What is a Sunburn?

The days are getting longer and it’s hard to resist the sun. We’re outside more often, enjoying our favourite outdoor activities—cycling, walking, running, picnicking and so on.

Although it’s important to be outdoors and participate in fun and exercise, it’s equally essential to be aware of sun exposure. It’s a good time of year to talk about what happens to your skin when you get sunburned.

What is a sunburn?

Sunburns are damage or injury to the skin due to the sun’s radiation. How badly you become burned depends on several factors including how long you were exposed to the sun, location relative to the sun and the level of melanin in your skin.

Skin can also be damaged by UV light, which is a combination of various types of radiation, based on different wavelengths. Many wavelengths of UV rays damage skin, but do not result in a sunburn.

Melanin, or the pigment in your skin that determines the colour of your complexion, scatters and absorbs UV rays. The level of melanin in your skin determines how dark your skin tone is, which is why people with darker skin tones don’t get sunburned as frequently.

Does having a tan protect me from further sun damage?

Having a tan or darker skin does not provide protection from UV rays. It’s really important to know that melanin does not affect the absorption of UV lights, which is a crucial factor in skin cancer.

How can I avoid sunburn?

The answer is simple. Wear sunscreen and take other protective actions against the sun. Despite all the evidence, people still choose not to wear sunscreen.

A broadband sunscreen should be worn every day, all year round. That’s 365 days a year. It’s the most effective protection against the sun’s damaging rays.

Avoiding Sun Exposure

The sun’s UVB rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. or if you live in an area with daylight savings time, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

To protect your skin you should be wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeved shirt. If you’re sitting for any period of time, remain under an umbrella or a large tree. And of course, wear sunscreen and reapply it every two hours that you spend outdoors.

Treating sunburn

If you become sunburned in spite of taking these precautions or you forget to reapply sunscreen or run out, here are some tips to reduce pain and the injury to your skin, and help it heal:

1.    Use tepid or slightly colder water to cool down your skin and apply moisturizer immediately. Sunburned skin has been stripped of moisture and to promote healing, you need to hydrate the skin. Unfortunately, your skin is going to peel eventually, but keep applying moisturizer during this process to maintain hydration.

2.    Use aspirin or another anti-inflammatory to reduce redness—take it as soon as possible after you get sunburn to reduce significant redness.

3.    Pure Aloe Vera Gel – to soothe your skin, use this common treatment.

4.    Natural remedies – ice and cucumbers can provide some relief and cool your skin.

If your skin is burnt badly enough that it starts to blister or even bleed, you should see your doctor as soon as possible to prevent skin infections.

Wedding Day Skin Prep

June is a popular month for weddings. If you’re getting married this month, you’ve likely got most of the wedding details and plans nailed down already. Before you take the proverbial walk down the aisle, here are some tips to get your skin ready for your wedding day.

Healthy skin is beautiful skin

Increase your intake of antioxidants. A glowing complexion starts on the inside. Skin boosting foods include berries, grapes and citrus, so add more of these to your diet.

Hydrate

The #1 tip for gorgeous skin is drinking plenty of water. Ensure your complexion is dewy and glowing by drinking at a minimum eight glasses of water each and every day.

Exfoliate

It’s important to exfoliate on a regular basis to get rid of dull skin. Avoid harsh scrubs that will irritate your skin; instead use a moisturizer containing gentle exfoliants.

If it’s within your budget, have a professional treatment about a week before the big day. If that’s not an affordable option, ask an esthetician for recommendations for products you can use at home, which are suitable for your skin type.

Facials

Again, if it’s affordable and doesn’t break the bank, have a professional facial treatment prior to your wedding date.

Don’t over do it

Be gentle with your skin. Over-applying anti-aging or skin care products in an attempt to do a quick fix can lead to irritation, redness and breakouts. This isn’t the time to start a brand new skin care regime, which your skin may need to adjust to for a few weeks.

Wedding Day Skin Prep II

As your big day approaches, it’s best not to overdo it in the hopes of a quick fix. Piling on acne treatments, skin clearing products or trying out new anti-aging treatments can lead to irritated skin and possibly worsen skin conditions.

Your skin needs time to adjust to new treatments. Certain skin care products ingredients like glycolic acid, retinol and salicylic acid can irritate your complexion for the first few weeks of use.

Here are some suggested pre-wedding day treatments:

Chemical Peel

If you feel like your skin is dull-looking, try a chemical peel. A peel is a wonderful treatment to remove dead skin cells so bright newer skin appears. It is also an excellent treatment for fine lines and dark spots, so your complexion is more even in tone.

A word of caution—even light peels should be tested out on your skin a few months before your wedding. Deep peels should be tried out at least six months before, and if you have great results, you could do another one closer to the day. The procedure can cause redness and flaking skin during the rejuvenation process, so it’s important to try a peel out several months in advance.

Botox® And Fillers

Planning to include Botox and/or Fillers in your pre-wedding beauty regime?

If your plan includes a Botox treatment, schedule it at least one month before your wedding date to allow time for any bruising to dissipate and to allow the full effects of the procedure to appear. If you bruise easily, give yourself six weeks to recover. If you’ve never tried Botox before, it’s best to test it six months before your wedding to see how you react. A repeat treatment can be scheduled closer to the day if you’re happy with the results.

For a plan that includes Dermal Skin Fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane, three weeks pre-wedding is recommended. Occasionally there is some puffiness and tenderness post-injection, so give yourself a few weeks for your skin to calm down.

Your Wedding Day Skin Plan

The key to having the best skin possible on your wedding day is to plan ahead. Try to schedule your appointments well in advance so you ensure you get the skin care advice and treatments that you want and that are best suited to your needs.

October – The perfect month to renew your Skin

After spending the summer outdoors, enjoying the heat, it’s time to think about undoing some of the damage your skin has accumulated from the sun’s rays. Freckles plus brown and red spots – also known as age or sun spots – add up to older looking skin.

Clear, younger looking skin is just a few treatments away with an IPL PhotoRejuvenation treatment. This non-invasive approach reduces the appearance of sun-damaged skin and is effective in reducing or eliminating age spots.

What areas can be treated?

• Face
• Chest
• Shoulders
• Arm
• Hands
• Freckles
• Photo damage
• Diffuse redness
• Tiny veins
• Hyper-pigmentation and brown spots
• Appearance of rosacea (but will not remove it entirely)

What can I expect during treatment?

During an IPL treatment, you’ll wear special eyewear that protects your eyes from the light beam of the laser. The treatment area will be prepared for the laser by spreading an anesthetic cream over the face or area to be treated.

During the treatment, the laser light is guided over the treatment areas with a small handset. As the handset is moved over your skin, the laser sends a pulsed beam of light through your skin. A treatment usually takes up to 30 minutes.

What are the benefits of an IPL treatment?

• Safe & comfortable procedure
• Non-invasive
• No gel, pain medication or anesthetic cream required (utilizes pulsed light)
• Quick treatment time (less than 1 hour)
• Minimal treatments required (1-3)
• Works on most skin types as it can be customized to different skin tones and aging conditions, and
• Works well in combination with Laser Vein Removal

Is an IPL treatment painful?

Some patients may feel a slight discomfort with each laser pulse, described as feeling like the snapping of a rubber band on the skin. This mild discomfort resolves in a few seconds.

What can I expect after treatment?

If you experience any redness or swelling, a cool compress or gel pack can be used. Any discomfort should resolve within a few hours.

3 Skincare Fundamentals

1.  Keep it clean

Your make-up may hide under-eye circles, zits or some sun damage, but it also traps free radicals against your skin. Keep your skin clean with a medical grade skin treatment line and with mineral containing make-up that’s not as harsh on your skin. Drugstore or department-bought products often contain many ingredients that can add to your skin problems, not eliminate them. Today’s medical grade skincare lines offer a range of products that are designed and formulated to reduce skin conditions including sun damage, rosacea, acne and others.

2. Use Retinoids

Most people associate retinoids with wrinkle reduction and prevention. This skin powerhouse also builds collagen, fades spots and prevents acne. It’s crucial to use it correctly, though. A pea-sized amount is enough. Place it on your fingertips and rub over the entire face. Overuse can lead to skin irritation and redness.

Retinoids, when used properly, aid in cell turnover, which is what we need as our skin ages.

3. Protect your skin

Acne products and skin treatments like retinoids can make your skin more vulnerable to sun damage. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, use sun screen with an SPF 30 or higher every day. Also, remember, the protection in sun screen only lasts for 2 hours so be sure to reapply it throughout the day.

Do your research – look for products labeled noncomedegenic to avoid clogged pores.

Winter Skin Care

If the mirror is steamed up when you step out of the shower, you may be drying out your skin. Turn down the heat a bit so you don’t strip the oil from your face and body, leaving you with dry, flaking skin.

Pat dry:

Pat dry with a towel instead of rubbing. This is doubly important for sensitive facial skin, but also for the rest of your body.

H2O

Drinking water is good for entire body. It will aid in keeping your skin hydrated, and can help to clear up acne.

Moisturize

Lock in moisture after showering or bath.

Wrap up

During winter’s harsh and drying conditions, keep yourself as wrapped up as possible.

Shaving

Shaving in the same direction your hair grows is the least irritating method. Always use a moisturizing shaving cream.

Arms

Repay your elbows for all the work they do for you by keeping them moisturized, as the constant use and movement as they bend back and forth dries them out, leaving them looking grey, ashy and irritated.

Chest  

Think of the skin care routine for your chest as similar to what you do for your face. The skin on your chest does not have very much fat under it and is very delicate. You should get into the habit of patting dry every part of your body (remove rubbing from the picture, permanently). Like your hands, face, and neck, your chest is prone to signs of aging. Use your SPF facial moisturizer every day from your forehead down to the top of your breasts to defend yourself against the sun’s aging effects.

Water + Your Skin

Your skin, like any other part of the body, is made up of cells. Without water, none of your cell will function properly.

For overall good heath, you need to consume an adequate amount of water every day. Why? Water helps digestion, circulation, absorption and even excretion.

Hydrate

Is it important to drink large amounts of water for the health of your skin? There are two schools of thought – one, drinking water leaves you with a radiant and healthy younger- looking complexion, and two, others say it has little impact or no effect on your skin’s appearance.

We believe your skin benefits from being properly hydrated. Without water, a lack of hydration will mean your skin becomes dry, flaky and tight feeling. Dry skin has little resilience, meaning it is more prone to wrinkling. Not everyone will agree that water consumption will improve skin… but then again, it can’t hurt.

How can you hydrate your skin?

Immediately after a shower or bath, apply a hydrating moisturizer, while the skin is still porous, allowing for better absorption.

Before applying moisturizer, apply a product with hyaluronic acid.

Drink a great deal more water -  at least eight glasses a day, if not more. This will help rid your body and skin of     toxins.

Nothing will happen overnight, but two or three weeks of increasing water intake should be enough to see how hydration affects your skin.

Keep Your Makeup–and Your Skin–Clean

Taking care of your makeup isn’t just for product longevity. You do everything for your skin, but by cleaning applicators and makeup you’re adding a simple and quick way to help your skin be at its healthiest.

Makeup Brushes

There are a few things you can do for makeup brushes. Find an inexpensive antibacterial (high quality, organic is best) spray to apply to your brushes every day. All this requires is a quick spritz on the bristles to stop the build up of bacteria.

Another fix is to give your brushes a regular, weekly ‘deep clean’.

1. Add a small drop of (hypoallergenic or “sensitive”) shampoo to warm water, and swirl the bristles in the water, without submerging the handle, especially the bristle glue
2. Swirl the brush in your palm to create a cleansing lather.
3. In warm water, rinse the bristles until the water runs clean
4. Dry flat on a towel for a few hours. Don’t dry standing up, as the bristle glue at the end of the handle can be affected by this wetness.

Eye Shadow

Cleaning your eye shadow is quick and easy. Wipe each shadow with a tissue to remove the top layer of powder and any debris that may be hiding unseen. Spritz each shadow with a small amount of rubbing alcohol: make it easier to use by putting into a small spray bottle. This will dry and not affect the quality of your eye shadows.

Lipstick

Cleaning your lipstick uses the same principle as your eye shadows, or truly any of your powdered makeup. Lightly wipe the top layer of your lipstick just enough as if to give it a ‘shine’,  rather than remove a substantial amount of lipstick. Dip the lipstick in rubbing alcohol for a proper clean, or give the same spritz as your eye shadow to the exterior of your lipstick. Dab the alcohol off and allow it to dry. The quality of your lipstick won’t be affected, except that clean makeup lasts longer!

Cleaning your makeup is easy on the bank, and your skin.  Not only will your makeup last longer, but also you’ll also protect your skin from bacteria that builds up in makeup. You already take good care by protecting your skin in other ways, don’t let makeup get in the way when the fix is easy.

Fix a Winter Skin Rash

Your skin is red in the winter, and it’s definitely not a sunburn. Rashes can come out in the winter for many reasons, and at the worst of times. The rash comes easy, but luckily, so does the fix.

Wrap Up

Your presents aren’t the only thing you should be wrapping this holiday season! Dry skin is both caused and aggravated by the dropping winter temperatures. When humidity falls as the temperature drops, our skin gets tighter, but not in the way we’d like. Begin by defending yourself against the elements by wrapping a scarf around your face. Rotating scarves or washing your scarves is a good idea to keep bacteria away from your face.

Adjust the Temperature

This seems counterintuitive in the winter, but it’s a rule that will be repeated to improve skin health in many ways. Brave the elements and turn down the hot water in the shower–one of the main contributors to dry skin, and also one of the easiest to control. Decreasing hot air in the car will also show improvement if your skin is dry in the winter, especially if you’re spending a lot of time in the car.

Moisturize

Need moisture? Moisturize. Seems easy enough, but it is important to use a medical-grade moisturizer that will lock moisture in during the winter months–it will be heavy, but won’t clog your pores.

Drink Up

You should be drinking a lot of water this holiday season. Our foods tend to get heavier around the holidays, mostly because we’re dining out or cooking for large groups. Well-hydrated skin is resistant to irritation and can heal itself better if a rash appears.

Talk to a Specialist

If you find that you get rashes every winter, easily, or you just can’t get rid of them, you should speak to a specialist. Identify a specific path of improvement to make you and your skin more comfortable.

Banish Dark Circles

Winter is ending–and your dark circles should be too. As we age, our collagen-production naturally diminishes, but there are ways to help. Brighten up your eyes, look more awake, and go brightly into spring by treating your under-eye well.

Genetics

Genetics are part of what determines melanin and collagen in your skin, and therefore its colour and texture. The lighter in colour your skin is, as well as the more thin, the more obvious a lack of sleep becomes as blood pools under the thin skin. Right underneath our eyes are the most delicate skin on our body, and so should be treated delicately. You can’t help your genetic make-up, but you can control the way you treat this delicate area to improve appearance and quality.

Touch

Treat your under-eye delicately, as it very sensitive to pressure and pulling. You can help support the quality of your under-eye by using a medical-grade skin care product that promotes collagen production while protecting from the elements. Apply with a light “dab” of just one finger for minimum interference. Avoid touching your under-eye otherwise, as this encourages irritation.

Allergies

Be proactive–with big results! Treating your allergies will reduce inflammation and the urge to itch. Especially as spring approaches, treat the source of the urge to rub your eyes by determining the cause and taking an anti-histamine. Histamines are released in the body by seasonal allergies, causing the blood vessels to become inflamed, especially in your most sensitive area: the under-eye.

Treatments

There are a range of treatments to improve the appearance around your eyes:

• Skin creams and ointments. Medical-grade skin care products protect skin. Hyaluronic acid is an ingredient that stimulates collagen production, bringing volume back to sunken eyes.
• Juvederm and other non-surgical treatments focus on your face help to bring back an overall brightness. Treatments are non-surgical and non-invasive, so you can get right back to the world with a brighter look!

Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, you may be noticing redness, dryness, itchiness, or discomfort. You don’t have to live with it! There are few reasons why you may be experiencing sensitive skin, and solutions to match each one. Whether it is genetic, environmental (dry weather anyone?), diet related or otherwise, here are a few tips to fix that sensitive skin.

Sun Exposure

The sun can be wicked to skin, especially if it’s already prone to sensitivity. Too much or unprotected sun exposure can lead to redness, tightness, and increased sensitivity—not to mention more rapid aging. Before you leave home, apply non-oily, medical-grade sun protection on all your skin, but especially your face, chest, and neck.  These areas have the thinnest skin, and are the most sensitive. Protecting your skin from unadulterated sun exposure is a hugely important step in keeping your skin sensitivity low.

Moisturizers

Apart from sun lotions, other moisturizers help lock in—you guessed it—moisture. This is important to help keep your skin hydrated and “elastic”—able to stretch and move without flaking, breaking, or disrupting the cell production beneath. Use medical-grade, scent-free moisturizers at night that aren’t too heavy. A night cream should have weight to it, but if it is too heavy it will clog and disturb your face’s delicate skin.

Get Clean—Not Mean

When cleaning your skin, be firm but not aggressive. Being too rough on your skin breaks blood vessels and disturbs the rehydration process. Be gentle and use a gentle scent-free face wash to clean without stripping your face of its moisture. Dabbing your skin instead of tugging also helps to reduce irritation, and is good for collagen production. If you’re especially sensitive to different products, try even your medical-grade skin cleanser on your arm before using it on your face to ensure there is no reaction.

Diet

Avoiding salty foods and upping your intake of water are ways to ensure your skin is getting more hydration. Drinking alcohol also causes flushing and dehydration, so minimizing alcohol intake helps keep moisture in. Vegetables with a high water content are also a great way to get nutrients that promote healthy cell production while increasing water intake for moist, elastic skin.

Not all skin treatments are created equally…

Facial and skin rejuvenation through the use of fillers is big business these days. Women, and some men, are lining up for these procedures—reducing wrinkles, removing under-eye bags and plumping cheeks, for a more youthful appearance—and the ability to compete in the marketplace whether work or personal. It’s more a question of ‘Which one?” than ‘Should I?’

One treatment, the use of dermal fillers, has skyrocketed in recent years, in comparison to conventional facelifts. Fillers work under the skin to replace elasticity and plump up sagging skin, in contrast to previous treatments that typically tightened and flattened the appearance of the face. When done properly, it provides a more youthful and natural look than older treatments. Done wrong and the face can look out of proportion, with lumps appearing and creating contour problems.

Restylane®, Juvéderm™ and Soft Lift™ Approach (a combination of Botox and Juvéderm™) are some of the most popular treatments. Containing hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance essential to plump and youthful-looking skin, they are being called ‘liquid facelifts’ because they offer the benefits of a surgical facelift without having to go under the knife and have virtually no downtime. Soft tissue fillers provide an immediate result at a fraction of the cost of cosmetic surgery. The treatments aren’t permanent—some last three to four months, while others up to 18 months, and must be repeated and maintained. Some doctors or nurses will use a combination of products to achieve the desired results.

How do you decide?

The first step is to make sure you are trusting your face and skin to someone who has the qualifications to properly inject the product, and also has the ability to help you choose the right one for your skin. Individual skin texture, age, sun damage, genetics and metabolic factors are all important in choose the right treatment. With a long list of products to choose from, ask why they are recommending this particular treatment and how many times he or she has injected it before. What are the risk factors?

It’s your face—you’re going to see it everyday and so is everyone you meet. A doctor or nurse who is qualified won’t object to being asked these questions; he or she can help you make the right choice so you have the best results possible. Call Britannia Dermedics to find out more about the dermal fillers we offer or to book a complimentary consultation.

Rejuvenate Your Skin

Celebrate the end of another Calgary winter with Skin Rejuvenation

The dryness of Calgary’s climate has been often been compared to that of the Sahara Desert. Each winter, you can see the moisture evaporating from your skin as the warmer months leave along with the little humidity to be found here. As the dry and cold season progresses, so does the toll on your skin; wrinkles deepen, texture becomes rougher and you look tired.

A simple and non-invasive way to battle the damage is through facial laser treatments to stimulate new collagen growth under the skin, leaving you with a younger and fuller looking face. Laser resurfacing is also effective for:

• Sun damage
• Excessive or diffuse redness
• Enlarged pores
• Uneven skin texture and tone
• Wrinkles and fine lines
• Scars (including acne scars)
• Rosacea

Differences between ablative and non-ablative laser treatments

Laser treatment is a skin resurfacing procedure that uses a laser to improve the appearance of your skin or treat minor facial flaws. Laser resurfacing can be done with two types of lasers:

• A wounding (ablative) laser, which removes thin layers of skin
• A non-wounding (non-ablative) laser, which stimulates collagen growth and tightens underlying skin

As with any treatment, there can be side affects. Non-ablative treatments are non-invasive and have no downtime and carry fewer risks than ablative laser treatments, which can require up to two weeks before you can return to a normal routine. With an ablative treatment there is also the possibility of permanent scarring.

Skin rejuvenation with non-ablative laser treatment

It’s effective, affordable and there’s no recovery time. It’s a great way to remove the ravages of winter, but can also be done year-round and works on all skin types.

Skin rejuvenation and IPL treatments

The leather look – better suited for handbags & shoes Sun damage, pollution and just plain aging all add up to skin that’s not as clear and toned as it once was. Many of us over a certain age have spent a lot of time in the sun without any skin protection; as young children, we were often outside all day, as teenagers and young adults, we spent a lot of time working towards that perfect tan, the darker the better.

Even for those of us who were born after the effects of sun exposure were discovered and took preventive measures, few can completely escape photo damaged (sun damaged) skin because we’re exposed to sunlight (UVA or UB) constantly. We can try to prevent it, but we can’t eliminate it entirely and the results can be:

• uneven pigmentation
• skin that is uneven or “pebbly”
• small blood vessels or red markings
• freckles
• rough or scaly patches
• "liver spots” and “age spots”
• thinner or fragile skin
• pre-cancerous growths
• skin cancer

Solution – Skin Rejuvenation with IPL Photofacial

IPL photofacials can help to improve the complexion and are ideal for a photo damaged or sun damaged complexion. They require less recovery time than laser treatments.

What is an IPL photofacial?

IPL (intense pulsed light) is an effective ‘lunchtime’ procedure that uses concentrated, filtered light for skin rejuvenation.  IPL also stimulates collagen production and refines large pores, resulting in a fresh, younger look.

• Quick, safe and comfortable
• Non-invasive
• No gel, pain medication or anesthetic cream required
• Quick treatment time (< 1 hour),
• Minimal treatments required (1-3)
• Works on most skin types as it can be customized to different skin tones and aging conditions

Who is the ideal IPL candidate?

Someone with:

• light skin (darker or Asian skin may get hyperpigmentation from IPL)
• broken capillaries
• loss of skin tone

IPL can treat all three of these conditions at the same time.

Who is not a good candidate for IPL?

• People with a naturally dark complexion
• Individuals who have recently tanned or are using tanning products
• Patients taking light-sensitizing medications, such as tetracyclines
• Pregnant women
• Patients with a history of keloid (scar) formation
• Individuals with bleeding disorders
• Patients taking anti-coagulants, such as Coumadin® (warfarin)

What areas of the skin can IPL treat?

• The décolletage (neck and chest)
• Back
• Arms
• Hands

What happens after an IPL photofacial?

Targeted areas of abnormal coloration will darken for the first several days after an IPL photofacial, as they are pulled to the skin’s surface, and then will naturally shed.

What results can be expected from IPL photofacials?

Skin tone and texture will be improved, with the predominant benefit being more even skin color, with removal of or greatly diminished areas of brown and red blotches.

If you have rosacea, there will be  less redness with each treatment. IPL treatments can reduce the appearance of rosacea by as much as 80 percent  to 90 percent.

Questions to ask before undergoing an IPL treatment

1. “Why am I a good candidate for IPL, and how does it work?” – determine how knowledgeable the operator technician is.
2. “What licenses do you have, and what’s your training in IPL?” – find out whether they’re a skin care specialist or someone who was hired off the street, and what kind of special training they have.
3. “How long have you been doing this?” – ensure they have had a few works of experience working with IPL.
4. “Do you have insurance?” This applies both to the spa that is giving the service and the individual.

Skin rejuvenation with laser

Laser Resurfacing 101

If you’re interested in battling the signs of aging, one option you may want to consider is laser skin resurfacing.

What is laser resurfacing?

Laser resurfacing is a skin resurfacing procedure that uses a laser to improve the skin’s appearance or treat minor facial flaws.

How does it work?

This type of skin rejuvenation uses a light beam aimed at various layers of the skin to try to repair the appearance of wrinkles, discolorations, scars or other age spots.

Laser resurfacing can be done with two types of lasers:

• A wounding (ablative) laser to remove thin layers of skin
• A non-wounding (non-ablative) laser to stimulate collagen growth and tighten underlying skin

What are the benefits?

Laser resurfacing can decrease the appearance of fine lines around your eyes, mouth and cheeks, treat loss of skin tone and improve a sun-damaged or scarred complexion. Laser resurfacing does have some limitations and understanding the specific techniques, risks and possible results can help you decide if it is right for you.

Laser treatment is a newer procedure, but has become popular with skin care specialists and patients for skin rejuvenation because it doesn’t involve the use of the many harsh chemical or treatments that older methods use.

Exfoliating—one of the most important skin care routines

Removing surface dry skin cells by exfoliating should be a regular part of your skin care routine if you want a glowing and healthy looking complexion. It’s especially important in Calgary where our climate is as dry as the Sahara Desert; skin can begin to look gray and ashy if dead skin isn’t removed through deep cleaning.

How do I know if I need to exfoliate?

A simple way to find out is to take a piece of clear tape and apply it to your forehead. Rub it gently and remove it—if you see small pieces of flaky skin, it’s time to exfoliate.

What other skin problems can exfoliation help?

1. Blemished skin

Exfoliation should be a regular part of your home skin care program. If you breakout often, you may have been told to dry out your skin with harsh acne products. Although this will destroy the bacteria causing the acne, it will also dry out your skin, leaving it irritated and prone to future breakouts. As you dry out your skin, you create surface dry skin cell build-up, which acts as a barrier to trap bacteria on your skin, starting a new cycle of breakouts. Exfoliation can help to prevent additional blemishes.

2. Post-breakout red/dark marks

The dark red marks appearing post-breakout are often more of a concern than the actual blemish. The way to hasten fading of these marks is to increase your exfoliation. Increasing the removal of the surface damaged skin tissue helps to remove the dark marks, encouraging the building of even-toned and non-scarred skin tissue.

3. Clogged pores

Clogged pores create blackheads, small whiteheads and tiny bumps on the skin, often on the forehead. The same rules apply to clogged pores as with blemishes. The more often surface dry skin cells are removed (which are often caused by using harsh products that dry out the skin), the less oil is trapped and kept in the pores.

4. Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmention refers to the brown spots that appear as the result of hormonal changes, genetic and show up with more frequency with aging. Exfoliation helps to break up the pigmented cells, so they fade.

5. Dry skin

Especially during Calgary’s dry winters, exfoliation is essential. What we typically do when skin is dry is to load it up with heavy creams to compensate for the dry skin. But dry skin is the result of dry skin cell buildup. Layering heavy cream on top of the dry skin isn’t going to help. Exfoliate more often to remove the dry cells, and then add moisturizing cream.

How Often Should I Exfoliate?

For most people two to three times per week is enough. Anymore than that and your skin may become irritated.

Vitamin C – not just for colds

A few centuries ago, sailors found the key to avoiding scurvy—vitamin C. While you were growing up, your mother likely often told you to take vitamin C to ward off colds and other illnesses. Fast forward to about 20 years ago, when an American university scholar published a paper showing ground-breaking results in the use of vitamin C to reduce UVB damage when applied to the back of hairless pigs. His research showed conclusively that applying vitamin C topically could repair sun damage. Our seafaring friends, who couldn’t get fresh fruits and vegetables, suffered bleeding under their skin, ulcers and joint weakness. The reason? Vitamin C (aka ascorbic acid) is essential to the production of collagen, a protein that helps with the growth of blood vessels and cells and gives your skin its firmness and strength. Vitamin C also assists with the formation of scar tissue and helps your skin to repair itself.

What to look for in a skin care product containing Vitamin C

It’s always important to use medical grade cosmetic skin care—vitamin C needs to be manufactured well and packaged properly. When shopping for vitamin C skin care products keep in mind that it is relatively unstable—it’s effectiveness can reduce quickly over a short time. Look for the following:

• the active ingredient on the label needs to be “ascorbic acid” or ”L- ascorbic acid”
• the label should state the product contains between 3-10 percent vitamin C
• the packaging should be airtight and opaque as vitamin C is an antioxidant, quickly degrading in air and light

How can vitamin C help with skin rejuvenation?

Here’s what a well-formulated, stably packaged product containing vitamin C can do for your skin:

• Protect your skin cells and skin support structure from UV damage
• Improve the appearance of sun damaged skin
• Strengthen your skin’s barrier response
• Lessen inflammation
• Promote the production of collagen
• Enhance effectiveness of chemical peels and microdermabrasion
• Reduce hyperpigmentation (at levels of 3 percent or higher)
• Increase the effectiveness of sunscreen

Miracle cure for skin rejuvenation?

From its humble beginnings on the backs of hairless pigs to today’s extensive body of research and studies, vitamin C is definitely being touted as a powerful antioxidant. As we’ve said before though, no one ingredient will repair all your skin problems – it’s the same as eating only one type of vegetable and expecting to remain healthy.

Sun Protection – don’t leave home without it

It only takes 15 minutes, even on a cloudy or cool day, for the sun’s rays to begin to inflict harm on your skin. If you often spend time in the sun without proper protection, you could be at risk for serious skin damage – premature wrinkling, hyperpigmentation, sagging, and the worst-case scenario, skin cancer. Use sunscreen every day, all year long. Your skin will thank you and it’s one of the best anti-aging and preventive measures you can take.

At Britannia Dermedics We Don’t Just Rejuvenate Your Skin, We Rejuvenate Your Soul.

How to protect your skin:

• When possible, apply sunscreen before you venture outside for full protection. Try to reapply at least every two hours, and more often if you are in water.
• Always use a sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher; the higher the SPF number, the better you are protected.
• Apply a thick layer of sunscreen on the most exposed body parts: your face, neck, arms, legs, and back.
• Use sunscreen lip balm to protect your lips.
• Consider using cosmetics which contain sunscreen—again, these should be at least SPF15.
• Choose a broad spectrum of products to guard against the sun’s ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.
• Avoid using sunscreen on babies younger than six month.  Instead, use hats, clothing and shade for their protection.

More ways to protect your precious skin:

• Clothing – Pants and shirts made from tightly woven fabric offer the most protection.
• Hats: Wear a hat with a brim that shades your face, ears and back of the neck for the most protection.
• Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from UVA and UVB rays and lower cataract risks.
• Shade: Seek shade when possible by using an umbrella or getting under a tree or anywhere else with shade.

Skin Cancer Statistics

• According to an earlier study by the Canadian Dermatology Association, more than 74,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer were expected in 2011 (squamous and basal). It was also expected that more than 5,500 new cases of melanoma would be diagnosed in 2011 and of that number, 950 people are expected to die.
• If you were born in the 1990s or afterwards, you have a one in six lifetime risk of skin cancer. If you were born in the 1960s, you have a one in 20 lifetime risk.

Types of skin cancer

Basal cell carcinoma – the most common form of skin cancer in Canada.

This type of skin cancer fortunately is the least dangerous but must be treated since it will continue to grow, invading and destroying surrounding skin tissue, eventually causing disfigurement.

Squamous cell skin cancer – the second most common form of skin cancer in Canada after basal cell skin cancer. This form of skin cancer must be treated because the lesion may continue to grow in size, damaging surrounding tissue, and may spread to other areas of the body.

Malignant melanoma – a less common but highly dangerous form of skin cancer.

When found at an early stage, melanoma has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers at more than 90 per cent. If left untreated, melanoma starts to invade into the skin. When it reaches the blood stream or the lymphatic system, it has a chance to spread to other parts of the body and often causes death.

Melanoma is a less common but most dangerous form of skin cancer. It starts in the melanocytes or pigment producing cells found in the outer layer of the skin. These cells grow out of control and form a tumour. Melanomas are often brown and black in colour but can show other shades.

Actinic Keratoses – although actinic keratoses are not true skin cancers, it is important to have these lesions treated as they have the potential to change into squamous cell skin cancers. Actinic keratoses appear as red, rough, scaling spots. These lesions appear on sun-exposed areas such as the face, ear, balding scalp, back of the hand, forearm and leg. People usually have a few at a time. These spots may sting or itch. Some forms of actinic keratoses develop on the lower lip.

(Source: Canadian Dermatology Association)

A sunburn or tan could be a red flag, indicating a problem with your skin’s health. Slather on the sunscreen before leaving the house, and then slather more on at least every two hours.

The benefit of a chemical peel for skin rejuvenation

How do chemical peels improve your skin? Chemical peels can be done on your face, neck and hands. A peel can:

• Reduce fine lines under and around your eyes and the mouth
• Reduce wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging
• Improve the appearance of mild scarring
• Treat some types of acne
• Lessen age spots, freckles, and dark patches (melasma) due to pregnancy or from taking birth control pills
• Improve the texture and appearance of skin

How Chemical Peels Are Done

You can get a chemical peel in a medical spa, doctor’s office or surgery centre. It’s an outpatient procedure, lasting just a few minutes and there’s no downtime afterwards

The professional who does your peel will first clean your skin thoroughly before applying one or more chemical solutions – such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or carbolic acid (phenol) - to small areas of your skin.

During a chemical peel, most people feel a burning sensation that may last from five to 10 minutes, followed by a sensation of stinging. Applying cool compresses on your skin can ease the stinging.

After a chemical peel

Sun damaged areas may improve after undergoing a chemical peel. After a peel, skin is temporarily more sensitive to the sun, so a broad-spectrum sunscreen should be worn each day, protecting the skin from UVA and UVB rays.

Who Is a Good Candidate For a Chemical Peel?

Typically, fair-skinned and light-haired individuals are the best candidates. For those with darker skin, the results may also be good, depending on the skin concern being treated. The risk is being left with an uneven skin tone after the procedure.

Sagging skin and deep wrinkles do not respond well to a chemical peel treatment. Other cosmetic procedures may be more beneficial – laser resurfacing or soft tissue fillers may be more appropriate.

Before You Get a Chemical Peel

If you have any history of scarring, cold sores that keep coming back or facial X-rays, you need to inform the person doing the peel. Before you get a chemical peel, your doctor or aesthetician may ask you to stop taking certain drugs and to prepare your skin by using other medications before the treatment, such as Retin-A, Renova, or glycolic acid. The doctor may also prescribe antibiotics or antiviral drugs.

Depending on your skin and the skin concern being treated, the depth of your peel will vary.