Keratosis Pilaris : "goosebumps" or "chicken skin"

Goosebumps can be fun.. when you're watching a scary movie, anxiously awaiting the news of a new baby, or expressing feelings to a loved one. They are NOT  fun when they are permanent and never go away.

This common condition is called Keratosis Pilaris, characterized by small rough red bumps usually on the arms or thighs.  It's not actually Goosebumps or chicken skin, but feels very similar to them. It is an over production of keratin (skin) cells over the sebaceous (oil) glands.

These pesky bumps, that affect nearly 50% of the popular, are usually the cause of genetics; especially to those with history of hay fever, seasonal allergies, eczema or asthma. The cold and humid temperatures of Canada can attribute to flare up as well.

Helpful tips :

Exfoliating. Avoid aggressive scrubbing that can irritate and cause more inflammation. A gentle manual exfoliation can help lift dead skin and open the pores. A chemical exfoliation, such as Retinol, can exfoliate deeper and allow the growth of new healthier skin cells.

Humidifier: Place a humidifier in your bedroom to avoid flare ups. A water softener will also help with this to soften the skin cells and avoid build up of skin cells.

Product Recommendations :


ZO Exfoliating Polish : uses ultra fine magnesium crystals to manual exfoliate dead skin, open up pores and lift dirt and debris. Gives a smoother, cleaner and toned complexion




ZO Radical Night Repair : contains 1% Retional (Vitamin A) stimulates new cell activity and collagen formation. Smoothes out uneven texture, produces fresh skin cells, promotes healthy cell production.

To purchase either product, please call us 519-837-1897 or visit our clinic today:) 

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels can be done on the face, neck, or hands. They can be used to:

• Reduce fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth
• Treat wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging
• Improve the appearance of mild scars
• Treat certain types of acne
• Reduce age spots, freckles, and dark patches (melasma) due to pregnancy or taking birth control pills
• Improve the look and feel of skin

Areas of sun damage may improve after chemical peeling.
After a chemical peel, skin is temporarily more sensitive to the sun, so wear sunscreen every day. It should say "broad-spectrum" on the label, meaning it protects against the sun's UVA and UVB rays.

Who Is a Good Candidate For a Chemical Peel?

Generally, anyone is a good candidate for chemical peels. We offer 4 different types of chemical peels, so that we can tailor the peel to your skin type (colour) and condition.
We can treat mild acne & scarring, pigmentation, fine lines, uneventexture, and any other undisireable skin complexion.
Skin sagging, bulges, and more severe wrinkles do not respond well to chemical peels. They may need other kinds of cosmetic surgical procedures, such as laser resurfacing, or dermal fillers/Botox.

Before You Get a Chemical Peel

Tell your skin consultant if you have any history of scarring, reoccurring cold sores, or on photosensitive medication.
Before you get a chemical peel, your consultant may ask you to stop taking certain drugs and prepare your skin by using other medications, such as Retinol or glycolic acid.
Work with your consultant to determine the depth of your peel. This decision depends upon the condition of your skin and your goals for treatment, and how much peeling you can handle.

How Chemical Peels Are Done

The professional who does your peel will first clean your skin thoroughly. Then she will apply one or more chemical solutions -- such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid(TCA), salicylic acid, or lactic acid -- to small areas of your skin. This creates a controlled wound, letting new skin take its place.
During a chemical peel, most people feel a tingling to burning sensation that lasts about 1-3 minutes. Once the peel is removed you shouldnt have any tingling or burning. You may experience a warmth when touching the skin, but nothing more. Applying cool compresses can take away the sensation.

What To Expect After the Chemical Peel

Depending upon the type of chemical peel, a reaction similar to sunburn occurs following the procedure. Peeling usually involves redness followed by scaling that ends within three to seven days. Mild peels may not have any peeling and can be repeated at 2 week intervals until you get the look you're after. Medium depth peels will have peeling for 3-7 days and can be done 2-4 week invervals.

After treatment, you'll need to avoid the sun for a few weeks since your new skin will be fragile. Treat your new fresh skin as baby skin. Do not let it get too much sun!!

Possible Complications

Some skin types are more likely to develop a temporary or permanent color change in the skin after a chemical peel. Sun exposure after a chemical peel or on photosensitive medications will make you more prone to this.
For people with a history of cold sore outbreaks, there is a small risk of reactivating cold sores. Your doctor can prescribe medication to prevent or treat

Ask us about our DermaCeutic chemical peel line! 519-837-1897

* Gift With Purchase

**Exclusive Offer**
 

With the purchase of a

ZO Skin Health skincare kit,

 

recieve a FREE microdermabrasion!

(value $150)

 

Let us improve your skin with a Microderm before you start your new skin care. Your skin will look brighter, healthier and your products will penetrate Deeper!

 

What is Microdermabrasion? Read about it HERE

 

_________________________________________                             ______________________        

*What is ZO Skin Health?     Made by the World-renowned Zein Obogi for anti-aging, at any age!!ZO Skin Health is turning skin care inside out. These amazing products work from the inside out, activating and stimulating your skin’s cells to nourish, repair and maintain themselves. It’s not a miracle, really. It’s just the way that nature intended.   You Will Love it! We Already Do ZO Skin Health uses the most potent ingredients, high concentrations, pure retinol, advanced peptides, and powerful anti-oxidents. Some of the formulas are admittedly over the top. Because to win the battle on aging, you have to give it your best shot.   Call Guelph Medical Laser for more information or FREE consultation!                                          * 519-837-1897 *   

Fraxel for Acne Scars

 

 

If you have acne scars you’re not alone.

  Simply put, Fraxel was the first laser of it’s kind in the rejuvenation market and has performed well over 500,000 treatments across North America with an unparalleled record of research, FDA clearances, proven results and physician endorsements. Although you might hear other clinics talk about their “fractional” or “pixellated” laser treatments, there is only one Fraxel. There’s just nothing else like it for safely and effectively improving the appearance of your skin and creating a renewed self confidence.

The way Fraxel works is by shooting microscopic laser columns deep into the dermis causing tiny wounds, which trigger your body’s natural response system to heal those wounds. This speeds up the remodelling of the natural collagen and elastin in your skin which results in smoother, tighter, fresher and more youthful looking skin. Just as important is the area of skin that Fraxel treatment doesn’t touch. Because the treatment is so precise, the laser columns target only a fraction (get it? – “fractional”?) of skin at a time, leaving the surrounding tissue intact. This fractional treatment allows your body to heal the skin faster than if the entire area were treated at once.

Acne scars can occur as the skin heals from breakouts, whiteheads and/or blackheads. These scars are typically indented marks or raised, red areas that sometimes give the skin a wavy appearance and are caused by a variety of factors. Fraxel effectively removes damaged skin on the surface and reaches deep into the skin to stimulate collagen remodeling. In this way, Fraxel acne treatment improves the elasticity, texture and tone of your damaged skin while keeping your healthy tissue intact—which minimizes any discomfort or downtime.

Traditional approaches—such as deep chemical peeling, conventional lasers, topical agents and abrasion therapies—usually achieve only moderate results or, worse, they destroy a lot of healthy tissue along with the scar, and often require long recovery times. Fraxel Laser is also better to remove acne scarring instead of more invasive treatments (such as CO2) because there is minimal downtime.



Fraxel Acne Treatment Before & After

Fraxel Acne Treatment Before & After

 

Over 20 million people in North America suffer from acne. Acne scars left over from your teenage years can have a negative affect on your self-esteem. The Fraxel may be the solution you’re looking for to get rid of those embarrassing acne scars

Find out more about Fraxel laser by visiting our website, checking out our blog post "Fraxel: SkinResurfacing" Or, simply give us a call at 519-837-1897or e-mail at info@guelphlaser.ca to book your consultation and get started on the road to clear, smooth skin, and a brighter, more confident future!

Youre Invited...

How to treat Acne

I want to talk about something that affects roughly 85% of the American population. The thing that everyone hates! ...ACNE!!!!

Acne affects both male and female of any race. It generally affects the face and back but is possible to have it on any part of the body. While acne does predominantly affect teenagers, it can occur in infants and adults.

There are two different types of acne: Inflammatory acne and Non-Inflammatory acne
Inflammatory acne consists of papuals and pustuals (also known as zits or pimples) and nodules (cystic acne).
Non-Inflammatory is categorized as blackheads and whiteheads.

Acne, no matter how inflamed, can cause scarring caused from the severity or from picking and popping pimples. This is why proper care of acneic skin is essential, so that it does not result in scarring.

How to treat your Acne

People often associate acne with being dirty and poor hygene. This is infact not true. Acne is not soley caused by a build up of dirt, but rather a build up of oils which trap dirt and debris in the pores which become infected and inflammed.
Those who suffer from acne have an over production of oil. They produce more oil than needed and are not cleansing properly. It is essential that you choose high quality products that work best for you.

The first step to treating acne is

1. Wash skin properly with a deep pore cleanser or antimicrobial wash. This product will deeply clean out all excess oil and debris, as well as medicate the skin to kill any bacteria that is present.

2. After cleansing, use a deep cleaning astringent, also known as a toner. Toner is used to balance your pH. Acne cleansers are alkaline and will lower the pH of your skin. A toner will balance it back to normal so you don't feel dry and tight afterwards. Toner also works as an additional cleanse when you use it on a cotton pad.

3. Exfoliate regularly. The build up of dead skin cells on the surface can trap oils and dirt in the pores, causing blackheads or congestion under the skin (usually on the forehead). Make sure your exfoliant does not have any extra oils in it. Water-based it best.

4. Spot treatment. You may require a spot treatment a few times a week. This treatment may be required for those stubborn pustules and pimples that spring up over night.Look for something that has benzoyl peroxide or salysilic acid in it.

For those of you who do not have the time to do all 5 steps daily, this may be the best solution for you.


SkinTX Acne Treatment was originally designed for teenage acne but can be used on all ages (over the age of 14) and skin types. It works extremely well to fight, kill and protect against acne causing bacteria.

STEP 1: The cleanser is a medicated antimicrobial cleasner and toner in one. It removes surface impurities; clears pimples, blackheads and whiteheads; deep cleans pores to prevent future pimples; and preps the skin for step two.
There are 3 main active ingredients in it:
PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE SALICYLIC ACID 2% : penetrates deep into pores to help exfoliate and unclog bacteria; and clears and prevents blackheads and whiteheads while exfoliating the skin.
HEXAMINE : kills and inhibits growth of acne-casing bacteria; diminishes redness and irritation while maintaining the skins natural pH balance.

STEP 2: The Acne Treatment Lotion is your acne cream or spot treatment. It is a targeted acne-fighing lotion. It clears and prevent blackheads and pimples. It is a concentrated, light weight, water-based  lotion that absorbs instantly. It is complemented with a Witch Hazel Extract for its anti-inflammatory properites.

The main active ingredient is :
PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE BENZOYL PEROXIDE 5%  - This is the highest concentraion available. The microencapsulted properties make for deep delivery into the hair follicle. It also kills and prevents the growth of acne-causing bacteria.

Its just that simple! And works AMAZINGLY well. Some doctors around Canada have started to replace Acutane with SkinTX Acne Treatment System (and we all know how harsh and awful acutane is to our bodies).

SkinTX Acne is the new revolutionary fix to all our acne concerns!!

VIVIER SKIN CARE OFFICAL WEBSITE

We have BEFORE and AFTER pictures in clinic. Give us a call (519) 837-1897 or drop in to see them!

If you are currently using Proactive to help clear your acne, please call us now! Learn the truth about Pro-Active!