Skin Cancer Awareness

May is skin cancer awareness month. There are two major forms of skin cancer: melanoma and non-melanoma. While melanoma is more dangerous, non-melanoma skin cancer is much more common. The most important thing we can do to decrease our risk for skin cancer is protect ourselves from the sun. This includes properly applying sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 daily and reapplying it every two hours if outdoors for prolonged periods. The ABCDE's of melanoma are important signs to look for in moles to determine if they are suspicious and should be seen by a dermatologist.

ABCDE's of melanoma

Skin cancer is abnormal growth of skin cells. It can affect people of all skin types and colors, but those with fair skin have increased risk. It occurs most commonly on areas of high sun exposure such as the face and backs of the arms. The American Academy of Dermatology has outstanding resources to learn more about skin cancer.

Skin Care for Mothers

Dr. Alex and his mother Yafa

Happy Mother's Day from A E Skin. This is the perfect opportunity to discuss good skin care for mothers. There are a number of things mothers can do to keep their skin healthy. These include both a regimen that is done at home as well as procedures done in an office or spa.

Sunscreen

Daily sunscreen use is first and foremost because years of sun exposure causes damage to the skin which is seen as fine lines, wrinkles, laxity, and discoloration. Mothers should also teach their children to apply sunscreen daily starting at 6 months of age. Sunscreens should have a minimum SPF of 30 with UVA protection such as the Elta MD UV Clear.

Moisturizer

Approximately two thirds of the skin is made up of water and an adequate amount of water is essential for proper function. Moisturizer should be applied at least twice daily, or even more for mothers with dry skin or those in dry climates. Heavy moisturizers retain the water better and are usually used at night, since most people prefer something lighter during the day. For best hydration, apply a hydrating serum just before applying a moisturizer to bring the water into the skin. Also, be sure to drink at least eight glasses of water every day so your body is well hydrated.

Exfoliation

Exfoliation is something that can be done in many different ways. At home this can be done with scrubs, loofahs, washcloths, or brushes such as the Clarisonic. You can also apply topical products such as an exfoliating serum to remove the dead skin from the surface. Professional treatments are more deep and include facials, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser resurfacing.

Retinoids

Using a retinoid such as retinol or its prescription-strength counterpart, retin-A, will stimulate collagen production, which slows down with age. This will improve fine lines, wrinkles, and laxity. At the same time it will stimulate cell turnover, which also slows down with age, giving a soft and smooth texture and a bright glowing appearance.

Antioxidants

Application of topical antioxidants such as vitamin C will help improve the color, texture, and radiance of the skin and protect the skin from sun damage. While eating foods rich in antioxidants such as berries is good for the health, usually these antioxidants are delivered to the entire body so only a small amount reaches the skin.

Eye Care

The eyes are often considered the central part of the face because that is what people see first when looking at your face. Eye creams or gels such as the Elta MD Renew Eye Gel will help with puffiness, wrinkles, and dark circles around the eyes.

Overall Health and Wellness

The skin often shows what is going on inside your body, especially in times of stress. It is therefore important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep your skin looking flawless. This includes eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep at night.

All of us at A E Skin wish you a wonderful Mother's Day!

Xeomin Now Available at A E Skin

A E Skin is excited to offer a new neuromodulator called Xeomin, an alternative to Botox. Similar to Botox and Dysport, Xeomin will relax muscles on the face to improve wrinkles on areas such as the forehead, between the eyebrows, and around the eyes, to name a few. While Xeomin is the newest such product that has been approved by the FDA, it has been used for several years in Europe under the name Bocouture; and it is made by Merz Aesthetics, the same company that makes Radiesse. Xeomin is similar to Botox and Dysport in that they all last three to four months. Xeomin seems to have a faster onset of action than Botox, meaning that the results are seen faster. Compared to Dysport, Xeomin (and Botox) do not spread as much, which is important because spreading can lead to side effects such as blurred vision and droopy eyelids. The biggest difference between Xeomin and the other neuromodulators is the structure of the protein. Because of this difference, Xeomin has a decreased risk of allergic reactions compared to Botox and Dysport. Another advantage is that Xeomin is stored at room temperature before reconstitution, decreasing the likelihood of degradation. Contact Dr. Alex (818-835-1833 info@aeskin.com) for a free consultation.

Visia Imaging System

A E Skin is excited to add the Canfield Visia Imaging System. This is a professional imaging workstation for clinical facial photography. The head is placed in the booth and several photographs are taken from three different angles. Both standard and UV pictures are taken with cross polarized light, producing reproducible and high quality images. The system will measure the amount of spots, pores, wrinkles, and sun damage in the skin and these values can be compared between visits to see the improvements. One of the important features is that it will detect discolorations in the skin that are not visible to the naked eye. The system will quantify the imperfections in the skin and it will tell you extactly how much improvement you achieve between treatments. Contact Dr. Alex for a free consultation at 818-835-1833 or info@aeskin.com.

Revivogen Natural Hair Loss Solution

Revivogen is a dermatologist-formulated natural product to treat hair loss now available at A E Skin. The natural ingredients have been shown to replicate the actions of prescription medications without the side effects. The ingredients stimulate hair follicles to grow, targeting the cause of hair loss. It is applied topically and is safe for use by men and women.

The hair loss process has multiple steps. First, the naturally occurring hormone testosterone binds to hair follicles. Once in the cells, testosterone is converted to DHT. DHT interacts with the DNA in the cells, and this leads to hair loss. Hair production slows down and the hairs become thin and fine. Eventually the hair follicles die.

Revivogen has multiple active  ingredients which work together to treat hair loss. These include gamma linoleic acid, alpha linoleic acid, oleic acid, azeleic acid, vitamin B6, zinc, saw palmetto extract, beta-sitosetrol, and procyanidin oligomers. These ingredients block both the intake of testosterone into the hair follicles and its conversion to DHT. The mechanism of action is similar to both Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride). In addition to the anti-DHT ingredients, Revivogen contains ingredients to enhance the penetration of the product as well as stimulate hair growth, providing a powerful combination.

The scalp therapy product is easy to use and takes less than one minute each day. It is applied directly to areas of hair loss with a spray nozzle that comes with the product. This is done at night and left on the scalp overnight. Each bottle lasts approximately 30 days and the set comes with three bottles, a 90 day supply.

During the first few weeks of use, it may appear that there is increased shedding of the hair. This is normal and it is an indication that the product is working. The reason for this is because Revivogen activates the hair growth cycle, leading to the hairs in the resting phase falling out as the new cycle begins. Visible results are seen in two to three months and full results take up to 18 months.

Rosacea Awareness

April is Rosacea awareness month. Rosacea is a common skin condition. Many famous people suffer from rosacea including Bill Clinton, Princess Diana, Cameron Diaz, Renee Zellweger, Rosie O'Donnell, and Maria Carey. There are a number of different symptoms. Most commonly those affected will get redness on the skin, typically on the central face, but this can also extend to the chest. Redness can be seen as generalized over the area or as broken capillaries. This flushing can be induced or exacerbated by heat, alcohol, spicy foods, emotional stress, and other factors. Sometimes bumps can be seen on the skin that resemble acne; but it is not acne. Rosacea can also affect the texture of the nose, giving it a cobblestone appearance (rhinophyma); this is more common in men. It can also affect the eyes, making the eyes feel as if there is sand in the eyes. Patients with rosacea very commonly complain of sensitive skin.



Rosacea treated with a skin care regimen
and three IPL photofacial treatments.



Rosacea can be treated in different ways and those who use a combination approach get the best results. First one must avoid triggers such as heat, alcohol, and spicy foods. Topical medications such as metronidazole and niacinamide (vitamin B3) will decrease the redness. Sunscreen is mandatory on a daily basis. I recommend a sunscreen such as the Elta MD UV Clear because it has an SPF of over 30, it has broad spectrum protection, and it contains niacinamide to reduce redness. Finally laser treatments such as IPL photofacials can provide significant improvement. Most people will start with a series of three to five treatments at four to eight week intervals, then have maintenance treatments at three to six month intervals thereafter.

While rosacea is a common concern, unfortunately at this time there is no cure. But there are many things we have available to control it. Contact Dr. Alex for a free consultation: 818-835-1833, info@aeskin.com).

A E Skin Nominated for Best Aesthetic Practice



Dr. Alex winning the Best Aesthetic Practice
award at the Aesthetic Academy in 2012



A E Skin has been nominated for the Best Aesthetic Practice award. This prestigious award is given at the Aesthetic Show, an annual event featuring the latest advances in aesthetic technology, skin care, marketing, and more. A E Skin won the award at the 2012 Aesthetic Academy in Beverly Hills, a smaller version of the Aesthetic Show designed for practices in the Southern California area. This year A E Skin is hoping to win the award on a national scale. The winner is determined by popular vote. Anyone can vote and it takes less than one minute. All you need is to enter your name, telephone number, and e-mail address. Follow the link below to vote:

http://www.aesthetictv.tv/aesthetic/practice_contest_2013/vote_page.php?p=8&x=7DYRY06HFOTH5

The Aesthetic Show will be held at the Mirage hotel in Las Vegas, NV May 16-19, 2013. The winners will be announced at the Aesthetic Awards ceremony on Saturday, May 18, 2013, hosted by Dr. Andrew P. Ordon, MD, FACS of the TV show "The Doctors." Winners will also be displayed on the Aesthetic Show website, receive editorial coverage in the Aesthetic Guide, participate in a media event and photo shoot, and be recognized in an episode of Aesthetic TV. Thank you very much for your support!