Exfoliation Archives | Precision Wellness

What are the Long-Term Benefits of a Regular Facial?

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Most of us consider a day at the spa a luxury. At the end of the day, you probably look forward to being pampered and prettied up in a relaxing environment. One particular indulgence that does more than just spoil you, is a facial.

Staggering amounts of pollution, dirt, grime and dead skin accumulate on our faces. This build up is unavoidable. We can do the best we can to keep the skin clean, but it is not always enough. Many advocates compare getting a facial to going to the dentist. We brush our teeth, floss (when we remember) and still acknowledge the importance of going to the dentist for a regular deep clean. Keeping on a regular dental schedule saves us a lot of money down the road. Like our teeth, the skin needs to be evaluated and cleansed by a trained professional every so often to maintain a healthy complexion. Getting facials on a regular basis, even once every few months or year, will save you from needless spending in the future.

What are some of the benefits of a routine facial you ask? Let’s dive in:

Regular facials provide noticeable improvements to your skin tone, texture, and appearance.
Regular facials lead to less pronounced wrinkles and keeping your skin hydrated.
Your existing creams and moisturizers will be more effective.
Healthy skin is our body’s first line of defense against illness, bacteria, and disease (it is extremely important to take care of it!).
Professional facials help increase circulation in your skin by promoting new skin cell growth which leads to healthier and younger looking skin!
General recommendation is a facial every three to four weeks (or once a month). The life cycle of skin cell development and exfoliation.
Facials help this process and assure your skin always glows!
Removing blackheads and exfoliating dry, flaky skin, facials help fade dark spots from long-term damage and bad habits.

Are you wondering the disadvantage of regular facials? The most common side effects after a facial are redness and blotchy skin due to the pressure of exfoliation and extraction. You should avoid wearing makeup or using any of the products on your skin during the day or two that follow your facial to give your skin time to heal. That’s it… that is the only disadvantage! (now that is a side effect I’m ok with!)

One important note to remember is that a single facial will not improve the quality and healthy of your skin in the long-term. Much like going to the gym, improving the health of your skin is a continual process, requiring commitment and dedication.

At Precision Wellness, we offer a wide variety of facial services customized to fit the needs of your skin type and goals for your skin you’d like to achieve.

Benefits of Aromatherapy During Your Massage and Facial

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Before we can discuss the benefits of aromatherapy, you may be wondering “what is aromatherapy?”. Aromatherapy incorporates the use of scented essential oils.

The essential oils are 100% natural, highly concentrated plant essence, they will be diluted before use and are applied along with lotion during the massage or facial. The massage involves alternating between gentle and harder pressure while using essential oils.

Not only is your body benefiting from the direct contact with the essential oils, but the oils are alleged to have specific healing properties upon inhaling after exposure.

Aromatherapy can reduce stress, relieve anxiety, increase calmness and relaxation, increase contentment, decrease muscle tension, provide pain relief, and reduce the symptoms of depression.

Benefits of adding aromatherapy to your massage and facial

Essential Oils are Harmless

Your therapist will evaluate your skin type and discuss any issues you have or what you need to work on and use a selection of oils that will benefit your skin. If you do not have any healing requests such as nerves, muscles, or joints, you can ask for a more general essential oil such as energizing, uplifting, relaxing, or decongesting.

Stress-Relief

Receiving a massage or facial is a way to relax and ease your emotions, by adding essential oils to your massage or facial your experience and results will be enhanced because these oils have stress-relieving properties.

Detoxes Your Skin

Essential oils get down deep into your pores and work on the inner layers. Aromatherapy facial and massage literally purifies the skin from within and not just externally. This washes away all the impurities and hence, skin is detoxed.

Relieves Dryness

There is no better solution if you are suffering from dry skin, especially in the winter, when skin becomes extra dry, essential oils can be used as exfoliators in the form of a scrub or peel. You will soon feel your skin texture turn smooth.

Treats Poor Skin Conditions

Are you looking for that magic skin treatment to deal with blemishes, acne, dark spots, and similar problem? Aromatherapy helps to improve the texture of the skin as it has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Removing dirt and all other impurities from the skin.

Improves Blood Circulation

A natural and healthy glow is what we all want to see in our skin, right? This is mostly triggered by the betterment of blood flow to the skin cells. The movement of blood to the skin gives it a healthy glow and releases skin cells with necessary nutrients and water, which reduces the presence of wrinkled dry skin.

Want to add aromatherapy to your massage or facial? Book online or call Precision Wellness today!

Skin Script Rx Anti Aging Facial

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Precision Wellness is proud to announce that we will be introducing the Skin Script Rx line of professional products.

Skin Script RX Skin Care is a line of natural, yet clinical skincare products designed for anti-aging, hyperpigmentation, melasma, sun damage, teen and adult acne, rosacea. Antioxidants, exfoliants, and natural brighteners are the base of this skincare line to achieve remarkable results.

Professional natural fruit enzymes, masks, and chemical peels are available. Skin Script fruit enzymes can be customized to be as gentle or aggressive as needed for your skin condition. Come in for an anti-aging facial to see firsthand how we can customize fruit enzymes, glycolics, retinols, salicylics, and lactics to achieve remarkable results.

Skin Script is dedicated to beautiful, healthy skin using fresh thinking to deliver the latest in vitalized, youthful-looking skin. Skin Script is a clinical, professional skin care line containing retinols, glycolics, lactics, salicylic, and natural lighteners and brighteners allowing us to customize a treatment regimen for your specific skin conditions.

We use Skin Script products in our facials, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels. These specialty products are designed to complement Skin Script’s clinical home products. The natural fruit enzymes and peels are formulated with higher levels of natural lighteners, kojic, and arbutin.

Skin Script’s professional products successfully treat melasma and hyperpigmentation on a variety of skin tones to treat these difficult skin conditions.

We love the Skin Script line of products because they work. Skin Script Rx is more absorbable than other skincare products. It’s very versatile and great for all skin types. Best of all it smells amazing.

We’re so confident that our customers will love it too that we’ll also carry their skin cleansers and moisturizers for you to use at home in between your facials. Once you try it for yourself, you’ll understand why we are so excited to add this new line of anti-aging skincare products.

Cold Weather Skin Care Tips

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As the weather turns colder many of us look forward to pumpkin spice lattes and hot chocolate, but the colder weather is not great for our skin. This is caused by the low humidity levels in the air which causes the air to be very dry, and in turn, removes the moisture from the skin. Cracking, bleeding, and itching skin are just some of the results of cold weather and lack of action to care for the moisture-lacking skin. When it’s time to turn on the furnace, many don’t realize that heat also steals the moisture from the skin through rough cleansers and hot showers.

Even though adding consistent moisture helps, most will need to do more to counteract the results of moisture lacking skin and will keep the skin looking healthy and smooth. At Precision Wellness, we realize that skincare and maintenance of moisture are very important and vital to healthy, youthful, and glowing skin. To reduce these problems, here are some tips from our Precision Wellness expert estheticians to keep your skin healthy and youthful.

Lukewarm Water is Your Friend

Even though hot showers always feel great when it’s cold, it is damaging your skin at the same time. A good time to use lukewarm water is when you’re just washing your face or hands, to avoid taking the oils away from the skin.

Moisturize Right After Every Wash

Your skin consistently needs moisture and moisturizing right after you wash is a great habit to get into. When you moisturize right after showering, it seals in the moisture you received from a lukewarm shower or bath. After you wash, it is good to have a bottle of lotion near you as a reminder to always apply it.

Choose Your Moisturizer Cautiously

Some of the very common moisturizers have petroleum-based ingredients, which can lead your skin to be drier in the winter months. A smart formula that has natural and nourishing ingredients is the best way to go when choosing a moisturizer. Also, an oil-based solution is a better option rather than a water-based one because it helps your skin retain moisture better. Here at Precision Wellness, we can give you more information on ingredients to avoid and ones to seek out.

Weather Protection

Wearing gloves and scarves are a must to protect skin from all of the harsh cold weather events that could happen. However, most forget that even if it’s not summer anymore, sunscreen is still essential to protecting your skin from the sun. While most will think that the summer sun is more damaging, in the winter the sun is just as strong and there is already a lack of moisture so apply sunscreen to any visible skin.

Humidify Your Home

While heating systems are very important in cold winter, they can dry out the air, but a humidifier can remedy this problem. They put moisture back into the air within your home and will then prevent your skin from drying out.

Drink More Water

Even though hot drinks like hot chocolate and tea are great in the winter, don’t forget that your body needs a lot of water because your skin also gets in moisture from the inside of your body. Warm water with lemon can be very effective in aiding in moisture and meets the heated drink requirement while also staying very hydrated at the same time.

Moisturize Every Night

Hands, elbows, feet, and knees tend to have thin skin and will lose moisture quicker than other areas. Using a deep moisturizing balm at night will hold the moisture in overnight and wearing socks after applying this balm will seal in the moisture.

Exfoliate Every Week

Most forget that if the dead cells are too plentiful, the moisture can’t find a way in, so exfoliating every week is essential. An exfoliating mask and body washes are great to use, especially when followed by a hydrating lotion or balm. Here at Precision Wellness, our estheticians specialize in exfoliating facials and body treatments and following with a moisturizer.

Avoid Toxins

Eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis are all very sensitive to allergens and irritants which can trigger a flare-up of the condition. This is because winter skin is more sensitive, so try and avoid irritating fabrics, use mild cleansers and sensitive skin moisturizers.

Hydrating Foods

Consuming foods high in water will help hydrate your skin from the inside. Apples, oranges, and watermelon are great fruit while, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots are great high water vegetables. Consider an omega-3 supplement, or possibly consume more fatty fish, if it works with your doctor’s recommended diet, to give your skin the building blocks it needs to appear smooth and healthy.

Switch Up Your Cleanser

Cleansers can be extremely drying to the skin. It is good to find more than one cleanser that works for your skin type and switch them every couple of months. After cleansing, apply a moisturizer to seal in the moisture.

We hope you found these skincare tips helpful and here at Precision Wellness we are always happy to help you achieve the relaxation or smooth skin you desire.

Everything You Need To Know About Microdermabrasion

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What Is Microdermabrasion?

Microdermabrasion is a very popular, machine-assisted skin-exfoliating treatment. Microdermabrasion has advantages of low risk and rapid recovery compared to the other more invasive resurfacing methods such as dermabrasion, chemical peeling, and laser resurfacing. Since microdermabrasion produces only a very superficial depth of skin removal, it works best on improving conditions on the surface of the skin such as early photoaging (sun damage), fine lines, age spots, acne, and superficial scarring, although the results are not dramatic. Although the face is the most common area for microdermabrasion, any skin area, including neck, chest, back, and hands, may be treated. Microdermabrasion is sometimes referred to as “Microderm,” lunchtime peel, Parisian Peel, and Diamond Peel.

Microdermabrasion is a painless, noninvasive, skin-rejuvenation procedure using a combination of a fine abrasive tip or crystals and vacuum suction applied to the skin. There are no needles or anesthetics required for microdermabrasion. The vacuum pressure and speed are adjusted depending on the sensitivity and tolerance of the skin. Microdermabrasion is often compared to the feeling of a cat licking your face, a rough but gentle texture. Typical microdermabrasion sessions can last anywhere from five to 60 minutes. Minimal to no recovery time is required after microdermabrasion and most people immediately return to daily activity after a session. Makeup and nonirritating creams can usually be applied right after microdermabrasion. Studies have shown that microdermabrasion can even temporarily facilitate the absorption of some topical medications by increasing the permeability of the skin.

Microdermabrasion works by removing a few of the top layers of the skin called the stratum corneum. Much like brushing your teeth, Microderm helps to gently remove “plaque” and skin debris. Since human skin typically regenerates at approximately 30-day intervals, skin improvement with microdermabrasion is temporary and needs to be repeated at average intervals of two to four weeks for continued improvement. Multiple treatments in combination with sunscreen, sun avoidance, and other skin-care creams yield the best results.

Who Should Consider Microdermabrasion?

Microdermabrasion is somewhat useful for people with dull or sallow skin, mild acne, acne discoloration, pick marks, and very superficial acne scars. Microdermabrasion may be a good treatment option for patients with superficial skin problems and busy lifestyles who are looking for minimal benefits with virtually no side effects or downtime. Individuals with deeper acne scars may expect a much longer series of treatments or likely benefit from physician-performed surgical dermabrasion, chemical peeling, or laser resurfacing.

How Does Microdermabrasion Work?

A crystal microdermabrasion system contains a pump, a connecting tube, a handpiece, and a vacuum. While the pump creates a high-pressure stream of inert crystals, such as aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, sodium chloride, and sodium bicarbonate, to abrade the skin, the vacuum removes the crystals and exfoliated skin cells. Alternatively, the inert crystals can be replaced by a roughened surface of the tip in the diamond microdermabrasion system.

Unlike the crystal microdermabrasion system, our diamond-tipped microdermabrasion machine does not produce particles from crystals that may be inhaled into a patient’s nose or blown into the eyes. Therefore our diamond-tipped microdermabrasion is safer for use on areas around the eyes and lips. Generally, the slower the movement of the handpiece against the skin and the more numbers of passes over the skin, the deeper the treatment.

What Ages Are Appropriate for Microdermabrasion?

While there are no specific age or sex restrictions, typically children over age 12 up to adults age 65 can get microdermabrasion. While there is no age maximum, mature skin over age 70 may have slightly higher risks of bruising and skin abrasions. Individuals younger than age 12 may sometimes also receive treatment under the care of a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

How Often Can I Have Microdermabrasion?

Microdermabrasion can be done as frequently as weekly or up to every eight weeks depending on your skin’s tolerance and desired cosmetic effects. Many people choose to start with weekly treatments for three sessions, then change to a monthly maintenance regimen.
Much like brushing your teeth, microdermabrasion helps to gently remove skin debris. Since human skin typically regenerates at approximately 30-day intervals, skin improvement with microdermabrasion is temporary and needs to be repeated at average intervals of two to four weeks for continued improvement. Usually, multiple treatments (six to 12 sessions) are recommended to see a significant improvement.

What Should I Expect Before, During, and After Microdermabrasion?

Softer and smoother skin that feels fresher and more rejuvenated is the expected outcome after microdermabrasion. Before starting the microdermabrasion treatment, eye protection such as eye pads or goggles may be placed. Often the skin may be prepared and cleaned of makeup and oils. No local anesthetic is required. The skin will be stretched to provide some tension in order to achieve the most effective abrasion and vacuum. The handpiece is moved over the skin with repeated single, smooth passes. Usually, two to four passes per area are sufficient.

Mild pinkness of the skin is the desired outcome and usually resolves within minutes to hours after microdermabrasion. In addition, mild exfoliation of skin may occur as well. Continuously apply moisturizer or ointment if exfoliation occurs. Clients may also experience a mild sunburn-like sensation for a few days. Moreover, liberal application of sunscreen is recommended as photosensitivity may be increased after treatment.

Microdermabrasion may help stimulate the production of collagen, thereby helping skin rejuvenation. As age spots from photoaging and fine lines are diminished, the skin may become softer and smoother.

Benefits of Waxing

With waxing, there are many benefits but most see it as very cost-effective, long-lasting, convenient and it’s a quick way to remove unwanted hair. A wax hair removal treatment removes hair directly from the roots and the hair generally does not grow back for three to six weeks and can be used on virtually any part of the body. Commonly, it is used to remove hair on legs, underarms, bikini lines, and arms, while also removing hair from the facial areas such as; upper lip and lower lips, eyebrows, and chin. Some areas, however, should never be waxed which are eyelashes, inside of your nose and ears. Some tips to consider and other benefits that most experiences include:

Plan Ahead For That Special Event

With a wedding coming up, a planned getaway vacation, or any special day, it is very important to plan your wax in advance. When visiting a tanning salon, it is recommended to start tanning a few weeks ahead of an event because you can’t get a real base tan after just one session. This is the same with waxing, your body has to become accustomed to the wax and the removal of hair, which usually takes a person around three months. If you schedule your first waxing session before your special event, your skin might be red or irritated which defeats the whole purpose of trying to look your best.

Smooth Skin That Lasts

Waxing removes hair from the root, which means it will take a longer time for the hair to regrow and won’t for anywhere from three to eight weeks. This means hair-free, smooth skin that lasts much longer and you can show off your glowing skin for an upcoming holiday or vacation.

No Skin Damage

In comparison to other methods of hair removal, for example, hair-removing creams and shaving, waxing does not cause cuts, badly smelling skin, or pigmentation. Waxing allows this to not occur because of the harsh chemicals that are not present within the wax, which saves the skin from damage.

More Soft and Thin Body Hair

Generally, after waxing the hair that grows back is rough and had, but with waxing the hair is usually more thin and soft. One of the best things is waxing does not cause the irritating stubble that shaving usually does after one day.

Exfoliation While Removing Hair

Because waxing removes the top layer of dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, after the wax is completed the skin is soft and rejuvenated. Since waxing removes the top layer of dead skin it can also serve as an exfoliation treatment.

Waxing Prolongs Hair Growth

Once many sessions of waxing are done, there will be a noticeable prolonged time period of not hair when generally there would be. In comparison with shaving, hair growth is stimulated rather than prolonged because it removes the surface hair rather than the root.

Dry Skin Brushing Benefits

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Many people carefully tend to the skin on their face, regularly exfoliating, cleansing, and moisturizing. But when’s the last time you tended to the skin on the rest of your body?

Your skin is your largest organ, after all, and there is one simple step you can add to your morning routine that can greatly improve your health – dry skin brushing.

I’m not only referring to your skin’s aesthetic appearance, either (although many would agree this is important too). The benefits of dry skin brushing go beyond skin deep, offering whole-body benefits to your health.

Dry Skin Brushing: 7 Key Benefits

Your skin is a complex system made up of nerves, glands, and cell layers that, when healthy, serves as a buffer that helps protect your body from extreme temperatures and chemicals.

It also produces antibacterial substances to protect you from infection and enables your body to produce Vitamin D when exposed to the sun. Your skin even contains densely packed nerve cells that act as messengers to your brain, making your skin a crucial part of your interactions with the world around you.

Another crucial role your skin plays is supporting optimal detoxification. But if your skin is overrun with toxins or dead skin cells, it will not be able to eliminate wastes from your body efficiently.

This is where dry skin brushing can be invaluable, not only in brushing off dead skin cells but also in activating waste removal via your lymph nodes. Beyond this, dry skin brushing offers multiple benefits including:

Stimulate Your Lymphatic System

In your body, your lymphatic system is the system responsible for eliminating cellular waste products. Hundreds of miles of lymphatic tubules allow waste to be collected from your tissues and transported to your blood for elimination, a process referred to as lymphatic drainage.

When your lymphatic system is not working properly, waste and toxins can build up and make you sick. Lymphatic congestion is a major factor leading to inflammation and disease. By stimulating your lymphatic system and helping it release toxins, dry skin brushing is a powerful detoxification aid.

Exfoliation

Dry skin brushing removes dead dry skin, improving appearance, clearing your clogged pores, and allowing your skin to “breathe.”

Increase Circulation

When you dry brush your skin, it increases circulation to your skin, which encourages the elimination of metabolic waste.

Reduce Cellulite

Dry skin brushing may help to soften hard fat deposits below the skin while distributing fat deposits more evenly. This may help to diminish the appearance of cellulite.

Dry brushing is also said to help reduce cellulite by removing toxins that may break down connective tissue, although some believe the effect is temporary (and mostly a result of skin become plumper and swollen after brushing).

“When we’d heard dry skin brushing was an effective method for reducing cellulite, we knew we had to include it in our anti-cellulite road test. Sure enough, it was indeed one of the more successful ways to smooth away less-than-perfect spots on your legs.”
Huffington Post

Stress Relief

The act of dry brushing has been described as meditative (especially if you do it in a quiet space) and may reduce muscle tension, calm your mind, and relieve stress. Many compare it to a light whole-body massage.

Improve Digestion and Kidney Function

Dry skin brushing may go even deeper, helping to support your digestion and organ function.

“…many naturopathic doctors use dry brushing to help with bloating because massaging the lymph nodes helps the body shed excess water and toxins. One of the immediate effects of dry brushing is smoother skin, but it can also help improve digestion, kidney function, and more.”
Skincare and Spa Expert

It’s Invigorating

Many people become “addicted” to dry skin brushing (in a good way) because it simply feels so good. Along with glowing and tighter skin, regular dry skin brushers report feeling invigorated after a quick session.

Dry Brushing: How to Do It

First, you’ll need a high-quality dry brush. Look for one with bristles made from natural materials. They should feel stiff but not overly so. Ideally, choose a brush with a long handle so you can reach your entire back and other hard-to-reach spots.

Dry skin brushing should be done daily for best results, or even twice a day if you like. Try incorporating it into your normal daily routine, such as doing your brushing before your morning shower and then again after work (avoid doing it too close to bedtime, as it may leave you feeling energized).

When brushing, always brush toward your heart, which is best for circulation and your lymphatic system. You can brush your entire body (including the soles of your feet). Start at your feet and work your way up to your legs to your arms, chest, back, and stomach. Avoid brushing your face (unless you have a special brush designed for this delicate skin), your genitals, or any areas with irritations or abrasions (including varicose veins).

The pressure you apply while brushing your skin should be firm but not painful (avoid “scrubbing”). Your skin should be pink after a session (not red or irritated) and you can brush for as long (or as little) as you’d like. An average dry brushing session may last between two and 20 minutes.

Try It… You’ll Probably Get Hooked

The investment in dry skin brushing is small – you can find a high-quality brush for under $20 – but the pay-off is large. If you’ve never tried it, you’re likely to be pleasantly surprised.

“I’ve only been at this for about two weeks, but I’ve already experienced many of the benefits listed above. For one thing, dry skin brushing just feels really good. It’s one of those miraculous practices that manages to be both relaxing and energizing all at the same time. For another, it cured my cellulite! …Dry skin brushing also helped heal some ingrown hairs and some innocuous though unsightly bumps on my arms. My skin is softer and no longer dry or flakey. Additionally, though I’m not sure whether or not it’s related to dry skin brushing, I must say that I’ve been sleeping better and experiencing less ‘brain fog’ throughout the day!”
New Skin Brushing Devotee | Examiner

A Surefire Plan for Flawless Skin

Eating a healthy diet as described in my nutrition plan, which focuses on whole, bioavailable organic foods is your number one strategy for helping your body detox naturally while supplying the necessary nutrients your skin needs to thrive. Adding dry brushing on top of a healthful diet will only magnify its benefits. That said, certain foods are particularly effective at promoting beautiful, clear, healthy skin, so if you’re not yet eating the following on a regular basis, now is a great time to start:

Animal-based Omega-3 Fats

Ideally fresh, organic, and locally grown vegetables. Fresh vegetable juice is also wonderful for your skin, as are carotenoids, which give red, orange, and yellow fruits their color, and also occur in green vegetables. Studies have shown that eating foods with these deeply colored pigments can make your face actually look healthier than being tanned

Fermented Vegetables are even better as they can be made with the same vegetables but are converted by bacteria into superfoods. Fermented vegetables help promote the growth of friendly intestinal bacteria and aid in immune balance and digestion.

Astaxanthin—a potent antioxidant—has been found to offer effective protection against sun damage when taken as a daily supplement. Some sunscreens are also starting to use astaxanthin as an ingredient to protect your skin from damage.

Dry Brushing Routine

Once you’ve addressed the dietary suggestions above, the following routine can help you to remove excess flakes to reveal the glowing skin underneath.

Use a dry body brush to get rid of flakes, stimulate your lymphatic system, and more as described above (do this for a few minutes on your dry skin, before getting wet)
Avoid using soap or use the least amount possible, especially in winter or in dry climates, as this may promote and aggravate dry skin
Instead, apply a natural body scrub to exfoliate your skin (also apply this to your skin before getting wet, and choose one that also contains oil to moisturize)
After your shower, apply a heavy natural body butter or natural moisturizing oil (not mineral oil or baby oil) to help seal in moisture; coconut oil works well for this purpose

Learn more about our Hydrating Body Treatments.

What To Look For In A Facial

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Facials for problem skin: what to look for

The following are key components of a good problem skin facial or acne facial.

1. Skin analysis

Your esthetician should examine your skin closely under magnification and discuss with you what you’re using on your skin daily, in detail. Like a detective, your esthetician tries to piece together the culprits for your breakouts. They may not be the usual suspects, especially if you have Adult Onset Acne. You may have enjoyed clear skin all your life, even avoided teenage acne, and suddenly find yourself breaking out, for no apparent reason. Adult Onset Acne is harder to clear than teen acne, which is very straightforward.

Regardless of your age, acne is never the result of just one factor, such as excess oil or bacteria. It’s almost always a combination of issues, and each one must be addressed in order to get your skin clear.

Your esthetician will evaluate the type of eruptions and impactions you have. For example, you can have very clogged pores but no breakouts. Or you can have breakouts that seem unrelated to any pore impactions. Then again, you may have classic clogged-pores-with-breakouts. This is one of the easiest problems to treat; clearing your pores will usually end your breakouts.

2. Exfoliation

For someone with clogged pores, a deep exfoliation is the first step in loosening the debris that is blocking the follicle. Skin cells have an adhesive property that enables them to cling to the surface of the skin. The protective “horny layer” forms the outermost layer of the skin. Your pores are not holes in the skin; they’re tiny indentations on its surface. That’s why this layer of sticky surface cells is present inside the pores as well. And if you have clogged pores, you’re cursed with extra-sticky skin cells, which clump together inside the pores, forming impactions that block the natural flow of oil out of the pore. Acne bacteria show up to feast on this oil.

Sometimes “super sticky” skin cells are caused by your own skin’s adhesive properties, and sometimes it’s caused by the products you apply to the skin. If this is the cause of your acne, you have an easy-to-remedy condition called acne cosmedica. It’s simply a matter of figuring out which product in your routine is gumming up your pores. Usually, it’s your moisturizer or sunscreen.

Exfoliation can be accomplished with an enzyme that dissolves dead skin cells (fruit enzymes from papaya and pineapple do this.) A more intensive way to do this is with an alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acid peel. Scrubs are a crude way to exfoliate and tend to cause more inflammation and irritation for acne conditions. The use of AHA/BHA formulas at home will help the cells on the follicle wall continue to slough off. A serum with a combination of salicylic acid and glycolic acid produces an excellent synergistic effect.

Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) also helps to keep the follicles free of debris, and it kills the anaerobic bacteria which cause acne by introducing oxygen. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to use high concentrations of BPO to clear your skin.

3. Proper massage technique

For true acne conditions, the less friction the better, but there are massage techniques, including Manual Lymphatic Drainage and a manipulation called Jacquet (a gentle pinching/rolling) that are beneficial. They help to detoxify the skin. As an excretory organ, the skin is responsible for evacuating waste. Sluggish skin, sometimes referred to as “asphyxiated” skin, needs a bit of encouragement. If your skin texture is normal to thick, and your pore impactions resemble “waxy yellow buildup,” you’ll probably respond well to massage. When dealing with inflamed acne, most skincare experts omit facial massage altogether.

4. Proper extraction technique

Expert extraction is essential to clearing problem skin, but few estheticians employ the proper technique. It must be precise and targeted to the “offending” pore. For example, most estheticians wrap their fingers in gauze, cotton, or tissue and simply squeeze the area around a pore–hard. This is the exact wrong thing to do to the skin in which there are inflamed pustules. The walls of these inflamed pores are compromised and weak from the infection, and squeezing can cause them to rupture, spilling bacteria-laden debris into the deep, living layers of the skin. When this happens, your skin will form “tombstone scars,” trapped pockets of infection buried deep in the skin that periodically re-inflame as stubborn, painful bumps. They can never be extracted and they will haunt you for years (hence the name.)

Squeezing is also poor physics unless you’re dealing with large, open pores such as those on the nose. When you’ve had squeeze-style extractions, you’ll notice that the skin sloughs like mad around the extracted areas in a couple of days. That’s because the pressure of the squeezing literally pulls away from the upper layer of skin and causes it to peel off.

Good extraction technique is about precision, applying the right amount of pressure at exactly the right spot. At Precision Wellness we use a special surgical steel extractor that can address one pore at a time. This is not the big, crude comedone extracting “loop” or “dish with the hole in it”, but has a very tiny curve that is placed around the clogged pore. Then the debris is pushed, from the back of the pore to the front, guiding it toward the “exit.” This enables the complete evacuation of the comedone.

If you find that you break out after facials, the culprit is usually improperly performed, or incomplete, extractions. If the esthetician breaks up a comedone while extracting it, the remaining debris in the pore will run wild, creating a blemish.

If an esthetician ever tells you that you’re supposed to break out after a facial, run, don’t walk, in the opposite direction. The classic claim is that post-facial breakouts are “impurities coming to the surface.” Believe me, your skin excretes impurities and waste all day long–that’s what it’s designed to do. It does not have to erupt to cleanse itself. It is possible to overstimulate the skin during a marathon extraction session, and every esthetician has done this at one time or another, but that’s not the right outcome. If you’ve had a lot of extractions, we’ll often advise putting an ice cube in a plastic bag and massaging the skin during the hours after the treatment. You can also mask your skin again the following day to help sedate it further.

5. Calming and sedating

After extracting comedones, it’s good to give the skin a chance to calm down.

Many skins will also benefit from a quick pass with a high-frequency electrode. This elongated glass tube, which glows blue to violet and makes an unsettling buzzing sound, looks like something straight out of science fiction, but it works wonderfully. The esthetician can actually create a “spark gap” between a blemish and the electrode to zap it, destroying bacteria. And yes, that little zap feels not-so-relaxing–don’t worry, we’ll warn you. Not everyone prefers to “nuke” their blemishes with high frequency, but it really works.

6. Recommend the proper home care regimen

No matter how good the facial treatment is the key to clearing skin is using the right home care regimen. This is the product that touches your skin daily.

7. Recommend the right interval, right length facial treatment program

Any time you want to change the behavior of your body, you have to repeatedly challenge or treat it, over a period of time. Imagine trying to get in shape by working out once a month, and you’ll have an idea of how unrealistic it is to think that a periodic facial, without a proper home, can clear acne. Don’t be surprised if your esthetician asks you to come in once a week for four to six weeks when you kick off your skin clearing project. The good news is that once you’ve gotten control of your skin, you can drop back to a maintenance schedule that may be as little as once a month. But you have to do your part, and stick to your regimen at home.

It takes a comedone (blackhead) 90 days to form. That means you should allow at least 90 days to cycle through all the existing, built-up debris and get your skin cleared, but professional treatments really accelerate this process. The more you participate–masking at least twice a week, using your home care faithfully, and following our clear skin guidelines–the faster you’ll see results.

Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion Facials

esthetician-using-an-extraction-tool-on-a-clients-forehead

Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion

With dermabrasion, a dermatologist or plastic surgeon “sands” your skin with a special instrument. The procedure makes way for a new, smoother layer of skin to replace the skin that’s been treated.

Microdermabrasion uses tiny exfoliating crystals that are sprayed on the skin. It works best on problems such as dull skin, brown spots, and age spots.

When Is Dermabrasion or Microdermabrasion Used?

Dermabrasion was developed to improve acne scars, pox marks, and scars from accidents or disease. It’s not effective in treating congenital skin defects, most moles, pigmented birthmarks, or scars caused by burns.

Dermabrasion is generally only safe for people with fair skin. For people with darker skin, dermabrasion can result in scarring or discoloration.

Microdermabrasion works on all skin types and colors. It makes subtle changes, causing no skin color change or scarring. It is not effective for deeper problems such as scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, or deep acne scars.

With microdermabrasion, there is less downtime than with dermabrasion. Skin is temporarily pink but fully recovers within 24 hours. It doesn’t require surgery or anesthetics. That may help people who cannot take “down time” for healing.

Before You Get Dermabrasion or Microdermabrasion

You’ll consult with the professional who’s doing the procedure.

In a dermabrasion consultation, you’ll discuss your goals, the procedure’s risks and benefits, and the type of anesthesia that will be used. You’ll also get instructions to follow before and after dermabrasion and perhaps have “before” photos taken to compare with your results later.

With microdermabrasion, the consultation is similar but with less talk about anesthetics and risks because it is a simpler procedure.

How Does Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion Work?

Dermabrasion is done in the doctor’s office. You may get medication to relax you before the procedure starts. Your skin will be thoroughly cleansed, and you’ll get shots of numbing medicine to anesthetize the area to be treated.

The doctor will use a high-speed instrument with an abrasive wheel or brush to remove the outer layers of your skin and improve any irregularities in your skin’s surface.

In microdermabrasion, tiny crystals are sprayed onto the skin to gently remove the outer layer of your skin. This technique is less aggressive than dermabrasion, so you don’t need numbing medicine. It is basically an exfoliation and skin rejuvenation procedure that leaves skin looking softer and brighter.

Enlarged Pores Arent Potholes – Quit Trying to Fill Them!

Move over BB cream – there’s a new fad sweeping countertops, and it’s here to clog your pores! More women are adding “pore fillers” to their daily skincare agenda, hoping to blur or erase pores from their complexion completely. However, much like BB creams, you can file these under “unnecessary skincare”.

While you might envision pores as tiny potholes that a small “fill” can fix, you’ll only be creating a bigger problem – a bigger pore! Here’s why: Your pores are responsible for oil production – they help produce the protective hydrolipidic barrier your skin needs to stay healthy and balanced.

Some people owe their large pores to genetics – they inherited an oily skin type, so they have larger pores to accommodate more oil production. Others acquired larger pores as a result of prolonged congestion. Once a buildup of dirt, oil, and dead skin has stretched a pore, there’s no way to shrink it back to its original size.

While the reason behind having larger pores can vary from person to person, it’s physiologically impossible to close your pores – there aren’t muscles to make them expand or contract. All you can do is minimize their appearance, and filling pores with a product that promises to blur, erase, or make them disappear altogether is the exact opposite of what should be done to help make them look smaller! “Fillers” only add more dirt, debris, and oil to your skin, making your pore problem worse.

The best way to minimize pore appearance is to ensure they are clear of product and dirt. Here’s your 4-step at-home agenda for tiny-looking pores:

Cleanse – Give pores a deep clean with a cleanser that’s appropriate for your skin type. Doing so will ensure your skin is clear of any debris that can clog pores, and emphasize their appearance.
Exfoliate – Your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells, completely regenerating once every 30 days. As you age, this process slows, and can lead to clogged pores – an issue that will not only make pores appear larger, but also stretch them so they actually are larger! Rev up your skin’s natural exfoliation process and uncover a more radiant complexion with a leave-on exfoliator like Quick Refiner or manual microdermabrasion like Pumice Peel. Both will keep pores clear.
Treat – For stubborn pores, don’t rely on skin-damaging pore strips to remove impurities. Instead, reach for a clay-based facial mask with balancing plant extracts that acts as a vacuum to draw out pore-clogging debris and replenish hydration. For a deep pore purge, apply a stimulating, exfoliating mask 7 days in a row to eliminate impurities.
Control – Keep pores clear throughout the day by balancing oil production at the source and absorbing excess oil at your skin’s surface with an oil control mattifier.

Stop treating your pores like potholes, filling them with products that claim to make them vanish – it’s impossible! Remember: if a miracle product that promises vanishing pores sounds too good to be true, it probably is.