The Skin Game (203)It's easier and more affordable for people to achieve more youthful, glowing skin these days, but the options can be overwhelming. Three leading experts will help you sort out a suitable strategy for your skin.
The ABCs of SPF
- SPF = Sun Protection Factor.
- UV rays cause skin damage.
- If you would burn in 10 minutes, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will protect you from UV-B rays for 150 minutes.
- Sunscreens do not shield skin from UV-A rays; sunblock does.
- An SPF of 30 will block 97 percent of the sun's UV-B rays.
- The FDA will no longer allow marketing of SPFs higher than 30 or "waterproof" sunscreens.
- UV-A rays can penetrate car windows.
- To further protect your skin, do not patronize tanning booths.
Skin Perfecting Options and Prices
Microdermabrasion
- Microdermabrasion ordinarily consist of five treatments, one to two weeks apart, followed by monthly maintenance sessions
- Dermatologists use more powerful vacuums than aestheticians
Anti-aging creams
- Kinerase and Kinetin occur naturally in green leafy plants and are used in anti-aging creams.
- Retin-A can help reduce wrinkles.
Botox
- Botox is the brand name of Botulinum Toxin Type A, a nerve-deadening agent first approved in 1989.
- Minor swelling goes away quickly but in rare cases, allergic reaction can cause drooping of the eyelids for two weeks.
- Botox injections cost approximately $450, plus $50 for each additional area — for example, forehead and around the eyes are two different areas.
Collagen Mask
- Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue and a mask is a temporary fix for fine lines and wrinkles. The mask must be repeated weekly to maintain "the look."
- Prices fall into the $25-$50 range depending on the aesthetician.
Collagen Injections
- Collagen injections last an average of 3-6 months.
- Three percent of people are allergic to bovine collagen, with symptoms that include rashes and muscle pain.
- Collagen injections cost from $350 to $575
- Tip: Get tested for allergies a month before collagen shots.
CosmoPlast
- Unlike bovine collagen, CosmoPlast is hypo-allergenic and lasts an average of 6-9 months.
- CosmoPlast shots contain lidocaine, a common pain reliever, and lips remain numb for an hour after treatment.
- CosmoPlast costs approximately $500.
Photofacial
- A photofacial uses a device called an Intense Pulse Light and can reverse some sun damage. Individual dark spots can also be treated with photofacials, such as the "photobody" procedures used to treat age spots on the neck and hands.
- Multiple sessions are necessary. Dermatologist Debra Luftman recommends five treatments with a touch-up session once or twice a year for maintenance.
- Photofacials cost about $400 per session, plus $100 for each additional area, such as neck and chest.
Stacy Cox, aesthetician
Pampered People Spa
Studio City, CA
818-766-7836
www.pamperedpeople.com
Dr. Debra Luftman, dermatologist
16500 Ventura Blvd., Suite 409
Encino, CA 91436
818-905-5277
www.drluftman.com
Dr. Perricone's Skin Benefit Diet
Dr. Nicholas Perricone, dermatologist and author of The Wrinkle Cure, insists that a lot of skin-perfecting strategy is simply a matter of common sense.
Perricone's Top Five Common Sense Tips for Better Skin:
- Anti-inflammatory diet
- Ample sleep
- Moderate exercise
- Daily meditation
- Nutritional supplements
Where diet is concerned, Perricone says "yes" to the following:
- Water, 8-10 glasses a day
- Colorful fruits
- Green veggies
- Nuts
- Green tea
- Olive oil and salmon, which are high in the essential fatty acids used by cells for energy.
Dr. Nicholas Perricone, dermatologist
www.drperricone.com
The Wrinkle Cure
By Dr. Nicholas Perricone
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