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“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.

It’s hard to argue that Americans value a less-is-more approach to summer apparel. Much to dermatologists’ chagrin, tanning bed salons are still popular among young women, as well. Around 28 million people go to indoor tanning salons in the U.S. every year.

Thanks to gradually changing cultural norms, medical advice, fashion trends, leisure time activities and attitudes toward skin color since the 1900s, there has been a steady rise in melanoma rates. Conducted by New York University researchers, a new study published in the American Journal of Public Health explores how socioeconomic factors have played a role in the increase of skin cancer since the 1900s in the U.S.

The study breaks down the last 100 years to uncover trends that have possibly contributed to the rise in melanoma cases. While the study concludes that no causational link can be made between attitudes/behaviors and melanoma rates, it does provide a historical outline to illustrate UV exposure.

By understanding changing social trends, the study hopes to possibly influence public health officials and help them craft more effective strategies to reverse society’s sun worship. The study divided the century into four major periods:

• Pre-1900s-1910: Sunless, porcelain skin was desired during this period. Tanned skin meant someone was obligated to do manual labor. Many women used parasols and wore layers of clothing. As for extracurricular activities, people valued work over leisure. Therefore, less time was spent outdoors. However at the beginning of the 20^th century, heliotherapy, or sun therapy, started to become a medical prescription for tuberculosis and other ailments.

• 1910-‘30s: UV phototherapy was embraced by the medical community. The Ladies Home Journal was prescribing sunbaths to mothers. Some dermatologists were concerned about the increasing risk of “sunlight cancer” and premature facial wrinkles as a result. Tans were in vogue by the 1920s. It symbolized wealth and the ability to indulge in leisure. Clothing became less conservative. Swimwear now exposed more skin. Between the 1930s and ‘60s, the U.S. melanoma rate increased 300 percent in men and 400 percent in women.

• 1940s-‘70s: Travel and leisure became an even greater priority. Camping and boating supplies were in demand. Clothing became more revealing. However, more scientific proof that tanning was a link to skin cancer came to light. Between the 1960s and ‘90s, melanoma rates leaped 244 percent in men and 167 percent in women.

• 1980s-present: Sun exposure has only increased. Indoor tanning salons came around. In 1981, 10 new salons opened every week. The study found that cases of melanoma rose from 22.8 to 28.9 cases per 100,000 white patients between 2000 and 2009. Also, there was an increase of melanoma — 3.6 percent per year — with women ages 15 to 39, which is the group of people who use indoor tanning beds the most. A smaller amount of men in the same age group — 2 percent — saw an increase.

This new study hopes to propel new legislation to help protect people from societal pushes that could negatively affect their health. On Aug. 1, Minnesotans under the ages of 18 cannot patron tanning salons with UV tanning beds.

This is alarming to skincare professionals who are looking to keep patients healthy and to provide skin rejuvenation services. If you’d like to explore the services Your Laser Skin Care provides to help people reverse sun damage and remove wrinkles please visit us at www.yourlaserskincare.com or schedule a free consultation by calling us at (323) 525-1516.

Well, fall is here again (albeit in varying degrees depending on where you live in the U.S.). It’s usually a welcomed change of pace for most. However, it also means that it’s time to change up your skincare routine from head to toe.

The dehydrating, sun-soaked summer season can wreak havoc on your epidermis, whether we’re talking facial skin, your scalp or anywhere else on your body. Preventing dry and flaky skin is the ultimate goal in order to allow your body’s largest organ to function properly and to look its best.

1. Switch out your body cleanser — Upon the arrival of fall and winter months, it’s important to use a soap-free, moisturizing body wash rather than fruit-scented gels that don’t exactly keep your skin hydrated. Soap-free cream washes don’t strip your skin of its natural and healthy oils that regulate skin quality.
2. Rethink the ingredients in your scrub — Reach for an oil-based scrub to help combat dryness. Your Laser Skin Care offers VIVITE Exfoliating Facial Cleanser, containing 15 percent glycolic compound. The scrub loosens the top layer of skin. The scrub can also be used a couple of times per week.
3. Apply lotion daily — We aren’t strictly talking about your face, it’s important to moisturize your entire body. This should be done every day with a heavily concentrated lotion. Tip: Apply lotion immediately after toweling off from a shower. It helps seal moisture already absorbed in the skin.
   1. VIVITE Vibrance Therapy — Offered by Your Laser Skin Care, this lotion with natural ingredients brightens and evens skin tone for better skin rejuvenation in about eight weeks.
   2. VIVITE Daily Firming Lotion — This firming lotion helps reduce the appearance of dimpled skin. It contains 15 percent glycolic compound and can be used twice daily.
4. Add to your hand products — Consider utilizing a cuticle oil during colder weather months. Sometimes your daily hand cream doesn’t remedy white and hardened nail cuticles.
5. Invest in a heavy lip salve — Keep lips protected against whipping winds and dry conditions with a conditioner/moisturizer. VIVITE Defining Lip Plumper, though not a moisturizer, does help improve the appearance of lip volume while minimizing fine lines. Ingredients include soothing botanicals.
6. Drink water — It’s important for your health but will keep your skin clear and hydrated in addition to using topical applications.

For a listing of all of Your Laser Skin Care’s available products, click here. If you have concerns about your skin and are curious about our skin rejuvenation services, call the Los Angeles office of Your Laser Skin Care at (323) 525-1516 for a free consultation.

Botox is a well-known drug used to treat fine lines and wrinkles as well as certain muscular conditions and severe underarm sweating with great success. OnabotulinumtoxinA (OBA) injections help to paralyze certain muscles or block nerves temporarily. As it relates to wrinkle treatment, Botox improves skin’s overall appearance by affecting facial nerves and relaxing muscles.

According to a new study published in May in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, Botox potentially has another appropriate use: treating depression. The study supports an already tested idea that facial expressions (i.e. frowning), aided by Botox injections, affect levels of depression. When the muscles that control frowning are impaired, patients with major depression report improved conditions.

The study conducted was a randomized, double blind and placebo-controlled trial. Seventy-four subjects involved in the study had DSM-IV major depression and either received one Botox injection or one saline injection, the latter of which acted as the placebo. The injections focused on the corrugator and procerus frown muscles. Subjects were rated at their screening and at three and six weeks after their injections. The study was conducted in an outpatient clinical research center.

The study revealed that over 50 percent of individuals suffering from moderate to severe depression improved their symptoms with a Botox injection, which inhibited frowning. A single treatment of OBA seemed to create a significant and prolonged antidepressant effect. Of those who received a Botox injection, 47 percent showed improvements versus only 21 percent of those injected with the placebo.

It also confirmed that patients with exaggerated frown lines suffered more intense sadness. Thus, facial expressions, and how they are controlled, greatly affect the way someone feels. Botox was able to correct frown lines and give patients a more relaxed feeling in the face. It improved their feelings of happiness and wellbeing. The study suggests Botox may work as a stand alone treatment for depression.

Another study, published in August, suggest a similar conclusion regarding Botox and major depressive disorder (MDD). OnabotulinumtoxinA injection in the skin between the eyebrows and above the nose, or glabellar region, improved depressive symptoms and is considered a possible treatment for MDD.

This is all good news, as an estimated one in 10 US adults suffer from depression. Individuals suffering from major depression usually are age 45-64, women, have little education, were previously married, are unable to work or unemployed or do not have health insurance.

Botox continues to be explored as a solution with little risks for both cosmetic and medical conditions. To learn more about Your Laser Skin Care’s Botox injections services in Los Angeles, call our office at (323) 525-1516 or visit us online at www.yourlaserskincare.com to schedule a free consultation.