This past week I saw a gentleman in followup for his rosacea.  What has bothered him the most has been the significant redness along his face.  It has been very bothersome for him and has affected some of his public speaking because he is embarrassed by it.  We started him on a gentle cleanser, daily photoprotection, and a topical agent at night.  In addition, we started him on BBL treatments for the facial blood vessels.  After starting this regimen, and having 3  BBL treatments he is significantly better.  The redness has improved dramatically and he is not embarrassed to do his public speaking.  We cannot cure rosacea, but for many we can improve it significantly.  It is very gratifying when we can make a difference.

This week in my general dermatology practice I saw a woman in her mid 40's that had a skin cancer on her cheek. We removed it and she will do well. The interesting point;however, is that the area had been present  for 8 years.  It had been bleeding and growing for  several years.  Because of the delay in getting it evaluated, it had grown to a significant  size and was much more complicated to remove and repair .  It this would have been seen years before it would have been a much simpler and easier treatment for this patient.

If you have an area  on your skin that is changing and /or won't heal, I urge you to get it evaluated.  Skin cancers generally are very treatable and curable;however, the earlier they are diagnosed and treated the better. Even better- if you have had alot of sun ,get a baseline skin exam.  There are many things now that can be done to help photodamaged skin and reduce your risk of skin cancers.

We really try hard at Refine Dermatique to minimize discomfort with our procedures. We are always looking for new products or techniques to help us in this quest. Very recently, Allergan came out with their new product Juvederm XC.  This product incorporates a preservative-free local anesthetic(lidocaine) into the syringe. This helps alleviate discomfort with the local dermal filler injections. 

We have already had 2 weeks experience with this new product. We can tell you that our clients are giving it the thumbs up. It really works well and we are excited that it will make these injections even easier for patients.

The other day after finishing a laser procedure on a genteman from the Twin Cities, I reminded him to wear his sunscreen.  He looked at me a little perplexed and said " It is winter, are you kidding?"   I informed him that I was not kidding. It is true that the sun intensity is less here in the wintertime;however, it is still important to protect your skin from the sun in the winter. Sun damage is cumulative. If you are not careful in the winter, you are adding to that cumulative damage.  Over time this cumulative sun damage will increase your risk for skin cancers and precancerous lesions.  At Refine Dermatique, we spend most of our efforts combatting the effects of photodamge that cause pigmentary changes, wrinkling, texture changes, as well as loss of radiance of the skin.  We feel very strongly that daily sunprotection will be worth your time and efforts.

I was asked last week by a patient regarding the training to become a dermatologist. I informed her that it first requires graduation from medical school.  After medical school, one must complete at least 1 year of an internship.  Generally, this is a rotating type internship to broaden your general medicine knowledge(I completed mine at Hennepin County Medial Center).  After internship, you then complete a 3 year Dermatology residency program. During these years you do extensive training to become the expert on all aspects of the skin(I did my residency at the Univ. of Minnesota).  Once you have completed your dermatology residency you are eligible to take your exams to become board certified by the Board of Dermatology. ( I became board certified in 1995).    Dermatologists are required to take a significant number of hours of continuing education each year and to recertify their  board certification every 10 years.  This patient was very happy to know that dermatologists are required to have a significant amount of training before they can enter into practice.

At Refine Dermatique, we are often get asked:  Do I need an eye cream?  The answer is probably yes!  Do you notice that you look at someone eyes and area around their eyes to guess at their age?  That is because the eye area is the first area to show signs of aging.  The skin around our eyes is thin, delicate and needs extra protection and moisture to prevent pre-mature signs of aging.  Here are a few tips:

•     Where a good quality spf (at least 15 spf or more) on your face and around your eyes

 

•    Wear sunglasses to avoid squinting (which contributes to crow's feet).  Wear X-Lg glasses for added protection of that delicate skin around your eyes.

 

•    Add an eye cream to your bedtime routine

 

Summer is coming!  Summer is coming!  Here are some tips to help you get ready to show of your skin!

• Exfoliate:  Get rid of those dead skin cells. Use a body scrub for the whole body and use a facial exfoliator for the face and neck.

 

• Hydrate: Use a light fast absorbing moisturizer. Apply right after your shower to seal in the moisture.

 

• Healthy Glow: There are salons that offer a professional spray tan and many choices of self tanners that build color gradually for a beautiful summer glow without any of the damaging side effects. There are many options for getting that "glow"--the tanning bed should not be one of them!

 

• Protect: Sunscreen is a must! Use about a shot glass full for your body, and at least a nickle size for you face. The key is to reapply every 2 hours. 

                May is National Skin Cancer Awareness month so watch this blog for a month's worth of 
                        blogs, tips and specials regarding sunscreen and protection in May!

Prom Season, Graduation Season, and soon to be Wedding Season!  Winter is finally gone (or at least firmly on its way out!) and now is the time many of us start to think about big events we have coming up.  How do we begin to get our skin ready?  80% of the population will deal with acne at some point in their lives.  Most of us seem to deal with it right before a big day.  Here are some tips to help yourself:

 Precautions and Self Care for Acne situations:

• Avoid touching your face with your hands and fingers
• Wash pillowcase 2 to 3 times a week
• Clean home, cell, and business phones often
• Keep skin clean with non-drying soaps and cleansers
• Avoid greasy cosmetics or creams
• Look for non-comedogenic products

Following these instructions will help you prevent future breakouts.  If acne persists or you'd like help to cystic acne or scarring from acne, Refine offers several services and products that have a great track record!  Combining treatments such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels with our acne product lines can lead to maximized results.  See the Refine website for more information on specialized acne treatments.

Finally, if your acne is severe and treatments don't seem to be working, we recommend visiting a board-certified Dermatologist. 

Spring is coming! (despite the blizzard swirling around us in Minnesota as I write this) and we're getting alot of questions about ways you can improve the appearance and health of your skin.  The great news is you do have control over many things that impact your skin and they're all things that will improve your overall health!

1.  UV Sun Protection!!  We'll have a whole month of blogs coming up about sun protection, but needless to say it is the SINGLE most 
                                    important thing you can do for your skin!
2.  Quit Smoking
3.  Eat a Balanced, Vitamin-rich Diet
4.  Drink More Water
5.  Get Enough Sleep
6.  Exercise Regularly

In addition, you can incorporate a professional skincare regimen for maximum results.

Taking care of our skin is like taking care of a nice vehicle: Maintenance is required to prevent rusting and breakdowns!  No matter what your gender, preventative care is important!

Did you know that we have several clients who happen to be men?  It's an unfortunate stereotype that only women should take care of their skin!  There are many men who are interested in having healthy looking skin and who take pride in their personal appearance. At Refine, we are particularly interested in helping men feel comfortable during their visit.

Our top 3 most popular services for men are:

1. BBL (Broad Band Light) for sun/age spots on the face and arms.  BBL is also used to treat broken capillaries on the face.

2. Botox is often used for men wanting to erase the vertical lines between the brows.

3. Laser Hair Removal for the back, neck,  and upper arm shoulder area.