Prejuvenation: What is it and Who Needs it?

 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.

Beyond Botox….

I think by now we all know there is no miracle in a bottle, and botox has been the closest thing we have seen to astonishing results with minimal side effects.

 

However, optimum skin health goes beyond botox.  It is similar to the health of our bodies- to be optimally healthy you have to work on several factors- diet, cardio and strength training.  Having youthful healthy skin is much the same. IF you only do botox, you are only addressing one aspect of what takes place as we age. The aging face is multifactorial and thus your anti-aging treatments should be so as well. Bone loss, descent of fat pads, skin texture changes, dermal thinning and photodamage all contribute.  When you work with a dermatologist and their staff, you are offered non-invasive treatment options to address these different aspects of aging.

 

Technology advancements in the field of cosmeceuticals has brought us amazing topical skin care products.  I recently attended a conference where a scientist was reviewing various ingredients/ peptides and said to conduct the research, develop best formulations and then bring those highly active ingredients to market costs money!  If you are getting a Vitmain C serum on Amazon for under a certain price point- do not expect much change to your skin.  Even when we find highly effective products it is good to change your regimen every so often.  We do not like to use growth-hormone products long term and not every person can tolerate tretinoin.  So partner with someone who can help you achieve your best! Last but not least- healthy inside will reflect healthy outside- clean eating, restful sleep, adequate water intake, physical exercise…..and wear an SPF 30 on your face daily!

 

I always tell patients our goal is find the treatments that will give the most bang for the buck and find the balance between a treatment that is highly effective while still being safe.  You want to partner with a skincare expert who attends educational events, stays up on current trends, has access to multiple modalities to use and works alongside a Board-Certified Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon to minimize unwanted side effects.  Look for someone who will be candid, give realistic expectations and instead of trying to sell you something- will give you both short term as well as long –term goals for your skin.

 

Written by Kerri Zukosky, PA-C

Colorado Home Care Must Haves For Your Skin

We all know that our Colorado climate can be tough on our skin. A good at-home skincare routine is absolutely imperative if you want to change your skin or maintain it. We tell this to all of our clients who are investing time and money to come in and see us . One of the biggest mistakes we see clients make is coming in regularly for treatments to dramatically help their skin and then using inactive products at home. That’s not helping your skin or wallet out. Think of good homecare as insurance on your investment. You wouldn’t go to the dentist every 6 months for a deep cleaning and NOT floss and brush every day at home, right?

So what does almost EVERYONE need to use at home?

 

#1: A good sunscreen!

YUP! This is an absolutely, hands down, the most important step in your regime if you want to PREVENT aging, hyperpigmentation, loss of collagen and elastin, fine lines and wrinkles, etc. etc. ESPECIALLY here in sunny Colorado. Sun-proofing your skin is so important. Sunscreen will be the best anti-wrinkle cream you ever use, and you want to start as soon as possible.

#2: Retinol!

Retinol is going to be the workhorse of your regime. It stimulates cell turnover, which prompts new, healthy skin cell production, which thickens your dermis and stimulates collagen production. A good retinol nightly will help treat acne, acne scarring, brown spots and sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles, pore size and overall skin texture. We recommend Revision Retinol Complete. This retinol is filled with peptides that tell your skin cells exactly what to do. It’s time released which helps eliminate the dryness and irritation associated with retinoids and retinols making it easier to use consistently.

#3: Eye cream!

The skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin on the body and contains no active oil glands. That’s a recipe for disaster! Add in constant movement from smiling, crying, rubbing etc., and that poor skin doesn’t stand a chance against lines, wrinkles, puffiness and crepyness. We recommend eyecream twice daily, which one you choose depends on your main concern and skin type. Even if your 20 and see no signs of aging around your eyes yet, DO IT! You can thank me later…

#4: Topical Vitamin C!

Ours bodies don’t produce or store vitamin C, which is a major building block for collagen. Vitamin C is also an amazing antioxidant which helps protect your skin from free radicals such as UV rays, pollution, smoke,  etc. It’s important to use a GOOD, high quality, pharmaceutical grade Vitamin C. Please don’t order just any Vitamin C from Amazon or buy something cheap at the grocery store, you are wasting your money!! With the right Vitamin C product topically, you’ll see increased hydration, lightening and brightening of brown spots and redness and with continued use, firmer, healthier skin!

So this is a great place to start for anyone who is new to Colorado or if you are a native and want to prevent skin damage or maintain the skin you have!

We are always a phone call away or if you are curious you can check out our Revision Skincare Starter Kits!