The Blog
Combating Harmful Lifestyle Effects on the Skin
PART I
 It’s no secret that a healthy lifestyle is essential to feeling and looking good. Diet, exercise and stress management are essential considerations for whole-body wellness. Unfortunately, in a fast-paced culture that consists of multitasking at lightning speed, people often neglect their health by making poor lifestyle choices. The skin is the largest organ of the body and yet often the most neglected.
Everyone wants beautiful skin, but those who suffer from imperfections often focus solely on quick fixes before considering the internal and external factors and long-term commitments to improve the skin’s appearance. Skin is an organ of the body, and is effected, both inside and out, by what is put into the body.
 The American diet is full of simple sugars, carbohydrates, and “bad fats,” including saturated and trans fats. Saturated fats are found in whole milk, cheese, red meats, poultry skin, and even in some plant foods, such as palm and coconut oils. Trans fats are man-made; created to allow liquid fat to solidify and last longer before spoiling to increase the stability and shelf life of snack foods. They are most commonly seen in processed foods, listed on labels as hydrogenated oils. Most fried foods and processed meats, chips, and margarine contain high levels of these trans fats and are associated with triggering inflammation. Inflammation is a major culprit in cancer, aging, poor skin health, and disease.
The intake of sugar and simple carbohydrates also should be limited in order to avoid negative effects on the skin’s appearance. Soda, white bread, and candy raise blood sugar levels rapidly, which leads to inflammation and, eventually, cellular injury. Excess sugar consumption is speculated to cause glycation, which is the result of sugars attacking the body’s cells and attaching to proteins. Glycation may result in sallow, dull and eventually sagging skin. Collagen and elastin are proteins responsible for keeping the skin plump and youthful.
 Stress has been shown to have many adverse reactions in the body. Besides anxiety, depression, and illness, stress can have harmful effects on the skin. Existing skin conditions, including psoriasis and rosacea, can be aggravated from an increase in stress. However, the most common visible presentation of stress is an acne breakout. Stress can increase sebum production through hormone responses and cause inflammation; two of the main factors that lead to acne.
Receiving a facial once a month with your skin care therapist will stimulate collagen and elastin, improve skin texture, help eliminate toxins, improve circulation, and help to relieve stress and tension resulting in a smoother, healthier-looking complexion.
Check out Part II: Do! next Thursday.
By: Wendy Schemper
Sources: Skin Inc., Self Magazine, Discovery Health, Real Age
Posted in At Home Skin Care, Forty Something Skin Care, Seasonal Skincare, Skin Care Industry, Teenage Skin Care, Thirty Something Skin Care, Twenty Something Skin Care, Uncategorized
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Tagged acne, diet, facial treatments, healthy, healthy skin, Skin Care, skin health, what not to do
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Frequently new clients will call to ask about a consultation–what’s involved, how much time it takes, and the cost. A facial is the best way to properly analyze your skin from your shoulders on up, so your first visit takes about an hour.
After proper disinfecting, we start by analyzing your face and décolleté under the dialopiter, a bright magnifying lamp. This may include lightly touching your skin as there could be issues underneath not visible to the eye. We then cleanse your face and décolleté, which sometimes requires two washes to completely remove make-up, flakiness, dust, or sweat. With cleansing completed, it is now the perfect time to observe your skin as it may have responded to irritating ingredients or touch. Next it is time to exfoliate, a process which sloughs off dead skin cells and stimulates circulation. This is a two-step process at Skin Therapease, first there is a manual exfoliation with small particles in a cream or gel to soften the dead cells; much like a polish would work. Then we incorporate natural enzymes in conjunction with a gentle brush to dissolve any lingering cells. Depending on your skin type, condition, and your clinician, gentle steam may also be used.
Now that your skin is fully cleansed and free of any camouflage, it’s time to revisit it under the dialopiter lamp. We look for congestion, blackheads, blistering, flakiness, sun damage, irregular lesions, and anything else that appears suspicious. Focusing on the location of breakouts or congestion gives us clues to other problems areas. We will note findings in your file, as it can be revealing when we recheck the areas of concern at later visits for any new developments.
With fully prepared skin, our next step is extractions. We start at your forehead and move in a clockwise direction around the outside of your face, ending at your nose–the most sensitive area. We most frequently use our fingers; however we also have specific tools for difficult spots around your nose and ears. We check for sun damage and skin irregularities on the décolleté and shoulders, and sometimes include your back. Again, we note our findings in your records. If anything is questionable, we may recommend seeing a physician for further examination.
Next, the most skin type appropriate serums and nutrients are applied and massaged into your skin. The massage itself relaxes the skin cells, taking the nutrients deeper into your tissues and promoting circulation. Most people find this deeply relaxing, as the massage slows breathing, reduces tension, and decreases stress. This massage is most often our clients’ favorite part of the treatment.
Finally, we apply a skin type appropriate mask. This mask is a very important part of the facial treatment because it enhances everything that has been done and locks in the previous steps. There are many different types of masks, including some specialty masks with an additional cost due to product cost or delivery time. The mask most suited for you is based on the desired outcome for your particular skin type. A specialty mask will be advised if your clinician feels it will be beneficial. As the mask nourishes and rests on your face, we will massage your neck, shoulders, arms and hands with a nutrient-filled body lotion (depending on your clinician). After removing the mask, moisturizer specific to your skin type is applied, followed by a sunscreen.
Once your skin care treatment is done, we answer any questions you may have. We will offer suggestions for your at home skin care regime and may also provide product samples for you to try if appropriate. We recommend visits at least once a month or every four week intervals for the best results.
Posted in Forty Something Skin Care, Seasonal Skincare, Skin Care Industry, Summer Skincare, Teenage Skin Care, Thirty Something Skin Care, Twenty Something Skin Care, Winter Skincare
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Tagged basic facial, consultations, dialopiter, facial, facial process, facial treatments, first visit, skin, Skin Therapease, sun protection
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As we know, the cumulative effects of sun exposure manifest in numerous types of symptoms and conditions and put us at a higher risk of cellular damage – early wrinkling, age spots, actinic keratoses, and skin cancer.
Tanned skin is to be revered as beautiful, but that golden color you see is the result of injury to the epidermis, the top layer of skin. Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays accelerates the effects of aging and increases your risk for developing skin cancer.
Actinic cheilitis (related to actinic keratosis) is a precancerous condition that usually appears on the lower lips. Scaly patches or persistent dryness and cracking of the lips may be present. Less common symptoms include swelling of the lip, loss of sharp border between the lip and skin, and prominent lines around the lips. Actinic cheilitis may eventually evolve into invasive squamous cell carcinoma if not treated.
The sun’s rays make skin look old and wrinkled years before it should. Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. When these fibers breakdown, the skin begins to stretch, sag, and lose its ability to go back into place after stretching.
Too much sun also causes irregular coloring or pigmentation of the skin. Additionally, the sun can cause a permanent stretching of small blood vessels, giving your skin a reddish appearance. It is often misdiagnosed as rosacea.
Age spots are the result of sun exposure. This is why they tend to appear on areas that get a lot of sun, such as the face, hands, and chest. Bleaching creams, acid peels, and light-based treatments may lessen their appearance. Vitamin C and other antioxidants have also been known to help.
Not only does sun exposure affect our skin, it also plays an important role in our eyesight. A cataract – a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that blocks the passage of light to the retina – can be caused by sun exposure. Cataracts are painless but may cause vision problems, including foggy vision, glare from light, and double vision in one eye. Prevent cataracts by wearing a hat and sunglasses when in the sun.
Always remember sun protection – all year long!
Posted in At Home Skin Care, Rosacea, Seasonal Skincare, Summer Skincare, Sun Protection, Thirty Something Skin Care, Twenty Something Skin Care, Winter Skincare
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Tagged skin health, Skin Therapease, sun exposure, sunscreen, too much sun, wrinkles
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Article taken from Perfect Skin Protection, a new magazine available through the Ipad/Iphone newstand and written by Pat Scherven.
I’ve always has a passion for the skin, for keeping it healthy through a holistic and preventive approach.
The skin is the largest organ of the body. It is a reflection of our lifestyle, a road map of what’s happening on the inside and a mirror of what’s happened on the outside. There is a saying that when you are young, you have the skin you were born with, but when you get older, you have the skin you deserve.
This is a little harsh as the body of knowledge about skin care has grown and developed over the decades and we know much more about the skin than we did twenty to thirty years ago. But it does suggest the absolute necessity of taking a proactive approach to caring for your skin.
Throughout my career of over 25 years, information about skin has grown and changed as it does with any scientific or medical field. Today we know our lifestyle affects our skin. Lifestyle includes factors such as diets, exercise, rest, environment and skin protection both through our clothing and skin care products.
Watch your Diet!
We are what we eat! The power of food and phytonutrients influence our overall health, keeping our immune systems at optimum levels. Phytonutrients are plant compounds that promote better health. Fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and teas are rich sources of phytonutrients. I recommend eating vegetables dark in color, since the color indicates the abundance of antioxidants. Kale spinach, broccoli and Brussels sprouts are vegetables rich in antioxidants. Bright orange fruits and vegetables are also terrific for antioxidants. These include carrots, sweet potatoes and apricots. Consume as many of these delicious vegetables and fruits as possible. If possible always choose for organic and locally grown.
Rest and Exercise
Both rest and exercise are important components of healthy skin. Make sure you’re getting enough quality sleep, because if you’re not the first place it will show up is on your skin. Exercise is needed for numerous reasons, many of which are probably familiar to you. But exercise is also very important for skin care. I encourage some sort of movement each day, whether strength training for toning the muscles or aerobics for strengthening the heart and promoting circulation. Sweating releases toxins from the body, as well as managing or even reducing stress levels. It inevitably helps to control and balance our weight.
Daily Skin Care Regimen
Of course, my favorite topic is your skin care regiment. Always start with cleansing. It is extremely important first step, especially in the evening, to remove the build up and debris from the day’s activities. The next step is exfoliating, which is done just two to three times a week to promote cell turnover and initiate circulation. This is the key step to produce a radiant glow. The next step is the application of serums of treatments gels. Personally, I add vitamin C serum in the morning since it’s an antioxidant for protection. Then, add a moisturizer that is appropriate for your skin type. Finally, top it off with sunscreen before applying any makeup. Now, take on your day. But keep in mind that you must reapply sun protection as needed
Protect – Don’t Repair
I’ve had the opportunity to observe the skin of all age groups. Most notably, I’ve worked with baby boomers who took great pride in their suntans as many of that generation thought a tan was a necessary part of a healthy, attractive appearance. Typically, this sunbathing included baby oil, Mecuricome for added color and the use of aluminum foil reflectors to increase tanning. These “helpers” have brought about a number of skin conditions especially sun damaged and easily-irritated unhealthy, weak skin. To maintain healthy skin or manage the aging process, first, always protect! It is much easier to protect and maintain than it is to repair later in life.
I encourage all clients of any age to use with the appropriate sun protection daily. This means a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 20, where the active ingredients include zinc or titanium oxide. If you’re going to spend the day outside, it is important to regularly apply sun protection. Hats are a must, ideally with a wide brim to cover the face, neck and ears. Extra large sunglasses for eye protection is also a necessity for healthy skin! Sun protection clothing should also be worn, especially items that cover the shoulders and arms.
Finally, don’t forget the little ones!! All of these steps are particularly important for children. Hats, sunglasses and correct sun protection maintain the smooth, healthy skin that adults envy.
Good Morning Bloggers!!
It’s been a long time since our last blog as we’ve been going through some changes here at Skin Therapease/PSScherven. But we thought we’d ease our way back into regular blogging with some simple tips!
- Super-tight, dry skin isn’t a sign your skin is clean!! Rather, that feeling usually means that you’ve stripped your skin of important oils or haven’t rinsed properly.
- Stress doesn’t just cause acne — it can actually affect your skin’s texture. Undue stress can cause skin to become thin and reduce its ability to regenerate.
- Regular exercise can increase toxin removal in your skin and help you look younger by boosting collagen production while diminishing wrinkles.
- To keep your skin smooth without Botox, minimize your intake of sugar and dairy products. Instead pile up your plate with legumes, vegetables and olive oil. These foods have been shown to lead to fewer wrinkles as we age.
- Sleep doesn’t just refresh your body and mind — it also helps to replenish your skin.
- Drinking enough water is key to keeping your skin healthy. Not only can water make wrinkles less noticeable, but it also increases blood flow and reduces toxins.
- Sunscreen is so important to saving skin that experts recommend you slather it on for any outdoor time –from driving to work to running to the grocery store.
- Smoking takes a big toll on skin, robbing it of oxygen and nutrients by slowing the flow of blood. Puckering your mouth around a cigarette and squinting your eyes against smoke can also lead to extra wrinkles.
- While exfoliation is beneficial to get rid of dead skin, exfoliating too frequently can exacerbate acne.
- “Noncomedogenic” is a good term to look for in your skin care items, meaning that they shouldn’t clog your pores.
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