Skin Perfections Perceptions

Skin Perfections Perceptions is the opinions and creation of Dr Miles Mahan MD.

It is used for the purpose of revealing honest information regarding the operation and management of a medical spa.

The blog is created on another website and is copied here for you to read. If you would like to reply please visit:

Skin Perfections Blog

 

Sunscreen vs Sunblock

Sunblock

*Sunblock is made up of physical or inorganic ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that physically reflect harmful UVA and UVB rays

*It acts as a wall between the sun and your skin by reflecting the rays right off of your skin

*It physically blocks rays 

*Works instantly

Sunscreen

*Sunscreen contains chemicals that shield your skin by absorbing and reflecting UVB rays only

*Chemically absorbs rays

*Must be applied before sun exposure to work properly because it needs time to sink into the skin and form a protective layer

Hope this was helpful to you!

The sunblock we recommend is from Image Skin Care 


 

 

 

 

 

Skin Care Trends

Aesthetic skin care has greatly improved over the past 10 years. Each year we attend the Aesthetic Show in Las Vegas and review the newest machines from the manufacturers. While some of these are true advances in cosmetic medicine, most miss the mark. It seems that the FDA will approve anything as long as it isn't harmful and has a study with a modicum of improvement. Some procedures and machines get FDA approval for one thing, but is marketed for another. For example, one machine touted for skin tightening was FDA approved for only heating the skin. No studies were put forth to say it would tighten skin, and only a supposition that the heating would lead to collagen and elastin production. But did it heat it enough? Why no studies first before hawking such a device. Because the competition is fierce. Every major company wants to have the latest and greatest.
But really, are any of them greater? Well yes and no.

As I previously stated skin care has improved. Knowledge of the stimulus for collagen production, safer technology, and more options have been created.  But it must be remembered though that while one machine may be touted as a better option for a skin ailment, it may not be. Only based on your individual situation can the right treatment be chosen. So a machine that experts say is the best, may not be in all scenarios.

But there are still some some dogs out there, machines not good for anything. Many Medspas have equipment that they wish they had never bought. Like little art statues, they sit in their offices gathering dust. What seemed to be the perfect machine ends up looking like that stock pick you got from listening to your poker buddies.

I like many physicians got interested in adding aesthetics to my practice and looked for a company that could help  take the guess work out of equipping our business properly. I purchased a laser and an Intense pulsed light machine for doing photofacials.  Both can do what they are touted to do, but the IPL machine was requiring 3 times the amount of procedure time over newer machines, and frankly was a little more scary to use.

Had I to do it over again, I would have left that IPL off my purchase list. However, my next two IPL machines were clear winners. Why? Because experience had taught me to never buy anything without a good long testing period to assess the effectiveness of the equipment.

I have turned deaf to the sales pitch, no matter how smooth. I get very cautious when someone tells me how much money I will make with a new procedure. That is usually a definite warning sign.

I would rather know that patients will be satisfied and that results are very effective. Unfortunately, that is not always the case if you try to have the machine with the latest buzz. As previously mentioned, these manufacturers are putting out new equipment that may or may not work, or at the very best only work negligibly better than what is already available. The latter results in an expense that really isn't worth it for the practice.

Our equipment is modern and approved by the FDA for the purpose with which we use it. Experience and the desire for effective treatments that could be performed safely have been the driving forces behind the growth of our Med Spa. We now have more options for treatments than any other Aesthetic Skin Center in the area. With 4 separate laser systems and over 25 treatment options among them we are able to treat conditions safely after taking into consideration a patient's medical history and circumstances. With dark skin or light skin, recent sun exposure, or other skin conditions demand that a medical spa have options and not be just one trick pony.

So be wary of the new technology unless there is true unbiased evidence of benefit. An experienced practice is aware of the nuances in equipment, and is a safe choice to go to for treatment options.




Posted 05:15 PM March 22, 2009

 

What's NEW! Profractional

Trying to fix all skin ailments amenable to treatment with just one machine would be the dream of every physician who has entered the practice of cosmetic skin care. This rapidly changing field can be very challenging even to the most astute physicians who everyday try to keep abreast of the information available. That being said. We are very excited about the new technology added to our practice. Sciton's Profractional Laser is a truly fractional laser thats results are the best in class with regards to reduction in wrinkles, brown spots, acne scar reduction and more. It provides our Med Spa the tools needed to help those with hard to treat issues, that perhaps have been resistant to the nonablative therapies such as IPL or FRAXEL. Information on the Profractional is available at www.sciton.com. Call for a free consultation now. 281-812-7232.

 

Posted 10:05 AM March 08, 2008

"Out Damn Spot"

"Out, out damn spot! Lord Starr doth this way come!" I am often reminded of this line from Shakespeare when dealing with one of those pesky age spots, sun damaged areas on the cheeks, or unwanted freckles. The patient will ask what is the best way to treat this? I think to myself, "don't go out in the sun". But of course we live in Houston, and it is 70 degrees in January, so outdoor activity is hard to avoid. I do of course recommend sunscreen, and other cosmeceuticals that may help especially retinol, and hydroquinone (which blocks the melanocytes from making melanin). But that only helps prevent or inhibit further darkening for the most part. The options of actually getting rid of the spots are broad. Go to a med spa and ask, and you will get widely varying opinions. Answers will vary from chemical peels and microdermabrasion to pulsed dye lasers and Co2 resurfacing. The latter being the hard core doctors who don't care how long the patient will be out of service. The general consensus among physicians now is that Qswitch lasers and Erbium lasers do a great job on brown spots. Q swtch technology works by causing a photoacoustic "blasting" of the melanocytes at a certain depth. While erbium technology ablates the skin to a certain preset depth. So why is IPL so often used? Because most Med Spas don't have an erbium laser or a q switch laser, and IPL is the clinics best choice. Also, to be fair, the erbium and q switch technology have advanced greatly in the past few years. The result of which has been safer and more predictable outcomes. Both can be done with even less pain than IPL. So while IPL can do the job, for fewer trips to the clinic, and more permanent results, those erbium and q switch technologies have the advantage. Remember, lesions that are multiple shades, changing in size, bleeding or crusting, or anything else of a suspicious nature should be evaluated by a physician before treatment. A physician owned and operated med spa is your best choice. Miles Mahan MD

 

Posted 12:13 AM January 13, 2008

Aging Skin: What to Do?

So you have noticed that your skin seems dryer and duller, and you wonder what to do about it. You probably went to the store and saw all the skin care products describing ingredients touting new breakthroughs with names you have never even heard of. Then you heard about all the treatments such as IPL and Fraxel, and laser rejuvenation. Chemical peels and microdermabrasion also probably came upon the radar. Lets explore what exactly is going on with the skin and then get back to the treatments.

 Natural moisturizing factors

One of the primary elements in keeping skin healthy is making sure the structure of the epidermis (outer layer of skin) is intact. Skin cells are held together with a component known as the intercellular matrix. The intercellular matrix is the "glue" or “mortar” between skin cells that keep them together. It helps prevent individual skin cells from losing water and creates the smooth, non-flaky appearance of healthy, intact skin. The components that do this are often called natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) or ingredients that mimic the structure and function of healthy skin. While the oil and fat components of skin prevent evaporation and provide lubrication to the surface of skin, it is actually the intercellular matrix along with the skin's lipid content that gives skin a good deal of its surface texture and feel. As a person ages there is less natural moisturizing factor produced. This causes dryness, and to compound the aging problem there is less epithelial cells produced.

Sunlight Effects on the Dermis

Sunlight damages collagen fibers and causes the accumulation of abnormal elastin. When this sun-induced elastin accumulates, enzymes called metalloproteinases are produced in large quantities. Normally, metalloproteinases remodel sun-injured skin by manufacturing and reforming collagen. However, this process does not always work well and some of the metalloproteinases actually break down collagen. This results in the formation of disorganized collagen fibers known as solar scars. When the skin repeats this imperfect rebuilding process over and over wrinkles develop.

Free Radicals and Wrinkles


Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that have only one electron instead of two. Because electrons are found in pairs the molecule scavenges other molecules for another electron. When the second molecule looses its electron to the first molecule, it must then find another electron repeating the process. This process can damage cell function and alter genetic material. Free radical damage causes wrinkles by activating the metalloproteinases that break down collagen. There are several factors that start this cascading process including exposure to even small amounts of UV radiation in sunlight, smoking, and exposure to air pollution.

Hormone Effects and Wrinkles


It is likely that there are skin changes as a result of the hormonal effects of menopause or decreased estrogen production. However, studies in humans have not documented which skin changes are specific to decreased estrogen and which skin changes are a result of sun exposure or just normal chronological aging. In animal experiments lack of estrogen can cause a decrease in collagen levels of 2% per year and a decrease in skin thickness of 1% per year.

How to treat it?

The first step in skin care is and always will be prevention. Over the past  decade there has been a large emphasis placed on developing effective sunscreens. Remember suntan oil? Still, the desire of some is to have that tanned look. Fortunately there are much better products out there to help one have that tanned look and prevent skin damage from sun or a tanning bed. Remember, it is usually years later before the damage is apparent.  So what one does in their teens will come back to haunt them in there 30's and 40's. Put on that sunscreen, and encourage others to do so as well.

Ok, so if it's too late for that what do you do? Well fortunately there are some options out there that can be of benefit, and help slow the aging of the skin.

A good sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays with both a chemical (inside the cell) and physical block (outside the cell) is a must. One should consider a good anitoxidant cream, and a good moisturizer as well.  This will help with protection from the sun and pollutants, and with the natural effects of drying due to the loss of NMF's.  Exfoliation by microdermabrasion or chemical peel can help by allowing active cosmeceuticals to penetrate the stratum corneum.

Thirdly consider one of the treatments known to help improve the production of collagen and elastin. Putting it simply, the heating of the dermis is known to have an effect on the fibroblasts to produce collagen and elastin. Think of it as stressing a musckle to make the muscle grow. The trick is how to best heat the dermis. Many lasers and IPL's (intense puled light) have been developed, and some are better depending on circumstances such as skin tone or other skin problems. Some are more agressive, and therefore may not be for everyone. Chemical peels have also been touted with success in stimulating fibroblasts, though their exfoliative effects are probably of more importance.

From the above one can obviously see that there is no single treatment or procedure that will give the end all effect. Instead, a treatment plan needs to be developed uniquely for each person.  Then individual treatments or combination of treatments and procedures can be implemented. At Skin Perfections Med Spa we instill the priciple of not trying to treat everyone just alike, and we get more effective treatments by doing so. Education of skin care is also important, and we are always here to answer questions.

Miles Mahan MD



Posted 12:13 PM December 02, 2007

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