Blog

How and what we buy when it comes to beauty products is going to change in 2015, according to a trends report released by market intelligence agency Mintel.

That’s thanks to beauty companies amending what they’re offering to savvy consumers, as well as how they’re delivering their socially conscious products to consumers who want individualized, timely service.

The report says that consumer trends — smart technology, sensitivity toward gender definitions, personalization and bespoke products, consumer rights — will affect the beauty and skin care industries next year to an even greater degree than they already have.

Some brands are already manufacturing products that will gel better with new consumer expectations.

The following are highlights from the trends report. Trends affecting the skin care industry include:

Smart technology — Shoppers want tech products that help them not only save time and money, but also to increase something’s value and usefulness. Tech that can use data to then learn from a consumer can help both brands and consumers. For example, an app that uses someone’s uploaded photos and preferences to better suggest specific beauty products is seen as a value to consumers. It learns a user’s purchasing patterns and preferences to help provide new and improved suggestions over time.

Immediate service — Consumers want personalized instantaneous service … either in person or online. They also want to interact with brands on a more individualized level. Sometimes both of these can be achieved via unique product distribution, like pop-ups, vending machines and kiosks where goods are bought on-the-go. In fact, the report notes that 32 percent of U.S. facial skincare product consumers want to be able to purchase products in this way. Also, many brands are noticing that customized products are what consumers want most. Pop-up skin care labs by major brands offer products made just for your skin care needs.

Social accountability — These days, more and more shoppers are concerned about the ingredients in their products. They’re also more loyal to companies who have political and social beliefs that align with their own. In 2015, more companies will have to account and apologize for anything that consumers find and pressure them on. They will have to show a human side, according to the report. Consumers have a strong voice via social media, and they’ve effected change through its various public platforms. More companies will use customer input and create based on consumers’ feelings and wishes.

Gender sensitivity — Companies will increasingly be more sensitive to gender definitions and recognize the grey areas in this area. This should help the men’s skin care arena to flourish. It should also help women’s beauty in recognizing that not all women can be put into the same mold.

For personalized skin evaluation and care, please contact our Los Angeles office. We can determine your needs and the best procedures to remedy any concerns. To schedule a free skin care consultation, call our office at (323) 525-1516.

Our skin is often a good gauge of our overall health. Sudden changes in skin quality usually are symptomatic of something happening within us. You know what your skin looks like on a daily basis. When something atypical develops, you’ll notice. Sometimes we assume the worst; other times, we don’t think twice about it.

What we should do is take notice and know some basics about various skin abnormalities. After that, you may want to call an experienced dermatologist’s office like Your Laser Skin Care to help you diagnose the issue.
If you suddenly develop adult acne or a pale complexion, among other issues, here is what you should know.
Is your skin …

1. Yellow-hued? If your skin suddenly develops a yellowish hue, it typically means one of two things: carotenemia or jaundice. Carotenemia is defined as excessive beta-carotene in the body. This occurs from eating too many carrots or other carotene-rich products like sweet potatoes. Carotenemia looks odd, but it is harmless. The hue will dissipate once carotene levels are lowered. The other cause of yellowish skin is jaundice, which is a serious health concern. It could be a symptom of a variety of issues like blood disease, medications and cirrhosis. In addition to yellowing skin, jaundice will often cause a person’seyes to turn yellow.

2. Purple-shaded spots? They’re called purpura, and they’re caused when blood vessels pop and pool blood under the skin. This is a somewhat common occurrence in those aged 65 and older. Blood vessels are weaker, and skin quality is diminished by years of sun damage. However, these blotches could mean there is a health concern like blood clotting disorders, Vitamin C deficiency or blood stream infections.

3. Dry? Dry skin is a common problem for mostly everyone, especially during the winter months.However, not consuming enough healthy fats can lead to dry skin. Eating more omega-3 fatty acids will help improve your skin’s dryness. Foods with high omega-3 fatty acids include eggs, anchovies and salmon.

4. Dark under-eye circles? Usually this is a sign of a lack of sleep. But if you’re getting a healthy amount of sleep and the circles persist, it could mean you have a Vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C helps with the production of collagen. Low levels of the vitamin can cause scurvy, which will make eyes look recessed. Being dehydrated also can cause under-eye circles. Remedy with more water intake.

5. Acne? Adult acne could be a sign of an underlying health concern. Sometimes it’s associated with polycystic ovary syndrome in women. The condition is usually accompanied by longer menstrual periods, excessive hair growth and obesity.

To schedule an appointment for a comprehensive skin evaluation, call us at (323) 525-1516 or make an appointment online at www.yourlaserskincare.com.

Most laser hair removal clients select this cosmetic procedure for its amazing aesthetic value. However, a recent study demonstrates how it has the ability to improve someone’s quality of life.

Wounded veterans who must deal with amputations and prosthetics benefit from laser hair removal, according to a recent study titled “Improving Quality of Life in Wounded Warriors with Traumatic Amputations: The Promising Benefits of Laser Hair Removal at the Residual Limb-Prosthetic Socket Interface.”

Wounded warriors with combat-related amputations often encounter side effects from having to wear prosthetics. Veterans must wear a rubber sleeve, which is then covered by the prosthetic. As a result, skin irritations can occur like:

– Itching
– Pain
– Irritation
– Sweating
– Infections
– Abscesses
– Hair pulling

Some of these skin problems produce slipping and loss of stability. About 40 percent of military personnel with amputations have skin problems as a result of their prosthetics, according to the news release on the study.

The study, which looked at 10 veterans with 16 total artificial limbs, found that there were significant improvements to the wounded warriors’ daily lives. Improvements included fewer physical symptoms and less overall frustration. It also positively impacted their ability to exercise, work and participate in extracurricular activities. A notable decrease in sweating was observed, which resulted in less slippage with the prosthetic. This helped veterans feel more secure and experience fewer blisters.

The study’s results were so positive that researchers are hoping it will impact civilians with prosthetic limbs.

Laser hair removal is an affordable solution for not only aesthetic concerns, but also for skin problems as a result of prosthetic limbs.

The study results were released at the 2014 ASDS Annual Meeting in San Diego, which is a well-known military hub and home to Camp Pendleton.

Dermatologists have been treating wounded warriors’ unique issues such as scar revisions and improvements for years. Laser hair removal is just one more cosmetic procedure that can greatly improve the lives of these invaluable service personnel.

Your Laser Skin Care in Los Angeles provides laser hair removal for hundreds of patients. We specialize in the latest techniques and technology in order to ensure that you’re receiving the best treatments possible.

Call (323) 525-1516 or visit us online here to schedule an appointment with Los Angeles’ leading dermatology center.

“You are what you eat.” The tired cliché would be excised from our heads if it wasn’t so true. What we’re eating directly affects the quality of our skin and its appearance.

In other words, a skin care regimen isn’t just the type of cleanser and moisturizer you’re using on a daily basis. Part of that routine is your diet. Improving your skin from the inside out is a proactive approach to controlling the quality, texture and appearance of your skin.

Not surprisingly, many of foods we should be eating anyway appear as ingredients in our skincare products. So here is a look at some of the top power foods we should be consuming, regardless of skin type, to help improve our skin and provide natural skin rejuvenation:

Olive Oil — This product not only acts as a fantastic natural moisturizer (benefiting skin and hair strands), but it will improve skin from the inside out if made a regular addition to diets. Studies have revealed that women who add olive oil to their diets displayed dramatically fewer signs of aging than those who did not.

Green Tea — Besides the fact that it is a water-based fluid (water being one of the best things you could possibly consume to help your skin), green tea has long been touted as a go-to remedy for many concerns. Green tea is clarifying and correcting from the inside out. The tea’s antioxidants help combat all of the free radical damage skin is exposed to day after day.

Green tea not only fights premature aging due to those free radicals, it may also help reverse sun damage.

Green and Yellow Vegetables — We all know that eating vegetables is one of the best things to add to any diet. You’ve also probably heard that the darker the vegetable, the better it is for you. Interestingly, a study in 2011 showed that yellow and green vegetables cause fewer wrinkles from forming. They especially target crow’s feet, which are the wrinkles that appear around the corner of a person’s eyes.

Herbs — Adding herbs like rosemary to your meals could potentially reduce your melanoma risk by 60 percent in addition to being a great benefit to your skin’s overall appearance.

Dark Chocolate — It’s not too good to be true. The benefits of this product are myriad, ranging from fighting wrinkles to increasing blood flow to the skin. It also helps maintain skin hydration and fights skin thinning. It may combat UV rays and, thus, any damage related to UV exposure as well. As an additional bonus, dark chocolate helps fight stress. As we all know, stress can lead to skin breakouts. Dark chocolate that has at least 70 percent cocoa is best. Be aware that this will increase the bitterness of the product.

Pumpkin — Pumpkins are a good source of Vitamin A, which is necessary for the skin to produce new cells. A half-cup of pumpkin offers skin four times the recommended serving of Vitamin A. This will help keep your skin healthy and smooth.

Of course, diet can only do so much to reverse years of damage to your skin. If you’re looking to improve your appearance quickly and resolve some longstanding issues with a professional dermatologist, please call Your Laser Skin Care today at (323) 525-1516 for a free consultation.

Even though these cosmetic procedures have been around for quite some time, some people still have qualms about their safety and potential side effects. A new study, the results of which were published Nov. 5 in “JAMA Dermatology,” is looking to assuage any concerns that may still exist about these procedures, which are offered and routinely performed at Your Laser Skin Care.

According to the new study, fillers, Botox and laser skin treatments are extremely safe with a surprisingly low rate of side effects. Even in the case of slight side effects (occurring in less than 1 percent of the procedures), the results were minimal and included bruising and minimal skin discoloration.

The study, lead by dermatologist Dr. Murad Alam at Illinois’s Northwestern University, collected data from 23 U.S. board-certified dermatologists. The dermatologists were asked to record the results of their cosmetic procedures for three months and then document any side effects for the next year.

The dermatologists who participated in the study regularly perform these cosmetic procedures, so the results don’t account for procedures performed by less-proficient dermatologists. Additionally, data regarding patients’ satisfaction with their physical appearance after the procedures was not collected.

RESULTS: The study’s data (from 20,399 total procedures)proved that people have much less to be concerned about than previously thought. Data showed that:

• Approximately 1 in 416 procedures had a negative side effect.
• Fillers (like Juvederm for example) caused side effects like skin beading or lumpiness in only 1 in every 135 cases.
• Cosmetic procedures employing neurotoxins, like Botox, only caused a negative side effect in 1 in 3,333 procedures.

The study helps to show how these cosmetic procedures are very safe and sometimes preferable to major surgery like a facelift, which involves anesthesia.

Those looking to try one of these treatments should always research facilities and dermatologists before selecting a professional. Board-certified and well-established professionals like at Your Laser Skin Care — Los Angeles’s top-rated office — will ensure safety and the best results.

To learn more about how Your Laser Skin Care can help you look your best, please call us at (323) 525-1516 or make an appointment for a consultation online at www.yourlaserskincare.com.

Avoid These Skincare Products Now

At Your Laser Skin Care, we receive plenty of questions about daily skincare and health. We often get asked about proper hygiene. As with anything, sometimes time and further studies help to fully understand a product or service. In other words, longtime products that have a connotation as being trusted and proven due to their longevity can sometimes be not so safe after all.

Some of today’s major beauty and health products are being studied and being questioned. Various ingredients have come under scrutiny; therefore, consumers should be vigilant about what products they’re using by inspecting the ingredients.

Here is a sampling of some of the products that are now being spotlighted as potentially unsafe:

• Anything “antibacterial” — The issue here is something called triclosan, which is present in antibacterial hand or body soaps, as well as some cosmetics and toothpaste. It’s been connected with hormone disruption and antibiotic resistance, which is eyebrow raising. The problem is that it gets into our water supply and ultimately kills beneficial bacteria. Also, the research isn’t there that proves antibacterial products do anything to aid our health. In fact, it’s good to be a bit dirty in order to keep our immune systems working properly. The FDA has said companies will need to prove their products actually reduce infection and illness risk. Minnesota just banned triclosan, effective in 2017. Another chemical found in antibacterial products is triclocarban. Stay away from this as well. Try to find products with natural antimicrobials that contain sulphur or benzoyl peroxide. To be on the safe side, stick to regular soap and water until more can be understood.
• Microbeads — Microbeads are found in face and body scrubs and are used for the sake of exfoliating skin. But as recent studies have shown, these beads are typically plastic and are making their way through filtration systems and into our water supplies. This is possibly affecting fish and other wildlife. Illinois and other states have banned plastic exfoliants. While it may seem like natural exfoliants are the obvious alternative, doctors note that they can be extra coarse and damage skin.
• Parabens — Parabens are preservatives often found in body washes, shampoos, lotions and other soap products. They keep bacteria from growing. However, this substance permeates our skin and is soaked into our bodies. Studies have shown that parabens may be tied to various cancers and hormone disruption. Parabens can be listed as propylparaben or methylparaben. To avoid this preservative, look for preservative-free products or paraben-free care products. Be mindful of expiration dates on paraben-free products, however.

Right now, arctic temperatures are affecting much of the U.S., with abnormally heavy snowfall recently falling on the Midwest. It’s all a result of the “bomb cyclone” that occurred a little while ago.

This early start to winter temperatures is a good reminder to take steps this season to protect your skin. Winter’s extreme temps and dry conditions siphon moisture from skin. Indoor heating also does nothing to add moisture either. As a result, the skin’s protective barrier will crack. It’s difficult to repair the skin quickly when this happens.

Here are some tips to follow this winter:

 

• Use a salicylic acid-containing lotion to prevent rough skin (a.k.a. keratosis pilaris, which is characterized by hard plugs that form in hair follicles), which can occur on upper arms if skin becomes too dry.
• Wash with soap-free, wipe-off hand sanitizers. Find one without alcohol. They don’t dry out skin as much as soap and water can. If you must use water, make sure to follow up with lotion right away. It also helps to use a moisture-based, soap-free hand cleanser.
• Wear gloves at night after you apply hand moisturizer to help keep hands soft and hydrated. Wearing gloves for only an hour can help skin’s hydration levels, as well. Gloves help to trap moisture with a non-breathable barrier.
• Attack dry skin patches with an exfoliating scrub. Visit our product line to see our available products. Also, make sure to exfoliate facial skin lightly. It brightens skin without being too harsh on the outer layer of your skin.
• A lactic acid lotion can help arms and legs that appear scaly due to the dry weather. The moisturizer also acts as an exfoliator.
• Make sure to not forget your feet and buff out callouses with a pumice stone. Wear socks overnight after applying lotion.
• Showers should be kept short. They shouldn’t be any longer than 10 minutes. Keep showering to once a day, as well. It’s also better to use warm, not hot water, which will strip your skin of moisture.
• If you suffer from eczema or even simply sensitive skin, it helps if you wear soft pajamas or have soft bedding. Blends and synthetic fabrics can be aggravating to people with these conditions.

 

For more serious skin conditions, or if you’re looking for more advanced skin rejuvenation services, please call Your Laser Skin Care at (323) 525-1516.