Oxygen and the Skin -- New Facial Offered at Souli!

I was reading a skincare article recently titled “How Oxygen Can Get You the Hollywood Glow for Holiday Parties”. Well, that got my attention, so I started reading and researching to find a fabulous service to add to my menu.

We are all surrounded daily by, yes, oxygen. We all know that  oxygen “feeds” the cells….and our goal is to always make a healthier cell so that at the dermal level we can produce more collagen and elastin.

“You may be wondering why you still have unwelcome fine lines, wrinkles and a dull complexion when you are surrounded by oxygen. But the truth is, you aren’t. The air we breathe, depending on where you live, is made up of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, argon, neon and other gasses and only about 18% is actual oxygen. This is why many of Hollywood’s biggest starts rely on oxygen facials to get all the benefits of oxygen propelled directly into their skin, without the pore-clogging environmental elements along with it.” (Source: blog.imageskincare.com)

Acne, rosacea and aging skin all respond well to oxygen therapy. You may not be a Hollywood star, but I’m sure you have at least one “red carpet” event this year where you’d like to “glow”!

Call Souli Skinspa for details on the Oxygen Facial.

Think Beyond Skin Care Products

We forget that our skin is the largest organ in our body. We might also forget that everything we do (or don't do!) and everything we eat has a profound effect on aging and on our skin.

Diet (sugar, dairy, wheat), exercise, sleep, hydration, sunblock, genetics...it all plays a part. Develop good "life" habits and you will see the results in the mirror.

Start slow with small steps. For instance, make a point to drink one more glass of water daily. Sleep one half-hour longer. Drink three less coffees a week. Eat dessert only on weekends.

And last but not least...smile. On the Souli Skinspa Facebook page, a lot of folks were commenting on how beautiful a client of mine looked. Her response? "It was the SMILE that made the difference." Such a great reminder!

"The benefits of these types of small changes can have a ripple effect, like throwing a pebble in the pond."  Source: Jan/Feb 2014, Shape

Dermapen Microneedling 101

Microneedling's earliest concept actually goes back to China and then on to France, where they used the needles for acupuncture and the meridians of the body to enhance the overall general health of the patient. From there the concept of trying to get through the skin evolved in the early 1900's in Germany where practitioners used a rotating wheel to resurface the skin. The concept of using a needle in the US began about 1995 by two brothers, two dermatologists, in Philly. They were using a bevel needle to release scars and wrinkles.

Which brings us to the modern era in needling....the ability to technologically make needles go through the epidermis and prompt the skin's ability to respond with the whole cascade of wound healing, all phases of normal healing and therefore, making the skin better. In about 2000, a German named Hors Libel trademarked what is now referred to as the "dermaroller", where a wheel barrel roller of needles is rolled over the skin. In 2004 it was shown that this technique made the epidermis and dermis thicker and, thus, there was rejuvenation. This rolling technique has been the method used since that time.

In October, 2011, a company in Australia brought to the US distribution rights to the Dermapen, which is not the older technique of the roller but rather a pen device that has an up and down or stamping method, or vertical intrusion into the skin (as opposed to rolling over the skin) which causes less trauma. You can vary the depth of the needle and you have disposable needles, which eliminates danger of contamination. Because we are then making micro openings in the skin, we also get a trans-dermal delivery system to help with the delivery of products into the skin.

I am very excited to now offer the Dermapen technique to my clients. With the pen, I can stamp the skin with tiny microneedles that, in turn, trigger the body to naturally stimulate collagen and elastin. There is little or no downtime and dramatic changes can be seen over a few months' time.  We can get fabulous results with acne scarring, keloids, stretch marks, lip lines and just overall firming and toning. An added benefit, since there is no heat with the Dermapen, you don't run the risk of hyperpigmentation, which can result from many lasers. (Source: “Microneedling Review" by Dr. Gordon Sasaki)

Call Souli today for a consult toward  "new you" in the new year!

The Inside-Outside Approach to Vitamin D

Vitamin D is manufactured in our skin. As we age, our skin's ability to make Vitamin D declines. This deficiency has been linked to rosacea, eczema and psoriasis.

Deep wrinkles on the face and body are a direct result of bone density loss, which results from a lack of Vitamin D. The vitamin is also critical in regulating hormones and keeping other problems at bay, like depression, seasonal affective disorder, PMS and sleeping problems.

We all know our body makes Vitamin D when directly exposed to the sun, and most of us meet some of our requirements this way. However, we still need to limit sun exposure by wearing protective clothing and SPF of at least 15 to prevent premature aging, cancer and other skin problems. That's why we should also take Vitamin D supplements.

Recommended dosage ranges form 400 to 1200 IU's per day. Please check with your healthcare provider on what is right for you.

Source: Skin Inc. March 2013

Skin as a Reflection of Your Internal Organs

One of the most interesting pieces of information I've learned as an esthetician is that the body's internal organs correspond to specific zones on the face. You also have these mapping points on your ears, soles of the feet, hands and abdomen. These maps are also known as "holograms."

Here's a good example: In an acne consult, I look at what part of the face is breaking out, which gives me information about the cause of the acne and other pieces of information that can help determine treatment. For instance, breakouts on the forehead relate to the intestines. Getting someone with forehead acne on probiotics to reduce inflammation from the inside out usually gives quick results.

Sign up for Souli Skinspa's newsletter for more complete details on holograms. In the next issue I'll give you a complete facial map of the reflex zones.

Intense Moisturizing for the Winter: Hyaluronic Acid

Just about everyone who has come in for treatments in the last few weeks has complained of dry skin. As we enter into the dry winter months, this becomes a problem, especially here in Colorado, and there is one ingredient you can add to your daily regimen to kick your hydration up a notch.

You might have heard of an ingredient called “hyaluronic acid” that is often included in skincare moisturizers, eye creams and lip gloss and is even used as an injectible filler. Here’s an excerpt from an LA Times article that sums it up nicely:

“Hyaluronic acid is a viscous, gooey substance that’s a key component in connective tissues. It lubricates joints and even sustains the shape of the eyeballs. Dr. Nowell Solish, a cosmetic dermatologist, says it’s important to understand that all hyaluronic acid is the same. ‘In fact, so much so that your hyaluronic acid is identical to mine and identical to any species even. Originally before they started making it synthetically, they used to get it from a rooster.’”

And from another article in SkinInc.com:

“Hyaluronic acid is the key for maintaining water substances in human skin. Due to aging, natural hyaluron concentration in the skin decreases at any alarmingly increasing rate throughout time. Accordingly, the skin’s ability to maintain moisture is weakened and it gives the appearance of being dry and rough. When hyaluronic acid is applied back to the skin, it penetrates the dermis, combines with water, and promotes microcirculation and nutrient absorption. It forms an air-permeable layer to help keep the skin moist and smooth. The result is rapid skin rejuvenation, diminishing the appearance of wrinkles, crow’s feet and other cosmetic signs of age around the eyes caused by sun exposure, smoking stress and other common factors.”

Hyaluronic acid is a large molecule so it has the ability to hold 1000 times its weight in water. It is a natural key component of the dermis. It effectively binds water to cells and is responsible for the elasticity and resiliency of the skin. The most effective way to use it topically is as an injectible filler, because it naturally occurs in our skin and the body doesn't see it as foreign, but when applied manually and massaged into the skin, there is a percentage of concentration that absorbs into the skin. When added to your moisturizer daily, it helps moisturize, plump and soften as well as helps stimulate more collagen production at the cellular level.

Hyaluronic acid is also very effective to take internally to hydrate skin and lubricate joints.

What the LED “Red Light” Does for Your Skin

LED is a noninvasive approach to working with light. During the past ten years, independent worldwide research from organizations such as NASA has shown that light applied in the correct wavelength stimulates intercellular communication, resulting in skin rejuvenation. Benefits include:

• Rejuvenates and stimulates ATP at the cellular level, which in turn helps produce more collagen and elastin.
• Helps push product down into your skin for better delivery.
• Reduces inflammation and redness; helps strengthen weakened capillaries.
• Calms and soothes skin irritations and helps heal wounds.
• Encourages a natural chemical reaction within the skin, uniting hydrogen and oxygen to create moisture.
• Relaxes mind, body, and soul!

Stem Cell Science and the Age Management of Skin

Demand for anti-aging ingredients has put progressive age management of skincare at the top of the list for consumers. Sixty-two percent of women between 35 and 54 and more than sixty-five percent of women 55 and older say that aging is their number one reason for using skincare products.

The most cutting-edge anti-aging research involves stem cell technology using plant stem cells, which have proven to protect skin from UV oxidative stress and inhibit inflammation, control collagen loss and tissue damage, and combat destructive free radical injury.

Stem cells are un-programmed cells that can differentiate into a cell with specific functions. They are related to longevity and have a unique growth characteristic allowing them to make identical copies of themselves. Skin stem cells generate new skin to replace the cells lost every day and influence wound-healing. Healthy stem cells mean healthier, younger-acting skin.

With current applications for treating and managing aging skin, scientists are focusing their research on adult stem cells located in the skin and are studying the potential of this cell type, coupled with its function related to chronological aging to help understand how the skin's aging clock can be reset. Plants have stem cells comparable to human stem cells. Unlike humans, plants contain totipotent stem cells with the potential to regenerate a whole plant.

This action gives scientific rise to the benefits of the plant stem cells' ability to regenerate new leaves, flowers, seeds, or a whole, fresh plant. Unlike human stem cells, plant stem cells can de-differentiate and become a stem cell.

This is an exciting time for skincare as a new approach to fight the aging process involves stem cells. It's all about extending and preserving the life energy of skin cells to help yield younger-looking results. We all want to reset that aging clock!

Source: Skin, Inc., June 2010.