Beauty & the "Beast" : How Stress & The Sun Can Ravage Your Beauty.

One way or another each of us long to feel beautiful, but little did you know that your everyday routine could be ravaging your beauty...inside and out. What exactly am I speaking of you ask? I will be talking about the two “beasts” that can reek havoc on our bodies and specifically on the body's largest organ-THE SKIN...Stress and the Sun(whether natural or artificial). Doctors have known for a long time that stress plays a large role in the health and well being of all of us. Women are particularly susceptible to stress related medical issues, since we are taught at such a young age to be caregivers and nurturers, except we often forget to take care of ourselves.

The second “beast” aka the Sun, has been making the news a lot lately, when growing concerns about the dangers of indoor tanning are leading to new taxes & possibly new restrictions designed to curb tanning among young people. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (which is affiliated with the World Health Organization), people under the age of 30 who use tanning machines increase their cancer risk by 75%. That agency listed ultra-violet radiation-emitting beds as “carcinogenic to humans”, it's highest category of cancer risk.

So, what are the direct effects of stress and sun/uv to your skin? I will discuss just a few of the effects, & how you can take preventative measures to take care of your skin when it comes to stress, sun and your skin. We were only given one body, so we need to take care of it the best we can.

Q: I have been using the “best” facial products available, so why am I still experiencing breakouts!?

A: If you have been faithfully using an at home skin care regimen and your face is still experiencing breakouts...don't be so quick to toss those half full bottles into the trash just yet. There are 2 factors that can trigger acne 1) external factors, such as skin care products and cosmetics 2) internal factors, such as hormones and stress. So before you toss out your face wash, re-evaluate your life...are you experiencing a lot of stress at home, school or at work!? If you answer yes to any of these then stress could be to blame for your current skin condition.

Stress doesn't directly cause acne or breakouts, however it can act as a trigger for factors that contribute to acne, such as excess oil production. The balance of everyday life can cause chronic stress, which can throw adrenal glands into overdrive. Adrenal glands regulate stress and when a stressful situation arises oil glands create an excess of oil which can contribute to acne. Stress can also cause increased blood flow and expansion of capillaries which give the skin a red or inflamed appearance. Also, when stressed your body tends to have slower healing because of a weakened immune system which can prolong your breakouts. We may not be able to change a difficult situation, but you can do something small to take care of yourself...whether it be joining a gym, deep breathing, yoga, knitting or even having a relaxing facial at The Skin Studio.

Q: I only tan in tanning beds a few times a week and lay out by the pool without SPF...I can't damage my skin...right?

A:WRONG! In fact most damage that is inflicted to our skin is already done by the time we are 18 years old, but that doesn't mean that there is no harm done after that. I have heard many times friends say, “my face is breaking out so bad...I'm just going to go to the tanning bed & “fry” them off.” They would go tan and sometimes the tanning bed would work its “magic” by “clearing up” their skin, when what it really did was dry your skin temporarily, however you are actually triggering future incidences of breakouts. Exposure to UV light can cause an increase in skin cells, which can clog follicle openings & lead to future breakouts. Also, visiting a tanning bed increases your chances of long term scarring and hyperpigmentation (sun/age spots). Still wanna get that bronzed glow? Don't forget your SPF of 30 or higher & apply 20 minutes before sun sun exposure to avoid skin issues in the future such as wrinkles, dark spots and skin cancer. So...if you must sun your buns by the “fountain of youth” don't forget your sunscreen or you will end up looking like a California Raisin...and that look isn't very becoming.

My "Chemical" Romance

Have you ever considered getting a chemical peel to help acne scars, diminish fine lines & wrinkles, improve pigmentation issues & give your skin a radiant polished look? There are a few things you should know before making the decision and also you need to know that all chemical peels are not created equal.
So what is a chemical peel? "Chemical Peel" is a general classification for a number of chemical treatments used to exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin. Through a process of exfoliation, chemical peels are often used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, lighten dark spots for a more even skin tone, and smooth and soften the texture of the skin. Peels are also useful to open clogged pores for patients with oil or acne-prone skin. Chemical Peels come come in 3 strengths: Light (Superficial), Medium, & Deep. I will explain a little about each type & who they best suit to give a better understanding of the importance of selecting the correct type for your overall condition & desired results.
Types of Peels:
The Light Chemical Peel
These peels are ideal for removing mild damage from the sun, acne scars and signs of aging. The chemicals used in these peels are mild and remove merely the outermost layer of the skin cells, a process that takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Light chemical peels often involve alpha hydroxyl acids, such as glycolic acid or lactic acid, or beta hydroxyl acids. *BONUS * Superficial chemical peel recovery involves little restrictions and you will be able to return to your normal activities almost immediately. After your light chemical peel, your skin may have a pinkish, flushed tone, and your skin will feel soft and refreshed.
Examples of Light Peels: Alphahydroxy acids (AHA) such as glycolic & lactic (30% or less)  fruit acids.
The Medium Chemical Peel
Medium Peels are used to smooth moderate wrinkling and creasing, to remove or smooth deeper acne scars and to remove age spots and other discoloration. Sedation can be required for medium chemical peel procedures and chemical peel recovery times may last from several days to a few weeks as old skin is sloughed off and replaced with new skin.
Examples of Medium Peels can be:  TCA ,Jessner’s solution, glycolic acid, salicylic acid.
The Deep Chemical Peel Deep Peels are used for aggressive treatment of sun-damaged skin, the severe wrinkling of mature skin, and pre-cancerous lesions. Medium and deep peels are most generally performed by a medical doctor, plastic surgeon & in some states medical estheticians (typically medical estheticians must posses both their license in esthetics as well as nursing) This is usually a 30 minute procedure. Because medium and deep peels are aggressive, a full recovery generally takes about one week or longer. During chemical peel recovery, your skin will appear to be sunburned, and the treated skin will slough off in large sheets. After all of the skin has peeled, new and healthy skin will emerge.
Examples of Deep Chemical Peels: Resorcinol, Phenol, TCA(, & Jessner (4 or more coats)
Still Not Sure Which Peel is Right For You? If you are still not sure which peel is right for you, I urge you to speak with your esthetician (myself included) or your doctor more in depth.When determining whether a series of peels is appropriate for you, consider the following factors: skin type, sebaceous glnd activity, skin condition, sun exposure, cosmetic product use & use of prescription skin products such as Retin-A, Accutane, Tetracycline or other AHAs.  Also keep in mind that deep chemical peels are different from a light facial chemical peel used to treat acne or wrinkles. Deep chemical peels should not be done too often in one’s lifetime so plastic surgeons have devised four categories of skin damage to determine one’s eligibility for the procedure.

• Type I skin damage represents people in their twenties and thirties who may have mild pigmentary changes in their skin due to photoaging and very few wrinkles.
• Type II skin damage is typical of people in their thirties and forties whose faces may only wrinkle while their face is in motion. Neither of these two categories of skin damage is usually eligible to be treated with a deep chemical peel.
• · Type III and Type IV however are a different stories. With Type III skin damage, the patient’s face demonstrates wrinkles while it is at rest. Usually this type of patient is fifty years or older.
• · Type IV skin damage features yellowed or graying skin accompanied by skin that is very wrinkled. This is characteristic of people who are sixty years or older.

As a rule of thumb, a person with Type I or Type II skin damage who insists on having a deep chemical peel is more likely to cause further damage to their skin. They would benefit most from a light chemical peel made from glycolic or alphahydroxy acids. Another exception to these rules might be the individual who has suffered from chronic acne all of his or her life. In this case, a deep chemical peel may be recommended to try and smooth out and reduce the discoloration caused by acne scars.
Perhaps your best line of approach is to forget about having a deep chemical face peel at all until you are at least in your late forties. If you opt to have a deep chemical face peel too early in life, you may accidentally do your skin more harm than good.
In closing, it is my belief that chemical peels can be good for you if you select the right one for you. So before you begin a "chemical" romance do a little research. Keep in mind that some peels may have to be done in a series to achieve desired results, although there are some stronger peels that may boast more dramatic results after just 1 session...you could be doing more harm than good. My best advice in order to put your best face forward (not just for now-but for the future as well) is to not be in a hurry with your skin care...your skin did not get in the shape it is in, in only a day or a week & it will take a little dedication on your part to get it to where you want to be! :)

<3
Amy

Hey All!!

Welcome to The Skin Studio's brand new blog "Beauty & the Blog."!!! I have been toying with the idea of a blog for quite some time. I formerly wrote beauty related articles for a local publication for about a year & really enjoyed it, the only downside was that there was no way to get feedback from the readers. Since I get asked beauty related questions on a daily basis from friends, family & customers. I thought that blogging would allow for me to address some of the most asked beauty questions to a larger audience & also give my audience the chance to ask questions of their own & to react to the articles as well. I intend to bring the best beauty advice & knowledge that I posses to the best of my ability! I truly love what I do & want to spread the love! I'm excited to answer all of your beauty related questions, as well as address topics that have been brought to my attention on several occassions.

Quote of the week: "Life is too short to think average, be average, or just be what you think will fit in. You're not living, unless someone doesn't like what you're wearing, doing, or dreaming of becoming!"