, making it oily. Women with oily skin may find soaps helpful in providing that dry look, but are unaware of the fact that this dryness will further trigger oil secretion by the glands of the facial skin.

Produces Wrinkles
Using soap for cleansing face reduces acidic nature of the skin and its moisture content. The near to acidic pH of the skin is essential to kill bacteria and prevent them from thriving on it, which is lost due to soap. Dryness and dehydration causes development of fine lines which gradually turn into wrinkles. Wrinkles make your facial skin look mature and once this happens, you can do nothing to get back your lively skin.

Reduces the Natural Moisturizing Factor
The natural moisturizing factor is responsible for keeping the skin nourished and moisturized all the time. Skin proteins are a part of the upper layers of the skin. The surface active agents used in soap production bind to these proteins and hydrate them excessively. This results in swelling of proteins which facilitates penetration of soap ingredients deeper into the skin. Strong chemicals coming in contact with deeper layers of the skin cause irritation and itching. After the water evaporates, the proteins are left drier than before, which reduces the natural moisturizing factor of the skin.

Causes Allergic Reactions
Soaps are made up of strong chemicals and not everybody’s facial skin is resistant enough to bear the ill-effects it brings along with it. People with sensitive skin often develop allergic reactions towards some or the other chemical ingredient present in the soap and face undesired consequences. Facial skin is extremely delicate and cannot handle strong chemicals therefore, must be kept away from soap.

May Leave Soap Residue
Using soap for cleansing face can be harmful if one does not wash the face properly after its application. Improper rinsing can leave a layer of soap residue on the skin which can increase its dryness and cause redness along with itchy feeling.

Ultrasonic Facial Treatment

What is an Ultrasonic Facial?

This high-tech facial uses a specialized ultrasonic/ultrasound machine that emits high-frequency waves. Ultrasonic treatments benefit a variety of skin types and can improve many common skin conditions. Your esthetician will customize your ultrasonic facial according to your skin type and skincare needs.

In a treatment, the ultrasonic machine’s high-frequency waves work to:

·           Exfoliate dead skin cells for clear and radiant skin without the redness and irritation that can sometimes result from Microdermabrasion or AHA peels.

·           Loosen and remove oil, dirt and sebum from the pores and hair follicles, resulting in less blackheads and breakouts. Ultrasonic frequency zaps bacteria and decongests the pores. The result? Clear, healthy skin with noticeably tighter pores.

·           Gently stimulates skin to encourage collagen and elastin production. With a series of treatments, fine lines and wrinkles are less noticeable and skin color, tone and texture becomes more even and uniform.

·           Stimulates blood flow and lymphatic drainage through the combination of ultrasound and electrical therapy. This nourishes the skin and gives it a youthful rosy glow.

·           Facilitates hydration and plumps the skin, thereby filling out fine lines and wrinkles.

·           Helps skincare products do their job by penetrating deeper into the skin. This is especially true for anti-aging and antioxidant serums, creams and masks. Unless an active product is pushed deep into the lower levels of the epidermis, it won’t have a lasting, anti-aging impact on the skin.

Have you tried an ultrasonic facial?  Try it today!  This treatment is included with every facial at Skin Care by Donna.  Reserve your appointment today!