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Last week I shared 11 Tips to Get The Most Out of Your Retinoid, and today I’m sharing some of the best over the counter retinoids! They come in different price points, chemical structures and percentages. As a general rule, a Retinol will be stronger than a Pro-Retinol, which needs to undergo more chemical reactions in your skin to be
Ask Dr. Bailey: How to Treat Deep Vertical Chest Wrinkles
I was asked by a blog reader if I prescribe tretinoin (Retin-A) to treat one of the most common aging skin problems on the chest – deep wrinkles. In this area, skin is often also covered with red and brown blotchy color, crinkles, and crepey wrinkles. These same issues are true for the neck as well.
Dr. Bailey,
I, like the other commentators, have benefited a lot from your advice. I really appreciate how detailed your guidance is, especially for someone like me who has an intense case of rosacea.
Regarding this discussion on retinoids, how do you feel about their use on the neck and chest? I have deep vertical chest wrinkles – I think from sleeping on my side as well as sun exposure. I have used an OTC Neutrogena product which contains retinol for over a year, and I don’t think it has lessened the depth or the number of wrinkles. Would using a prescription product have more of a chance of success?
Thanks for your time!
Sophie
Since this is an issue many people face, I want to share my dermatologist recommendations for the best anti-aging skin care for the neck and chest.
Hello Sophie,
Thank you for telling me that my advice has helped! Regarding the chest lines and neck, yes, I commonly have my patients use tretinoin in these areas. I consider it an important part of the most powerful skin care routine to fight aging neck and chest skin. People often focus on their facial skin care, but it is important to include the neck and chest in treatments because the face, neck and chest are often seen in one vision when we wear the most common types of shirts.
Tretinoin works nicely to improve the appearance of the neck and chest skin. For more information on exactly how tretinoin works, read “How to Correctly Use Retin-A Tretinoin for Anti-Aging and Acne Skin Care.” That said, those vertical lines are often very deep and don’t budge easily with skin care products alone. Importantly though, the skin texture and color improves, which makes the lines less noticeable. Also, bright and clear skin reflects light better so textural details are less apparent to the eye.
Retinol Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream
It is important to know that a person’s ability to tolerate tretinoin on these areas will vary. For some people, it causes redness and irritation that they just can’t work through. Other people find it a breeze. I myself have used it on my chest and neck for 30ish years without any problem. Ideally, I work my patients up to the 0.1% gradually. I think that waiting the 15+ minutes after skin has been wet really makes a difference. Also, if one has night sweats and lots of fine skin folds that get sweaty, it may make tolerance difficult. For people who can’t tolerate tretinoin or who don’t have a prescription, my Retinol Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream is in a class all its own for non-prescription retinoid products. It is very strong and formulated by a pharmaceutical lab and chemist to give you the highest retinoid benefits without a prescription. It is a great way to start treating this area.
Zinc oxide sunscreens must also be used daily to protect tretinoin and retinol-treated skin. This is important to prevent the undoing of all the good work these ingredients and other products and procedures you embrace in your fight against skin aging.
Glytone Body Lotion
Again, understand this area often needs lots of encouragement to improve and resist aging. In addition to tretinoin, I also have my patients apply Glytone Body Lotion to the area twice a week if there is no retinoid dermatitis and if they can tolerate it without stinging. I start either the glycolic acid or the retinoid, and once the skin has adjusted, we add the other. This process usually takes about a month.
In addition to the skin care routine I just mentioned, we often include our best technology to counter skin aging on the chest and neck too. It is really that important. We use BBL (IPL) routinely to treat the neck and chest. In fact, I am so adamant about treating the neck and chest that I have priced our BBL treatment packages to give patients the best financial discount if they choose to treat the neck and chest at the same time as the face! I want patients to do an initial series of 3-5 monthly treatments to get the skin where we want it followed by then 2 treatments a year.
For those vertical chest wrinkles and for turkey neck, our BBL also has a skin tightening setting we can add to this BBL package; ask our doctors about adding SkinTyte treatment for the low face, neck and chest to tighten the skin here a bit. We give patients a very nice pricing discount for making these choices because these areas are usually seen in one view with the most common fashions, and our goal is to have the skin looking nice overall.
We also routinely use our Profractional Laser Treatments on the neck and chest to fight the wrinkles and crinkly skin. I recommend two treatments done at 6 week intervals, and then one treatment done annually. My aesthetician can even do microdermabrasion and peels to maintain results and help products penetrate better. We add these to maintenance facials to multitask skin into looking great all year long. Know that laser and BBL (IPL) can only be done when a person is not tan and will not be going into the sun. Not every skin type is a candidate for these technologies, and darker skin complexions often need pre-treatment with pigment lightening products including tretinoin!
If you are local, come in for a consult and let us set up a comprehensive Laser, Light and Tyte program for you. We love fixing skin! Click here to call for an appointment.
I personally avail myself of all-of-the-above, and my 57-year-old previously sun baked type II chest and neck look okay for an old blonde gal! However, it does take work to counter nature in this anatomic area. That’s the fun of it actually!
To summarize, my recommendations for the best products to counter aging on the neck and chest include:
Pure Physical Spray Sunscreen SPF +50
- A retinoid such as prescription tretinoin or my Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream
- Glycolic Acid as in my Body Skin Care Kit
- Zinc Oxide Sunscreen 356 days a year. My favorites for the neck and chest include my Pure Physical Sunscreen Spray, Citrix, and Solbar Zinc
Your question is so great I wanted to post it as part of our “Ask Dr. Bailey” series. Thank you for your question!
Warmly,
Cynthia Bailey, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist
The information in the Dr. Bailey Skin Care web site, and related links, articles, newsletters and blogs, is provided for general information and educational purposes only. It is the opinion of Dr. Cynthia Bailey, or other indicated authors. Consult your physician or health care provider for any specific medical conditions or concerns you may have. (This also applies to patients in her medical practice; the information here is not a substitute for, or an extension of, the medical care she provides for you.) Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here. Use the information and products on this site at your own risk. Use of this site indicates your agreement with these statements and the Terms and Conditions of DrBaileySkinCare.com. If you do not agree to all of these Terms and Conditions of use, please do not use this site!
Ask Dr. Bailey: How to Treat Deep Vertical Chest Wrinkles is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog
The post Ask Dr. Bailey: How to Treat Deep Vertical Chest Wrinkles appeared first on Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog.
All About Ayahuasca
So, last post, I shared some pretty personal stuff about how I was feeling extremely lonely, bored, and frustrated last summer, and it eventually led to a big freak out on my part.
Read that first, so you’re up to scruff here…
At the end of that post, I mentioned that Luke and I then went to South America together immediately after, and at the last minute decided to do ayahuasca together as a way to process, purge, and grow forward together and in ourselves after recent events.
What Is Ayahuasca?
Well, I spent a long time trying to figure how to tell you what it is with little success… so here’s an edited excerpt from wikipedia to give you the basic introduction.
Just to warn you that if you’re new to all this, this is all going to sound really friggin’ weird and out there. So bear with me.
Ayahuasca (said eye-a-wah-ska), is an entheogenic (and hallucinogenic) brew made out of the B. caapi vine, often in combination with various other plants. The brew is used as a traditional spiritual medicine in ceremonies among the indigenous people of Amazonian Peru, many of whom say that they received the instructions in its use directly from the plants and plant spirits themselves.
People who have consumed ayahuasca report having spiritual revelations regarding their purpose on earth, the true nature of the universe, as well as extremely deep insight into how to be the best person they can possibly be. This is viewed by many as a spiritual awakening and what is often described as a rebirth. In addition, it is often reported that individuals feel they gain access to higher spiritual dimensions and make contact with various spiritual or extra-dimensional beings who can act as guides or healers.
Author Don Jose Campos claims that people may experience profound positive life changes subsequent to consuming ayahuasca. The ripple effects of a powerful, mystical experience can potentially reverberate for the rest of an individual’s life span.
Vomiting can follow ayahuasca ingestion; this purging is considered by many shamans and experienced users of ayahuasca to be an essential part of the experience, as it represents the release of negative energy and emotions built up over the course of one’s life. Others report purging in the form of nausea, diarrhea, and hot/cold flashes.
Let’s Paint a Picture Here…
You head to Peru, to the Amazon jungle. Or in my case, the Andes mountains.
You go to an ayahuasca retreat, because you want to spiritually or emotionally heal in some way and make big headway on your own personal growth.
You are under the supervision of a shaman, a traditional plant doctor, who is there to spiritually guide your healing during the ceremony. And if it is a reputable place, there will also be nurses and other helpers there to make sure you are well taken care of on this journey.
You spend the day fasting, and then at 8 pm, you head into a dark hut in which you snuggle up in a sleeping bag and lie yourself down. There are usually quite a few people in the room with you, also snuggled in their sleeping bags, nervously awaiting what’s ahead.
uugggh…
A few ceremonial blessings and prayers occur, before you are dished up your serving of the most disgusting tasting brown sludge that ever existed. Seriously. I still have nightmares about the taste.
After choking that down, you lie back patiently for 40 minutes or so as you wait for it to kick in.
Next thing you know, you’re probably doubled over, throwing up in your ceremonial puke bucket. This is the purge… while it sounds awful (and it is), in ayahuasca this is always considered to be a good thing, as you are supposedly releasing everything spiritually, emotionally, and physically that isn’t serving you.
Once that happens, that’s generally when you are thrown in the deep end.
The room starts moving. Shapes start shifting. And for most people, when you close your eyes, you are now being transported to other dimensions, or deep deep inside your own mind and spirit.
Visions overtake; you see scenes unfold, spirit animals speaking to you. Spirits, God, the universe, and of course, your inner demons, all thrown at you from every direction.
It’s impossible to really say what’s going to happen to you when you take ayahuasca. Everyone’s experience is very different. Some people have the time of their life. Others experience hell on earth. Most experience some combination of the two.
The only certainty is that it’s going to be a wild ride. If you think you know what’s going to happen based on other people’s experiences, you’re wrong.
But for the Sake of Explanation…
It’s probably going to take you with a one way ticket to the deepest depths of your subconscious psyche. Completely bypassing the years of stories and beliefs and denial that you’ve heaped on top of it, to get straight to the truth.
And for the most part, you can expect for it to absolutely tear you apart. It brings you face to face with all your inner demons, your deepest fears, all the ugliest, nastiest shit about yourself.
It really is like a potent truth serum… all the terrifying things inside, the stuff you couldn’t bear to face… you are now being forced to face it in intense vividness and there is nowhere to run or hide.
And all the scary emotions that go along with this, well, they are amplified by a million. Every thought and emotion is extremely exaggerated.
It pummels you and pummels you with this, until you can’t stand it anymore.
So what’s the pay off?
It generally then starts putting you back together piece by piece. It may force you to face your biggest problems, but it also gives you incredible, unparalleled insight into their cause, shows you exactly what the solutions to them are, and how to move forward.
It is often described as “ten years of therapy in one go”
Luckily, many people feel overwhelming sense of universal peace and love at the end of the night (about four or so hours later). You may have just felt the worst you’ve ever felt, but then you feel the most blissful you’ve ever felt … pure love incarnate.
And by morning, when it’s all worn off, you feel like a revived human being. 100 times lighter. 100 times more clarity. Spiritually awakened, emotionally purged. A complete feeling of catharsis. And ready to do it again the next night.
When I First Heard About Ayahuasca
I first heard about Ayahuasca several years ago when I read this article in National Geographic. It definitely piqued my interest.
As a result of that particular article, ayahuasca is rapidly growing in popularity amongst westerners of all kinds because of its therapeutic effects. It purportedly heals where nothing else does, especially if your problems are of the mental, spiritual, or emotional persuasion.
And since we know that those ’emotional ilks’ can heavily contribute to physical problems, the healing can transcend to physical problems as well.
But it is generally best known for it’s miraculous abilities to aid the healing of things like depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, grief, post traumatic stress disorder, as well as your run-of-the-mill emotional difficulties.
For me, when I heard about ayahuasca, I was in the middle of my own emotional healing journey (getting over the traumatic memories of my experience with severe acne), and, well, I’ll try anything once. I wouldn’t call myself even close to a highly spiritual person, but I am certainly open to exploring it.
And if it’s a possible fast track for self growth and emotional healing, well, I am for it.
So I filed away in my mind as something I would definitely try one day if the opportunity ever arose.
But Then I Moved On
Over time though, I kind of pushed it away. I found my own healing from the acne and its emotions, and everything started going really well in my life. I didn’t really feel like I was on a growth or healing journey anymore (well at least because nothing seemed to be going wrong at the moment!)
So I just kind of went… meh. I don’t need that.
At least right now.
I also wasn’t really sure about whether or not it was culturally cool, which was kind of turning me off.
Were white people going to the Amazon just to bastardize Amazonian traditions for their own gain? They probably are. That’s so white people.
In fact, due to these reservations (and despite my previous interest in ayahuasca), we had this trip booked to South America and we were a week out from going, and still had no plans to try it.
It wasn’t until I completely coincidentally spoke to a friend of mine within that week, who told me that her and her husband had done three ayahuasca ceremonies six months ago … and that she couldn’t recommend it highly enough.
She enthusiastically confirmed the common trope that it was like 10 years of therapy in the span of three days.
Since Luke and I had recently had all this drama and figured I had some things to process and heal from now…
Why not? Let’s do it. We’re literally going to Peru next week, and when will we ever go there again? It will be an amazing growth experience for us both to do together.
And in regard to the cultural concerns, I found out that young South Americans aren’t that interested in the traditions, and shamanism is a dying art… so western ayahuasca tourism is actually keeping it alive and allowing shamans to continue making a living from their practice.
So that made me feel better about it.
I got online and booked a retreat and off we went (I would highly recommend the place we did it, called Etnika’s; they were great).
And yes. It was a very wild ride.
Should You Do Ayahuasca?
A typical pre-ceremony scene
I don’t know.
I had an extremely intense and difficult experience, so much more than I had ever imagined. And seemingly more awful than the others around me were having, all three nights.
But I certainly learned an insane amount of things about myself, that’s for sure.
They don’t lie when they say it’s a truth serum. It’ll show you the truth about your own shit, and show you the way forward, but it’s not going to be easy.
And at least for me, it was no magic healing bullet like is often reported. Don’t expect instant enlightenment or that it will magically fix your problems for you. It does show you where to go and what’s stopping you, but you still have to do the work. You have to meet it half way.
But anyway, over the next several posts I will let you in on all the details of my three Ayahuasca ceremonies, so you can decide for yourself (although remember that what happened to me doesn’t mean it’ll be anything like what happens for you).
One thing is for sure, I certainly wouldn’t recommend it unless you REALLY want to do it for your own self growth. Otherwise it could be totally traumatizing.
But luckily, you do have to really want it because it’s not like ayahuasca is an easy thing to just fall into. You have to go all the way to Peru.
See, it’s illegal in western countries because of similarities to the psychadelic drug DMT (despite ayahuasca’s similarities with certain psychadelic drugs… believe me… this is NOT something you do just for fun).
It’s not illegal in South America, as they are more open minded about the therapeutic potential of hallucinogenic substances in carefully controlled and safe environments.
Trained shamans do hold ceremonies in North America, and probably Europe too, but it’s more of a word of mouth kind of thing. You won’t find them advertising on google.
Anyway, if this is at all calling out to you right now, I suggest doing extensive reading on it before deciding you are ‘definitely doing this’. There are tons of blog posts all over the internet. Here is a great one from Elle magazine for a further introduction.
For more in depth reading, popular books are The Cosmic Serpent, or the really helpful one we read beforehand, Ayahuasca: A Test Pilot’s Handbook.
These books will answer all your questions such as “what is this stuff again?” “do people die or overdose from this?” “are there contraindications?” “how do I find a trained shaman and a reputable retreat?” and “is this really for me?”
And if you are thinking I am insane right now and would never ever ever do this, then great. Please don’t! Good self awareness!
Aaand, I’m out. Ask me whatever you want in the comments about ayahuasca itself, but I will save details of my own journey for next week.
The post All About Ayahuasca appeared first on The Love Vitamin.
Top 11 Best Beauty Hacks and Tips
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Today for Top 10 Tuesday, my blogging friends and I are sharing our favorite beauty tips and hacks! While I’ve shared a lot of tips/hacks over the years, it was really hard for me to narrow down my list to my favorite 10. So, I’m sharing 11. Most of these tips have posts with more details, so I’ll link to those if you want more
From the Aesthetician: Is a Facial a Treat or Necessary for Healthy Skin?
First, let’s put this question in perspective…… Your furniture and floors get dusted regularly, sometimes even polished. Your car gets washed, vacuumed, occasionally waxed, and it always goes in for maintenance and repairs. Your garden gets weeded, raked and neatened and, occasionally, even spiffed up with new flowers. The rooms in your house, well hopefully… Are you getting the idea yet?
Now, your skin is no different. Did you know it is your body’s biggest organ? Obviously, it is also on the outside of your body and stands up to all the insults and wear and tear that environmental exposure and your activities create. Your facial skin, in particular, is seen by everyone in your world and is sort of like your “ambassador.” Yes, whether you like it or not, we are judged by our faces – both good and bad. This means that how your facial skin looks says something about you. Understand that good skin care is important, yet it can only go so far. For best results in the face department, you need a periodic facial and a pro to do the job. So, is a facial a treat or necessary for healthy skin?
Yes, facials are necessary for good skin care!
To help you understand the power of facials for your complexion, let me explain what they can do and what the process involves.
What benefits do facials provide?
First, facials are a great way to rejuvenate the skin, remove wear and tear and tank-up the skin for more visibility and 
exposure. A good way to think about facials is that they are like an exercise routine for your skin to keep it in top form. They are capable of stimulating the skin’s renewal mechanisms and resurfacing skin texture; they are an important part of keeping your skin texture maximally youthful, hydrated and plump, and they also keep your skin color even. If you ask anyone who gets regular facials, they will tell you that their facials are a key to keeping their complexion looking its best.
The benefits of a facial come from the ability of a well done professional facial to help stimulate cell turnover and your skin’s renewal of collagen and substances into the deeper skin layers. This helps to build more elasticity and collagen over time. Facials can benefit scarring, wrinkles and crinkles and even improve deep hyperpigmentation. Soothing steps can be added to reduce redness for sensitive skin too.
The end result is that facials will help to create smooth, bright, youthful and well-groomed skin that you are proud to show the world. This tells others that you take good care of yourself. As a bonus, if you wear makeup, your facial will create an even palette for the perfect makeup application.
What’s the skinny on the facial process and why it works?
When the epidermis becomes too laden with dead skin cells, the skin’s appearance becomes dull and crepey-looking. It feels thick and gummy to the touch. It is also usually full of blackheads or whiteheads (otherwise, known as comedones) and clogged pores. As this layer thickens even more, products stop penetrating down into the layers of the skin. This means that elasticity and collagen productions slow down, and comedones grow even bigger so that they are visible even from a distance. To show you what I mean, here’s a little test we do in the aesthetic room to help clients understand how much congestion their skin really has:
Start at the bottom middle of the chin and spread the skin tight and look at it closely in a magnifying mirror with good light. You’ll see either little pores that are clean and tight (a good sign) or you’ll see what we call congestion – blackheads or whiteheads and pores filled with greasy black material. You may even be able to rub off a layer of gummy dead cells (not a good sign).
When someone comes in for a facial, we clean and then professionally exfoliate (see below) the skin to remove congestion and to allow a lot of comedones to be easily extracted from the skin. We then apply therapeutic products to balance the complexion. If someone has never had a facial and doesn’t do any kind of exfoliation, there are going to be lots of layers to clean away. In these cases, we will work over time to get the complexion where we want it. In general, I usually see first-time clients every 4-6 weeks so we can get a handle on the congestion.
What are the different types of exfoliation used in professional facials?
There are two broad types of facials: physical or chemical. In the treatment room at Advanced Skin Care and Dermatology Physicians, both yield clinical results and both ensure a pampered feeling during the treatment. Physical facials include microdermabrasion, and chemical facials use a peeling agent. In our treatment room, we like to alternate between a physical exfoliation facial (which would be a microdermabrasion), and a chemical exfoliation such as a facial that includes a chemical peel.
When you consistently keep up a facial routine alternating between these two types of facials, you will see results that include fewer visible crinkles and wrinkles, smaller and tighter pores and a lightening of uneven pigmentation and sun or age spots. For first-time clients, your goals and needs determine what we do in the treatment room for you that day. Know that when you leave, your skin will both look and feel better right away.
What are the specific steps involved (a.k.a., the procedure used) in a facial?
When someone comes in for a facial, I first ask them what their needs and concerns are for their skin. It might be 
that they have dull skin, or maybe they want to clear up acne or clogged pores. Sometimes, they may be forming a lot of milia due to sun damage and skin aging. They also may be frustrated with other skin aging concerns, rough or crusty skin or sallow skin color. Alternatively, they may be struggling with sensitive skin or redness in the skin and are frustrated with products that make their issues worse instead of better.
Once I’ve created a plan, I cleanse the skin with my hands, which allows me to feel their complexion, the skin’s strength and texture and helps me better determine whether their skin is dry, oily or a combination. If there is acne within the skin, this lets me find where inflammation and congestion are underlying.
Next, I use the Clarisonic Brush on the skin. This will tell me how sensitive the skin is. If a client is using a Clarisonic brush system at home, the skin will really show the cleanliness results of regular sonic cleaning. There will be fewer blackheads and clogged pores because the Clarisonic brush cleanses the skin 11 times more than cleaning with your hands! Take note, non-Clarisonic users!
I follow this cleansing step with an exfoliation, again picking chemical or physical depending on the skin type. This helps to open the pores and readies the skin for the next step in which I do extractions under magnification. I do this with gloved hands and a tissue over my fingertips to create gentle traction. Alternatively, I may use a medically sterilized comedone extractor based on what the client’s skin needs. I slip out any comedones and remove plugs from pores. Once that is done, I plump and deeply hydrate the skin by choosing a corrective mask for their skin type, and I massage it into the skin. This allows the product to penetrate more deeply into the skin’s layers to enhance hydration. While we wait for the mask to work, I add my signature neck and shoulder massage that Dr. Bailey absolutely loves! Finally, the last step is choosing a moisturizer and facial sunscreen that’s the perfect fit for my client’s complexion.
We do these steps in every facial that we offer. Even our basic mini facial includes all these steps, plus a shoulder and facial massage. All our team at Advanced Skin Care and Dermatology Physicians want our patients and clients to have well-treated skin that they are proud of; our facials are reasonably priced, and our facial service is very generously performed without hurry. In short, facials are a great way to quickly cleanse and revitalize your skin. As an added side benefit, a facial treatment will restore the mind, body and soul because I make certain that every client’s treatment is deeply soothing. I also help you with any skin care conundrums you’re having with your skin care products.
Do you live too far away from Sebastopol to come in for a facial with us?
Replenix Scrub
Glytone Mild Gel
If so, you can try doing a DIY facial at home with Dr. Bailey’s products!
To do a facial at home, start by cleaning the skin with the Toleriane wash or Glytone Mild Gel Wash Cleanser, followed by the Replenix scrub. Remove product with a warm towel. Using a magnifying mirror to see if you have comedones that can be easily extracted, wrap tissue around your finger tips, apply light pressure to the skin and squeeze VERY slightly.
Naturally Hydrating Facial Toner
If the dirt will not pop out right away, leave it for the next day or look for a facialist that you trust near you. The important part is to not bruise or puncture the skin.
Next, apply our Naturally Hydrating Toner, Instantly Luminous Serum and then our Green Tea Antioxidant Skin Therapy. Finish with your favorite moisturizer and sunscreen.
Now it’s your turn! What types of facials have you had? What was your favorite?
Danielle Key has been working as an aesthetician for 13 years, 3 of those for Dr. Bailey. She discovered her love of makeup, products and natural skin care working at a spa, inspiring her to get her license to become an aesthetician. She currently lives in Northern California with her husband and daughter. Their hobbies include golfing and traveling across the United States.
The information in the Dr. Bailey Skin Care web site, and related links, articles, newsletters and blogs, is provided for general information and educational purposes only. It is the opinion of Dr. Cynthia Bailey, or other indicated authors. Consult your physician or health care provider for any specific medical conditions or concerns you may have. (This also applies to patients in her medical practice; the information here is not a substitute for, or an extension of, the medical care she provides for you.) Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here. Use the information and products on this site at your own risk. Use of this site indicates your agreement with these statements and the Terms and Conditions of DrBaileySkinCare.com. If you do not agree to all of these Terms and Conditions of use, please do not use this site!
From the Aesthetician: Is a Facial a Treat or Necessary for Healthy Skin? is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog
The post From the Aesthetician: Is a Facial a Treat or Necessary for Healthy Skin? appeared first on Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog.
Beauty Bloggers and Their Favorite Higher End Concealers
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1. MAC Pro Longwear Concealer
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“MAC Pro Longwear Concealer has good pigmentation, is easy to blend, and is long lasting.”
– Nancy from Beauty411, check out her MAC Pro Longwear Concealer Review
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer was also a favorite of:
– Tiki from Grow It Girl
– Nikki from Confessions of a Makeup Addict
– Stacie from Makeup Obsessed Mom
Win It! $150 Gift Certificate to Sephora!
I have exciting news! This weekend The Beauty Spotlight Team is holding a giveaway!
You can win a $150 Gift Card to Sephora. Just enter in the widget below (all entries must be in the widget to be eligible). You have until March 6 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Open to those in the US and Canada. Good Luck!
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9 Makeup Challenges and How to Fix Them
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Today I have a new post to share over on SheKnows! We all have makeup challenges (or sometimes mistakes) that we need to avoid or fix. Do you know what to do with smudged eyeliner? How to prevent your dry, flaky skin from ruining your foundation? Or how to cover up your cold sore? Well, here’s how to fix those issues!
9 Ways to conquer even the toughest makeup challenges
Burt’s Bees New Lipsticks: My New Favorite Drugstore Lippies
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I’ve posted quite a bit on the blog about my love of all the Burt’s Bees lippies. I’ve gotten all of my friends obsessed, just this morning (well, yesterday now, this was on Tuesday) at work there was an extended debate between 2 of my nurses about whether the Lip Crayon or Tinted Balm was better. Yes, my work here is done. And in case you’re
Autoimmune Disease and Your Skin (Part 2)
As a dermatologist, I see autoimmune diseases on a regular basis. There are certain autoimmune diseases that have classic findings on the skin. This is very important to recognize because, when I see a skin problem that looks concerning for an autoimmune disease, it may be a sign that there are internal problems in the body as well.
In my last blog post about autoimmune diseases, I talked about lupus and listed some of the other diseases that may show up through skin findings. In this blog post, I will address two of the most common autoimmune diseases I see.
Alopecia areata
Alopecia and some hair regrowth. Photo from Duncan Creamer via Flickr.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the hair follicle and results in patches of on-scarring hair loss. It preferentially targets colored hairs (rather than gray hairs). Oftentimes, once the hair grows back, it is initially white with eventual recovery of color. Any hair-bearing area can be affected by this condition including eyebrows and eyelashes. Some people experience a mild form of this disease with only a small patch of hair loss. Others, however, may experience complete hair loss of the entire body called alopecia universalis.
Alopecia areata often behaves in an unpredictable way. It does tend to flare with stress. Fortunately, the hair follicles do not get permanently damaged. Alopecia areata can be associated with nail problems, most commonly pitting of the nails. I always ask people if alopecia areata runs in their family because it can be hereditary. I also ask patients if they have a history of vitiligo, thyroid problems or inflammatory bowel disease because these are conditions we know are associated with alopecia areata.
There are several treatments for alopecia areata. The most common treatment is injecting steroid medicine into the area of hair loss to quiet down the immune system in that area so that the hair follicles stop getting attacked. There are other topical medicines that can be used as well. Widespread cases sometimes require pills that quiet the immune system such oral steroids (prednisone) or cyclosporine. Rogaine can be used to stimulate hair follicle growth as well, but it’s usually used in conjunction with injections.
Vitiligo
Vitiligo pigmented skin. Photo from Nadine Mitchell via Flickr
Vitiligo is a condition in which people lose the pigment in their skin. In this case, melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) are attacked by the immune system. Loss of pigment can occur anywhere on the skin. It may be subtle and show up as only a small white patch on the skin, and it may be very hard to see in fair-skinned people. When I see people who look like they have a patch of de-pigmented skin, I use a black light (technically called a “Wood’s lamp”) to tell if the skin actually lacks pigment completely or is just lighter than surrounding skin. If it’s truly “de-pigmented,” it will look blue under the light.
In other cases, vitiligo can be extensive and involve a large percentage of the skin. This, like many autoimmune conditions, may first start after a major stressful event – either emotional or physical. There are certainly genetic factors as well. Vitiligo can be associated with other autoimmune diseases too, especially when it is affects a large amount of skin. However, most people are healthy who have the disease. The most common associated autoimmune diseases are thyroid problems or type 1 diabetes.
Treatment of vitiligo can be difficult, particularly when it’s extensive. Steroid creams/ointments are commonly used, particularly if there are only small areas affected. If more extensive, ultraviolet light under the supervision of a dermatologist can be considered. In very extensive cases, people may choose to completely de-pigment their skin so that all of the skin is one color, which is what Michael Jackson is said to have done. In any case, it’s critical that people with vitiligo be under the care of a Board-Certified Dermatologist as we know the newest and greatest treatments for this condition.
Stay tuned for more on autoimmune diseases and your skin. For more reading, check out Dr. Hayes’ first blog post, Autoimmune Disease and Your Skin (Part 1) or Dr. Bailey’s latest post about rosacea, another autoimmune disease that affects the skin.
Do you have an autoimmune disease? How are you treating your skin to keep it healthy?
Dr. Hayes completed her undergraduate studies at UCLA where she majored in Spanish Literature and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She went on to medical school at UCLA and then to a combined Dermatology and Internal Medicine residency at the University of Minnesota where she served as Chief Resident too. After years of schooling, she’s come back to Sonoma County to work with Advanced Skin Care Dermatology Physicians, Inc. as a Board Certified Dermatologist. When not “doctoring,” Dr. Hayes can be found with her three pets or the many Sonoma County friends and family that are happy that she has returned home.
Dr. Hayes and I are “cut from the same cloth” when it comes to dermatology; two perfectionist skin care science geeks on an obsessive quest for the absolute best products and technology for your skin – two science brains one mission – your complexion and skin health. I hear through the grapevine that people like us as “people” too. I feel blessed! ~ Cynthia Bailey, MD
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Autoimmune Disease and Your Skin (Part 2) is a post from: Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog
The post Autoimmune Disease and Your Skin (Part 2) appeared first on Dr. Bailey's Skin Care Blog.
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