There are really 6 ingredients for healthy skin, but with all the new
creams, lotions and potions available today, how are we supposed to
know what really works? So, what are these 6
ingredients? Let’s start with the “A’s”:
Retinoids are derivatives of Vitamin A and are used
to smooth the skin’s surface, even skin tone, increase blood flow &
unclog pores. “They may even help to prevent some types of skin cancer,”
according to Doris J. Day, clinical assistant professor of dermatology
at New York University. And according to Ranella Hirsch, president elect
of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons, “retinoids are the
one topical treatment actually proven to regenerate collagen”. Retin-A
has FDA approval for the treatment of acne as well as skin regeneration
and can be found in topical prescription products such as Tazorac.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s) are a family of acids
that include glycolic, citric and malic acid discovered in 1974 by two
scientists from Temple University when they were searching for a cure
for ichthyosis (extremely dry skin). They found that the acids helped to
smooth the skin and also improved the thickness of the skin. AHA’s
provide a reliable mechanism for exfoliation without being rough like
scrubs and therefore allow other ingredients to penetrate the skin more
easily and effectively.
Hyaluronic Acid is known for it’s ability to bind
water to the skin. And as we all know, water retention leads to
plumping, which is a good thing for skin and lips (not so much for the
tummy or hips!). There are lots of topical products that have hyaluronic
acid, but unfortunately the molecule size is too big to effectively
penetrate the skin. That’s why there are injectable products like
Restylane, Teosyal and Juvederm.
With injectable hyaluronic acid, we can fill deep lines like the ones
from the nose to the edges of the mouth, as well as naturally enhance
lips, cheeks and tear troughs. The effects last anywhere from 9 to 18 months, as hyaluronic acid is naturally absorbed and metabolised by the
body.
Hydroquinone is a lightening agent that works by
inhibiting the enzyme that forms pigment in the skin. Hydroquinone
offers a solution for hyper-pigmentation in skin types that are unable
to be treated by other methods such as
Photorejuvenation.
Recently kojic acid and some botanical extracts have been touted for
they’re lightening abilities, but nothing so far has been as effective
as hydroquinone.
Antioxidants are a group of vitamins and nutrients
that are used to fight “free radicals”, molecules generated by sun
damage and pollution, that damage the DNA of healthy skin cells which
leads to wrinkles, discoloration and even cancer. Vitamin C is at the
top of this group. Vitamin C was originally studied for it’s ability to
stimulate collagen production, but was found to be really good for
protecting the skin from sun damage and can be found in
Vivier Skin Care products.
Finally, there’s Sunscreen. We’ll discuss sunscreen
in more depth in our next blog because it gets a little confusing with
all the SPF’s, UVA, UVB, physical or chemical blocks. Basically, without
a good sunscreen applied every day, you don’t have a good skin care
regimen. Sun exposure is the biggest cause of discoloration, wrinkles
and premature aging of the skin. A good sunscreen is one that will
protect your skin from the burning rays of the sun (UVB), as well as the
aging rays of the sun (UVA). UVA’s can also lead to skin cancer, so
it’s really, really important to wear a good sunscreen applied several
times a day, every day, whether you work outside or in, summer, winter,
spring or fall.
I know it’s a lot to take in, so if you have more questions or would
like to schedule a skin care consultation, give us a
call at 519-827-1897 or e-mail us at info@guelphlaser.com.
We’ll be glad to assist you any way we can.
It’s surprising how many people think that they don’t need to wear sunscreen on a daily basis. And how many of us have thought, "I don’t need sunscreen today, I’m only going to be in my car. "
