HydrafacialMD Archives - Accent Aesthetics

Best Sun Damaged Skin Treatments When You Live in Colorado

by Katherine Bredice | Nov 15, 2023 | HydrafacialMD, IPL Limelight, Peels, skincare colorado, Sun & Skincare

As we finally say goodbye to summer in Colorado (you can never know when), it’s the perfect time to address all of the glorious sunshine that has accumulated on our faces, necks, chest, hands and arms. These are some of our favorite sun damaged skin treatments to get your skin looking healthy, smooth, even and bright!

Chemical Peels:

Peels are one of the easiest and most cost effective treatments you can do. Here at Accent Aesthetics, we offer many different types of peels from light to deep. We can custom blend them to treat all kinds of issues: acne, scarring, hyperpigmetation and sun damage and texture issues such as fine lines, crepiness and wrinkles. Social downtime (redness, dryness, peeling and flaking) ranges depending on the peel we choose. But most often it is anywhere from 1-5 days. A small price to pay for skin that is more even toned and smooth and all around healthier.

IPL:

Intense Pulse Light. Such a great, tried and true technology. The light sees the melanin (pigment) in the brow spots and the hemoglobin in the red vasculature of the skin. Most sundamage is a mixture of these 2. Our IPL device is amazing at targeting and shutting down these issues.

Social downtime can range anywhere from 2-7 days and generally appears as redness and mild swelling then coffee ground scabbing which literally looks like tiny little coffee grounds where the browns are. These fall off within a few days to reveal noticably more even skin! The IPL does produce collagen and kill bacteria due to the thermal technology but we really use it as a color correcting treatment. But the reduction of acne and improvement in skintone is a nice side effect.

HydraFacial:

The clear choice if dryness is your main concern. We’re convinced this was created for Colorado skin! This relaxing treatment uses varying degrees of physical and chemical exfoliation combined with hydrating peptides, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid. The exfoliation removes built up dead skin, allowing hydrating moisturizers and serums to absorb better. The alpha hydroxy acids brighten stubborn pigmentation and loosen clogged pores. There is no downtime with HydraFacials and they can be done right before an event for a beautiful glow!

AdvaTx:

AdvaTx combines 2 lasers in 1 treatment for full dermal health. The more superficial wavelength is similar to that of the IPL, focusing on breaking up the reds and browns in the skin, but delivered in a different way, allowing for less trauma to the skin. The second, longer wavelenth focuses on bulk heating deep in the dermis to stimulate collagen reducing unwanted textures such as fine lines and large pores. It also helps shrink oil glands that can cause acne and lesions such as sebacous hyperplasia. There is little to no downtime with AdvaTx, and you leave the office looking smooth and refreshed!

Call or go online to book a consultation!

accentaesthetics

sun damaged skin treatment sun damaged skin treatment sun damaged skin treatment sun damaged skin treatment sun damaged skin treatment

Favorite Summertime Skin Treatments

by ramie | Jul 21, 2020 | accent aesthetics, Aquagold Fine Touch, Dermaplaning, HydrafacialMD

The Importance of Skin Treatments

Summertime in Colorado can be brutal! And by now you know that excessive sun exposure and just UV rays in general, are THE number one cause of aging skin. Mix that with the harsh elements that come and go during these months such as wind, rain, hail, and it’s tough to know what skin treatments are going to be beneficial to the skin versus harmful.

With many advanced aesthetic procedures we want to cause a controlled injury to the skin in order for it to form new cells, colllagen and elastin but that requires time out of the sun and elements for it to heal properly. Us Coloradoans are outside so much more in the summertime that it’s very difficult to take the appropriate amount of time out of these elements for our skin to heal properly. Aggressive skin treatments this time of year can actually cause more damage than when we start. SO…. which skin treatments are beneficial for you this time of year?

Best Skin Treatments For You:

1. HydraFacialMD

A combination of light physical exfoliation, light yet customizable chemical exfoliation and lots and lots of hydration, antioxidants and peptides! The perfect treatment for any skin woe or just some much needed R&R. Ours includes LED light treatment as well to sooth inflammation, stimulate collagen and kill bacteria! HydraFacial can be done all year round but is especially great for dry, dehydrated, broken out skin.

2. Dermaplane

This treatment is best known for removing the vellus hair or “peach fuzz” from the skin. It also lightly exfoliated dead skin cells. Together it leaves the skin smooth, soft and glowing without compromising the skin’s barrier, therefore no downtime!

3. AdvaTx

Cutting edge, one of a kind technology, AdvaTx does it ALL! Specifically designed to treat undesired vascular abnormalities such as rosacea and facial redness from sundamage. Acne and scars. Hyperpigmentation, melasma, and poikioderma. Fine lines, wrinkles, pore size and unwanted texture. The list goes on and on. What makes this treatment so unique is there is little to no discomfort, little to no downtime and only about 24 hours is recommended until you can be in the elements again. Most clients leave the table looking better than when they got on!

Gallery, AdvaTx, Intracel, Ultherapy, Hyperdilute Radiesse

4. Aquagold Fine Touch

This treatment takes good skin and makes it great! With our special cocktail, Aquagold tightens pores, diminishes fine lines, deeply hydrates and leaves the skin luminous and radiant! Known as a “Red Carpet” treatment, this is an excellent choice before a special event or photos.

If you have any questions about what skin treatments and products are best for YOU this time of year, call us at 720-420-4090 and book a consultation.

The Essential Skincare Correctives You Need in Your Regime

by Katherine Bredice | Feb 10, 2020 | accent aesthetics, Acne Facial, HydrafacialMD, IPL Limelight, Microdermabrasion, Microneedling, Peels, skincare colorado, Sun & Skincare, Uncategorized

Skincare Correctives: What Do We Mean When We Talk About These?

You’ve got your basic skincare products: cleanser, maybe a toner, moisturizer, and SPF. But what skincare products do we all need to really see a change in our skin? To see a healthier, clearer, younger-acting skin? These are our essential skincare correctives for almost all skin types and skin concerns.

Retinol

Vitamin A derivatives are a must for almost every single person who walks through our door. Retinol is the only clinally proven skincare ingredient shown to actually reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and if you’re a retinol junkie like us, you know it does that and then some.

Our skin cells naturally regenerate every 28 days when we’re young, that slows down significantally as we age, leading to a build up of dry, dead skin, dullness, dark spots and crepey texture. Acne can also be caused by this build up of dead skin in the pores, forming a “traffic jam” with our sebum leading to congestion. This is why we see so many clients with dry yet acneic skin.

Consistant retinol use keeps the cell turnover going at an excellerated rate. This allows for better absorbtion of other skincare products, a decrease in unwanted pigmentation (sundamage), fewer fine lines and wrinkles, less congestion of blackheads and whiteheads, more hydrated skin, more even skintone, less scarring, production of new collagen and prevention of collagen loss that we already have and want to keep! That’s pretty fantastic! We joke around here that if you have wrinkles: retinol, acne: retinol, boyfriend dumped you: retinol, and on and on! It really does help EVERYTHING!

The sun can deactivate the vitamin A so it is always recommended to use at night. This also encourages us to cleanse and prep the skin before bed which we all know at this point is crucial for healthy, beautiful skin!

Vitamin C

An absolute must for any Colorado skin, Vitamin C does so many things. Our bodies don’t store or produce Vitamin C and it’s essential for collagen production. It’s also great for lightening hyperpigmentation or sun spots, or just overall brighteing of the skin. Vitamin C can also help reduce chronic redness in the skin as it acts as an anti-inflammatory. Acne is often improved with Vitamin C use as well, as inflammation is a key coomponent of acne.

Hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries and diffuse redness can all be signs of sundamage and that’s important to know living in a state with an elevation like ours.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps prevent and reverse oxidative damage caused by UV rays. The sun, especially at our elevation, causes so much more oxidation (free radical damage) on our skin than that of sea level. We recommend this important ingredient to every person and skin concern we see, even if it’s preventative.

Eye Cream and Neck Cream

These are often at the bottom of the priority list for people and they should absolutely be at the top! The signs of aging on the neck and around the eyes are not only some of the hardest to treat but some of the most common concerns we hear.

The skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin on the body and often lacks active oil glands, combine that with constant motion from smiling, etc. and fine lines, wrinkles and laxity show up quickly!

The neck will often show signs of aging from “tech neck” or the constant position of our heads and necks looking down at out screens all day, everyday. Sleeping also causes creases and wrinkles on the neck and chest from prolonged postitions. The skin on the neck is often neglected when it comes to basic skin care products such as moisturizer and spf leading to a quick onset of lines and wrinkles. The neck and chest are thin and need not only the basics but the corrective skincare treatments just as much as your face. Trust us. You’ll thank us later.

Scheduling a consultation is the best way to learn what medical-grade skincare products are best for you.

What is LED Light Therapy and How Can it Benefit Me?

by Katherine Bredice | Jan 8, 2020 | Acne Facial, HydrafacialMD, skincare colorado

LED or Light Emitting Diodes, were originally researched and developed by NASA. Researchers found that these lights, absorbed at different wave lengths and colors, helped the wound healing of astronauts in space. Then they discovered that LED’s helped them grow food faster in that same environment. And now, thankfully, we in the skincare industry have gotten our hands on it to bring you LED Light Therapy!

There is A LOT happening when we place these light panels over your skin. They produce a natural photobiochemical reaction similar to the process of plant photosynthesis and have various biological effects on cells and tissues. They help restore and regain vitality to compromised cells in a natural way. The boost in cellular energy leads to a cascade of wonderful metabolic events!

Blue, red and near-infrared are the most commonly used wavelengths and exactly what our panels provide. These specific wavelengths are well researched and scientifically proven to produce therapeutic benefits.

Blue LED Light Therapy

Blue LED Light Therapy penetrates through the epidermis, or the top layer of skin, and is known to kill P. acnes bacteria and shrink oil glands, not only clearing up existing blemishes, but preventing future breakouts. We use this setting for all of our acne facials at 4-6 week intervals and 2-3 times a week as a stand alone 30 min treatment for those wanting quicker results in reducing breakouts and inflammation which decreases the chance of scarring and in some cases may prevent the use of prescription medications.

Red LED Light Therapy

Red LED Light Therapy penetrates into the dermal layer and has been shown to enhance collagen and elastin production through photobiostimulation of fibroblasts. If you don’t already know, fibroblasst are EVERYTHING! They synthesize collagen and produce the structural framework for our skin. They also play a huge role in wound healing which is why we may use this treatment post laser, micro-needling, chemical peel, etc.

In an observational study using our LED panel to treat facial wrinkles, 80% of participants said they experienced an improvement in skin texture, 77% reported an improvement in skin firmness and 66% reported an improvement in facial wrinkles after 4 weeks.

Near-Infrared LED Light Therapy

Near-infrared penetrates deepest and increases micro-circulation (tissue repair), decreases inflammation and helps with pain relief. This wavelength creates a deeply relaxing trance like state and allows you to sit under the panel for long periods of time in deep relaxation!

Our Celluma LED panel is included in every HydraFacial treatment and can be easily added on to many other treatments.

Contact us and schedule a consultation to see if this amazing technology can help you reach your skincare goals!

Essential Pre-Wedding Skincare: Tips to Get That Gorgeous Bridal Glow!

by Katherine Bredice | Nov 12, 2019 | accent aesthetics, Acne Facial, Aquagold Fine Touch, Botox, Cosmetic Dermal Filler, Dermaplaning, Dysport, HydrafacialMD, IPL Limelight, Kybella, Laser Genesis, Laser Hair Reduction & Removal, Microdermabrasion, Microneedling, Pearl, Peels, skincare colorado, Sun & Skincare, Ultherapy, Vein Treatment

So many people dream of that special day. And 100% of the time, that dream includes gorgeous, glowing skin.

Just like a wedding, beautiful skin takes planning and patience. We love working with Dermatologists because together we can address serious issues such as cystic acne, rosacea, melasma and scarring. And if you’re already starting with non-problematic skin we can keep it that way and get it looking even better!

Here are our pre-wedding skincare recommendations for achieving the skin you want on your BIG day!

Pre-Wedding Skincare Recs:

#1: Come in for a professional consultation

This is the first place any bride or groom should start on their journey to gorgeous skin. Ideally this would happen 6-12 months before the wedding date. Skin issues can be stubborn and take time to remedy. The sooner we start, the more relaxed the process will be. We can address all of your skin concerns, set up a scheduled timeline of treatments and start you on a premium skincare regime at home.

If you’re considering injectables for dark circles, wrinkles or to add volume to the face, start sooner than later. A good injector will need time to see what and how much of a product works.

#2: Stay consistent with your skincare regime

A consistent morning and evening skincare regime is what will give you long term results. Many home-care products work better over time, so you must be diligent and consistent! While these products are often medical-grade and very active, they are going on the skin and take time to penetrate and achieve desired results. This is also why it’s important to start this journey early on so we can see what works and what doesn’t in your home-care regime.

#3: Set up a skincare treatment plan and stick to it

Together we will create a timeline of treatments best suited to your needs. Every person is different and has different issues to address. If your concern is acne, you may need to have an exfoliating and extracting treatment done every 2-6 weeks to get it under control.

If Laser Hair Removal is at the top of your priority list, it’s important to start 6 months to 1 year before the big day, depending on the area being treated.

Other skin concerns require monthly or every other month treatments.

A month or 2 before your wedding, we will really “fine tune” your skincare plan, making sure you look your absolute best! Laser Genesis gives the skin a beautiful rosy glow right before the special event. HydraFacial can plump and hydrate the skin a few days before and AquaGold gives a luxurious “Red Carpet” luminous, finishing touch to skin about a week before the big day.

#4: Don’t neglect your neck, decollete’ and back

Chances are you’ll be wearing something that will highlight one or all of these areas. The skin in these areas can be different from the skin on your face and require different treatment. Talk to your Aesthetician about your vision and your planned attire. We offer many treatments for these often neglected areas. Together we can make you glow from head to toe!

#5: Get your mind and body right!

It’s important to FEEL your best, so let’s talk about stress reduction, healthy diet and water intake. All of these things are important to not only get your skin looking it’s healthiest but to ensure you’re keeping it that way.

Planning a wedding is in the TOP 5 most stressful situations a person can go through, next to moving and death! WOW!

To avoid a complete breakdown, sleep, nutrition and a healthy diet will be a lifesaver and assure your skin is in tip top shape.

Working in western medicine, there truly are no conclusive studies linking nutrition and skin conditions, BUT I think we all know in our hearts and minds that what we put in our bodies shows up on our skin. So through this journey we will discuss what may be effecting certain skin issues and start the process of elimination.

#6: Go with the best makeup artist:

If your looking for an amazing Colorado Makeup artist, I’m linking one here: antlersandrose.com

Brook at Antlers and Rose’ is an amazing makeup artist based out of Vail, Colorado. She is also an amazing stylist, lifestyle blogger, wife, mother and human! Check out her website and all of the services she has to offer. She is simply the best!

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Prejuvenation: What is it and Who Needs it?

by kderry | Feb 21, 2019 | Dermaplaning, HydrafacialMD, Laser Genesis, Microdermabrasion, Microneedling, Peels, Ultherapy

What is Prejuvenation?

“The term ‘Prejuvenation’ has been coined to describe the increasing use of small, SUBTLE, less aggressive, minimally or non-invasive treatments and therapies to slow the appearance of aging in younger patients.” –Dr. Joel Cohen

Prejuvenation is an increasing trend with Millenials, or Generation Y. (Born between 1980 and 1995). They understand the importance of preventative maintenance and seek out solutions to future aging issues NOW. Luckily, there are many of these types of non-invasive treatments available to us.

Baby boomers and older patients on the other hand, need more aggressive treatments, full RE-juvenation, to pry back the hands of time. Generation X (born between 1965 and 1979), their needs are dependent on how they have cared for their skin up until now. Sometimes we see 40 year olds that look 55 and 55 year olds that look 30!

Prevention is always easier, and cheaper, than treatment. This is a concept we here at Accent Aesthetics talk to our patients about constantly. Plus, keeping the skin healthy and youthful with great home care regimens and routine treatments gives the skin the natural look we are seeking.

Some great examples of prejuvenation treatments are:

1. Microdermabrasion/Dermaplane

Excellent exfoliating procedures to remove unwanted dead skin build up. These all time faves smooth and brighten the skin, help decrease breakouts and reduce the appearance of large pores and acne scars. These treatments also allow for better absorption of active skin care products. A great place to start!

2. Hydrafacial

Excellent combination of light physical AND chemical exfoliation with added hydration infusion. Perfect no-downtime, Colorado skin treatment!

3. Chemical Peels

Great for skin that needs some changing, (lighten sundamage, decrease redness, decrease pore size or breakout, soften acne scars, diminish fine lines and wrinkles) without severe or prolonged downtime.

4. Microneedling

Also known as “collagen induction”, microneedling not only treats skin imperfections such as acne scars, fine lines, texture and pore size, it stimulates your body’s own, NEW collagen, keeping it looking younger, smoother and brighter.

5. Laser Genesis:

This non-invasive laser treatment naturally and effectively stimulates new collagen production to fade acne scarring, reduce fine lines and treat diffuse redness.

6. Ultherapy:

The treatment that is going to give you the MOST boost in your collagen production. We call this treatment the “non surgical face lift!” Focused ultrasound reaches depths normally only reached during a surgical procedure. Collagen production at this level gives the skin the most lifting and firming effect available.

Essential, everyday skincare products we recommend for prejuvenation:

1. Non-Soap Cleanser

Soap cleansers tend to have an alkaline pH, drying the skin, oxidizing sebum, which makes blackheads more apparent, and simply wreak havok. A consultation is the best way to find out what is right for your skin and it’s issues.

2. Antioxidant

Topical antioxidants such as a high quality, stable Vitamin C, protect the breakdown of skincells (premature aging) caused by free radicals such as UV rays, pollution etc. They are a building block for collagen production (YAASSS), and they also help to brighten discoloration and reduce inflammation in the skin, creating an even skin tone.

3. SPF

Absolutely THE most important part of preventative skincare! Find one you LOVE and wear it religiously. You will thank me in 10 years!!!

4. Retinol

Vitamin A, promotes cell proliferation, or cell turnover, keeping the surface of the skin free of dead skin build up. This helps with absorption of other ingredients, keeps brown spots from accumulating, keeps oil and dead skincells from congesting pores (acne) and produces collagen in the lower levels of the skin, preventing fine lines, wrinkles and diminishes scarring.

Check Out Revision Skincare

Revision Skincare, one of our top lines, offers everything described above! This is a great way to start on the path of beautiful, healthy skin!

Contact us for a consultation anytime! We’d love to make a skincare plan for the future of your skin.