A life-saving skin lesson by Marcia

The A, B, C and D’s of Pigmented Mole Lesions.

Look for any new lesions, especially with a color to treat either dark brown, black, red, white or multi-colored. Keep track of moles that were once flat that have become raised or change.

Now more about the ABCD lesson. A is for asymmetry, meaning you cannot fold the mole onto itself. B is for border—the border of the spot or lesion is irregular, not round or oval, or notched. C is for color, as mentioned above with elevation and redness and sometimes white. Anything new on your skin is a warning sign. An amelanotic melanoma, which is very rare, is a lesion, growth or spot that flakes, bleeds and just does not heal. The diameter is the least important factor. A dermatology check could save your life.

One of the key factors is knowledge and early detection by a trained eye. The post, growth or lesion can be completely removed for a full cure. Any growth you have a question about and is changing or growing needs to be checked on. Early, complete removal with margins is the key. Biopsies should be wide as well as not to diffuse the cancer cells into the bloodstream. So, if you think it is cancerous or precancerous, do not cut into it. Always get a good margin, good pathologist and a good skin specialist.

Go for the sunny glow with a tinted moisturizer. Also maintain an anti-aging and anti-acne diet high in antioxidants.  Topical skin vitamins are also helpful to build skin immunology such as topical C (magnesium C) topical A, E and topical niacinamide.

Avoid the sun and tanning booths. Do a self body check every six months and see a dermatologist if something is suspicious as outlined in this blog. I sure hope you will pass on these life-saving tips.

Until next time…..

Can the Sun Kill You?

Can the Sun Kill You?

Unfortunately, yes with the right doses. Some forms of skin cancer, particularly melanoma have become one of the top killers of young adults. Melanoma has been named a “condition of lifestyle.”

The sun provides us with Vitamin D and A and may give us a healthy glow but the dangers far outweigh the benefits.  All of us are born with a skin type from one to six.  One being the fairest, which burns easily and allows very little natural protection from the sun.  If you are rated a six, your skin is dark brown/black with little chance of burning and more natural protection.

All are candidates for skin cancer but the lighter the skin and the more burns over your lifetime, the greater chance for these deadly cancers to show up.

What kind of cancer is the worst? Melanoma, which is cancer of the melanin cells, which takes off in the bloodstream and can be deadly. The usual chemotherapy agents, which work on other cancers, are not successful with melanoma so early diagnosis is critical and makes this cancer curable.

The serious question to ask yourself is how much sun exposure have I had over my lifetime, starting as a baby and how many bad burns (the ones we remember blisters or ice packs.)

This exposure does not include sun-tanning booths. Recent studies indicate that teens that use these tanning booths are creating a time bomb. In fact, most cancers, such as melanoma tend to be in highly exposed areas not protected by clothing.

So, what to do about it? Stay out of the sun and do not using tanning booths. If you are going to be in the sun, use sun block with a protection of 50 with titanium or zinc oxide and apply frequently with enough volume to cover the skin. Next, early detection of spots or lesions on the body is very important. Everyone needs a full body check at least once a year. Do not forget hidden areas such as the scalp and behind the ears.

In my next blog, I will cover lesions and more tips for protecting your skin. Visit www.clinage.comfor more info. Until next time…..

What is the difference between Glycolic acid and Salicylic acid?

Glycolic acid is an Alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) also known as a fruit acid. It comes from sugar cane juice. Glycolic acid is considered by the medical community to be the work horse of AHA’s, and the most effective for skin rejuvenation. It is water soluble and because it has the smallest molecular size of all the AHA’s, glycolic ccid will penetrate into the skin better than all the others. It's great for exfoliating dead skin cells, refining pores, and stimulating fresh new skin cells to come to the surface. It also helps lighten pigmentation and age spots. Glycolic acid is suited for all skin types that include dry/sensitive, normal/combination, or oily/acne prone as well as aging, sun-damaged skin. Clinage makes a wonderful Glycolic acid product you might want to consider.

Salicylic acid is a Beta hydroxy acid derived from willow bark. Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) is a mild acid and has a slightly different chemical structure. This structure is used in 95% of the over-the counter products for acne. Salicylic acid is a little more drying and works best on oily or acne prone skin. Salicylic acid molecular structutre is large and cannot penetrate deep in the cells and therefore cannot stimulate action in the dermis (lower layer of skin) to produce collagen and elastin. Although good for acne becuase it will clean a pore out, Salicylic acid does not have the same rejuvenating effects of Glycolic acid. It is not recommended for dry, sensitive or normal skin types. 

Until next time.......

Help for rosacea is on the way......

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition of the face where the small capillaries of the face become dilated and inflamed.  The superficial tissue of the face also becomes inflamed in the areas of the nose, cheeks and chin.  Often times, this condition can be accompanied by acne type lesions as well such as pustule papule red lesions. This is commonly known as adult acne and more commonly affects age groups 20-70. It is more prevalent in fair-skinned people and females. Men can also develop rosacea and some clients develop a swelling of the tissue of the nose called Rhinophyma typical to W. C. Fields.  

The dilated capillaries can advance to broken vessels at the surface of the skin called telangiectasia. These broken and inflamed blood vessels cause a persistent red blushed look, typical to the rosacea client.

Rosacea tends to have periods of flare ups followed by periods of clearing.  The condition is aggravated by acidic and spicy foods, hot or cold extreme temperatures, alcohol and generally hot temperature beverages or foods. Rosacea can also involve the eyelids causing inflammation of the connective tissue.

Treatment of rosacea is very difficult.  Clients should be advised to eliminate all aggravating foods and beverages and well as wash with tepid water only, avoiding excessively hot or cold temperatures. 

Rosacea should be treated early to avoid permanent tissue inflammation.   It can be treated with a topical anti-inflammatory as well as topical anti-yeast medication known as Metronidazole or Metrogel.  Internal antibiotics and external antibiotics can also be used.  Also, regular light glycolic peels, such as Clinage's infused with healing topical Vitamins C, B3, and A therapy can also be helpful to reduce inflammation and control breakouts.

Until next time........

Post Summer SOS for your Skin- The Time is Now!

After summer, we should all strive to brighten up, smooth out and tighten up our skin.  After a long hot summer in the sun and elements, our skin has taken a huge toll.  We have exposed our skin to the maximum level of sun rays while having our fun in the sun.  Many of us know to use sunscreen, preferably sun block religiously, although it is still hard to keep the products on completely and frequently enough.  

Even a T shirt will only provide a sunscreen of 15. So what can happen?  Our skin turns different shades of red to brown but underneath, in the deeper layers our skin  is undergoing serious changes in the immune system, pigmentation cells, dermis layer where collagen and elastin cells are held.  End result is dry, wrinkled, blotchy, looser, spotted skin.  Is it all worth the tan or the activity without great protection?

 

Most skin cancers, serious ones are known to be a condition of lifestyle.  Melanoma, a skin cancer derived from pigment cells can kill fast. There are very few known good chemotherapy treatments. The sun exposure we accumulate over life is what brings these aggressive cancers.  Hereditary predisposition also plays a part.

 

What can we do?  When we go in the sun stay completely protected with at least a 50 to 60 block with zinc or titanium dioxide and cover all exposed areas as well as frequent application, every 45 minutes.  Sounds crazy but the alternatives are not good---old skin with potential for pre-cancers and serious systemic cancer.  

Keep covered up. Sun block clothes, lightweight are also available besides hats, gloves, and trying to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., But don't let that fool you.  Just take a look at the difference in your skin under where we get no exposure (underwear). What a difference in texture and all. The skin is smoother, plumper, and not blotchy 

 

It you want to restore your skin from the summer, try a regime of glycolic peels. Try Clinage!
They are great to restore our skin after all the damage.  The repeated peels help smooth out skin and rebuild and repair with more collagen and elasticity as well as even out tone.  

Vitamin applications, especially Vitamin C (particularly in the form of magnesium C ) work to additionally repair rebuild, tone and protect your skin from further skin destruction. A regular program of products that lightly exfoliate as a cleanser and keep a layer of glycolic acid sugar base on our skin along with vitamins C, A (retinyl palmitate), E, and niacinamide.  Make sure you are using cosmeceutical grade substances not deleted down. Most drug store and retail establishments do not have the right amount of chemical construction to have advanced results.  WE all can have beautiful skin and protection ourselves from future damage. Visit www.clinage.com. Until next time.......

Understanding the skin we’re in…..

Did you know that the skin is the largest organ of the human body? In fact, it covers nearly seven square feet (for an average adult) and accounts for about 16% percent of the total body weight.

Our skin gives shape to the body structure and holds it all together. Our epidermis protects our internal organs from damage, guards against invading bacteria and behaves like a thermostat, regulating our body temperature by conserving heat or cooling down when necessary.

Our skin eliminates waste fluid and purifies the system and acts as a trigger to senses between our environment and us.

As you can see, our outer self has a lot to contend with. Be sure to protect, exfoliate and moisturize it daily. Visit www.clinage.com for ideas and products your skin will love.

Why exfoliating is so very important--a must read!

The skin is made up of many different layers. Some are dead and some are living. To help you better understand the skin and its layers, let’s concentrate on three primary layers of skin. There is the top, dead cell layer, the middle living layer and the lower supportive layer. We don’t need the top dead cell layer nor do we want it. It makes the skin look dry, dull and old and inhibits any topical nutrients or moisturizers from penetrating into the skin. It basically suffocates the living skin cells. Women who exfoliate or remove these dead, dry skin cells with regular European facials, scrubs or peels will look much better than women who don’t. Men’s skin will look younger longer than women’s because they shave their face, removing some of the dead, dry cells.

Exfoliating dead, dry skin cells is the first step of any skin care program and extremely important. If we don’t remove these cells we are wasting our time applying topical vitamins, or moisturizers over them because nothing will penetrate or be absorbed into the skin. Without absorption, you will not get the benefits of using good skin care products. The beauty of using Glycolic acid is that it dissolves the glue or sebum, which holds dead, dry cells on the top layer of skin, loosening them and gently lifting them off. I say gently because this type of exfoliation is called a chemical exfoliation and it is less harsh than a mechanical one, which uses abrasive grains and scrubs. If you look under a microscope, you can actually see the small scratches caused by a mechanical exfoliant.

Using a Glycolic cleanser will allow your skin to breathe by unsufficating the pores.  Check out our Clinage cleanser by visiting www.clinage.com. It allows the pores to absorb essential vitamins and to become refined. Until next time……