AviClear Beverly Hills treatment is a revolutionary new acne treatment.
Recently cleared by the FDA for use in the United States. It is the first and only energy device specifically designed to treat various types of acne, from mild to severe. This innovative acne treatment uses advanced technology to send a combination of blue and red-light energy to target the root causes of acne. The blue light energy targets the bacteria that cause acne, while the red-light energy reduces inflammation to help improve the overall appearance of the skin. Combining these two types of energy provides a powerful and effective solution for acne sufferers of all ages.
With acne affecting 80% of people ages 11 to 30 years, millions end up dealing with at least some degree of scarring. While acne scars aren’t dangerous for your health, they tend to cause tremendous discomfort due to their appearance.
People of all ages struggle to find an efficient solution to the problem. From peels and microneedling to fillers and microsurgery, the variety of treatments is impressive. Unfortunately, only a few of them can provide the desired result.
One of the latest solutions to the acne scar problem is Fraxel laser. Let’s take a closer look at how effective it might be.
What Is Fraxel Laser?
Fraxel is a trademark name for a skin-resurfacing tool that uses fractional laser technology. The Fraxel device makes microscopic injuries to the skin in specific areas. The skin reacts by producing new healthy cells to heal the damage and replace the old tissue.
In short, Fraxel laser damages the skin gently to stimulate the body’s natural healing process and boost collagen production.
This technique works for a variety of skin issues, from unwanted pigmentation (sunspots, brown spots, age spots) to such imperfections as scars (acne, post-op, etc.). Some patients take advantage of this laser treatment to shrink pores and improve the skin tone.
The major advantage of Fraxel laser over other efficient acne scar solutions is that it’s minimally invasive. Without surgery, it’s possible to achieve both skin repair and rejuvenation effects.
Fraxel laser is FDA-approved for treating acne scars.
3 Types of Fraxel Laser
If you decide to take advantage of Fraxel laser for acne scar treatment, you have a choice of three different laser types.
Fraxel Repair
Fraxel Repair (also called Fraxel Re:pair) is the most aggressive of all Fraxel laser options. This ablative laser delivers an intense stream of light to the scarred area and vaporizes columns of skin, so they can be replaced with healthy cells.
Fraxel Repair works well on acne scars but can also be used for sun damage, deep wrinkles, and other skin texture issues.
For five to seven days after the treatment, you can experience redness, swelling, bleeding, oozing, and crusting. This usually means taking at least a week off work.
Fraxel Restore
Fraxel Restore (or Re:store) is much gentler than Repair. It uses a non-ablative laser to heat the skin and stimulate collagen production. It doesn’t work on deep acne scars or severe skin damage. However, it may be efficient for slight scarring, pigmentation, and moderate texture issues.
While you may experience some swelling and redness after the treatment, the total downtime usually doesn’t exceed a couple of days.
Fraxel Dual
Fraxel Dual is the new generation Fraxel laser that’s a combination of the above two types. It generates two different wavelengths (1550 and 1927) — one for superficial scarring and pigmentation, the other for deeper scars and wrinkles.
The recovery time after using Fraxel Dual is about three days. While the treated areas can become red or swollen, there isn’t any bleeding. In some cases, the downtime may last up to a week.
How Many Fraxel Laser Treatments Do I Need?
Many acne sufferers are turning to laser treatments because they hope for an immediate effect. However, when it comes to acne scars, it’s impossible to remove them quickly.
Unless the issue is truly minor, you need to get ready for at least three Fraxel laser sessions. Patients with deep acne scars require as many as six to eight visits to achieve optimal results. The time between treatments is usually 4 to 6 weeks.
One Fraxel laser session lasts from 15 to 45 minutes depending on the area you want to cover.
Are the Results of Fraxel Laser Permanent?
When it comes to removing acne scars, the effect of Fraxel laser treatments is long-lasting but not permanent. Depending on the depth and severity of initial scars, the effect can last for several years.
While Fraxel is far from being a miracle treatment, it can address acne scar issues that other treatments can’t handle. Follow-up sessions spaced 3 to 7 years apart may be necessary.
Younger patients can expect to enjoy better outcomes than people older than 50. The fresher acne scars are, the easier they are to defeat. For long-established and extremely deep acne scars, you may want to consider a fractional CO2 laser.
How Do I Prepare for a Fraxel Laster Treatment?
While the Fraxel treatment doesn’t require any serious preparations, there are a few important steps to take:
Stop all other skin and acne treatments several weeks before the first Fraxel session (you can continue with other cosmetic treatments a couple of weeks after the procedure).
Don’t use any active products (Retinols, abrasive scrubs, peels, etc.) for at least a week before the treatment.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol on the day of the treatment.
Eat a healthy meal two hours before the treatment.
Your dermatologist will go over the preparation steps once you schedule the first Fraxel session. It’s important to share all information about acne scar treatments you are currently doing or have done in the past.
What Are the Side Effects of Fraxel Treatment for Acne Scarring?
Since the damage to your skin is minor, Fraxel laser treatment has minimal side effects. After the session, you are likely to experience swelling, redness, and crusting. If you choose the aggressive Re:pair option, some bleeding and oozing are possible.
The Takeaway: Is Fraxel Laser Effective for Acne Scars?
The Fraxel laser technology is based on the body’s ability to heal itself, producing healthy skin tissue to replace damaged cells. Studies show that Fraxel laser is an effective treatment for mild to medium-depth acne scars. While the procedure damages the skin, injuries are minor, and so is the downtime.
If you are unhappy with your acne scars, Fraxel could become an excellent solution. With its high efficiency and minimal side effects, this laser treatment can make a significant difference in your appearance.
For more information, please give us a call. One of our experienced dermatologists is ready to consult you about acne scar solutions at any convenient time
Exfoliation is a pivotal step in effective skin care, but is often an overlooked component of many people’s skin care routines.
There are so many different forms of exfoliating that it can be intimidating for someone who is just getting started. Due to the number of treatments available, even those who do exfoliate may end up performing it incorrectly a lot of the time.
How are you able to tell if you’re exfoliating the right way? Below are the 4 of the most common ways that you may be doing this wrong:
#1: Not exfoliating at all
The most basic exfoliation error that is so common is that most people never exfoliate at all.
Our skin naturally has a buildup of dead skin cells over time. As we get older, the skin loses elasticity and this buildup of dead cells does not slough off the skin as well as it used to. Too much build up of these dead cells makes the skin look dull, and exaggerates the appearance of wrinkles. Properly removing this layer of dead skin requires intervention on our end in order to maintain healthy looking skin.
Regular exfoliation has many upsides, including:
Unclogging of pores
Prevention of blackheads, blemishes, and acne breakouts
A more even and brighter skin complexion & smoother texture
There are many different kinds of exfoliation available – chemical peels, facials, scrubs and brushes, dermaplaning, microdermabrasion – the list goes on!
#2: Exfoliating way too often
Exfoliation should be an integral part of every skin care routine; however, it is possible for there to be too much of a good thing.
As we know by now, the main goal of exfoliation is to remove the buildup of dead skin cells. In order to do this effectively, the treatment temporarily needs to remove the protective barrier around the skin as a direct result.
Depending on the type of exfoliation you are using, as well as the level of strength of your selected method, doing this too often or too harshly can cause microtears on the skin’s surface which strip the protective layer away too much. The overly damaged barrier leads to a loss of moisture which causes dried out, flaky skin. Irritation and itchiness are also a sign of excessive exfoliation. If this does happen, be sure to stop any further exfoliation for a bit and focus on skin hydration.
A good rule of thumb to follow is that the more aggressive the treatment is, the less often you need to do it.
Most importantly, in addition to not exfoliating too frequently, it is important to remain consistent with the selected treatment as well. Constantly jumping around from one kind of exfoliation to the other is not recommended. Consistency with a set exfoliation routine is key, and limits the damage to the protective layers on the outer levels on the skin.
#3: Not selecting the correct kind of exfoliation for your needs
Selecting an exfoliation method depends on many factors – your skin type, usage frequency, your existing skin care routine, and most importantly, what your goals are.
For those with sensitive skin or conditions such as rosacea, most physical exfoliation techniques may not be the best option.
Chemical exfoliation also requires consideration beforehand. Most chemical exfoliation methods can be classified as either alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids, and which one to select depends on your skin type and needs. Alpha hydroxy acids are water soluble, which makes them great for those with normal, dry, sensitive, or redness prone skin. Those with oily and acne prone skin are usually good candidates for beta hydroxy acids, which are oil soluble.
One note to keep in mind is that many chemical exfoliants will increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun. However, as a frequent reader of our blog, you are aware of the importance of wearing sunscreen everyday, so this shouldn’t be news to you 🙂
When it comes to exfoliation, simply listen to your skin. If you notice that your skin starts to get irritated when you do a particular method 3 times a week, cut back to once a week and see what happens. If you are using a chemical method and aren’t seeing results, you can then begin to consider other versions that have a bit more strength.
#4: Never getting any professional exfoliation treatments
There’s no shortage of exfoliation treatments available for use at home – and with proper research, you can find a good at home option that keeps the amount of dead skin cells manageable; however, this doesn’t mean that professional exfoliation treatments should be ignored.
At home exfoliation tools are designed to be gentle, which means that their effectiveness is lower compared to professional treatments. Physical exfoliation (also known as mechanical) especially has a lot of room for incorrect use. Additionally, at home physical tools used to treat certain concerns such as blackheads can be harsh on the skin, and because the room for error is much higher, it can cause even more damage if used incorrectly.
Chemical exfoliation has the same issue for at home use. They are intentionally designed to be more gentle on the skin, and so the results are not nearly as potent as the treatments designed to be used by a trained professional. The strength of professional chemical peels and facials, are made to be stronger and more effective than the OTC scrubs and masques you purchase at your local store.
The best exfoliation routines use a combination of at-home tools, as well as professional medical treatments. Professional treatments involve more time between sessions. Thus, at-home exfoliation should be used to maintain the results you receive from professional treatments, rather than being used as the end-all answer.
BRAND NEW at Dermatology Institute of Southern California
We are proud to now offer a new exfoliation treatment as one of our Medical Spa services – DERMAPLANING!!
To learn more about how this non-invasive treatment can benefit your skin, click here.
The beginning of the year also means the beginning of winter. This season can be particularly harsh in many areas – weather, finances due to all the holiday shopping, time, and that initial phase of getting started with your new year’s resolutions.
Winter is particularly harsh on the skin too.
During the winter, dry skin is the biggest culprit to look out for. Cold air and central heating units strip moisture from the skin, and also tighten the pores and reduce the blood circulation. All these factors combined dry out the skin very easily, and reduce the potency of the protective barrier that your body naturally produces. The result is less flexible skin that leads to redness, cracking, peeling, and even more.
Those with existing conditions such as acne and eczema can also see a heightened risk of new breakouts and flare-ups if proper measures are not taken beforehand.
Here are 6 factors to keep your eye on to protect your skin against the winter’s harshness:
1) Stronger Moisturizers
When seasons change, you don’t keep wearing the same clothing. Chances are you dress down or up depending on the temperature, weather, location, etc. The same thought process should apply to your skin care routine as well.
The colder, drier weather of winter means that it is time to upgrade from your standard moisturizer. Switching from a regular lotion to a cream during this time allows more moisture to stay locked into the skin, as creams are a bit thicker and contain less water than lotions.
The lips are an especially sensitive location that is very prone to dryness and cracking. It can be tempting to lick the lips to keep them moist, but this actually has the opposite effect and dries them out even more. Instead, lip balm or petroleum jelly should be used to keep to keep the lips hydrated and protected.
Most importantly, drinking lots of water should also be a big priority. Colder air and temperatures drain a lot of moisture from the skin, and many are surprised to learn how quickly they can become underhydrated even if they consume water throughout the day. The more water the better!
2) Refined Carbs
Everywhere you look, there are refined carbs everywhere! Baked goods, starchy dinners, sweet seasonal beverages – you name it. Despite the prevalence of all the comfort foods, avoid going overboard with them. In addition to the health risks and high calorie count that most of these products contain, refined carbs can also be a contributing factor to acne.
Refined carbs increase the production of sebum and certain hormones. The end result is oilier skin. In addition, many of these seasonal winter foods also contain a lot of other ingredients such as caffeine or alcohol that dehydrate the skin. This causes the skin to dry out even more, which can exacerbate other potential problems.
The solution? Simply keep an eye on the amount of refined carbs you are consuming. Completely avoiding all these seasonal items is both unreasonable and unnecessary. It’s perfectly fine to treat yourself during this time of the year – but remember to set limits and know when enough is enough.
3) Sudden Temperature Changes
Broken capillaries are possible anytime of the year, but the low temperatures of winter increases the likelihood of these by quite a bit. While this condition is cosmetic only, broken capillaries are usually permanent once they appear unless they are treated.
Going from the cold outdoors into warm heated buildings, and vice versa, can take its toll on your blood vessels and skin. This large difference in temperature causes the blood vessels to expand and contract a lot in a short amount of time. When these contractions and expansions occur too fast, the vessels can become overstretched and are unable to shrink back down to their smaller sizes. This can then lead to the appearance of red, splotchy skin with an uneven complexion.
Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to minimize these large temperature changes. Wrapping up with an extra layer or two while outdoors can keep the body warmer and limit the skin’s exposure to the harsh winter air. When going back indoors, avoid staying directly in front of heaters or fireplaces for extended periods of time. Central heating, especially when used for extended periods of time, is a very big source of dry skin, which is important to keep in mind due to how common these units are.
Instead, a good workaround is to set these units a few degrees lower and throw on warmer clothing. If it is not possible to control the temperature of the heater in a location, removing a layer of clothing or two can keep the body heat from going up too high.
4) Skin Irritants
Cold air reduces blood circulation throughout the body which tightens the pores. This leads to the skin feeling a bit more tight, as well as a reduction in the protective layer that normally guards the skin. During this state, the skin is prone even further to dryness, cracking, and flaking on its own.
However, many of the everyday products and items our skin is exposed to can aggravate the skin’s increased sensitivity even more. Those with existing conditions such as eczema and psoriasis will also want to take note of such items during this time.
Certain fabrics that are commonly used for winter clothing can catch and rub against the skin excessively, which can irritate dry skin. Cotton articles in particular can drain moisture from the skin which dries out the skin even more. Pillow cases and undergarments made of silk are gentle against the skin, and allow the skin to retain moisture rather than draining it out.
Using soaps, fragrances, and other products that are unscented and free from dyes and excess chemicals are also recommended, as some ingredients can be a bit harsh on the already compromised skin. Even the simple act of drying off the skin after a shower can be a source of irritation. Instead, patting the skin dry is much less abrasive.
5) Hot Showers
Taking a nice hot shower or bath after a long, cold day is one of the biggest culprits that contributes to dry skin; yet, many don’t even realize it.
While it can feel good at the time, hot water strips the skin of the protective oils that help keep moisture sealed in. In addition, the high water temperature causes the skin to become even drier as the water evaporates. Hot showers can also cause an overdilation of the blood vessels that need to quickly contract once you step out into the cold winter air. Temperatures that are too hot can even contribute to skin inflammation and peeling if you aren’t careful.
The solution is very easy – limit your shower-bath time to about 10 minutes max, and use warm water as opposed to a full on hot shower. Immediately after the warm shower has been finished, moisturize the body with a body cream to help the skin retain as much moisture as possible.
6) Hot Tip: Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C has numerous benefits that can enhance the skin during the winter, especially for those who are prone to conditions like acne or eczema. If you’ve been considering trying something new to enhance your existing regimen, this is the time to start.
Vitamin C contains antioxidants that helps strengthen the protective skin barrier, which as you now know, gets weaker during the winter. Strengthening this protective barrier allows the skin to retain more moisture while keeping the skin guarded against the outside elements. It can also make your sunscreen more effective. Those who are in snowy areas will especially need to be concerned about proper sunscreen use, as the UV rays from the sun reflect off of the snow, which means your skin gets twice the exposure.
Long-term, Vitamin C boosts collagen production. In turn, this can counteract some of the sagginess and lines/wrinkles that develop due to the winter air stripping away the beneficial oils, and the increased dryness that comes with the season.
The enzymes and antioxidants contained in Vitamin C help brighten dull skin and target discoloration from any hyperpigmentation, as well as reduce inflammation. This antiinflammatory property helps soothe the redness and cracking that are common with dry skin, as well as any current breakouts or flareups. With normal use and integration into a proper winter skin care regimen, the end result is brighter, well-hydrated, and ultimately healthier looking skin during a season known for gloomy weather and skin difficulties.
For your convenience, Dr. Behroozan has his own personal Vita-CE serum available at both practice locations, as well as on our website via our Product Store! Click here to view our Vita-CE serum!
Holiday season approaches fast – blink your eyes, and before you know it, it’s here! As holiday season draws closer, the time to finalize those gift ideas for your friends and family gets shorter. 🎄🎄🎁🎁
Skin care gifts are great choices since they have a functional purpose. Around this time, providers have discounts on certain skin procedures that may sound like a great idea for a loved one. However, these kinds of gifts may leave a lot of room for misinterpretation depending on the circumstances.
Eg 1: “Merry Christmas my dear mother! You need Botox.”
Eg 2:
Person 1: “What did you get as your Secret Santa gift from work?”
Person 2: “I didn’t know my acne was *that* noticeable, but one of my coworkers did, so they got me acne cream.”
Eg 3:
To significant other: “I got you a CoolSculpting voucher for your lovehandles.” Extra points if there are friends and family around with you to witness this exchange.
Some people may have a great bond in which the above scenarios would cause no problem, which is great! Others may be imagining a totally different reaction to their good intentions.
Still, everyone can benefit from receiving a gift that assists with caring for their skin. These kinds of gifts will see a lot more use compared to yet another sweater or a trinket that will just sit and collect dust.
Here are 6 gift ideas that can help facilitate good skin care:
#1: Sleep Mask
Good skin care starts before you even wake up in the morning, and doesn’t stop even after you’ve winded down and called it a night. Receiving enough sleep plays a pivotal role in good skin care. However, the quality of sleep is just as important as the amount of sleep you are receiving. One way to help facilitate that is with a sleep mask.
Sleep masks cover the eyes to block out all light. They help you fall asleep quicker, regulate body temperature, and improve the quality of sleep. A sleep mask also protects against blue light exposure, such as your phone receiving messages in the middle of the night. All of these factors contribute to a more restful sleep, which in turn improves the look of the skin.
Getting a good night’s sleep helps limit the formation of puffy eyelids in the morning and dark undereye circles that may form due to the pooling of blood in this area. The enhanced quality of sleep also helps slow down the signs of aging, as the body feels more refreshed and well rested in the morning. The end result is that you and your skin both look bright and energized as opposed to tired and weary.
Sleep masks are good, inexpensive stocking stuffers, and are also great for those who do a lot of traveling. They come in all kinds of creative styles and designs, so you will no doubt find one that is perfect for the lucky person you’re shopping for.
A humidifier adds moisture to the air to increase the humidity and reduce the effects of dry air. They also help combat dry skin by keeping skin well moisturized. Dry skin can cause the skin to look flaky, itchy, and discolored. Skin that is not well hydrated can look aged, as fine lines, and wrinkles become exaggerated and less elastic.
Room humidifiers are especially useful during the winter season since the air becomes drier. In addition to keeping skin moisturized, they can also help you feel warmer in the cold winter air.
Humidifiers make an excellent gift for those who spend a lot of time in the same room everyday, such as offices and classrooms. They come in all shapes and sizes as well. Some are even portable and can plug into your laptop or your car for those who are on the go a lot.
#3: Fancy Water Bottle
There is very little doubt that you know of the numerous benefits that water and adequate hydration provide. Staying well hydrated can combat undereye circles, limit dry looking skin that can appear ashy and tired, and keep the body full and energized just to name a few.
Knowing is half the battle, but the other, more challenging half is doing.
Water bottles are gifts that can help with the doing part. Receiving a fancy one can serve as a convenient visual reminder to ensure that your recipient stays on top of their hydration. As the saying goes – out of sight, out of mind. Plus, they are great for the environment due to being reuseable compared to disposable plastic bottles, and many of them offer unique benefits that disposable ones don’t.
For instance, insulated water bottles can help keep water cold later on in the day when they would have otherwise warmed up to room temperature or above. Some water bottles are collapsible to save space for hikes and bike rides, and others just have great designs that will catch the eye quickly and serve as a neat reminder to take a few sips.
These are a great choice for co-workers, Secret Santas, and gift exchanges. No matter which kind you choose, both your recipient and their skin will thank you.
It is a common saying that clothing usually doesn’t make for a good gift. Fortunately, accessories are not considered clothing, and so they successfully avoid the label of “lame Christmas gifts”. Besides, who doesn’t love wearing a pair of awesome sunglasses?
Sun radiation is one of the worst things to expose your skin to. In addition to the risk of skin cancer, the UV rays can also cause sun damage, and speed up the development of wrinkles, age spots, and skin discoloration.
The skin around the eyes is especially susceptible to this, as the skin is looser around this region and can be one of the first areas that begins to show signs of sun damage. Sunglasses are not only fashionable, but provide protection to this delicate area by limiting UV exposure and blocking the deleterious effects of the sun’s rays.
In addition, you can attach a note to the stylish sunglasses to remind your recipient to also apply sunscreen before they leave the house with their fancy new sunglasses. These two simple steps of wearing sunglasses and sunscreen can go a very long way of limiting the sun’s effects and keeping skin well guarded.
At first glance one might think that fitness trackers are only to help people stay more physically active. While this is definitely a strong plus of fitness trackers, they usually also come with a partner app for your smartphone that can complement skin care as well.
The accompanying apps often contain reminders to not only get your body moving (which is also good for the skin by the way), but also to do other beneficial tasks such as drinking water consistently, tracking your sleep, and setting customized alarms for personal tasks, such as reapplying sunscreen or starting your nighttime skin care routine before you get too tired at bedtime.
While these benefits can be done on a smartphone regardless, a fitness tracker has the benefit of limiting distraction. How many times have you picked up your phone to check one thing, and then inadvertently get distracted by a different notification – only to end up checking even more things? Before you know it, you’ve spent much more time on your phone than you initially expected.
These reminders to drink water, get sleep, and perform other tasks without the constant need to check your phone are all useful benefits that can help the body and the skin remain healthy.
#6: Skin Care Products
We knew this was coming. There’s no better gift idea to take care of skin than actual skin care products! That being said, not all skin care products are created equal.
First, not everything that is sold is medical grade, which makes all the difference when it comes to these items. Medical grade products matter for a variety of reasons. The ingredients in medical grade products are of superior quality as opposed to regular over-the-counter items. There’s also adequate research, testing, and safety standards in place with medical grade products. Most importantly, medical grade items are suited towards specific goals and types of skin, whereas over the counter (OTC) items are intended to be used generally for all types of skin and try to treat many things at once. Because of this, OTC items can claim lots of things through elaborate marketing campaigns, but they may not have the results to back them up.
The second important factor when selecting skin care items for gift purposes is that you’ll want to consider the kinds of items you’re giving. For instance – wrinkle removers, creams for undereye bags, and products for certain conditions such as acne and cellulite may not be the best items to give out during the holidays. Even if you’ve been using the BEST wrinkle remover you’ve ever tried and are eager to share it with a friend, products like these may not be considered to be in good taste by some recipients, especially when they’re unwrapping gifts in front of large groups of friends/family.
Good skin care products to consider are ones that “add” rather than “fix” or “remove”. Products that hydrate, moisturize, brighten, and protect are safe bets, and are features that everyone can benefit from. Glow serums, sunscreens, brightening complexes, and hydration formulas are examples of products that can add great & desirable skin benefits without raising any eyebrows or having misinterpreted messages.
Skin care products can make excellent gifts for close friends and family, and can complement an existing skin care regimen, or spark the development of a new one.
This holiday season, our Capsule Collection is available for a limited time at our Beverly Hills and Santa Monica offices.
This includes three of our best-selling items – Hydrating Serum, Vita-CE, & Glow Serum – all in one package for a special price! Contact us to learn more about this holiday-exclusive bundle!
It is Halloween season, the favorite time of year for many people. Along with munching on candy, binge watching horror movies, and getting a Blood Facial to get into the scary spirit, dressing up in costumes is one of the staple traditions of this holiday. The use of Halloween makeup can be a great way to amplify your costume and make it stand out! Applying Halloween makeup is an art, and there are countless articles and videos available that can help you get your Halloween look to the next level – however, taking care of your skin during Halloween is just as important, and starts before you even open the new pack of face paints.
Year after year, many people apply Halloween makeup on their night out only to wake up November 1 with dried out skin, acne breakouts, allergic reactions, or other side effects that can be scarier than the actual costume they wore. To help prevent this situation from happening to you, here are 5 tips that can help you with applying your Halloween makeup:
Tip #1: Get creative with your costume
Halloween is a time of high creativity, as people come up with all kinds of extravagant ideas for costumes. Figuring out how to implement your intended costume is a whole extra skill on its own, too. Once you’ve settled on a look, don’t forget to experiment with ways to implement your costume, and consider alternative ways you can achieve your imagined look that can limit the use of full-faced Halloween makeup.
For instance, if you plan on wearing a costume more than once this season, or will be wearing it for an entire day, perhaps masks, hats, and accessories can obtain your same look without needing to wear as much heavy paints and makeup as you initially planned for a full day.
Some other examples include:
Wearing fancy shades instead of adding and removing makeup around the eyes, which has thinner, more delicate skin compared to the rest of the face
Adding Halloween makeup to only a small portion of your face or around the outside edges of your face, which can amplify the effect of certain looks
Using a different shade of your regular routinely used makeup instead of applying brand new face paint you’ve never tried out before
Sometimes less is more. Maybe adding bright neon lipstick or just drawing a small design can create a noticeable contrast without the need to paint the whole face
Adding adhesives and scarring effects to an external masquerade mask rather than needing to apply them directly on the skin can limit the risk of having an allergic reaction to the ingredients, and is also not aggressive on the epidermis. It also allows you to freely add and remove the look to your face at will
There is no limit to how creative you can get with your design. You might even come up with a brand new idea altogether once you start to think outside of the box a little bit!
There are many creative Halloween makeup styles available that can be applied to a portion of the face instead of needing to cover the entire face. Here, makeup artist @AlyshiaJoness demonstrates a stitched face effect where the costume products are used only around the outside edge of the face.
Tip #2: Do not reuse old makeup
While it may be tempting to re-use makeup and paints left over from the year before, it is good practice to resist the urge and TOSS IT OUT. For your skin’s safety, you will want to be sure that the products you are using are new, fresh, and uncontaminated. Used makeup that has been closed for a long period of time and stored in an overtly warm or cold location can serve as a breeding ground for all kinds of various germs and bacteria – which you definitely do not want to add to your face! These seasonal products usually come with an expiration date for this very reason, and disregarding these labels just to save a couple of dollars is not worth the risk.
Additionally, older products tend to work less efficiently than new ones. The ingredients may harden over time and become clunkier, while others can get separated and dry out. When this happens, this usually requires you to add on even more makeup than you would have used otherwise, which can not only increase the risk of an unfavorable reaction, but can negatively impact the look of your costume as well. The last thing you want to do is compromise the look of your skin and your costume with old products.
Tip #3: Thoroughly research products before purchase
Part of the preparation process should be not only researching what designs you want, but also researching exactly what products you’re going to be applying to your skin. When selecting what products you use, this is not the time to skimp out on the pricing. You will frequently see tons of low-priced paints and makeup by the registers at different stores, but these are often leftover products from years before that were stored and placed back on the shelves this year. Additionally, the ingredients in these products are often not FDA approved or contain metal impurities. These are not items you will want to leave on for long periods of time, if at all.
You will want to check the ingredients of prospective items carefully to ensure you aren’t allergic to anything contained within. If you sweat a lot, you may have heard that oil-based paint works better so that you don’t sweat off your makeup – which is fine, but some of these can contain waxes and oils that can clog pores and lead to breakouts. Be sure that the products are noncomedogenic to prevent clogged pores. If possible, be sure to check reviews for the products you are considering to get a sense of what you can expect before purchasing them. Some items may have minor side effects that you will want to be prepared for, such as drying out skin or requiring an additional item for removal. It is best to know this information ahead of time so that you can make the appropriate preparations required.
Tip #4: Plan out your removal routine ahead of time
Many people spend a lot of time carefully crafting their Halloween makeup and taking the time to ensure that everything looks just right – only to rush through the removal process and not take the time to take address their skin afterwards. A well planned Halloween makeup routine continues even after you’ve removed all the paint and fake blood from your face, and the removal process of your makeup requires just as much consideration as applying them. Some products may require additional items for removal in order to ensure that you aren’t abrasively rubbing away at your face in order to get all the paint and makeup off. While makeup remover can work for most products, it doesn’t work with everything. Oil-based products for instance will require other methods for removal. Certain products may dry out your face, which should be followed up with moisturizer. Toner and cleanser are also recommended to be included in your aftercare routine.
And finally, do be sure that at the end of your festivities, you wash your makeup off COMPLETELY and that you do not sleep with any on. This tip may seem like a common sense one that most people already know – however, the number of celebrators who still do this is surprisingly high. Halloween makeup can be a bit stubborn to remove, and after a long night when you are tired and worn out, the last thing you may want to do is spend time removing every last bit.
But it needs to be done. It is *very* important to make sure that you remove it all thoroughly, and take the time to properly maintain your face afterwards. If you are purchasing new moisturizers or toners, be sure to read the directions and get comfortable with them ahead of time before the big evening. Having your removal items lined up, easily accessible, and ready to go before you head out can limit the amount of time you spend looking for things, and makes the removal process more efficient.
Tip #5: Stay hydrated!
One of the perks of the Halloween season is the abundance of all kinds of sugary snacks and various seasonal beverages that make their appearance only at this time of the year. It can be a joy for many people to indulge in these sugary goodies before they disappear for another year – but overindulging in these can mean bad news for your skin.
When sugar enters the bloodstream, the sugar depletes the water from the rest of your cells, which can lead to dehydration. In addition, both sugar and alcohol can cause diuretic effects as the body attempts to remove these products from the body, which can contribute to dehydration even more.
Dehydrated skin appears dry, itchy, and can have an uneven skin tone/complexion that can last all day and leave you looking tired and weary. Fine lines and wrinkles that you may have never noticed otherwise become exaggerated, and can become visible all of a sudden. Overconsumption of sugary snacks and beverages can also cause water retention, which results in swollen eyelids and dark circles under the eyes. In addition, dehydration can also cause other bodily side effects such as headaches, muscle cramps, and a lack of energy.
The good news is that combatting dehydration is very simple. First, setting limits on the amount of sugary snacks and beverages you consume is a great start. Keeping limits on your sugar intake is beneficial not only for your skin, but for your body overall. Even though there is a wide availability of candy everywhere, and hearing drinks with all kinds of spooky names can get your taste buds excited, don’t forget to keep an eye on your consumption of these items and know when to stop. Drinking plenty of water is another great habit to follow as well. Drinking adequate amounts of water consistently not only ensures that your body and skin are well hydrated, but the water can also help you feel fuller. This can assist you with limiting your candy consumption, and controlling the dehydrating effects of alcoholic beverages.
As mentioned in Tip #3, also be sure to keep your face hydrated by regular use of a moisturizer as well. This is especially important during this time of the year as the weather begins to cool down, which can contribute to the drying out of skin even faster.
After your Halloween activities have concluded for the year, treating your face with a HydraFacial is an excellent way to reward your skin and give it reinvigorating hydration after enduring those October nights. Click here to learn more about the HydraFacial procedure
As we enter the final days of summer, we are slowly entering the home stretch before calling the current year a wrap. We’re right at the point where the leisure time of the summer is about to wind down, but before the chaos of the late autumn and holiday seasons start – making this the PERFECT time to consider a microneedling treatment.
Starting a microneedling treatment in the late summer/early fall allows the effects to show on your skin over the next few months, resulting in you looking your best right when the holiday season hits, and time is scarce. Not only will it also ensure that you can start off your new year with radiant, glowing skin, but you will also have personal first-hand experience with this new tool which you can now incorporate into your skin care arsenal moving forward.
*Note that Microneedling treatments can be performed on their own; however, it is also very common for these treatments to be combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from your own blood as well. This combo of Microneedling + PRP is commonly referred to as the Blood Facial.
Here are 6 reasons why you should try out Microneedling (either with or without PRP) before the clock hits midnight for the new year:
1) Microneedling is All Natural
Unlike most treatments, microneedling involves no special formulas being inserted into your skin, and no fancy pieces of technology. This treatment simply consists of a collection of very tiny needles that gently puncture the first layer of your skin, and that’s it. Your body then heals these tiny wounds with its own natural healing process. This process increases collagen and improves the texture and appearance of the skin naturally since it is using your body’s own healing mechanisms that it was designed to do.
Microneedling treatments that have been combined with PRP simply involve the use of your own platelets that are already contained within your blood. Your blood is first drawn, and the platelets are then separated and injected into the face. All that is happening here is that the plasma is merely being moved from one area of your body to the other. Nothing out of the ordinary!
2) Microneedling is a minimally invasive treatment with NO downtime
Because the needles being used are so small in size, the punctures caused by these needles are not visible to the naked eye. Even though these wounds are small enough to not be visible, they still trigger the body to activate healing mode on the treated areas, so your skin still reaps the effects. Most patients head right on back to work the same day, and it is very common for others to continue their originally intended weekend plans the first couple days after a treatment. After your treatment has been completed, your physician will provide you with some very simple aftercare steps to take, such as wearing sunscreen (which you are doing anyway after reading our Skin Cancer blog, right?!).
In the case of PRP – even though there are extra injections involved when microneedling and PRP are combined, this does not cause any increase in downtime. In fact, just the opposite! Those who combine microneedling with PRP can expect an even faster recovery time due to the accelerated healing process from the platelets. The initial redness and swelling wears often wears off within 48-72 hours after a blood facial, and results also appear faster as well when combined with PRP.
3) Microneedling can Treat a TON of Conditions
Microneedling is an extremely versatile procedure that can treat practically any concern or condition you have. Studies have shown that patients with acne scars especially are excellent candidates. Acne scars are one of the most difficult conditions to treat, and patients can expect to see good to great results in the improvement of their skin and the appearance of these scars after receiving microneedling.
In addition to acne scars, microneedling can also improve the appearance of:
Age spots
Hyperpigmentation/Uneven skin tone
Fine lines and wrinkles
Scars
Stretch marks
Undereye Circles
Enlarged pores
Cellulite
PRP is also quite versatile, and has been used in a variety of medical and surgical procedures thanks to its healing effects. It has been very prevalent among professional athletes in rehabilitation, so it comes as no surprise that PRP and microneedling go together like soap and water. In addition to Microneedling, PRP can also be used to slow down the effects of age related hair loss as well.
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4) Your Skin Will Absorb Products Better After a Microneedling Session
One of the real joys about microneedling is that not only does it directly fight against conditions on your face such as fine lines and acne scars – but it also has the benefit of increasing the effectiveness of your skin care products.
Topical products applied during your skin care procedure are usually only absorbed by the uppermost layers of skin. Due to the small punctures created by microneedling, the topical products are now able to penetrate deeper into the skin, thus getting absorbed by the lower layers. Patients are often pleasantly surprised to return to their skin care regimens a few days after treatment to find that the same products they’ve been using are amplified in their effects afterwards. You can expect up to 90% increased product absorption after microneedling!
5) No Risk of Adverse Side Effects
One of the biggest perks that many microneedling patients really enjoy about the treatment is how it is so simple and natural. Because of this, the risk of side effects is extremely low with this procedure, especially when compared to other more invasive options like surgery. The punctures inflicted from the needles are so small that the body will enter its natural healing mode without needing to worry about risking prevalent side effects that accompany other treatments, like infection or surgical complications.
After a microneedling treatment, you can expect minor swelling and redness that will disappear on its own after a few days. Dry skin can also happen and is normal, and your physician will let you know what post-procedure measures to follow to limit the effects of this. Moisturizer can, and should be used to reduce this until it resolves on its own.
Those who opt to receive the microneedling + PRP combo can expect to see the swelling and redness disappear even faster! The addition of PRP offers an accelerated healing process without the addition of any other risks or downsides. Because PRP uses the patient’s own blood, there is no cause for concern about issues like allergic reactions.
6) Microneedling treatments have very little to no pain at all
Having numerous small needles puncturing your face all over may sound a bit scary to some people; however, before the procedure is started, a topical anesthetic is applied to the patient’s face and is left to sit for about 30 minutes first. As the skin absorbs this ointment, the patient’s face then goes numb and the procedure is then started afterwards. While some patients do report a slight sensation of the needles being moved across the face, many others report no pain at all. Even patients who receive the deepest level of depth have reported the procedure being very tolerable, and much less than what they initially anticipated.
The addition of PRP may give off the impression that it is painful since there is blood involved. However, due to the anesthetic, the injection of the PRP is also reported to be not very painful – in fact, patients report even less pain than what one may feel from a filler or Botox treatment. Because the needle used for PRP is much smaller than the kinds used for Botox and fillers, patients report simply the feeling of the needle going in with no pain.
**Bonus Reason:
As we know, the combination of Microneedling with PRP is referred to as the “Blood Facial”.
The fall season is famous for having a special day in October that you might have heard about at some point. This special day is known for featuring ghosts and other ghoulies like zombies, witches, and coincidentally, vampires. ? ? ? ?
This special day is referred to as…well, we can’t quite remember at the moment…
BUT, for those of you who are fans of this special day, starting this season off with a BLOOD FACIAL is the PERFECT way to get into the spirit for this time of the year
Still have a couple of other questions before scheduling your microneedling treatment? Dr. Behroozan and the team at Dermatology Institute are more than happy to assist you on your mission to achieve healthy, glowing skin. You can choose either one of 2 locations near you in Beverly Hills or Santa Monica. We are available at your convenience via e-mail, or you can call us as well at (310) 392-1111
