Classic symptoms of Rosacea

My face is always red, especially after I exercise or drink a glass of wine! What can I do to make this better?

You are describing classic symptoms of Rosacea which is a condition that creates vaso dilation and sometimes red raised bumps that can turn into acne- like breakouts. The superficial blood vessels dilate easily and don’t have the ability to effectively close back up.    This is a very frustrating condition because it is systemic in nature and difficult to treat.  Your dermatologist can prescribe topical medications that are helpful.  Laser treatments  (IPL)  is a good option for you because it is a controlled burn that eliminates or reduces the size of the vessel and the heat causes destruction of the red blood cells.   If you can reduce the severity of the situation, topical applications can be more effective.  But true Rocasea will always return.  Your body develops alternate new pathways as a result of the condition and Laser treatments are most successful when done as routine maintenance.  Our Lumenis One laser is a favorite of the National Rosacea Society.  It takes multiple treatments but there is minimal to no down time.

You should avoid extreme temperature changes, Retin-A or retinol products, facial scrubs, and strong glycolic preparations. Alcohol aggravates rosacea because of its dilatation effect.   The best products for you are enzyme peels or light lactic acids, gentle cleansers, sunscreen, topical preparation cream that helps camouflage the redness and use a light mineral make-up. 
Not all redness is Rosacea.  Prolonged sun damage can damage the superficial vessels and they lose their elasticity becoming clogged with red blood cells.  These vessels are more easily removed with a more permanent result.  Red vessels at the sides of the nose can be genetic and are also successfully treated.  Our laser of choice for this is the Varilite by Iridex.  These lasers work well in conjunction with each other for many conditions. 

I wear sunscreen every day but I keep getting brown spots.  How can I get rid of them?

Brown spots are the accumulation of pigment that is the result of years of sun damage. Some pigment is evident at the surface of the skin and some pigment is waiting just below to surface when it senses the damaging rays of the sun.  Sunscreen prevents damage but does nothing for the existing damage.

We like to correct things to the highest possible degree and then help our clients maintain the result.  Once again, the IPL laser is the corrective tool of choice.  It requires 3-5 treatments because it draws the pigment underneath to the surface as well as destroys the visible pigment.

You should then advance to an aggressive program of sunscreen and antioxidants to protect your investment and prolong your result. Topical growth hormones can help the skin differentiate between damaged and healthy cells and accelerate production of healthy skin cells.  Don’t forget hats and to apply sunscreen to your ears and chest. 

I looked in the mirror this morning and saw my mother’s face!  HELP!!!

There has never been a better time for you!!  What you are noticing is the effects of gravity, the strength of downward pulling facial muscles, and the loss of volume that occurs naturally with aging. The great news is fillers and botulinum toxins can lift and reverse these effects with a very natural appearing result.  Softening the muscles and replacing the volume with nationally recognized FDA approved products can truly take ten years off your appearance and without surgery.  These products now have proven safety records and the stigma previously attached to these treatments should be removed. 

We will meet with you, answer all your questions and make a plan that is affordable and very exciting.  Dramatic improvement is can be achieved with little or no downtime!

After our treatments, we will place you on products and services that will extend the results of your investment.   If you need time before you commit, we can place you on an anti aging skin care program that includes peels to stimulate collagen production, corrective procedures to create healthier skin and home care products to begin the process of reversing the aging face.
I never had acne as a teenager but after I turned 40, I have breakouts all the time.  What can I do to stop this?

Hormonal changes are responsible for this and they can be very hard to manage.  Your dermatologist and gynecologist can provide helpful prescription medication but there are some skin care procedures that can be very helpful in minimizing the frequency and extent of the breakouts. Routine exfoliation is extremely important and routine visits to your aesthetician can be very therapeutic.  Professional application of strong salicylic, glycolic and retinoic acid peels every four weeks is recommended.  We like the VI Peel, Hydrafacials that vacuum out cellular debris from the pores and micropeels that use derma- planning to prepare the skins surface for strong exfoliation.  IPL laser and Topical growth hormone have also been shown to be effective.

 Home care is critical in managing these outbreaks. Always use oil free, non-comeogenic products, and light moisturizers when needed.  Salicylic cleanser is recommended for home care but a regime that is specially designed by a professional for your underlying skin type is preferred.  A consultation is complimentary and the more you know about what your options is the more success you will have.
*** There is a fountain of youth…Suncreen!! Remember, consistency and maintenance of the proper program is the key to successful treatment of aging skin.