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When dead skin cells accumulate they block the pores. That is why exfoliation of the skin is so vitally important. Blackheads form when pores are blocked and oil produced by the glands cannot reach the surface. They most commonly appear in the T-Zone (forehead, nose, & chin). Whiteheads appear as slight bumps below the skin’s surface. They form when the follicle begins to swell as a result of the blockage. Pimples appear on the skin and are raised, inflamed lesions. Conditions such as hormones, stress, pollution, use of comedogenic cosmetics, usage of harsh soap, are often triggers of acne. The following are a few examples: 1. A free makeover at a make-up counter is often a culprit. Foundations, powders, blushes, and bronzers are often comedogenic products containing: mineral oil, talc, alcohol, fragrance, formaldehydes, and lanolin’s and can trigger breakouts. 2. Wearing a tight headband, headset, bicycling helmet, football helmet, chin- strap, or shoulder pads, baseball cap, or any other friction-causing element can cause breakouts. Even using the telephone frequently or touching your face a lot with unsanitary hands can instigate a flare up. 3. Cleansing with harsh soaps which strip the natural moisture factor or acid mantle (which is a protective barrier) and allows bacteria through, which in term can cause acne. Also, over-scrubbing with harsh abrasives irritates the skin and precipitates increased acne. 4. Increased sweat from playing sports or exercise can produce increased oil that can in turn, clog the pores and hair follicles and get trapped under heavy moisturizers or make up. 5. Hormones in both teenagers and menopausal women prompt oil glands to produce excess oil. Pores become clogged by trapped oil and dead skin cells, which are a perfect breeding ground for acne bacteria. 6. Hair products that drip or melt down onto the forehead while sweating can cause inflammation and bacteria to spread over the facial area causing breakouts. 7. Stress can prompt oil glands to produce excess oil, again, causing acne. 8. Eating seaweed, kelp, or food high in iodine can precipitate acne. Once acne occurs, we can help combat it by using some of the following ingredients: 1. Salicylic Acid, which is antiseptic and loosens dead skin cells, bonds and prevents epidermal thickening and the formation of acne blemishes. 2. Sulphur, which destroys acne bacteria, reduces inflammation and helps existing acne breakouts. 3. Benzoyl Peroxide, which helps to dry up the lesions. 4. Grape, Kiwi, Honey, and Meadow Sweet extracts slough away dead skin cells and helps visibly fade the signs of post-breakouts. 5. Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Biotin, Niacinamide, Pyridoxine, Panthenol, and Allantoin regulate the producers of oil, controls problematic bacteria, and helps unclog pores. 6. Papaya Pineapple Extracts inhibit the producers of pore clogging dead skin cells, discouraging future breakouts. 7. Red Raspberry or Green Tea Extracts, which eases redness and soothes inflammation.
Botox® is a tiny molecule produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Gram for gram, botulinum toxin is the most powerful neurotoxin found in nature. Through scientific testing and analysis, this toxin has been distilled into quantifiable, extremely safe, medically usable "international units," which yield a highly predictable result when used cosmetically and for other medical interventions. Botox® is probably the safest, predictable substance I use in cosmetic work. Botox® is used to temporarily paralyze certain "wrinkle causing" muscles of facial expression in the face, treat excessive "hyperhidrosis," (abnormal or excessive or unwanted sweating in the armpits, palms and forehead), treat certain spastic conditions of the neck called "torticollis," heal anal sphincter tears (believe it or not!), treat overactive muscles in the eyes leading to strabismus (cross-eyes), treat low back pain from muscle spasm, and a host of other medical indications. This substance has a myriad of applications in medicine, but by far the most utilized is the cosmetic application. When dealing with the aging human face, the areas of interest for Botox ® application are the mid glabellar (between the eyes) "frown complex," the "crow’s feet," the presence of forehead wrinkles and in some cases the fine lines beneath the lower lid. These lines are known as "dynamic wrinkles," because they result from the contraction of the muscles of facial expression. It is possible to treat muscles of facial expression around the mouth for wrinkle reduction as well. This procedure must be carefully performed in the hands of an expert so as to not paralyze the ability to whistle, drink from a straw or speak properly. At GreatSkin®, I have been using Botox® cosmetically since 1995. I have performed thousands of patient cases and hundreds of repeat clients over the five years. I have experimented with dosage and injection technique on my own face about every two months for five years. During that time I have perfected what I feel to be the "perfect dose" and "perfect injection technique" for the application of Botox® to the aging adult face for the reduction of dynamic wrinkles both above and below the eyes. The injection of Botox® is not only science, but primarily, an ART. It involves reading the aging adult face and seeing before the injection what could be possible with correct dynamic muscle paralysis. Over correction can result in a "Cro-Magnon or Neanderthal" like forehead appearance. Improper correction can result in loss of the arch of the brow, whereas correct guided application can actually enhance the brow arch. Improper technique can result in drooping upper eyelids, although a reported 2% of patients will develop transient (10-20 days) upper lid droop following the procedure when the forehead is treated. Possible complications include headache, infection, bruising, hemorrhage and inadequate or overcorrected cosmetic result. In my practice I hear less than 1% of patients complain of any side effect! In fact my repeat client reinjection rate approaches 95% after the first treatment. In terms of Migraine headache therapy, I really feel that Botox® injections to the scalp will become the hallmark of therapy. I have seen such miraculous results with the use of Botox in migraine patients, when all other medications have failed, that my first line of defense in treating migraines is now the use of Botox®. Although most insurance companies may be reluctant to cover Botox® for migraine use, most patients are willing to pay for this treatment to stop migraine headaches for up to six months at a time. The side effects of migraine drugs are significant, whereas the side effects of Botox are negligible. Botox® is preventative of migraine headache, where as modern pharmacotherapy is mostly treatment oriented once the headache begins. There is no question in my mind that Botox® used in concert with other minimally invasive, office based procedures, can truly enhance almost any aging facial appearance.
Are you planning on having facial surgery? We have put together two excellent kits for our Pre and Postop clients. Read about both of these programs -- plus the protocols that Dr. Van Wormer uses to prevent scarring, bleeding and swelling when he does laser resurfacing.
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