Someone told me I should get Botox®… isn’t that a poison?

Botox® is a neurotoxin.

According to the World English Dictionary it is defined: neurotoxin— Defined:  any of several natural substances that interfere with the electrical activities of nerves, thus preventing them from functioning

Botox® is a neurotoxic protein call botulinum toxin. This toxin is produced in a sterile environment creating it in such a way to function safely. This protein is created from sterile bacteria and is used cosmetically in a diluted form to create a controlled, temporary paralysis to the muscles weakening their ability to contract in the areas of action on the face, like around the eyes and between the brows. Botox® does not get rid of wrinkles; it softens them and prevents them from getting deeper.

How is Botox® Applied?

The product is put into the muscle by injection and within 2-14 days the full effect of the toxin is in place with the results lasting 3-6 months before another injection will be desired or needed by the recipient. The potential candidate should also know there is no anesthesia needed for the procedure and a very small sized needle is used to reduce any pain at the injection site, in fact your total appointment time is probably no longer than 30 minutes. Dosing Botox® in the areas of concern is measured and the placement of the product within the muscle is strategically placed preventing any unwanted response. As with any medications there is always the chance of side effects like nausea, pain at the injection site or headache, but these side effects are often short term.

Botox® is more often used in cosmetic procedures, but did you know it is widely used for many various conditions and disorders. Some of these being uncontrolled blinking, lazy eye, writer’s cramp, excessive sweating, migraines, chronic pain, neuropathy, cervical dystonia, overactive bladders and enlarged prostates.

If you are wondering if using Botox® for cosmetic reasons is  right for you please call to schedule a complimentary consult with our nurse practitioner at our Sartell clinic.

Signs of Skin Cancer

Our skin is an awesome organ, not only does it house all of our organs, muscles, tendons, etc. it provides protection from disease, it helps the body maintain proper temperature, it is our first contact with sensation, it helps the body synthesize vitamin D and it acts as a system for the disposal of waste in the body. The skin also produces color. You know what I am talking about… our tan! The color producing cells in our skin are called melanocytes. We go out in the sun and the skin kicks into gear and produces more melanocytes to protect us. Ah, but did you know that pigment cell can cluster and cause one of the most dangerous and fatal forms of cancer? It is called Melanoma. This cancer often goes undetected for some time before it is diagnosed and by the time it is detected the Melanoma cancer is usually already in an advanced stage. Melanoma is responsible for 77% of all deaths due to cancer. A startling fact, yet melanoma makes up for only 5% of all skin cancers.

It is very important that we are vigilant in checking our bodies for irregularities in the moles and spots on a regular basis as these moles and spots can be the indicator we need to be aware of. When found in the early stage surgical removal of the spot usually allows for 100% removal of the cancer. When found later more aggressive forms of treatment are needed and even then it may be too late.

The Melanoma Foundation gives the following checklist for individuals to follow:

ABCD's of Melanoma and Skin Cancer Pictures

A sudden or continuous change in the appearance of a mole is a sign that you should see your doctor.
The ABCD rule can help you remember the symptoms of melanoma:

Other Warning Signs of Skin Cancer:

• The appearance of a new bump or nodule
• Color spreads into surrounding skin
• redness or swelling beyond the mole
• pain
• tenderness
• itching
• bleeding
• oozing
• scaly appearance

Adult Acne, Really?

I thought I grew out of my acne stage!

Have you noticed the increase of acne in both the young and not so young?

Well simply put, blame it on what you take into your body not what you put on top. Though there are several components that make a person more susceptible to having acne it is more often caused and aggravated by sugar and dairy. Our intake of dairy stimulates the pimple producing hormones and ingesting sugar causes a sudden increase of insulin in the body, both of these cause the eruptions (zits!) we hate so much. Both dairy and sugar have inflammatory responses in the body which in turn causes acne.

Here are few some simple things you can do to prevent and address acne:

1. Avoid milk! Milk causes the pimple producing hormones.
2. Reduce your intake of sugar to prevent a spike in insulin.
3. Add lots of vegetables and fruits as they have anti-inflammatory properties.
4. Ginger, green tea, nuts, turmeric, dark colored fruits and dark green leafy vegetables are anti-inflammatory foods and correct underlying issues of acne.
5. Taking probiotics will improve acne because of the anti-inflammatory effects it has in our gut.
6. Avoid foods you may be sensitive to like gluten, dairy, yeast, and eggs as these cause inflammatory responses in the body.
7. Rejuv Medical Anti-Aging Medicine recommends Oxitrol, a premiere blend of Selenium and vitamins A, C, and E, along with antioxidants of Grape Seed Extract, Quercetin and Alpha Lipoic Acid.

Everyone is looking for that magic cream or pill to get rid of acne, yet what we really need is readily available to us without a prescription. Change how we eat and we change how our skin looks!

What can I use for my fine lines and wrinkles?

Question:

I was using a retinol product, but my skin got very sensitive, flakey, dry and red, obviously I am allergic to it. Right

What is Retinol?

Well, let’s talk about the retinol thing… Retinol is a very unique product and it has innumerable benefits for the skin. First developed to address active acne and oily skin it was discovered that patients using retinols for acne had few if any wrinkles.

The way the Retinol is formulated and how it penetrates the skin can often determine how effective the product is. Retinols have a very small molecular structure and penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin to stimulate new cellular development. The metabolism of the life cycle of a skin cell is greatly increased. This stimulation boosts the production of collagen and elastin, which starts breaking down in our 30’s. Retinols also strengthen the skin. Using any of the various forms of retinols, fine line wrinkles disappear, the skin tightens, irregular pigmentation (color) gets corrected, pore sizes are reduced and plump, radiant, healthy skin cells are exposed.

Prescription reads to apply the product every night... True?

So you were given a retinol product to use, either prescription or non-prescription and the label said to use it every night after cleansing. No wonder your skin reacted like it did! There are varying strengths so like all active products it is important to “introduce” it to your skin. The reaction you experienced was exactly what was supposed to happen if you used the product every night. Your skin care provider failed to explain how to use this very potent ingredient. Start simple. Introduce your skin to the retinol by using it every few days building up to every other day and soon you will be using it every night. It could take up to 4-6 weeks to get used to the product depending on your skin, so be patient while you adjust to this active ingredient. Retinols are prescribed to be used at night because sun light can breakdown the product, degrading its strength, preventing it from doing its job. Be especially sure to use a sun protection while using retinol products as it does cause sun sensitivity.

If you are truly trying to make a change in your skin’s texture, tone, color and lines then retinol products are a great at home way to make the changes you are looking for. If you have a prescription retinol and it is not expired try using it again, only this time try using it like I described above. If you are not sure which product is right for you let us help, we have different strength retinol products here at Rejuv Medical Anti-Aging Medicine. If you have never used a retinol product consider it as the results you obtain are so worth it!

Exercise is Organic Skin Care

We all know that exercise is important for our muscles, heart, lungs and other organs, but did you know the skin is an organ too and exercise is very important to maintaining healthy skin?

Exercise increases blood flow to all of our vital organs as well as to our skin. This increased blood flow nourishes the skin by carrying oxygen and nutrients to the cells within the body and the cells of the skin; it also helps the blood move waste products like free radicals away from the working cells. A person can think of exercising as cleaning your skin on the inside and outside.

Exercise also reduces stress, and less stress is great for our skin!

Exercise has also been proven to reduce stress and that stress reduction is reflected on our skin. The oil glands in our skin are influenced by stress hormone, so that increase in activity assists the skin in healing better. From the increase of blood flow and reduction of stress exercise has improved conditions such as acne and eczema.

Though the internal body heat produced during exercising can cause a rosacea flare up, care can be given and the flare up can be greatly reduced. For instance a person with rosacea can choose swimming as a form of exercise as pool water is cool enough to keep the body temperature down, or choose to work out in an air conditioned environment as opposed to exercising outside. Those with eczema and psoriasis often avoid working out as they too may have a flare up because of exercising, but that flare up is generally caused by the salt secreted within the body’s perspiration. This break out can be less if you pre-treat your skin with a lotion prior to exercising and making sure you shower immediately after your work out. 

Exercise benefits the entire body both inside and out and anything that promotes circulation will help our skin appear more radiant and vibrant.

Posted By: Michelle Schueller - Rejuv Medical's Skin Care Specialist

The Pregnancy Mask

What happened to my skin? 

I developed these brown patches when I was pregnant!

It can affect anyone, but it is more likely to affect someone that is or has been pregnant or on oral contraceptives. This condition is commonly called Pregnancy Mask, medically referred to as Chloasma or Melasma. It is the dark, patchy appearance of discoloration or pigment change on the face. This uneven color change is often depicted by the splotchy darkening of the nose, cheeks, chin and/or forehead. These areas can get darker and then lighten a little after pregnancy or after oral contraceptive use, but sometimes this pigment change can be permanent. This is caused by the hormonal changes within the body, and sun exposure can often exacerbate it.

This condition does not often become prominent enough to notice until well into the pregnancy and by then the “damage” is well on its way. Ah, but there is hope! First and foremost the number one thing to remember if pregnant or on birth control is to be diligent in applying sun protection. Use a higher than usual SPF during this delicate time of hormonal change and apply it often! Prevention is always the first step and maintaining this diligence is crucial.

Ok, so you didn’t catch it in time… now what?

Well there are a number of treatment options available to help turn this condition around. Again the first thing to remember is to apply sun protection, and apply it often. Then consider a combination of the following treatment options along with the sun protection. Exfoliation is a very important step when addressing this condition. What you are seeing on the skin is a buildup of pigment cells on the surface of the skin, so start the change at home with physical exfoliation at least twice a week, use a topical vitamin C product during the day to help correct the free radical damage and a retinol product at night to stimulate cellular turnover. A topical lightening product may used as well during this time (prescription or non-prescription) to help lighten the surface cells.

Then seriously consider in clinic services such as a series of Microdermabrasion and/or a Chemical Peels. These treatments can make changes in the skin’s surface that will provide more visible results. For the individual that has done everything and still has not reached the change desired consider an intense pulse light (IPL) treatment series to break up the clustering of the pigment cells or an ablative laser treatment. Our ablative laser treatment is called the Pearl and results can be achieved in as little as 1 or 2 treatments where other fractional lasers may take up to 4-6 treatments. This treatment will correct skin discoloration and as an added bonus fine line wrinkles can be treated as well.

Call to schedule a consultation to see what treatment protocol best suits your pigmentation issues.

Not quite ready for a facelift?

How about our skin regeneration treatment package?

Consider it a non-surgical facelift and imagine turning the clock back a few years with no downtime! Here at Rejuv Medical Anti-Aging Medicine we incorporate a combination of treatment modalities in a series of treatments. We combine DiamondTome Microdermabrasion, Cutera Titan and Cutera Laser Genesis on the same day to give your skin its optimal rejuvenation. Even though we do these services on the same day you can still go about your daily business and no one will be any of the wiser.

First we use our crystal-free Microdermabrasion to gently exfoliate the skin, ridding it of the dead cellular layer, stimulating circulation under the skin and exposing healthy skin cells for a more radiant appearance. Next we use the Cutera Titan for dermal heating deeper in the tissue to stimulate the tightening of the elastin fiber. Imagine elastin fibers looking like an old fashioned telephone cord which after years of use these cords stretch out and begin to sag. The Cutera Titan retightens these elastin fibers addressing the sagging facial skin and giving it a tightening effect.  Finally we treat the skin with the Cutera Laser Genesis to stimulate collagen, reduce pore size, soften fine lines and address the underlying redness in the skin. Within as little as three weeks you will see visible signs of improvement and at the end of the series of treatments the skin continues to improve over the next 3-6 months . The result is brighter, rejuvenated, tightened and smoother skin all without going under the knife.

So you cleanse your skin morning and night and you are wondering…

“Should I Use Toner?”

Years ago toners had a strong alcohol base and were often used after washing your face to remove the leftover heavy (greasy) cleansing creams and whatever daily dirt that remained on the skin. The toners of that day were high in alcohol and would often strip the lipid barrier of the skin while attempting to remove the residue left behind by the cleansing creams. Today the toners are different as they are now no longer a “stripping” product as they are more often a “treatment” product.

Toner for Acne Treatments?

Skins that are acne prone and/or oily tend to need a toner on a more regular basis, but normal healthy skin can probably skip this step. However, the normal healthy skinned client might be skipping something important like antioxidants and essential moisture which could make your skin feel and look even healthier.

Natural Face Wash?

Toners now have vital ingredients like salicylic acid for oily/acne skin, antioxidants like vitamin C & E which help correct free radical damage, skin brighteners for hyper pigmented and sun damaged skin, sodium hyaluronate for hydration and peptides for cellular regeneration, collagen formation and wrinkle reducing properties.

So reconsider the use of a toner, they are no longer used for stripping, they are used to make vital changes and improvements both on top of and deeper within the layers of the skin. Seek the assistance of your skin care provider as they will be able to recommend the right toner for your skin as there are now more choices than ever.

7 changes you can make to strengthen your fight against aging prematurely:

1.       Seriously… NO tanning! If it is Vitamin D you need then you only need about 15 minutes of sun light to get your daily dose. If you need to be out in the sun longer than that be sure to use a Spf of 30 or greater to protect yourself from sunburn, sun damage and premature aging.

2.       Avoid the junk food! Reach for plenty of lean protein, fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains and plenty of water. Our skin is an awesome organ! Give it the nutrition it deserves.

3.       Get your needed 6-8 hours of sleep each night! Our other organs of the body rest at night allowing the skin to heal and repair itself. 

4.       Exercise! It keeps stress levels under control. Exercise increases blood circulation and oxygen levels which is vital for the cellular function of the skin. It also reduces stress and keeps the skin looking healthy.

5.       Keep stress under control! Stress plays a big part in our ability to get the rest we need. Find someone you can talk to get it off your chest and keep your stress levels in perspective. Take time to sit back and relax each and every day even if it is only for a few minutes.

6.       Don’t smoke! We all know the dangers of smoking and how it depletes the skin and all of the other organs of the body of necessary oxygen levels.  Your organs need that oxygen to function at their peak levels.

7.       Don’t over indulge in alcohol! Research has shown that 1 or 2 drinks of alcohol can benefit the body in a few ways, but more than those levels dehydrate your skin, aggravate rosacea, increase sugar levels in the blood and damage blood vessels, all of which contribute to premature aging.