It was a hot and muggy summer this year. Did you remember to protect your skin from the sun?

We live in a society that loves the sun and that bronze-y glow associated with tanning, but beware: live life as a sunworshipper and you’ll pay the price for it with your skin!

Wrinkles, ptosis, pigmentation irregularities, and spots – the signs of aging are all too inevitable. However, while some are caused by gravity and your genes (intrinsic) and are out of your control, others are caused by the environment (extrinsic), and most specifically, the sun. Every person has the ability to control the level of extrinsic aging that occurs to them.

In other words, many signs of aging can result from and worsen with frequent sun exposure.

So what can you do?

Well, first off, it’s all about prevention. Protect your skin from the sun! Sounds pretty simple, huh? All you have to do is slather on the sunscreen, allowing about 20 minutes for it to absorb into your skin before venturing outside, and reapply every 2 hours or less if sweating heavily or swimming. Don’t forget to cover up, as well, by wearing a hat and staying in the shade.

Now, for treatment, there are several options. Please note that many of these treatments are not compatible with frequent sun exposure. For example, we specifically instruct clients to stay out of the sun if they undergo laser skin treatment, since the skin is quite vulnerable following treatment.

Degradation of the epidermis and dermis, the two upper layers of the skin, combined with reduced moisture content and filaggrin is what causes skin to thin, loose, wrinkled and become blotchy. While treatment cannot reverse the aging process, it can improve the appearance of aged skin by smoothing out the complexion and achieving a more uniform tone. Here are the noninvasive cosmetic skin care treatments available at Dermaworks that are specially designed for sun damaged skin:

Injectable Fillers
A tired and old appearance is often attributed to a loss of volume in facial contours. Injectable fillers such as Juvederm can fill out contours to reclaim a more youthful look.

BOTOX® Cosmetic
Squinting to protect the eyes from the sun’s glare can cause serious wrinkles and lines around the eyes. BOTOX® Cosmetic smooths out these dynamic wrinkles. Also it is excellent for the frown lines and forehead lines.

Laser Skin Treatment
Best for treating finer lines, acne and lesions, Laser Skin Treatment can achieve a smoother complexion and healthy glow.

Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing
DOT Therapy with Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing can rejuvenate the skin by targeting wrinkles, pigmentation irregularities, scarring resulting from acne. The skin will be tighter and have more collagen. It is the gold standard for skin resurfacing. Downtime can be from minimal to up to 10 days depending on settings used and degree of change needed.

Vibradermabrasion / Microdermabrasion
Vibradermabrasion / Microdermabrasion gently exfoliates the skin, removing the uppermost layers. This gives the skin an healthy glow and smooth texture.

Facial Mesotherapy
The diminished hyaluronic acid levels in our skin leads to dry, thin, fragile skin that looks aged. Facial Mesotherapy replenishes moisture levels thereby achieving more suppleness and volume.

But don’t be totally sun-phobic! A little sun exposure is actually good for us, making up for about 90% of the Vitamin D we need to remain healthy. Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones, as a deficiency has been scientifically linked to the development of osteoporosis as it helps the body absorb calcium. Just don’t go overboard with it! Also 1000 I.U. of vitamin D orally will have you covered.

Looking for laser skin treatment in Ottawa? Look no further!

Dermaworks Medical Aesthetics Clinic is proud to offer Ottawa laser skin treatments. Designed to treat a number of aesthetic problems afflicting the skin, this revolutionary medical technology utilizes one of the most advanced laser platforms in aesthetic medicine. Combat the signs of aging, repair damage caused by prolonged sun exposure, or treat acne and acne scars – experience the therapeutic effects of laser technology as performed by Dr. Demetra Vassiliou, Chief Physician of Dermaworks Medical Aesthetics Clinic.

What can Laser Skin Therapy Treat?
Laser skin therapy can non-surgically treat problems affecting the face and body, as well as facilitate the production of collagen. Problems that may be treated include lesions (vascular, such as spider veins, and pigmented, such as cafe au lait and age spots), acne, rosacea and fine wrinkles. Moles and nevi cannot be treated and should be examined by your physician to ensure that they are not harmful.

To treat a lesion, the intense light energy of the laser is  absorbed by the skin’s pigment and blood in the vessel of the exposed area. This breaks down the pigment or collapses the walls of the offending vessel, thereby eliminating the pigmented lesion or vascular lesion. To treat acne, the laser creates the formation of free radicals by targeting porphyrin, which ultimately eliminate the P.acnes bacteria that is believed to cause breakouts.

Within one or more sessions, your skin will appear rejuvenated, looking more youthful, smooth, and luminous. Up to four sessions may be required to achieve optimal results. Maintenance sessions may be required, particularly for rosacea and continuing sun damage.

For more information regarding laser skin treatment in the Ottawa area, please schedule your consultation by calling (613) 667-9455 or emailing us.

One of the most popular laser skin rejuvenation treatments in the medical aesthetics field, fractional CO2 laser skin resurfacing has the ability to target a number of cosmetic problems afflicting facial skin, including wrinkles and creases, lax skin around the eyes, and uneven pigmentation. It can also reduce the appearance of scars by addressing discolouration and texture irregularities.

CO2 lasers have long been considered the highest standard of skin laser resurfacing technology. While it has been around for well over a decade, the technology has evolved to improve effectiveness while at the same time dramatically reducing the negative side effects that have been traditionally associated with the procedure. Gone are the extensive recovery periods, chance of permanent hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin), and other possible complications following each treatment – thanks to the fractional nature of today’s state of the art CO2 laser.

The fractional CO2 laser for laser skin resurfacing emits pulses of scattered beams at a high intensity across the surface of the target area. Each tiny beam perforates the skin and ablates (vaporize) tissue, which induces immediate skin tightening and facilitates the growth of collagen, the building block of healthy youthful skin.

This unique technology achieves remarkable results after one or two sessions (unlike other similar treatments that require far more) and avoids resulting in undesirable hypopigmentation. The bridges of skin between the vaporized columns of tissue help with the healing process and reduce the healing time and risk of complications. Except for full Co2 resurfacing, which can be risky, there is no other laser that is as effective in reducing wrinkles. Downtime ranges from 2 to 7 days, depending on the aggressiveness of the treatment.

For more information regarding Fractional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing in the Ottawa area, please contact Dermaworks Medical Aesthetics and take advantage of 10% off the original price!

image courtesy of DEKA Smartxide DOT

Acne rosacea is a chronic condition that affects fourteen million people in the United States alone, with similar figures in Canada. The condition, commonly found in fair-skinned people of Irish and Scottish descent, causes visible broken blood vessels, small red bumps, cysts, and irritated eyes. Sufferers may not initially realize that they have the condition, believing instead that their skin is sunburned.

Acne rosacea is also called “adult acne” because it is most common among adults between the ages of 30 and 50. The cause of acne rosacea remains a mystery but some factors that are thought to contribute to the condition include genetics, sun exposure, certain medications, helicobacter pylori bacteria, and gastrointestinal disease.

Laser Treatment for Acne Rosacea
An increasing number of people who suffer from acne rosacea are turning to laser and light therapies since they do not cause the worrisome side effects associated with other treatments. The pulsed dye laser (PDL) is a type of laser that has been used for many years to reduce the flushing, redness, and visible blood vessels associated with acne rosacea. PDL targets and destroys the visible blood vessels.

Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is another forum of light therapy that is effective in reducing the redness and flushing associated with this condition. IPL therapy filters out harmful UVA and UVB rays and then delivers light to areas with visible blood vessels. While PDL therapy is most effective for targeting obvious blood vessels, IPL therapy is more effective in treating larger areas of redness. It has long-lasting results, can treat dilated blood vessels effectively without injuring the surrounding skin and has the ability to destroy the bacteria that is believed to cause acne rosacea.

Erbium lasers and fractional photothermolysis are used to treat a less common symptom of acne rosacea known as rhinophyma. Rhinophyma is characterized by thick and bumpy skin on the nose and cheeks. These new forms of laser therapy are effective in smoothing out the nose and cheeks without removing an excessive amount of the skin’s top layer.

Laser treatments can cause some discomfort but they are considered to be effective and to a certain extent safer than other treatments. The results of laser treatment are long-term, greatly reducing the flushing episodes, dilated blood vessels, and redness caused by acne rosacea.

Fractional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing
At Dermaworks, perhaps the most effective treatment for acne rosacea is Fractional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing with Dermal Optical Thermolysis (DOT) Therapy. The procedure is performed using the SmartXide DOT™ CO2 laser system, which emits fractionated CO2 laser energy to vaporize the skin at a controlled depth.

Hyaluronic acid levels peak during adolescence and start to decrease when one reaches the age of 20. As a result of this loss, the skin becomes thinner, loses moisture and becomes less supple. Collagen loss also takes place simultaneously. Collagen depletion is one of the leading causes of the visible aging process because it leads to a loss of elasticity and an uneven skin tone

Factors that affect hyaluronic acid levels include genetics, cigarette smoking, diet, nutritional deficiencies, and physical activity. You can replenish levels in your skin by getting injections, taking supplements, eating foods rich in hyaluronic acid and using topical applications. Treatments help to reduce wrinkles, improve the elasticity of the skin, and keep the skin smooth.

Tips for Replenishing Hyaluronic Acid Levels
There are options that are currently available for replenishing hyaluronic acid are limited in their effectiveness. One option, topically applied hyaluronic acid, can be effective as a skin moisturizer in some climates but it may actually pull water from the skin in dry climates.

Another option is hyaluronic acid filler facial injections (also known as dermal fillers, injectable fillers, and injectibles), a popular means of reducing the appearance of facial wrinkles. The effects of these injections last from six to twelve months, and can last longer in some cases. The advantages of using hyaluronic acid fillers is that they are naturally found in human skin and are thus nontoxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible

The most commonly-used hyaluronic acid filler is stabilized non-animal hyaluronic acid gel (NASHA). Restylane®, Teosyal®, and Juvederm® are some of the most well-known brands of NASHA. Depending on dosage and strength, a number of problems may be corrected, from finer lines to deeper creases, as well as plumping up lips and altering facial contours.

While a drawback of hyaluronic acid treatments is that they can be expensive, it is currently considered to be the best alternative to surgery with minimal side effects for those who want to reverse the signs of aging skin, reduce deep creases, fine lines, and wrinkles.