NeoDerm Aesthetics

What is generally the first feature you notice when you see someone?  It’s usually that instant eye contact, and you want yours to look spectacular.  Here are a few aesthetic suggestions, ranging from no cost at all to more corrective and pricier options. 

• A good night’s sleep is so important, not only in the appearance of your eyes, but also your attitude.  It is also when your skin has the greatest time to regenerate and renew.  When your head hits the pillow, close your eyes and meditate envisioning the healing color of purple.  NEVER go to sleep without removing your make-up, especially around the eyes.  Our ‘Eye Makeup Remover” is extra gentle, rich in soothing aloe, and inexpensive.
• Consistent application of a specialty cosmeceutical eye area product in the evening will produce definitive results in improving the fine lines and hydrating the delicate thin skin around your eyes.  At NeoDerm Aesthetics, we have an outstanding selection of products to help improve lines, dark circles and puffiness.
• Allergies can wreak havoc with both the appearance and comfort of your eyes.  Avoid rubbing your itchy eyes – reach instead for a high performance lubricant eye drop product to help reduce the burning and irritation.  Consult your ophthalmologist if over-the-counter drops don’t help.  You may have a condition knows as “moderate to severe dry eyes” and there are alternative treatments available.
• In the morning, take ten minutes to rejuvenate your eyes by relaxing with a cool compress over your eyes.  It can be as simple as wrapping a ice cube in a paper towel (never apply ice directly to your skin) or a more luxurious velour eye mask filled with pellets and kept in the freezer.  This mini-treatment is refreshing eye-opening, and reduces early morning puffiness.  Follow with cleansing, application of your chosen eye cream, morning moisturizer and sun protection product.
• Investigate the advantages of Permanent Cosmetics.  Through the artistry of our highly trained and experienced specialist, Judy Newdom, your eyes will always be enhanced with eyeliner.  Brows form a frame for your eyes, and if yours are sparse the benefits of permanently colored brows which don’t rub off or wash off will delight you.  Her consultations are complimentary – call 951-0388 to schedule yours.
• Not enough lashes:  GROW them!  Longer, fuller, darker lashes can be yours by using Latisse, the first FDA-approved prescription treatment.  Available at NeoDerm at our special price of $99.00.  (Complimentary consultation is required before purchasing Latisse.)
• If you always appear to be frowning by the subconscious gesture of furrowing your brows, consider Dysport, a prescription injection for the temporary improvement in the look of moderate to sever frown lines between the eyebrows.  Through June 30^th, the manufacturer is offering a “$50.00 Sizzling Summer Savings” on Dysport.  Dr. Michael Bryant, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays to perform injectable therapies. 

With all these options or combinations available, let your eyes have it and make that initial contact a very positive and attractive one!

There are so many options today for anti-aging treatments, from lasers and chemical peels to wrinkle fillers and muscle relaxers, and we provide these advanced services with outstanding results.  What you do on a daily basis for home care is vital to achieving and maintaining healthy skin – and it doesn’t have to be time-consuming!

These three skin care habits will go a long way toward  keeping your skin looking younger and healthy.

1. Wear sunscreen with UVA and UVB (broad-spectrum) protection daily.  Ladies, foundation make-up with built-in SPF typically has UVB protection but very little or no protection against UVA, which are the aging rays that not only contribute to skin cancer risk but destroy collagen and create wrinkles, brown spots and facial veins.  Be aware that ultraviolet rays penetrate car windows.  Reapplication is important, because our skin absorbs the sunscreen’s protection after two to three hours.  Suggestions:  We have several tinted moisturizers with sun protection, making reapplication easy and the physical protection from a hat makes it easy to maintain protection throughout the day.  There are many stylish, light hats that offer additional protection – google “sun protective clothing” and choose one to leave in your car!
2. Make an investment in good quality skin care products – it’s all about the science behind the ingredients.  There are so many to choose from that is can be very confusing.  Would you see the most visible benefits from moisturizers (to mention a few) with growth factors, antioxidants such as Vitamins A, C and E, peptides, niacin, alpha hydroxy acids or a combination?  Suggestion:  Our professionals at NeoDerm Aesthetics can help guide you through the maze to help you choose products that fit your skin type, lifestyle and budget.  We have an abundant selection available, and there is no fee for our consultations.
3. Follow a consistent skin care regimen.  Twice a day cleansing is essential.  Why in the morning, when you just cleansed your skin the evening before? Few of us wash our pillowcase everyday, and it can absorb and harbor dust, pollen, or bacteria.  Suggestion:  Use a satin pillowcase – it feels great and helps avoid repetitive creases in your faces that can lead to wrinkles.  Apply an eye cream designed to target that delicate area, reduce puffiness, fine lines and dark circles.  At night, use that moisturizer you selected which will promote collagen growth and skin elasticity.  Don’t overlook treating your décolleté, since the face, neck and décolleté are what people should see as unified.  In the morning, apply an antioxidant serum followed by a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type, preferably with an SPF of 30 to 45.  Treat your hands for protection as well, since they typically receive more exposure than your face.

Though it may seem complicated, this daily skin care regimen which will produce noticeable results takes less time than it did for you to read my blog!

Sandra Day

The old adage “you are what you eat” has stuck around for a reason: Poor diet has been linked to disease, obesity and decreased energy, while good nutrition has been shown to have innumerable health benefits. When it comes to the skin, research also shows that making nutritious choices can directly affect your complexion by fighting the signs of aging and improving skin conditions like dryness and acne.

Antioxidants are all-stars in skincare products—not only do they protect skin from free radicals, but they help counteract the breakdown of collagen. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can also support overall skin health. A study has shown that taking antioxidant supplements (with a combination of minerals and glycosaminoglycans), like coenzyme Q10 or vitamin E, can help improve skin roughness and fine wrinkles.¹ Eating antioxidant-rich foods can have a similar effect, think cruciferous vegetables (the darker, the better), citrus fruit, berries, pomegranate, grapes, red wine, nuts, and green tea.

In addition to drinking plenty of water, eating foods with high water content like melon or cucumbers keeps the skin and body hydrated. A daily omega-3 supplement, like fish oil, can also help decrease inflammation and moisturize the skin from within, but make sure you check with your doctor before taking any new supplement.

Although the “chocolate causes acne” myth has lost momentum in recent years, there may be something to it after all. Research has shown that excess sugar intake can lead to increased insulin production, which in turn causes greater oil production in the skin, so stay away from refined sugars if you’re acne-prone.²

A recent study conducted at the University of Nottingham showed that a diet rich in carotenoids (found in tomatoes and carrots) can help to improve skin tone and give the skin a healthy glow that mimics the look of a suntan—all the more reason to skip the tanning bed!³

A smart rule of thumb is that if something is good for the body, it’s also healthy for the skin. Our skin reflects what we put into our bodies, so feed it well.

In addition to feeding your skin, topical products containing antioxidants and other anti-aging ingredients will amplify improving your skin’s appearance.  At NeoDerm Aesthetics, our skin care consultations are complimentary – call 941-951-0388 and schedule yours.

Sandra Day, Skin Care Specialist
References

1. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 10.111/j.1468-2494.2009.0013.x
An oral nutraceutical containing antioxidants, minerals and glycosaminoglycans improve skin roughness and fine wrinkles
M. Udompataikul, P. Sripiroj and P. Palungwachira

2. Huffington Post (2011, February 12). Acne: Are Milk and Sugar the Causes? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/do-milk-and-sugar-cause-a_b_822163.html

3. Ian D. Stephen, Vinet Coetzee, David I. Perrett. Carotenoid and melanin pigment coloration affect perceived human health. Evolution and Human Behavior, 2010; DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehave. 2010.09.003

So much attention in skin care is placed on your face, yet your hands are as expressive and visible – and usually not treated as well.  They receive much more exposure to the sun while driving (remember, ultraviolet rays penetrate car windows) and performing our daily routine activities.  

Hands begin to show early signs of aging for many reasons.  The first and most important is failure to apply and reapply a sun protection product.  Keep one with an SPF 30 in the console of your car, or wear gloves.  Seriously, even inFlorida, lightweight gloves are a practical form of physical protection.  Another physiologic reason our hands age more is that there are 40 times less sebaceous (oil) glands in our hands than our face, so the skin on the surface of the hands can appear dry and the veins look more prominent.  Brown spots appear from overexposure.  Fortunately, there are many options today to rejuvenate the appearance of your hands. 

• For improvement in the texture, consider regular use of a Retinol formulation.  Apply nightly to help repair sun damaged skin.  It will take time to notice any real improvement, but it an inexpensive way to gradually restore a more youthful appearance.
•  PhotoRejuvenation via Intense Pulse Light (IPL) will provide more instant gratification in lightening and eradicating brown spots.  Within ten days following treatment, most people see incredible improvement.  Tanned skin, whether it is from the sun or self tanning creams, cannot be treated with IPL, because the light is attracted by color in the skin.  Once again, judicial sun protection to fade the tan will allow you to be a candidate for this remarkable treatment. 
• Chemical Peels can be performed on the hands to improve the texture, and according to the peel selection, can also lighten brown spots and stimulate increased collagen production. 
• The latest (and most expensive) hand rejuvenation treatment is injecting Wrinkle Fillers, such as Radiesse, to plump up the age-revealing thin skin.  The results of the treatment generally last from six months to a year.  This procedure should only be performed by an experienced physician. 
• Fraxel Laser is yet another option for hand rejuvenation.

 Don’t hide your hands any longer!  For younger appearing, smoother, firmer and even-toned hands, you have many methods to choose from, ranging from inexpensive to more costly.  At NeoDerm, our consultations are complementary, and we can help guide you toward the most appropriate procedure for you.  Raise your hand and call 941-951-0388 to schedule your appointment.

Sandra Day

The first year we began providing skin care services in 1992, our average client demographic was an affluent woman between the ages of 45 to 60. There were only three males who frequented our clinic that year, and I’m pleased to report that they all still come regularly for treatments. Over the past ten years, there has been a veritable explosion in the number of men who are concerned about the appearance and health of their skin. Our growing male client base now ranges in age from teenagers to octogenarians.

There is a discernable difference in how I treat my men. It is ingrained in women to use a variety of skin care products and have facials. Most of us have been doing this since before our first date! My number one rule with men is to keep home care simple and to explain in detail the reasons for my recommendations for both products and treatments. If they understand the science behind the products and procedures, their compliance level rises.

The all-important initial step during consultation is to convince them to use and reapply sunscreen, the number one thing men can do to reduce aging skin. Many are avid golfers, play tennis or enjoy boating. The most common complaint is “The stuff gets in my eyes when I sweat and they sting.” Years ago, we researched sun protection products and found an outstanding one that doesn’t migrate and has a very lightweight feel to it. Generally I provide a generous sample of it for them to test. Bingo, samples sell. They usually return within a week to purchase the full size. I always remind them to apply it to their ears and the back of their neck, overexposed yet overlooked areas highly susceptible to sun damage.

The next most beneficial step for men is to convince them to use an appropriate cleanser for their face instead of the bar of soap in their shower. One step farther is to introduce an antioxidant serum. Cleanse properly, apply the treatment serum and follow with sunscreen in the morning. Simple! Of course, this protocol varies according to the condition we’re treating, from photo-damaged to problematic skin. Oilier skin types benefit from the daily use of pads saturated with a glycolic/salicylic solution following cleansing. Once they have the basics down pat and realize how little time it takes to make a big difference in their appearance, we can add on other options, such an eye area product or an exfoliating facial scrub.

When it comes to clinical procedures, I’m a firm believer in progressive rather than aggressive treatment. Call 941-951-0388 and let’s start with a deep pore cleansing facial with extractions and a customized masque. When I end your session with a massage using a hydrating, oil-free gel, you may get very quiet. My treatment chair has held many a sleeping man!

Sandra M. Day