Acne Scarring … Do I have to live with it? (Part 1)

First we need to discuss types of acne scarring. There are several types including some that might look like scars but in actuality a permanent change has not occurred.

• Macules- “Pseudo-scars” are flat, red pots that are at the final stage of most inflamed acne lesions. A macule may remain for up to 6 months. When the macule disappears, no trace will remain-unlike a scar.

• Post-inflammatory pigmentation- Discoloration of the skin at the site of a healed acne lesion. It occurs more frequently in darker skinned people. It may persist for up to 18 months, especially with excessive sun exposure. Chemical peeling may hasten the disappearance of post-inflammatory pigmentation.

• Ice pick scars- Usually occur on the cheek. They are small, with jagged edges and steep sides. They may be shallow or deep and hard to soft to touch.

• Depressed fibrotic scars- Usually large, with sharp edges and steep sides. They are firm to touch. Ice pick scars can develop into depressed fibrotic scars.

• Soft scars, superficial or deep- They are soft to the touch. Gently sloping rolled edges that merge into normal skin. They are usually small, and either circular or linear in shape.

• Atrophic macules- They are usually small on the face and larger on the body. They are soft, wrinkled base and may be bluish in appearance due to blood vessels under the scar. Over time they change from bluish to white in light skinned people.

• Follicular macular atrophy- These are more likely to occur on the chest or back. They are small white lesions, barely raised above the skin surface. It sometimes called “perifollicular elastolysis”. The lesions may persist for months to years.

There is treatment!

There are a number of treatments available for acne scarring, which we will discuss in Part 2. The type of treatment selected should be one that is best for you in terms of type of skin, cost, your goals and risks.









DeAnna Maher (RN.)

Clinical Manager. Sona MedSpa - Galleria
*source: AcneNet.com

Will Ferrel Sunscreen..??

I stumbled across this, and although Sona does not stock it, I thought it was for a good cause, and I should share it...

Click here to read more about it.

Skin Care Myths Debunked (Part 2)

Click here if you missed Part 1.

Continuing with our list of popular skin care myths...

Natural and organic products are always better

This just sound so right! However...you really need to be careful. Many natural and organic products commercially available are not what they claim to be. Synthetic products or compounds can actually be identical to those found in nature, and may be more effective. Natural vs. synthetic should not automatically lead to an up or down decision about whether a product is good or bad. Not all chemicals are bad, and not all natural or organic ingredients are good... so do take the extra time to do your homework.

A suntan will clear up my acne

Have you forgotten that "tanning is skin cells in trauma, trying to protect themselves from cancer?" You're more likely to do serious damage to your skin. In the MedSpa, certain light-based treatments use the blue light frequency of the visible spectrum to eliminate acne. However, this is a much more controlled process than lying with your face in the sun! And here's another question to ponder: Does the sun's intense light (from the total spectrum, including the feared UVA and AVB rays) and the heat flush out the sebum to clear acne, or does it produce more oil to clog pores?

If you're a tanner, you're risking skin cancer. But not only that.... you are also prematurely again your skin. There are quite a number of effective acne treatments, but sun tanning is not one of them!

At Sona you can control Acne with light-based treatments utilizing Advanced Fluorescence Technology (AFT), killing acne-causing bacteria by interrupting the metabolic process. Treating active acne in its early stages minimizes the potential for scarring.

We will continue this series and expose more Skin Care myths in Part 3.

Skin Care Myths Debunked

Unless we do a significant amount of our own research, we may never know whether that skin care "hint" or "handed-down-the-generations-truth" is really true! Does it really matter..? Well, sometimes it does, and sometimes it probably won't hurt you. But that doesn't mean that it will help you either!

Here is a list (by no means exhaustive) of popular myths....

1. Adding several layers of product, each with its own SPF, will increase your protection

Unfortunately, this one is not true. Three products applied in sequence (like a foundation SPF 10, moisturizer SPF 10 and sun screen SPF 20) does not give you the combined protection of SPF 40. It only gives you the protection of the highest SPF that you apply (SPF 20 in this example).

2. A higher SPF is always better

This is true, but only barely! Let me explain... The biggest danger of a high SPF sunscreen is the false sense of security that it gives. The amount of light that induces redness in sunscreen-protected skin, divided by the amount of light that induces redness in unprotected skin is the SPF. It is mainly a measure of UVB protection and ranges from 1 to 45 or above.

A sunscreen with SPF 15 blocks close to 93% of UVB radiation, while an SPF 30 will block around 97% of UVB. But the SPF "number" only indicates protection against UVB rays. In order to be protected against UVA and UVB rays, use a sunscreen containing physical blockers, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

3. Indoor tanning is safe

If you have any doubt about this myth, read this earlier post...

This myth has it's foundation in another myth: you have to have sunburn to get skin damage... which is also untrue. Tanning is skin cells in trauma. There is no other way of explaining it. In response to UV damage, skin cells produce melanin to protect themselves. However, one damaged cell can start a deadly melanoma growing.

We will continue this series and expose more Skin Care myths. Click here for Part 2.

Household solution for itches and burns

MedSpas are all about health and wellness, and improving yourself. So, it would be appropriate to add some hints on well-being that have been around for a while.... and that we happen to have readily available at home. We all grew up with Epsom salt in the house, but with summer arriving, doctors say there’s an important use that isn’t as well-known:

Reducing the itch that comes from mosquito bites, bee stings, mild sunburn, poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.

“Basically, anything that itches or burns the skin, Epsom salt can soothe,” says Dr. Joe Matusic, a pediatrician in Charleston, W.Va., and an assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at the Charleston division of the West Virginia University School of Medicine.

Epsom salt helps reduce itching in three ways:

• Make compresses by soaking a cotton washcloth in cold water that has been mixed with Epsom salt (two tablespoons per cup), then apply to the skin.
• Create a paste to apply to the skin by adding a teaspoon of Epsom salt to about a cup of hot water until it dissolves, then chilling the solution in the fridge for 20 minutes. Note: Clean the skin and pat dry before applying the paste.
• Take an Epsom salt bath, by adding two cups of Epsom salt to the water in a standard-sized bathtub and soaking for at least 12 minutes. The Epsom salt will dissolve quicker if you put it under the running water.
  

Epsom salt is always there in the pantry, and you should use it as soon as possible for temporary relief. It helps draw the moisture out of lesions caused by rashes, such as poison ivy, according to the doctors. With bites or stings, Epsom salt reduces the swelling. This in turn eases the itching sensation because the body’s nerves fire less frequently, according to the doctors.

Always remember: You should consult your doctor for serious or persisting skin conditions.

To learn more, please visit www.epsomsaltcouncil.org.

The ABC of Skin Cancer

No one knows your body like you do!

Because early detection is key in the treatment of melanoma, self-examination is a MUST!

Would you know what changes to look for in the inspection of your moles? Take a look at the ABCs of skin cancer. Also see our post on the Body Mole Map.

If you notice any of these changes, schedule an appointment with your dermatologist for further follow-up.

Interested in joining the Sona Team in Houston?

Sona is the industry leader in laser hair removal and skin rejuvenation. Due to our anticipated growth, we are looking for talented professionals to join our team in Houston.

We are currently looking for LVN's and Aestheticians to join our teams in the Galleria Area, Sugar Land and Northwest Houston.

If you meet the requirements, are eager to experience the vision of progressive leadership, live the values that will shape your life, feel the pride of the community and be a part of the fastest growing segment of the service industry, please e-mail your resume to me as soon as possible.

Read more and get the contact details here...