MIND BODY SPIRIT

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WHAT IS IPL
IPL is a type of treatment used to help reduce certain skin problems as well as the removal of unwanted hair. The results are usually almost immediate and obvious. Below, you will find some basic information about IPL and what it can offer. It may be the right treatment for you.

HOW DOES IT WORK
IPL works by sending strong pulses of light into the skin. The treatment is specifically targets the deep tissue area of the skin, where damage originates. There are different types of the IPL treatment to target and repair different types of damage. Your specific needs will discussed during your initial consultation with our trained technician.

IPL TREATMENTS ARE COMMONLY USED FOR

• Removing sun spots, age spots and brown blotches on the face, neck, chest, hands and other areas of the body
• Lightening and reducing redness, rosacea, dilated blood vessels and broken blood vessels on the face, neck and chest
• Improving skin texture through collagen stimulation, improving pore size by temporarily reducing oiliness
• Removing unwanted hair

ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS
IPL treatments do not damage the outer part of the skin. In fact, most patients do not have any side effects other than a little discomfort. With many different facial resurfacing treatments, like microdermabrasion, patients will have damage done to the outer surface of the skin. This is not true with IPL, so many patients are able to resume normal life right after the treatment..

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SEE RESULTS
Usually, patients will need to undergo a series of treatments, ranging from four to six, depending on the extent of the damage that needs to be repaired. A patient may not see perfect results until the latter treatments. You can see some improvement with each treatment, but it’s common for your response to be slightly different to each treatment. The more sun damage or redness you have, the more likely you are to need a full five treatments.  Some cases of severe redness or brown spots require more than 5 treatments. Expect to see gradual clearing over time.

DO IPL TREATMENTS HURT AND HOW LONG DO THEY TAKE
There may be mild discomfort during the treatment, but most patients tolerate removal of dilated blood vessels or age spots/freckles and fine lines very easily. The first treatment is usually the “zingiest.” As your skin begins to clear, the treatments usually become even more comfortable. Treatment times may vary, depending on the size of the treatment area.

WHAT IS THE IPL TREATMENT PROCESS
Your technician will put special glasses or eye pads over your eyes to protect them. A cool gel is then placed on the skin being treated. The smooth glass surface of the handpiece is gently applied to your skin and pulses of light flash. You may feel a very slight sting, like the snapping of a small rubber band. At the end of the treatment, the nurse wipes off the gel, cleans the area with a warm cloth, and applies a moisturizer with sunscreen. If there is any mild swelling, you might be given a cold pack to apply for five or ten minutes. Mineral based makeup can be applied before returning back to work, school, etc.

WHAT WILL RECOVERY BE LIKE
Recovery time is virtually non-existent. Some redness may occur after the treatment, but is easily covered. Patients are able to return to normal daily activities the same day as their photofacial rejuvenation treatment.

Wendy Lewis Explores the Buzz Surrounding Skin Needling.

Skin needling, also called microneedling therapy, collagen induction therapy (CIT), and percutaneous collagen induction (PCI), is a minimally invasive skin-rejuvenation procedure that involves the use of a device that contains fine needles. The needles are used to puncture the skin to create a controlled skin injury. Each puncture creates a channel that triggers the body to fill these microscopic wounds by producing new collagen and elastin. Through the process of neovascularization and neocollagenesis, there is improvement in skin texture and firmness, as well as reduction in scars, pore size, and stretch marks.

Among the earliest proponents was Michael Pistor, the French doctor who is credited with having developed mesotherapy in 1952. In the 1990s, Montreal plastic surgeon Andre Camirand, MD, experimented with using tattoo guns without ink to treat postsurgical scars. South African plastic surgeon Des Fernandes, MD, founder of the Environ^™ skin care range, introduced skin needling using a roller for treating vertical perioral wrinkles at the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) congress in Taipei in 1996.

There has been a recent proliferation of devices and systems on the market in this category that vary in the diameter and length of the microneedles, generally ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 mm. Essentially, there are two basic categories of devices: battery- and cord-powered systems. Each design has some advantages, and personal preference determines operator selection. There are also flat-edged tips versus beveled tips. Current devices range from mechanical to manual models with shorter needle lengths designed for home use to rollers or stamps with longer needles designed for skin professionals only.

PCI has proved to be a simple and fast method for safely treating wrinkles and scars. Because the epidermis remains intact, the procedure can be repeated safely and is also suited to regions where laser treatments and deep peels are not typically performed.¹ PCI therapy is now becoming widely used as a treatment for photo-aged skin to improve the skin’s appearance and quality, and to improve or even prevent scarring.²

The Collagen P.I.N. is gently glided across the skin in one direction until the treatment area has been covered, resulting in thousands of microscopic channels. “It’s ideally suited for the stimulation of collagen and elastin. It can improve fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture, and help improve the appearance of acne scars,” he tells Plastic Surgery Practice. “For optimal results, we recommend a series of four to six treatments.”

Microneedling can be performed in an office setting. Single-use systems are available for up to a few hundred dollars, with multiple-use devices costing roughly a few thousand dollars, depending on the model. It is cost-effective, and can be done on areas of skin that may not be suitable for peeling or laser resurfacing, such as around the eyes and mouth, hands, and chest. The procedure is well tolerated by patients with minimal downtime, and can be easily personalized by going deeper on some areas where skin damage requires a more aggressive approach.

INTRODUCING MICRONEEDLING

Topical anesthetic cream is used to keep the patient comfortable during the procedure. Patients should be advised that multiple treatments will be necessary. The number of needling sessions depends on the individual skin condition. Three or four treatments may be recommended for mild to moderate acne scarring, whereas deeper scars and stretch marks may require upward of five treatments. An interval of 4 to 6 weeks between treatments is typically recommended. Many practitioners are also doing maintenance treatments at intervals of 6 to 12 months. When utilized for generalized skin resurfacing, products such as topical growth factors and antiaging serums are better absorbed in the skin as an adjunct to treatment.

“Microneedling is a safe, chemical-free method that triggers new collagen production,” says Beverly Hills, Calif, nurse and aesthetic trainer Sylvia Silvestri, RN. “Because it can be performed on all skin colors and types, it is sometimes the preferred treatment over laser as there is no risk of burning the patient.”

Washington DC-based dermatologist Cheryl Burgess, MD, is a big proponent of microneedling and has seen positive results with darker skin types. “In my experience, there is minimal postinflammatory hyperpigmentation,” she says. “I generally prefer the scattered needle pattern devices versus a circular pattern like the Dermapen.” Dermapen has an ergonomic design that can be used to target either the whole face or very small areas that are hard to reach with some larger devices, such as the sides of the nose, above and below the eyes, and the upper and lower lip. In Silvestri’s practice, microneedling is being used for acne scars, fine lines, skin tightening, and shrinking pore size. “What patients like about it is that there is little to no downtime. Some redness may occur immediately after treatment, but it usually subsides by the next day,” she says. “It can be used all over the body, but the face, neck, and chest are the most treated areas.”

It is clear that the category of microneedling is poised to explode in the near term, and we can expect to see more clinical data to confirm claims that doctors are seeing in their practices. There has been a sea change from what once was marked skepticism to almost widespread acceptance of this category of skin treatments. The time is right to investigate these therapies, as undoubtedly, patients will be asking for them.

Wendy Lewis is president of Wendy Lewis & Co Ltd, Global Aesthetics Consultancy, www.wendylewisco.com, founder/editor in chief of beautyinthebag.com, and a contributing editor to Plastic Surgery Practice. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 This winter is predicted to be milder than average, but winter is still winter and, in New York, that means cold air and dry, cracked skin. So what can you do about it?

 Cold outdoor air is not always the culprit, indoors, we’re cranking up the heat to keep warm, which can lead to an evaporative effect that can dry the skin further. Remaining properly hydrated is critical. We tend to forget about this when it’s not hot outside, but keeping the body hydrated keeps the skin hydrated as well.

Here are some tips to help you through the winter:

 We tend to start adding to the problem first thing in the morning by hopping in a hot shower. That may feel good at first, but immediately, when you step out into the cooler air, it draws more moisture out of the skin and adds to the problem. So, turn down the heat.

 The other thing we do wrong is rub the towel across our skin to dry off. Not only does the rubbing action itself further irritate dry skin, but again you’re removing more moisture. Always smooth lotion on damp skin. You've heard it before, but did you know you have a three-minute window for best results? Wait any longer and moisture starts to disappear from skin before you can lock it in.

 Milk does a body good—the natural fats and lactic acid in milk can soften skin, lightly exfoliate, and abate irritation. Draw yourself a nourishing bath by adding two cups of skim milk to warm—not hot—water. Soak for about 15 minutes, pat skin dry, and apply moisturizer...remember the 3 minute rule!

 Want to mix up the routine a bit? Wash your face once a week with Greek yogurt. It sounds weird, but the lactic acid works as a gentle, non-abrasive exfoliator. For a moisturizing face mask, take a look in the kitchen before heading down the beauty aisle: Bananas, avocado, egg yolk, and milk can all make great moisturizing face treatments.