New You Resolutions!

The holidays are right around the corner, and we all know what that means – New Year’s Resolutions!  Instead of making a resolution that you know will be ridiculously hard to keep, here’s a list of 10 resolutions that will be easy and beneficial for your skin and health!
1. WEAR SUNSCREEN EVERY DAY – We know, we know…we preach this every blog almost.  But that should tell you how important a daily SPF of 30 or higher is!  Many women don’t like the texture of sunscreen, but with so many new formula’s coming out, it’s easy to find one you like. Look for "nongreasy" or "sheer" on the label.  Try our private-label Topix spray zinc, or La Roche Posay’s “Shaka” Anthelios 60 Ultra-Light Fluide, available at www.skincarekorner.com.
2. TAKE OFF YOUR MAKEUP AT NIGHT- As someone who is a guilty party when it comes to night time makeup remover, this will absolutely be one of my resolutions this year! You've known since middle school that makeup can mix with skin oils and dirt to cause zits. Cosmetics can also trap skin-damaging free radicals that float in the air (think: bus exhaust) against your skin. But it always seems like such a hassle to drag yourself to the bathroom and splash water everywhere!  So what can make it easier? If you have no plans for the evening, wash you face as soon as you get home and into your comfy clothes!  Still too burdening?  Use a makeup remover towelette for easy makeup removal.
3. BOOK A YEARLY MOLE CHECK – It’s once a year, but having a mole checkup is crucial, even if you are doing monthly self exams. It could mean the difference between life and death.

4. EXFOLIATE REGULARLY – The first thing we notice as we get older is our dull complexion.  Did you know a baby’s skin replenishes itself every 14 days, but by age 30, it takes 28 days? Scrub away the dead skin with an exfoliator!  Try Vivite’s Exfoliating Facial Cleanser once or twice a week, or a daily cleanser containing glycolic acid such as Topix Glycolic 10% Cleanser, which will help your skin stay smooth and bright!  Both are available at www.skincarekorner.com.

5. CLEAN YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES - Brushes collect makeup, skin oils, and dead skin cells, making them a breeding ground for bacteria. Wash your tools twice a month with your facial cleanser or an antibacterial hand soap.  Rinse well, squeeze out excess water, and allow to dry thoroughly before using again.

everything you have ever wanted to know about Botox

Have you wondered about Botox, but were afraid to ask? We went through some of our most common patient questions and answered them for everyone!

- Does Botox prevent wrinkles? Yes! Botox slows the muscle contraction that causes fine lines to etch into the skin.

-Is Botox going to make me feel numb or look frozen? No, Botox does not interfere with the nerve endings that control sensation. Looking frozen can be a by product of too much Botox concentrated in one location. Dr Louton most often recommends softening the lines instead of freezing the area all together.

-Does Botox hurt?  Like any injection, there may be a slight discomfort at the injection site. discomfort can be minimized by icing the are before and after. We provide our patients cool packs to help with the sensations associated with discomfort.

-What is the best age to start Botox? You don't have to wait for the wrinkles to start to begin Botox treatments. Any age is fine to begin Botox, which is FDA approved for patients ages 18 to 65.

-How long does Botox last? Botox last anywhere from 3 to 4 months before the muscles regain motion.

-Will my friends know I had Botox? Yes and no. Your friends may notice if you look a little bit more refreshed. However, if your Botox was over done, they may notice you look shiny, tight and totally frozen.

-What can I expect the day after Botox treatment?- Not a whole lot. Botox takes several days to a week to take effect. The lines then will gradually decrease over the course of one to three months. Anyone preparing for a major event show have treatment at least 2 weeks in advance.

-Diane

Things I didn't know

I don’t know about you, but I feel like every day I’m bombarded with TV and infomercials with new tips and techniques to make my skin look “flawless” or “perfect.”  Truth is, nothing in this world can make your skin look like the airbrushed supermodels in your monthly Cosmo.  And, like all of you, I am tired of companies trying to persuade me to purchase their very expensive products in order to attain this so-called “perfection.”  So here is a list of things that you’ve probably not heard that are relatively easy (and cheap) to do.  While they won’t make your skin perfect, they will definitely help to improve!

1.       Even the cheapest lotion will work.

Afraid to use that lotion from your hotel room?  Don’t be.  Any emollient will not only temporarily plump up fine lines but also help prevent skin aging.  Any lotion containing glycerin, Shea butter, or any other basic hydrator will help your skin by moisturizing it, increasing elasticity, and helping to decrease flakiness.  That being said, do you want to use your hotel lotion every day?  Probably not.  For everyday use, Dr. Fanny recommends a cream or lotion that contain ingredients such as glycolic (to help with cell turnover), peptides (to stimulate collagen growth), or antioxidants (to fight against DNA-damaging free radicals.

2.       Relax your face while working out.

Everyone knows that exercising regularly is great for your skin.  But are you conscience of the facial expressions you’re making when you lift those weights?  Clenching your teeth, clenching your jaw and throat can make the cords in their neck pop out and become more prominent, as well as pull down the face.  Instead, try to relax your face as much as possible.

3.       When we say wear a daily sunscreen, we really mean daily.

I can’t tell you how many patients have told me they don’t wear a daily sunscreen.  Why?  Because “it’s dark when I leave for work, and it’s dark when I get home.” Don’t assume you aren’t going to have ANY exposure to the sun on a daily basis. Unlike UVB light, UVA rays travel through windows in the office, home, and car.  UVA rays are the long, aging rays, and have been discovered to be carcinogenic.  SPF 30 in a broad-spectrum sunscreen needs to be worn daily in order to protect your skin.  No ifs, ands, or buts.

4.       Don’t sit too close to that space heater.

With winter and cooler weather coming, women (even on our office) are breaking out the space heathers!  All the SPF and sun avoidance in the world can't protect you from the space heater next to your desk or the fireplace in your living room.  Redness, flushing, broken capillaries, and breakdown of collagen are all caused from sitting to close to direct heat.  So what’s too close?  Experts advise sitting at least 10 feet away from the heat source.

5.       Don’t over-fill.

Women are beginning to realize that fuller faces look younger, and have started getting filler injections to help reverse the years.  Radiesse, Juvéderm, Sculptra, and other volume fillers are more widely available than ever.  But don’t overdo it.  Eyes, mouths, and jawlines can become dwarfed by filling in the cheeks and naso-labial folds to the extremes.  Instead, ask your doctor to just fill in the places where the fat had gone away with age – the temples, front of the ears, and chin.  By making your face fuller from the outside, the softness of your face increases without looking overdone or unnatural.

6.       Banish those straws!

Water, water, water.  We all know water is one secret to great skin.  However, how you drink the water can also have an effect.  Women who drink from straws or out of plastic water bottles with small openings are the most common to suffer from unwanted peri-oral wrinkles and fine lines.  The constant pursing can aggravate the current lines, as well as even create new ones!  When drinking your water, opt to drink from a glass or carry a reusable bottle with a spout so you can squirt the water in.  New reusable water bottles have been designed with large openings to prevent this as well.

 

7.       Sleep position can cause wrinkles.

When we sleep on our sides or stomach as night, the skin on our face is pressed into a pillowcase all night.  There are two potential problems with this.  First, pillow cases need to be washed once a week.  Oil and dirt, as well as makeup (if you don’t wash your face at night) can get trapped in the pillowcase and transfer onto your skin as you sleep, causing acne and blackheads.  Keeping the case clean protects against this.  Second, the smoother the pillowcase, the better.  The skin in pressed against the wrinkles of your pillowcase as you sleep, causing them to transfer.  The best way to avoid this is sleeping on your back. However, if this is not an option, we recommend satin or silky pillowcases, or if you prefer cotton, the highest thread count available.

-Rebecca

Skin Care Focus Group

We will be holding a Skin Care Focus Group in our State College office today! We have been preparing for several weeks for this event and are so excited!

After a brief introduction of our practice and staff, we will be presenting two new cosmeceutical product lines, ReGenica and Revisions.

ReGenica is a new brand containing growth factors and stem cell technology and we do not currently offer any of their products in our practice.  We do offer 2 products from Revisions; Teamine eye cream and Intellishade tinted sunscreen.  Revisions however, has a multitute of specialty products available which we have never tried; Nectifirm for the neck, Lumiquin for the hands, the Black Mask, to name a few. The goal of our focus groups is to determined whether or not these new products/lines are worth the time and cost based on the results they may or may not produce. We need volunteers who are willing to test these products for 6 weeks.  Full size products will be given to those 4 volunteers that fit the target profile for these products.  Two volunteers will try the Regenica line and 2 other volunteers will try the Revisions products.

Other attendants will be given sample sizes of those products and can return for the Results focus group on Thursday November 8th.

We look forward to sharing our results!

-Dr Fanny

How much is too much? Part One- lip augmentation

When you make the decision to have injectable fillers, presumably it is to address facial features that are inadequate or have changed over time. So how much filler is enough?  It depends.  Is the goal to reverse some of the signs of aging?  Or is the purpose to enhance a facial attribute such as lips or eyes?  Reversing the signs of aging tends toward larger volumes distributed over larger areas, while enhancement tends to focus the volume to a single feature.

We often address a single feature when we should be looking at the overall picture and asking ourselves what is the best way to improve the result.

The objective of filling a single facial attribute should be to enhance the feature not to change its anatomy.  What my filler patients fear most is over correction.   A fake look is rendered when the anatomy of the feature is not respected. 

A perfect example is the lips.

 

My goal is to define the philtrum first and then increase vermillion height.  I stop the injection before distorting the natural contour of the lips.   The patient should not look as though she just came out of the plastic surgeons office.  The lips should appear natural and youthful with a modest amount of definition and volume.  Attempts to upturn the lips greater than their anatomy allows often yields distortion and loss of delicacy of the bow or an unnatural projection of the lips (“duck lips”).

 

 

-"The Admiral" Dr Robert Louton, MD, F.A.C.S.

 

 

 

Consultations and treatment are available from Dr Louton in both our Altoona and State College locations. Call (814)949-7280 or (814) 234-1420 for more information.

 



Improving your skin through diet

I’m sure every one of us would LOVE to lose a few pounds...but did you know that by eating

healthier and dieting, you can actually improve your skin as well? And it isn’t what you
think..just as I do with my patients, I will reiterate again...chocolate and Mt. Dew do NOT cause pimples! However, Cosmopolitan.com recently featured an article called “A Diet for Gorgeous Skin" informing readers what eat and what actually to avoid:

1. New research shows that potatoes, and white breads, pastas, and rice can trigger high insulin levels, causing unwanted breakouts! Instead, eat whole-grains,
like whole grain breads and whole wheat pastas.
What are the benefits for your health? Studies have shown a significant decrease

of strokes, Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, colorectal cancer, and gum

disease! And on a personal note, whole wheat pasta reheats MUCH better than
white pasta, staying firm, and not getting mushy!

 2. Eating more seafood! Fish contains essential fatty acids Omega-3
and Omega-6, which help to decrease inflammation in the body. The less
inflammation, the fewer pimples! Inflammation is also a cause of premature
wrinkling. Salmon, mackerel and tuna are more recommended.

Now, if you’re anything like me and you HATE seafood, there are other
alternatives! Many nuts contain these fatty acids, such as almonds, hazelnuts,
eggs and flaxseeds. Throw some on your salad, or pack a baggie to snack on at
your desk.

What are the benefits to your health? The list is too long to type out!

Studies have shown that omega fatty acids can help prevent degenerative

diseases like heart disease, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s,
diabetes and more. The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3’s are especially
beneficial to menopausal women in preserving heart, breast and bone health,
and even help keep for mood swings. I’ll have to make a mental note to stock our
office kitchen with some almonds...

3. Avoid foods that make you blush. Not every women has this problem, but

many do, especially as they age and blood vessels dilate more. Foods to avoid
are spicy foods, such as mexican or hot peppers, MSG, and alcohol. If you do
tend to get red easily and often, simply pay attention to what triggers it and cut
back. Cutting back on spicy foods can also prevent heartburn and acid reflux, and
avoiding or cutting back alcohol can reduce calorie intake, which is never a bad
thing!

4. Many women feel that if they cut out fat altogether, they are being healthy.

However, avoiding all fats can hinder more than help. Many women, especially
younger, become dry and flaky because they are not eating enough fat. Eating
fat in moderation can help to lubricate your skin, as well as absorb Vitamin A.
Deficiency of Vitamin A will cause premature aging, early fine lines, and uneven
texture. Avocados, nuts, olive oil, and egg whites are all full of good fats that can
help your skin, and not make you put on the pounds.
Your body also needs fats to survive. When one restricts too much fat
from her diet, she she is at risk for depression, increased cancer risk, overeating,
and unbalanced nutrients. Moderation is the key!

And to me, most importantly, DRINK WATER! Water flushes out impurities and

keeps your body and skin hydrated. It has also been proven that you can burn
200 calories a day, simply by drinking 6 glasses of ice cold water every day!



-Elizabeth

La Roche Posay Redermic R review- Diane

Diane reviewing Redermic R by La Roche Posay

La Roche Posay Substiane+ Review by Dr Fanny

Solar Damage and Prevention

Did you know there are antioxidants that can help prevent solar damage?

ABC's of UV Rays

What are these rays and how do they damage the skin? UVA is a short range beam of ultraviolet light and UVB is a long range beam. An easy way to remember what beam effects what layer of skin is to recall that UVA light is an aging ray and UVB is the burning ray. UVB leads to superficial damage, such as erythema (pinkness) and sunburn. UVA penetrates the skin deeply to effect the dermal layer causing the skin to age and damages cell DNA possibly causing skin cancer!

Broad spectrum sunscreen blocks both UVA and UVB rays preventing the long and short term damage of the sun’s rays.

The proof is right in front of us now as consumers that sunscreen is the most important skin care product that we have available!

Protection is essential.

-Diane

Fing

My Go to Sunscreen- Rebecca

I have found my favorite sunscreen!  Revision's Intellishade original is a tinted moisturizer with SPF45.  I have tried so many different sunscreens and most of them were too thick and white or got in my eyes and burned like crazy.  The advanced formula is great for even sensitive skin types.  I like that I get my complete tinted coverage as well as SPF45 broad-spectrum protection and moisturizing peptides.  Breakthrough peptides reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by directing the skin cells to produce more collagen.  The tinted coverage matches every skin tone, every time.  I like the original formula because it gives me a dewy finish, but it comes in a Matte formula too.  Most oily skin types like the matte finish because it helps conceal the shine.  I sample the product in both formulas to everyone, because you are only going to wear a sunscreen if you like it.  It is something that’s on your face all day (hopefully), so you must like the texture, the smell and how it feels once it is on your skin.  With the Intellishade, when I apply it in the morning it stays put.  I love it and I know you will love it too.

-Rebecca