Skincare Blog

​Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point.

Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with Breast Cancer? Here at Aesthetic Therapies we see many patients with hair loss on scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes and other skin conditions such as extreme dryness directly related to Cancer and Chemotherapy. We want you to know that we are here to help you look good and feel better. We are Certified Facilitators for the Look Good, Feel Better Program of the American Cancer Society. 

Your hair and Chemotherapy: Hair loss occurs during chemotherapy because it targets all rapidly dividing cells—healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Hair follicles, the structures in the skin filled with tiny blood vessels that make hair, are some of the fastest-growing cells in the body. If you're not in cancer treatment, your hair follicles divide every 23 to 72 hours. But as the chemo does its work against cancer cells, it also destroys hair cells. This hair loss can be devastating for many, so we are here to help! We offer multiple treatments such as permanent make up for eye lining or eyebrows, permanent make up (3D Design) for Nipples, and PRP Hair Restoration (post 6 months). Along with treatments we carry Revitalash/ReGenesis Products to promote hair growth too!
Through the end of October receive 10% off any related treatment. View our services 

Your skin and Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy often causes dry, irritated skin. Rather than waiting to deal with symptoms after treatment starts, you can take steps to minimize skin problems about one week before beginning chemo. Then, they can continue the regimen during treatment. There are many things that you can do to prevent dry skin. People tend to think of dry skin as just a cosmetic problem, but dry skin can get so severely dry that it becomes inflamed and more susceptible to infections.

Our tips to prevent dry skin problems during chemotherapy;

• Avoid long, hot showers or baths.
• Use gentle, fragrance-free soaps and laundry detergent.
• Use moisturizers, preferably creams or ointments rather than lotions because the thicker consistency is better at preventing skin dehydration. Apply the cream within 15 minutes of showering. Reapply moisturizer at night, and moisturize your hands every time after you wash them. Our favorites are Nightly-Renewal Cream by Vivier, and Luminesce PM, EltaMD PM Moisturizer and EltaMD Moisture-Rich Body Creme 
• Some chemotherapy drugs make skin more susceptible to sunburn. Use a sunscreen with at least an SPF 30 or greater, and make sure that it protects against both UVA AND UVB rays (broad spectrum). Protection against UVA requires ingredients such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or avobenzone. We carry the complete line of EltaMD sunscreens that not only will give you the broad spectrum protection you need but can also be tailored to your skin type and shade too.
• Gently exfoliate your skin. This can be done with creams and topicals, but it can also be done starting with your washcloth. Our top seller, the "Magic Mitt" can do just that with or without cleanser. The magic mitt has tiny loops of antimicrobial cloth that fluff off dead skin cells to help your skin turn over and look healthy. Additionally to a exfoliating washcloth, having a Gommage treatment can help with the shedding of dead skin cells and leave your skin glowing.   

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Galderma will donate $25 to National Breast Cancer Foundation for EVERY NEW MEMBER who joins the ASPIRE Galderma Rewards program during the month of October. Its FREE to join and you will get instant savings on Dysport and Restylane ($20 off just to sign up), all while making a difference in the lives of the 1 in 8 women who will be affected by breast cancer here in the US.  * If your already a member; refer-a-friend and receive 100 points to use instant cash savings. SIGN UP

Also in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, our product companies are also making a difference!

Jane Iredale is celebrating 10 years of raising breast cancer awareness with Living Beyond Breast Cancer. 100% of profits form sales between 9/5/2017 and 12/31/2017 support women touched by breast cancer. Purchase any Jane Iredale product and receive a "Just Kissed Lip/Cheek Stain" goody bag + 10% off any in stock product.

RevitaLash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner is packaged in limited-edition Pink Ribbon colors to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. With every sale, RevitaLash will donate 10% of profits to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness Research and Education Initiatives. 10% off Revitalash or Revitabrow. 
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Now through the end of October

Has hair loss affected your everyday life? Hair loss affects individuals feelings of attractiveness and a mean of expressing individuality. Losing your hair can be extremely traumatic both to males and females. Let us help you stop your hair loss today with PRP treatments at Aesthetic Therapies!

WHAT IS PLATELET-RICH PLASMA?
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is an autologous concentrated preparation of platelets and the associated growth factors in a small volume of plasma. Platelets are a natural source of a number of growth factors in their natural and biologically-determined ratios.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND PRP
PRP contains special cells called Platelets, that can theoretically cause growth of the hair follicles by stimulating the stem cells and other cells in the microenvironment of the hair follicle. These special Platelet cells promote healing, accelerates the rate and degree of tissue healing and regeneration, responds to injury, and formation of new cellular growth. The primary purpose of using PRP in hair restoration is to stimulate inactive or newly implanted hair follicles into an active growth phase.

WHAT DOES THE PROCEDURE CONSIST OF?
First blood is drawn as though you are having routine blood testing.
Next the blood is spun down in a centrifuge and the PRP is separated and removed from the rest of the blood. 
Lastly the highly concentrated platelet rich plasma (PRP) is injected into the scalp. No sedation or any medication is necessary during the procedure, if needed a topical numbing or an air cooling technique can be used. 

Watch video below from The Doctors for more information 

Please join us for an introductory event on AUGUST 10th 4-7 or AUGUST 11th 10-1 where Brett our representative from Eclipse, and Dr. Bryan Rolfes from OMNI Plastic Surgery. They will be here to answer any questions you may have and to discuss treatment protocols. We will have food and refreshments. Please call us if you are interested. We want to give you as much information about this amazing new technology and what type of outcomes to expect. This can be a life changing treatment for many!   (651)739-5181
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Microneedling is designed to address acne scars, symptoms of aging skin, and to increase the efficacy of topical skin-care products.

Microneedling is a resurfacing method that’s gaining increasing interest for those seeking smooth, radiant results without the stinging, flaking or downtime of other treatments. This is a technique that uses a needle-studded wand to drive invisible puncture wounds into the skin (potentially down to the dermis) with the goal of inducing collagen growth. Treatments are considerably cheaper than the higher-tech alternative of fractional lasers, which create similar pinpoint channels in the skin. These channels also create openings for products to penetrate deeper and be more effective such as a stem cell product that aids in overall healing and health of the skin.

Done regularly, microneedling will make your skin act like it did in your 20s—it’ll be thicker, it’ll glow, it’ll have the most beautiful tone and texture. It can also improve scars, pore size, and stretch marks. It is one of the most asked for treatment in our office this summer. Another great thing about this treatment is that there is little to no downtime, and can be safely done in the summer months.

The idea candidates is anyone with:
Acne scarring, Fine lines, Hyperpigmentation, Stretch marks, Wrinkles, Uneven texture​ 

Benefits of microneedling:

• The pen stimulates natural healing using your own body.
• It can be performed on all skin colors and skin types.
• It can be used to target small areas or used across the entire face.
• Total treatment time takes less than 1 hour from start to finish.
• You start to see results almost immediately – within the next days after treatment​

Now through 6/30/2017 SkinPen Treatments are $25 off 1 
Original Pricing $250

For more info: Events and Specials

​Why we take FRAGRANCE FREE so serious
 
Symptoms of a fragrance allergy can range from classic allergic reactions, such as sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes; to headaches and dizziness; to respiratory issues, such as breathing difficulties and wheezing; to skin reactions, such as itching,  hives, and other rashes. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, fragrances are considered the leading cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis.  As a health problem, this sensitivity alone affects more than 2 million people, and studies suggest that sensitivity is on the rise. That is why we ask you to be courteous to others by not wearing any type of fragrance to your appointments so that we can to protect other patients and ourselves from adverse health effects. A fragrance can permeate the air, clothes or treatment area, even for longer than the owners appointment, putting others at risk afterwards or sometimes even for the rest of the day. This a very serious condition. It can cause a life threatening condition.

Listed below are some principal chemicals in everyday fragrances and their health risks

• Acetone: When inhaled, it can cause mild central nervous system disturbances such as dizziness, nausea, loss of coordination, slurred speech, and drowsiness. It can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and skin.
• alpha-Pinene It can be a moderate irritant to skin, eyes, and mucus membranes.
• Benzyl Alcohol It can be irritating to the upper respiratory tract, skin, eyes, and mucus membranes. It can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and drops in blood pressure.
• Benzaldehyde It may cause irritation to the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, lungs, and GI tract. It may also cause nausea, abdominal pain, depression and contact dermatitis.
• Ethanol One of its symptoms can be fatigue and it can irritate the eyes and upper respiratory tract. It can also cause a central nervous system disorder.
• Ethyl Acetate: Repeated or prolonged contact can cause drying and cracking of the skin.
• g-Terpinene: Can be found in cologne, perfume, soap, shaving cream, deodorant, and air freshener. It can cause asthma and central nervous system disorders.
• Linalool: The most abundant chemical in perfume and fragrance products, it is known to cause lethargy, depression, and life threatening respiratory effects.

Preventing and Treating Fragrance Sensitivities
The best medicine is really prevention — and that means keeping all fragrances off yourself and out of your environment. There just aren't any "safe" fragrances or products that can recommend for anyone who has experienced allergy symptoms due to fragrance sensitivities.
Any product with a scent can be irritating. We suggest utilizing scent-free products if at all possible. That means fragrance-free:

• Lotions, especially body lotions
• Soaps and deodorant 
• Skin care products - our recommended products are fragrance free
• Laundry detergents
• Fabric softeners

   
As providers for Look Good, Feel Better, we serve patients in active cancer treatment. They have difficulty with excessive scents and fragrance. We will now be rescheduling  your appointment if you have any type of fragrance on that may cause harm to us our any of our other patients. 

Did you know that without sunscreen, the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes?
It’s no coincidence that National Skin Cancer Awareness Month also happens to fall right around the time that many of us are spending more time outside. Of course, May isn’t the only time we should be protecting ourselves from the sun’s rays. An estimated 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Unprotected skin leads to premature aging, wrinkles, dryness, and age spots. 

Here are some ways to tackle the most common type of cancer
Get into a morning routine
It’s hard to remember to apply sunscreen every day, but one of the easiest ways to get into the habit is by performing it during your morning routine. UV rays can break through the clouds even on rainy, overcast days. So apply your sunscreen (at least an SPF 30) every morning. Always consider it the last step of your skincare routine at anytime of the year, even winter. 

Double up on product 
Let’s be honest: You’ll be more likely use sunscreen if it serves more than one purpose. That’s where moisturizer comes in; many SPF products not only protect your skin but also help fight wrinkles and moisturize dry skin. If you’re looking for a bargain, we suggest any of the EltaMD broad spectrum sunscreens. Elta is great for all skin types and also have a ranging SPF from 30-56. Our favorite? Elta UV Physical comes tinted so it can be your sunscreen, moisturizer, AND a makeup base. 

​Use more of it
Just adding a quick dab of sunscreen to your face isn’t enough. You should aim for about a quarter-sized squirt to cover your face adequately. And if you’re applying it to your entire body, you’ll need close to an ounce of the product. In general, sunscreen wears off even if you aren’t wet and needs to be reapplied every two hours as long as you’re in the sun. 

As a reminder;
Check expiration dates: Always check your sunscreen’s expiration date. Most have a shelf life of no more than three years. Expired sunscreen has literally fallen apart, so the formulation no longer works as a sun protectant. 

UV rays can be harmful without being direct:  UV rays can be transmitted through windows and glass so even if you plan on not going outside in direct sunlight to make sure you still apply a sunscreen daily regardless of season, weather and time to protect your skin. Even on cloudy days!
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Some medications increase sun sensitivity 
There are many medications which may make the skin extra susceptible to sun. These include anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular and acne medications. Oral medications Doxycycline and Minocycline used in the treatment of acne may cause skin problems when exposed to direct and prolonged UV. Isotretinoin, popularly called Accutane, is a vitamin A derived medication which may make your skin burn easily. Topical acne products, such as vitamin A derived tretinoin and benzoyl peroxide, may make certain skin types burn easier through photosensitization and irritation, respectively. So be extra cautious when taking these drugs while exposed to the sun. 

What to Look for on Your Labels: 

• Sunscreens labeled "broad-spectrum" which means they protect against both UVA and UVB rays. *All of EltaMD sunscreens are broad-spectrum 
• Sunscreens labeled as "water-resistant" which means the sunscreen stays on wet or sweaty skin for 40 to 80 minutes before it needs to be reapplied.
• Sunscreens with a rating SPF 30 or higher​

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