Tag Archive for: Treatment

Eye creams for every decade: Tips for rolling back time

The skin under the eyes is quite different from the rest of your face, and as you age, it reveals aging signs up to 20 percent faster than the rest of your face (yes, scary!). That’s because of a whole confluence of disheartening factors. The skin here is extremely thin, with the lowest elasticity, firmness, and oil production, the worst barrier function (i.e. limited absorption of actives and poor protection from environmental stressors) and , and often times develops the deepest wrinkles. Here’s what you need to know and practice with your eye treatments through the decades.

20’s – Prevention (and late night recovery repair)

Woke up looking as rough as you feel? 20’s are a decade of work hard, play hard.

Treatment: In need of a quick fix to telltale signs of overindulgence and under-sleeping, like puffiness and dark circles, look for eye creams that contain anti-inflammatory fighting ingredients like Vitamin K, Arnica, Caffeine and/or soothing tea extracts.

30’s – The first signs

We begin to see some signs of aging in the early 30’s. These changes include hyperpigmentation or”dark circles” around the eyes. Additionally, we may begin to see some fine lines and textural changes around the eye area due to the thinness of the skin.

Treatment: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory creams containing vitamin A, C and E can also help to ward off free-radicals and give an extra boost to collagen production (hello enhanced plumpness to the skin). By building collagen the treatments help to minimize the appearance of dark circles that are in-part caused by blood vessels close to the surface of aging, thinner skin and reduce inflammation around the eye area.

40’s – Age is here to stay

Throughout the 40’s, dark circles may become more prominent, along with more visible lines. Even after getting ample sleep (8 hours), your eyes are giving you that “tired look” even when they feel fresh; we’ve all been there!

Treatment: Retinol creams or for those who can tolerate them, gentle prescription-strength retinoids can be helpful. These creams help to increase cell turnover thereby minimizing dark-circles and textural changes. They also can help stimulate collagen production thereby preventing volume loss down the road.

50’s +- Soften Wrinkles

Say no more…

Treatment: In addition to continuing to use products that contain retinol, anti-oxidants and skin rejuvenating properties, peptide-based eye creams often present an effective alternative (especially if you have sensitive skin) if you’re looking for a way to avoid dermal fillers or plastic surgery. Peptides are designed to provide collagen-boosters (say goodbye to those stubborn fine lines) to your skin and improve circulation, so you can often expect reduced darkness and an increase in skin plumpness and elasticity.

by

Skin Rehab: Do’s and Don’ts of Post-Summer SUN

Summer seems like one long low-maintenance beauty treatment: beachy hair, sun-kissed glow, natural make-up free look, but by the time the weather cools off, our complexion, along with our hair and body can often times feel and look like a dried up prune!

Regardless of your post-Summer beauty routine and overall concerns, we have the treatments (and DON’TS) that will leave your skin feeling hydrated, softer and brighter leading into the Fall months.

screen-shot-2016-09-12-at-9-08-36-am

DON’T take hot showers: Hot showers can be dehydrating to skin in general, especially after a Summer of being in the sun because the effects can be even worse (i.e. premature aging, stronger definition of fine lines, to name a few). The next time you hop in, turn the water temperature down about 10 to 15 degrees, and don’t take more than two showers a day.

DON’T: Don’t use photo-sensitising ingredients on the skin during the day as even

though Summer is technically over, the sun is still extremely strong for another month or so. Certain ingredients in products can react adversely on your skin in sunlight, make you burn more easily and causing lasting sun damage. Products containing retinoids, acids or fruits acids as well as topical steroids or differin creams can enhance sensitivity. Always read the ingredients list

and any warnings on your beauty product labels to ensure you aren’t doing damage without knowing it. Opt to use these products at night only.

DO: Thirst Quenching Treatments: In order to effectively get your skin back in tip-top shape, Vitamin C is your answer. Vitamin C visibly brightens the skin and improves the overall look and tone of the skin. Power-packed vitamins including, Vitamin E, Vitamin B and Ferric Acid also help hydrate, brighten, soothe, and improve the overall tone and texture of the skin. Get introduced to Dr. Goldfaden’s newest power punch product to his range, Brightening Elixir, that instantly soothes and brightens your summer skin.

DO: Double up at night. Skin cell regeneration is slightly higher at night making it a crucial step to apply products with active ingredients in the night as your skin is able to absorb the active ingredients in skincare products better since active ingredients are less effective when exposed to sunlight.  In addition, your skin would not have to compete with the other products you apply like makeup or sunscreen to fight the UV rays, pollution and other harmful environmental elements in the day. Layer up a potent packed repairing treatment (powerful nighttime ingredients to look for include: peptides, retinol, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, to name a few) and an ultra-hydrating moisturizer to really pack the hydration punch allowing you to wake up to supple, plump and a hydrated glow.

DO: Exfoliate. Exfoliating your face is key after a summer of sun and sunscreen. The upper layer of skin gets thicker, harder and drier. Removing the surface layers of dead skin, oil build up and grease will give a dewier

look and helps to produce more collagen, allowing skin to look more plump.

by

Retinol 101: Understanding its function + benefits, Dr. G reports

Retinol is a form of vitamin A which comes from both animal and plant sources. Retinol in our diet and used topically is essential for maintaining healthy skin. Whatever its form, topical vitamin A plays a major role in maintaining the youth of your skin by boosting the process of cell regeneration. Vitamin A and it’s retinoid analogs stimulate skin cell renewal by increasing the rate of cell division. Through its powerful action as a signaling agent, vitamin A stimulates the binding of epidermal growth factor to your skin cells, thereby encouraging new cell growth. This helps keep your skin soft and smooth. In addition, vitamin A actually thickens your epidermis, which becomes thinner with age, and also improves the elasticity of your skin.

Screen Shot 2016-07-11 at 10.21.07 AM

Because vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, it penetrates your skin easily to enhance texture, improve mottled appearance, and minimize wrinkling. Vitamin A helps to reduce the number of destructive metalloproteinase enzymes that tear down your dermal matrix and it also stimulates vital collagen production. Finally, vitamin A’s impressive antioxidant properties allow it to neutralize the free radicals in your skin that can cause cellular damage and accelerate premature aging. With its ability to reduce wrinkles, increase collagen, protect your DNA, enhance skin thickness, and improve elasticity, vitamin A has rightfully earned its preeminent place as one of the most valuable ingredients known for healing aged or sun-damaged skin.

Vitamin A (aka, the makeup of Retinol) 

Liver, carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and spinach are among the best places to find natural vitamin A. One place you’ll never find it, however, is on the label of a skin care product. International labeling law prohibits the use of the word “vitamin” in the list of ingredients of any skin care formula. It’s therefore virtually impossible to identify what vitamins are contained in any cosmetic product unless you specifically know what to look for. In the case of vitamin A, the answer will most likely be retinyl palmitate (although other forms such as retinol, retinyl acetate, and retinyl linoleate are sometimes used). Retinyl palmitate is an ester of retinol and palmitic acid that accounts for about 80% of the vitamin A found naturally in your skin. Due to its superb anti-aging, antioxidant and moisturizing abilities, retinyl palmitate is the form generally used in skin care products. Retinyl palmitate is also highly preferred because its chemical stability makes it easier to formulate and its greater skin-penetrating power gives it an obvious advantage over other vitamins  analogs like retinol.

Retinol is the weak version of retin-A. Retin-A, on the other hand, is a chemically modified form of retinol that is used topically on the skin to improve the complexion by stimulating cell turnover and collagen production — it is also known as Tretinoin.  There is also another chemically altered form of retinol called Accutane or ISO-tretinoin, which is thousands of times more potent than retin A. Accutane only comes in pill form to treat severe acne.

In short, retinol is found in most anti-aging products and can be bought over-the-counter and retin-A requires a prescription from your dermatologist (as does Accutane) along with a more detailed treatment (e.g. only use nightly due to it’s sun sensitivity and apply 3-4 times per week vs. daily due to the potent treatment that it offers).

CQJ_7392WHEN TO START?

When it comes to retinol, anyone can use it, since it is very weak and can be found in practically every anti-aging product. Dr. Goldfaden recommends to start using retinol in your early to mid-thirties. Think about retina treatment, which is a more potent version of Retinol a later in life or if you have visible sun damage. It will help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, reduce pigmentation and build more

collagen.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT USAGE

If you suffer from sensitive skin including eczema and rosacea, Retin-A is not recommended while a very low dose of retinol can be used if found within the formula of a product, but this would need to be recommended by your dermatologist.

If you overuse retin-A and you don’t follow instructions (e.g. use X amount of times per week, at night, etc.), moisturize or use sunblock, you absolutely can get red, flaky, dry and cracked skin. Retin-A turns the cells over at a very high speed so initial reactions of experiencing redness, flaking of the skin, dryness, inflammation is certainly not uncommon. With limited use and the integration of the correct soothing products – oils, moisturizers, etc. can reverse and heal the damage quickly.

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • Finer pores
  • Reduced fine lines and wrinkles
  • Softer, dewier and increased glowing skin
  • Reduced brown spots and healthier younger-looking skin
by