"Ask the Doctor" Videos
Featured "Ask the Doctor" Videos: By Dr. Gary Goldfaden, Renowned Dermatologist
- How Do Dark Circles Work?
- How Do the 5 Steps to Healthy Skin Work?
- How Does Acne Treatment Work?
- How Does Sun Damage Work?
- How Does Scar Treatment Work?
- How Does Botox Work?
- How Do Fillers Work?
- How Do Skin Wrinkles Work?
- How Does Mole Treatment Work?
- How Does Skin Cancer Work?
See all videos about Dr. Gary Goldfaden, Renowned Dermatologist, on Google, AOL or YouTube.
Preventing & Managing Skin Pigmentation Disorders
LIFE EXTENSION Magazine, March 2006
By Gary Goldfaden, MD
Q. What causes increased pigmentation and darkening of the skin, and what can I do for its prevention and management?
A. There are many possible causes of pigmentation disorders, which are marked by changes in melanin, the pigment in skin. First, you should consult with your primary care physician or dermatologist to rule out the possibility of a systemic health disorder or a cancerous lesion that requires medical treatment.
Your health care provider will conduct a physical examination, examining the location, distribution, color, and appearance of the areas of increased pigmentation. Additionally, the practitioner will assess the history of the condition, which will help determine whether the disorder may be due to a developmentally programmed, congenital, or acquired cause.
Your practitioner will also evaluate whether external factors, such as medications, chemical exposure, or other environmental influences, could have contributed to the increased deposition of pigment in the skin. Furthermore, the practitioner will make note of any prior history of pigmentation disorder and its treatment.
The most common localized pigmentation disorder affecting the skin are ephelides, more commonly known as freckles. Ephelides appear as flat brown pigmentation in sun-exposed areas, usually on the face. They are much more common in fair-skinned individuals, and a propensity to have freckles is an inheritable condition. The degree of pigmentation in the skin changes according to the amount of ultraviolet light exposure, so that freckles usually darken in the summer and lighten in the winter.
Changes in pigmentation of the lips, gums, and soft tissue of the mouth are quite common. These are known as mucosal melanosis, which are well-demarcated, flat pigmented areas. In most cases, these lesions are quite benign, but clinical monitoring is essential to rule out the possibility of melanoma, a cancerous condition. Other pigment changes in the mucus membranes must be differentiated from other systemic diseases.
Pigmentation disorders such as melasma or chloasma arise from increased melanin in the lower layers of the skin and increased free melanin in the skin. The pigmentation is usually brown with a nondistinct border, and is usually found on the central facial areas such as the cheeks, moustache, and forehead areas. Melasma affects both men and women, though it is more frequent in women (up to 30% maybe affected). Its incidence is much higher in Asian and darker-skinned individuals than in fair-skinned people. The causes are unknown, but probably include genetic predisposition, hormonal factors, pregnancy, and exposure to ultraviolet light. There is no true curative therapy for melasma. Affected individuals should avoid ultraviolet light exposure and drugs containing hormones, such as oral contraceptives and conventional hormone replacement therapy agents. Skin-bleaching agents are extremely helpful in lightening melasma and maintaining skin-lightening improvements.
Another very common skin disorder is known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The underlying mechanism is unclear, but may involve inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes. While the causes and clinical presentation of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can vary, they are usually secondary to a traumatic incident to the affected area of the skin. Sun exposure can worsen this condition. Topical therapies in combination with sunscreens can be quite beneficial.
Many all-natural, topical skin-lightening agents have been found to be quite beneficial in lightening hyperpigmented areas of the skin. These include alpha arbutin, as well as kojic acid, which comes from berries. Topical applications of natural, fruit-derived alpha-hydroxy acids, including glycolic acid, have been extremely beneficial in combination with the aforementioned bleaching agents. For enhanced results, these products should be used in conjunction with exfoliation. Once your physician has ruled out conditions necessitating medical treatment, you may be able to minimize areas of hyperpigmentation using a well-rounded approach that includes avoiding ultraviolet radiation from the sun, using an effective sunscreen, and applying novel, topical lightening ingredients.
Topical Use of Tea Benefits Skin Health
LIFE EXTENSION Magazine, October 2005
By Gary Goldfaden, MD
Tea has been prized throughout human history for its health-promoting effects. In ongoing research, scientists are discovering that the topical use of tea may confer numerous benefits to the skin. Rich in antioxidants, topically applied tea extracts help promote healthy, youthful skin.
Skin is often thought of as the great envelope of the human body. Its numerous and varied functions include external protection, temperature regulation, sensory detection, and toxin removal, as well as the specialty functions involving the hair and nails. One amazing property of skin is that it is continuously being made by our bodies. Skin reproduces itself approximately every 28 days, the time it takes for a newborn skin cell, or epidermal cell, to migrate and mature to the skin's dry surface, known as the stratum corneum.
The skin's appearance is determined by its exposure to potentially harmful environmental influences such as sunlight and air pollution, in combination with diet and topical care. Promoting optimal skin appearance and function entails protecting and nourishing the skin as much as possible. It is important that these efforts target skin cells during their earliest stages of development, so that the older cells look and function as best they can. These efforts also play a large part in preventing many dermatological diagnoses, as well as skin cancer, the most common of all cancers.
Red, green, white, and black teas from around the world have been used for centuries in various medicinal remedies. Modern research continues to elucidate the anti-aging and health-promoting effects of tea.1 Recent findings have shown that tea has antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits. When combined with other topical agents in skincare products, tea helps to enhance their effects, a synergy that helps improve the skin's appearance, texture, and function. Frequent exfoliation allows active tea constituents to better penetrate the skin. Alpha-hydroxy acids are among the most beneficial exfoliating agents available today.
Tea contains several of the most potent and protective antioxidant vitamins and phytochemicals for skin health. The most important of these are vitamins C and E, carotenoids, and flavonoids.
Vitamin C contributes to human health in many important ways, including promoting the health and beauty of the skin. Vitamin C decreases production of the pigment melanin, allowing for lighter and brighter skin. It is required for collagen synthesis, which may contribute to fewer wrinkles, and also helps facilitate skin repair after an injury. Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant that is able to suppress free radicals in the skin. Its ability to be regenerated in the skin is enhanced by vitamin C.
Carotenoids found in tea are potent fat-soluble antioxidants that help quench free radicals generated by ultraviolet rays. In addition to vitamin antioxidants and carotenoids, tea also contains 25-30% flavonoids, which include water-soluble plant pigments known as polyphenols. The major polyphenol in tea is epigallocatechin-3 gallate, or EGCG. Oral and topical use of tea and EGCG helps to inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress, and may help to prevent photoaging and cancers of the skin. The combination of these natural antioxidants improves skin health, giving it a smoother, brighter, and healthier appearance.
Research indicates that tea is a potent inducer of superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme that quenches excess superoxide radicals and other reactive oxygen species. As adults reach the age of 60 and beyond, the amount of SOD in normal skin diminishes and is incapable of adequately neutralizing large amounts of reactive oxygen species. With environmental and other influences such as sunlight, smoking, and diet contributing to the generation of reactive oxygen species, it is critical to optimize SOD levels through the use of tea and other flavonoids.
In addition to the beauty benefits of topical tea, natural fruit acids called alpha-hydroxy acids rejuvenate the skin by encouraging the shedding of old, sun-damaged cells on the skin's surface. Alpha-hydroxy acids loosen the glue-like substances that bind skin surface cells to each other, allowing the dead skin to peel off and the skin underneath to emerge. This underlying skin has a fresher, healthier look, with a more even color and texture. Exfoliation with alpha-hydroxy acids also allows topical antioxidant agents such as tea to affect the newly exposed cells to greatest benefit.
For optimal effects, frequent use of topical products containing tea in combination with exfoliating agents is recommended. Furthermore, oral supplementation with vitamins C and E, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids can help to beautify the skin and boost its antioxidant status. Finally, eating a diet rich in flavonoids such as those found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables will help promote and preserve your skin's health and beauty.
Topical Treatments for Rosacea
LIFE EXTENSION Magazine, September 2005
By Gary Goldfaden, MD
Q. I am a 45-year-old adult male. I thought I was past the acne stage, but my skin continues to break out. My dermatologist told me that I have rosacea. What is the cause and nature of this condition, and is there any treatment or cure?
A. Patients who suffer from rosacea often ask whether there are any treatments for this rather frequent problem.
Rosacea is a chronic or long-term disease that affects the face and sometimes the eyes. It is characterized by excessive redness, pimples, and, in advanced stages, thickening of the skin.
Rosacea affects approximately 10-15 million people in the US and is most often seen in adults between the ages of 30 and 60. It is slightly more common in women (particularly during the menopausal years) than men. Rosacea affects people of all skin colors and ethnic groups, but fair-skinned individuals are slightly more likely to develop the condition.
The earliest stages of rosacea are marked by frequent flushing of the central areas of the face, including the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. This may be accompanied by a burning sensation, particularly following the application of various creams or cosmetics to the face. The facial skin also may become swollen.
Most of my patients with rosacea experience an increase in the number of visible small blood vessels in their facial skin. These small blood vessels may enlarge, dilate, and pre-sent as small red lines, which are known as telangiectasias. Patients sometimes report a warm sensation in the skin. As the condition progresses, papules, pink bumps, and pustules (bumps containing pus) begin to appear on the face.
These changes may also occur in the eye area, and are sometimes misdiagnosed as hordeolum (stye) or conjunctivitis. In more advanced cases of rosacea, the skin may turn a deep shade of red or almost purple, and inflammation of the eyes may become much more apparent. By this stage, numerous telangiectasias and painful nodules may be seen.
The late stage of rosacea is known as rhinophyma, and more commonly affects men. This state is marked by an enlarged, bulbous red nose resulting from enlargement of the sebaceous (oil-producing) glands beneath the skin's surface.
Up to half of all people who suffer rosacea experience eye symptoms. The most common eye symptoms noted by my patients are redness, dryness, itchiness, burning, tearing, and the sensation of having sand in the eye. In addition, the eyelids can become inflamed and swollen. Some of my rosacea patients complain that their eyes are sensitive to light and occasionally their vision is blurred.
While the cause of rosacea remains unknown, inherited factors may play a partial role. Some research suggests that rosacea sufferers have blood vessels that dilate too easily, resulting in a flushing or redness of the skin. Numerous factors can cause rosacea to flare up in one person but have no effect in another individual. Some people claim that one or more of the following have aggravated their rosacea: heat, hot baths, strenuous exercise, sunlight, wind, very cold temperatures, hot or spicy food and drink, alcohol consumption, menopause, emotional stress, and long-term use of topical steroids on the face. Many patients affected by the acne-like, pustular stage of rosacea assume that their condition is caused by bacteria, and indeed, topical and internal antibiotics benefit some patients. Curiously, however, researchers have not been able to identify a definitive link between rosacea, bacteria, and other organisms in the hair follicles or oil glands.
Although there is no cure for rosacea, it can be treated and controlled quite well. Usually a dermatologist treats patients with this particular skin problem. The goals of treatment are to control the condition and improve the appearance of the patient's skin. It may take several weeks or months of treatment before seeing noticeable improvement. Depending on the severity of the symptomatology, I might prescribe topical antibiotics applied directly to the affected skin. In more severe cases, oral antibiotics may help prevent the pain, scarring, discomfort, and eye symptoms of severe rosacea. Papules and pustules of the skin seem to respond quite quickly to treatment, though the redness and flushing are less responsive to treatment.
Some patients with severe cases of rosacea may become depressed or embarrassed by their skin's appearance. Some experience low self-esteem and report adverse effects concerning their social and professional interactions with others. Symptoms of depression such as sadness, loss of appetite, and difficulty concentrating should be discussed with a physician.
The eye symptoms associated with rosacea often respond to the treatments just described, in combination with regular eyelid hygiene that may consist of cleaning with appropriate agents and applying warm (but not hot) compresses several times daily. When patients are severely affected, systemic medications may be necessary. Electric or laser surgery may help treat red lines and telan-giectasias of the skin associated with severe, chronic rosacea.
In a recent dermatological comparison study, the use of a lotion containing a tea extract produced a 70% improvement in rosacea compared to use of a lotion containing the base ingredients alone. This tea extract is rich in antioxidant polyphenols and contains a variety of potent flavonoids. This study supports what many of my patients who suffer with rosacea have discovered: that using extremely mild cleansers and oil-free moisturizers, combined with potent antioxidant preparations such as red tea extract, will help alleviate many of the signs and symptoms of rosacea.
In addition, the use of high-quality antioxidant eyedrops may help prevent dry eyes and other problems associated with rosacea. I also recommend to my patients with rosacea that they avoid any known risk factors that may cause a flare-up of symptoms, and that they protect themselves from excessive sun exposure.
Must-Have Skincare Products on the Rise
PLASTIC SURGERY.COM, July 2005
By Elana Pruitt
Cosmesis Skincare Specialty Products:
Developed by lead dermatologist Gary Goldfaden, M.D., Cosmesis Skincare is an all-natural line of products offering maximum performance without a prescription. With the active, anti-oxidant ingredient of Red Tea, The Self Microdermabrasion™ formula can benefit all types of skin, especially for those in need of gentle exfoliation. With the removal of dead skin cells, you'll be refreshed and ready to go! To reduce fine lines and wrinkles, try a few drops of the Instant Face Lift. And for increased volume and contour, or the common chapped-lip flakiness, keep the Lip Plumper in your purse at all times!
Topical Alternatives to Cosmetic Surgical Procedures
LIFE EXTENSION Magazine, June 2005
By Gary Goldfaden, MD
Q: Many cosmetic surgical procedures can be risky, painful, and very expensive. Are there any topical alternatives to undergoing these common cosmetic procedures?
A: A great number of safe cosmetic procedures can be performed in a doctor's office, either with or without anesthesia. The average cost of these procedures ranges from about $450 to $750 per treatment. However, these procedures also come with their share of possible side effects, including pain, bleeding, bruising, allergic reactions, and infection. Furthermore, certain procedures, such as Botox injections, have been associated with more dangerous side effects. These cosmetic procedures and injections produce effects that tend to last three to five months, but must be repeated for continual results.
Topical products may produce results similar to those of costly cosmetic procedures. Although the results may be slower to appear, they will likely continue for as long as the topical products are used. This month, I will examine two commonly performed cosmetic procedures and possible topical alternatives.
Lip-Enlargement Procedures:
As we age, our lips tend to lose volume, contour, and moisture. These changes can be corrected with injections of collagen or Restylane®, fat transplants, or other office-based cosmetic procedures. Such lip-enlargement treatments help create fuller, more voluptuous lips, commonly known as "Paris lips."Newly formulated topical "lip plumpers" allow for lip enhancement in your home, without having to travel to a doctor's office. Topical lip plumpers contain various types of natural plant-derived irritants that increase lip volume by increasing blood flow to the tissues. They also contain natural moisturizers such as squalane and jojoba oil that smooth the lips and lessen the appearance of fine lines and creases. Some lip plumpers also contain natural antioxidants like red tea, as well as other nutrients to help allay sun damage and premature aging.
Topical lip plumpers have become an extremely popular alternative to doctor-administered lip-enlargement procedures, and occasionally are used in combination with them. Dermatologist-formulated lip plumpers tend to produce the best results.
Wrinkle-Relaxing Treatments:
Botox® injections and other muscle-immobilizing, injectable treatments have become the world's most popular cosmetic procedures. These procedures are quite expensive, ranging from about $300 to $1,000 per treatment, depending on the areas to be treated and the amount of medication used.Botox®, a very dilute preparation of the bacterial toxin that causes botulism, is injected directly into the muscle bodies involved in facial expression, thereby paralyzing the muscles. These injections take effect in one to four days and tend to last three to five months, depending on the depth of the facial-expression lines and strength of the affected muscle groups.
Many side effects can result from these injections. Paralysis of other muscle groups (though usually temporary) may occur due to local spreading of the medication. Additional side effects may include pain, infection, double vision, droopy eyelids, nerve damage, and facial asymmetry. More severe effects are also possible. Recently, several cases of botulism resulting in total-body paralysis were caused by the use of a botulinum toxin product that was not approved for human use.
These widely publicized mishaps have led to growing use of topical, non-toxic wrinkle-relaxing agents. Such agents work by weakening facial-muscle contractions without causing paralysis. Two of the most commonly and safely used wrinkle-relaxing agents—acetyl hexapeptide-3 and gamma amino butyl acid—are now included in many topical, dermatologist-formulated products. It may take several weeks to notice results, but these products produce noticeable improvement in facial-expression lines that usually lasts for as long as the product is used. Dermatologist-formulated wrinkle-relaxing formulas are suggested for optimal results.
Reducing Dark Circles & Puffiness Under the Eyes
LIFE EXTENSION Magazine, March 2005
By Gary Goldfaden, MD
Q. Are there any nutrients or skincare products available to help with dark circles and puffiness under the eyes?
A. As a dermatologist, I encounter patients who want to look younger by removing dark circles and puffiness under their eyes. Dark circles and puffiness under the eyes can be caused by several factors. The skin around the eyelid is normally extremely thin, and as we age, it becomes even thinner. In addition to individual genetic disposition, external factors such as ultraviolet radiation, pollution, and topical irritants can play a significant role in creating dark circles and puffiness. Excessive rubbing and touching of the eyelid skin will worsen the condition.
In basic physiological terms, dark circles and puffiness under the eyes indicates a problem retaining blood in the skin's upper layers. This is caused by poor or compromised hemodynamic properties and limited blood flow. If left untreated or treated inappropriately, this can lead to a buildup of venous back pressure in the tiny fine capillaries of the skin, eventually resulting in greater damage to the already compromised collagen and connective tissue. As the damage worsens, the supply of oxygen to the affected area is likewise compromised. Inflammation and an increase in the activity of proteolytic enzymes, due to ultraviolet exposure, contribute to further degeneration of the connective tissues, resulting in wrinkles and looseness of skin in the area.
To be effective, the products used to treat dark circles and puffiness under the eyes must address the physiological causes of this condition. Soy and rice bran peptides have been demonstrated to reduce venous blood clotting. They have also been shown to have a localized effect on the hemodynamic properties of blood vessels and to increase blood supply to the superficial tissue of the eyelids. Moreover, these two peptides have been shown to inhibit elastase and collagenase, which degrade collagen and elastin in the skin, thus helping the skin retain its natural firmness. Oxydoreductase and potent antioxidants, such as red and green tea, help diminish free radicals in the skin, reducing inflammation and minimizing the resulting puffiness and wrinkling around the eyes.
The active complex of soy and rice bran peptides, along with oxydoreductase and natural antioxidants, can be found in certain facial care products today. However, this nutrient complex is most commonly found in anti-aging eye care agents. These products are primarily for mature skin that is beginning to show visible signs of aging. When choosing a product to help prevent dark circles and puffiness under the eyes, make sure the product contains this complex of peptides, as well as high concentrations of potent natural antioxidants such as red and green tea. Dermatologist-formulated skin care products tend to be superior to their commercially available counterparts.
Preventing & Treating Bruises
LIFE EXTENSION Magazine, January 2005
By Gary Goldfaden, MD
Q. I frequently get black and blue marks and bruise very easily. Can you explain why this happens and what can be done about it?
A. Many people may take a hard hit on the arm or leg and develop a purple bruise that may last for a few days. Others develop black and blue marks from the slightest touch, which may last up to a few weeks.
A bruise is a black and blue mark caused by an injury to tissue beneath the skin. Purpura is the medical term for bleeding in the skin. A bruise is caused by the rupture or breakage of blood vessels, resulting in skin discoloration. This discoloration occurs because blood cells leak out of small broken blood vessels or capillaries, and are trapped under the skin or deeper tissues.
Simple bruises from slight trauma can be easily treated with ice. Ice constricts broken blood vessels and lessens leakage under the skin. If ice is used, a bruise will still form, but will be smaller and less painful. Frequent or easy bruising can present a cosmetic challenge and may signal a medical condition.
People who have thin arms and legs may bruise more easily because they may not have enough fat to cushion and protect superficial blood vessels from damage. Older adults are more prone to bruising because of weakening of the blood vessels. People who have severely sun damaged skin are more susceptible to bruising, which is a very important reason to ensure that skin is adequately protected from the sun.
Blood-clotting problems can contribute to easy bruising. The liver plays a major role in the blood-clotting process by producing some factors involved in the blood-clotting cascade. Anything that damages the liver, like prolonged heavy drinking, may cause an imbalance in the blood-clotting process and contribute to easy bruising.
Medications are a common cause of easy bruising. The most commonly problematic medications are aspirin and other over-the-counter medications for pain and inflammation. Side effects of these and other drugs, such as steroids, may lead to easier bruising.
Consult your physician if you experience bruises that appear spontaneously without trauma. Blood-clotting tests, as well as close monitoring of your medications and dosages, may be warranted.
Poor diet can also promote easy bruising. Vitamin C plays a major role in strengthening blood vessels. If you bruise easily, it may be helpful to increase your consumption of vitamin C-rich foods and supplements. Bioflavonoids derived from citrus fruit plants may also be beneficial. As a therapeutic trial, use these supplements for at least three months. If there is no improvement in that time, further investigation into the causes of easy bruising may be warranted.
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble nutrient that is essential for blood clotting. Since vitamin K requires the presence of fat in order to be utilized by the body, people who have problems with fat absorption or who use medications (such as antibiotics) that impair fat absorption may be deficient in vitamin K. You should discuss your vitamin K status with your physician and take supplemental vitamin K only under a physician's supervision.
Topical vitamin K cream is an excellent therapy to promote rapid resolution of black and blue marks. Topical vitamin K has been found to speed the healing of bruises. Its effects are even greater when used in combination with topical arnica, which is a plant-based remedy used for over 200 years. Arnica traditionally has been used to speed injury and trauma healing, reduce bruising, and relieve pain. The combination of vitamin K and Arnica works to reduce pain and swelling, and to improve healing of bumps and bruises. This formula is very helpful in improving the appearance of fine blood vessels and redness. The combination of vitamin K and Arnica also has been helpful in decreasing the severity of bruising following surgical procedures.
Hottest Cosmetics on the Market
WSVN-TV FASHION FORWARD-COSMETICS, December 2004
By Shireen Sandoval & Meredith Levin
To really get this New Year started right, it's important to put your freshest face forward. In tonight's fashion forward report, Shireen Sandoval shows us it's not just about the clothes, it's also about the cosmetics.
WSVN
Sissy Demaria of Spa Internazional: "People want to look their best. You have the great shoes, the great bag, the great glasses, but you need a great face to go with it."At Spa Internazionale, they say the latest trend is to go au natural.
Sissy: "Whether it's natural makeup or natural moisturizers and cleansers, it's very hot right now."
One of the hottest on the market: Cosmesis. From facial cleansers to exfoliates to moisturizers and more, with a yummy cumquat smell, it's no wonder they call it a spa in a bottle.
Sissy: "You feel like when you are putting it on yourself that you feel like you are getting a spa treatment because it smells so nice."
But the spa treatment doesn't end there. At Elizabeth Arden in Burdines-Macy's in Dadeland, you can get a virtual makeover. It uses a computerized to blend together your perfect foundation.
Self Microdermabrasion Restores a Youthful Appearance
LIFE EXTENSION Magazine, June 2004
By Gary Goldfaden, MD
Microdermabrasion restores a youthful appearance by removing aged surface skin.
Cosmetic dermatology is one of the most profitable areas of medical practice today. Americans pay top dollar for facial treatments that partially reverse the outward signs of skin aging. One reason people keep going back to dermatologists is that these topical anti-aging treatments provide an immediate (albeit temporary) improvement in skin appearance.
While most people associate cosmetic dermatology with surgical face-lifts, the three most popular procedures performed today are Botox® injections, collagen injections, and Microdermabrasion.
Microdermabrasion is a type of skin exfoliation that removes cells at the skin's surface. Microdermabrasion is a peeling technique accomplished by a machine that power-sprays fine crystal granules on to the skin. These crystals lightly exfoliate the skin's upper layers, resulting in smoother, younger-appearing skin.
Microdermabrasion was developed in the mid-1990s as an alternative to risky, inconsistent forms of skin peeling. The cost of each treatment ranges from approximately $150 to $500, and can involve a lot of time spent in a doctor's office.
The good news is that a university dermatologist has developed a method that enables you to obtain the same results of physician-administered Microdermabrasion treatments in the privacy of your own home. And the cost of this self-applied exfoliation technique is just a fraction of what dermatologists charge.
No matter how hard we try not to age, the clock is always ticking. Although we cannot yet stop our bodies from aging, we can take steps to slow down and even reverse some of the unsightly signs of aging that materialize on the surface of our skin.
Our skin's appearance is the most visible sign of the aging process. Fortunately, topically applied agents have been shown to repair and rejuvenate aged skin. Some are available over the counter, while others require a prescription.
The process of removing old cells at the surface of skin to allow younger-looking skin cells to appear was long ago shown to help reverse the signs of aging. Back in the 1980s, alpha-hydroxyl fruit acids became popular because of their ability to help "unglue" dead cells that cling to the skin's surface. These dead or damaged cells create some of the unsightly signs of aging. Life Extension members were the first to gain access to one of these fruit acids back in 1983.
While the alpha-hydroxyl fruit acids help, old and damaged cells require mechanical exfoliation to be completely removed. This is where MicroDermAbrasion comes in. It mechanically removes (exfoliates) older cells at the skin's surface to allow healthier cells to show through.
Exfoliation Improves Skin Appearance:
Once the dead and damaged skin cells are removed, the outer layer of new skin becomes visible. This new skin feels softer, smoother, and reflects light easier, making fine lines harder to see. Age spots and unwanted pigment are also less noticeable because the dead skin cells containing the pigment have been removed. Exfoliation removes plugged pores, prevents the pores from replugging, and allows for the release of natural oils. In addition, regular exfoliation decreases pore size and minimizes many types of superficial scars. All of this contributes to making the skin look tighter, healthier, and more youthful.
Exfoliation Complements Other Skincare Products:
After removing the dead and damaged cells through exfoliation of the skin, other antiaging agents such retinoic acid, moisturizers, antioxidants, and collagen-boosting nutrients are better able to penetrate the skin and work more effectively. This also holds true for acne medications and other types of skin treatments where penetration is important. This is another reason why regular exfoliation should be part of a basic skin care regimen.
Areas that Benefit from Frequent Exfoliation:
While all areas of the aging body contain unsightly cells that will benefit from regular exfoliation of the skin, the most obvious target locations are the face, chest, "v" of the neck (or decollete area), exposed scalp area, and top of the hands. These areas show the most immediate beneficial effects of frequent exfoliation.
Developing a Self-Microdermabrasion System:
Microdermabrasion is the most effective form of skin exfoliation. Two years ago, Gary Goldfaden, MD, a university teacher and clinical practitioner, approached Life Extension with a concept of concentrating magnesium crystals into a topical exfoliate that would duplicate the effects of expensive machine-administered microdermabrasion. Being able to perform the exfoliation process at home is more convenient as well as less expensive than having to travel to a doctor's office.
Dr. Goldfaden indicated that it would take several years for him to perfect the particle size and density of the exfoliate preparation in order to emulate the remarkable effects he was seeing in patients who underwent machine-administered MicroDermAbrasion. After trying dozens of different formulations, Dr. Goldfaden finally found the perfect particle size and density for an exfoliate that could be safely applied at home to obtain the same results as from machine-administered microdermabrasion.
With the creation of Self MicroDermAbrasion‚Ñ¢ exfoliate, regular skin exfoliation is now available to all at a very low price. This topical exfoliating preparation helps slow the appearance of skin aging and repairs the damaging effects inflicted on the skin over time. Dr. Goldfaden's experience with hundreds of patients indicates that the continual use of a topical exfoliate will make the skin appear tighter, smoother, healthier, and more youthful, thus making an individual look younger.
The Unique Self Microdermabrasion Formula:
The Self Microdermabrasion™ formula is a concentrated exfoliating cleanser with unique antioxidants and moisturizers that improve the appearance of all skin types. Using aluminum oxide crystals, the Self Microdermabrasion™ exfoliate rejuvenates the skin by removing dead skin cells and allowing natural antioxidants to come into direct contact with the freshly exposed skin. As a result, the skin becomes smoother, tighter, healthier, and more youthful.
The Self Microdermabrasion™ exfoliate contains red tea, a super-potent antioxidant that greatly advances the results and visible outcome noticed in the skin. The exfoliation process allows the antioxidants in the Self Microdermabrasion™ product, especially the red tea, to come into direct contact with the new skin cells. As a result, complementary skin care products such as Rejuvenex® and Hydroderm® will be able to penetrate the new skin directly with better results.
Red tea (or Rooibos) comes from the mountains of Cape Town, South Africa, where it has been used for centuries in various medical remedies. The many health-promoting properties of red tea were confirmed long ago by scientists in South Africa. Most notably, red tea has been shown to be a potent antioxidant. Dr. Goldfaden included red tea in the Self Microdermabrasion™ formula to provide this potent anti-oxidant directly to the fresh skin cells that appear after older cells are exfoliated from the skin's surface. Like the moisturizing agents, red tea is central to the Self Microdermabrasion™ formula's ability to make aged skin feel and look younger.
What Makes Red Tea so Special?
Red tea contains some of the most potent, protective natural antioxidants and enzymes known for the skin. Most important are vitamins C and E and beta-carotene. The combination of these natural antioxidants aids in new skin health after the removal of dead and damaged skin cells, giving the skin a smoother, brighter, and healthier appearance. In addition to these vitamin antioxidants, red tea also contains flavonoids, which traditionally have been used to treat various skin and circulatory ailments. Finally, red tea has large quantities of the alpha-hydroxy acids that further help slough off damaged cells at the skin's surface.
Dr. Goldfaden found that regular exfoliation in combination with red tea extract greatly limits the damaging effects of free radicals, which are largely responsible for the aging of the skin. In his many clinical studies, Dr. Goldfaden observed that regular use of Self Microdermabrasion™ lessened the appearance of many types of skin imperfections‚Äîsuch as fine lines, acne scars, dark spots, freckles, sun damage, and age spots — resulting in healthier skin.
The Importance of Proper Particle Size:
To achieve the proper daily exfoliation, the Self Microdermabrasion™ formula incorporates a unique type of particle crystal. Many types of particles can be used for exfoliation, but only certain types produce superior results. The health benefits and safety of magnesium have been studied extensively. Because of the nature of magnesium crystal particles, the Self Microdermabrasion product is made and packaged by hand. Dr. Goldfaden's numerous clinical trials showed that patients almost unanimously saw immediate results from use of the Self Microdermabrasion™ exfoliate.
In-office machine Microdermabrasion treatments can be expensive and inconvenient, costing anywhere from $150 to $500 per visit and usually requiring a total of 6-9 visits at monthly intervals.
Advantages Over In-office Machine Treatment:
The drawbacks to in-office machine MicroDermAbrasion treatments are often overlooked. These include:
- the cleanliness of the microdermabrasion device (the machine is shared among patients)
- the cost of the individual machine treatments the time, inconvenience, and frequency required for in-office machine treatments
- the cleanliness and purity of the particles used during the machine treatments
- the potential for human error by the machine operator
In-office machine microdermabrasion treatments can be expensive and inconvenient, costing anywhere from $150 to $500 per visit and usually requiring a total of 6-9 visits at monthly intervals. Results are inconsistent, tend to fade rapidly, and are not regained until additional in-office machine treatments are undertaken. Moreover, most of those who perform the machine treatments are not physicians, which can lead to improper use of the machines. Self Microdermabrasion™ exfoliate eliminates most of these concerns. Dr. Goldfaden has shown that Self Microdermabrasion™ treatments achieve the same result as machine microdermabrasion. Unlike chemical peels and laser surgery, they are relatively safe for people of all skin types.
Today, Microdermabrasion is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic skin procedures in the US, and until recently was available only through the use of in-office machines. With the creation of Self Microdermabrasion™ exfoliate, people can get the same, if not superior, results offered by in-office microdermabrasion treatments.
Consumers demand Science in skincare products, according to a front-page article in the Wall Street Journal (November 14, 2003), consumers are abandoning commercial cosmetic products and switching to dermatologist-designed formulas at a record pace. While department store skincare sales grew less than 3% in 2002, sales of dermatologist and clinical formulations jumped an astounding 62%.
Consumers seeking effective solutions to battle skin aging are fed up with commercial companies hyping products that consist mostly of oil and water emulsions, as opposed to scientific formulations that provide potent nutrients and natural moisturizers. While commercial cosmetics companies often are more concerned with designing fancy packaging and marketing gimmicks, dermatologists spend years developing and meticulously testing their novel ideas on patients, who eagerly become active test subjects.
Major cosmetics companies are scrambling to react to consumer demand by adding dermatologists to their payrolls. As is so often the case with institutional bureaucracies (such as drug companies), significant innovation seldom occurs. As history has so often demonstrated, it is the individual with an insatiable curiosity to discover something truly novel who produces a true scientific breakthrough.
Dr. Goldfaden's Self Microdermabrasion™ exfoliate is the result of a pioneering physician's clinical experience observing the beneficial effects of machine-applied microdermabrasion. His painstaking experiments with numerous particle sizes and densities finally led to the Self MicroDermAbrasion™ exfoliate that people can safely use at home without incurring the added expense and inconvenience of going to dermatologists.
For the first time, this exfoliate is available for people to maintain fresh, youthful-looking skin, free from some of the unsightly ravages of environmental toxins and normal aging.
Importance of Red Tea for the Skin
LIFE EXTENSION Magazine
By Gary Goldfaden, MD
Q: What makes Red Tea and other topical natural substances so beneficial for the skin?
A: Before we can discuss how red tea benefits the skin we must understand a little more about the skin. Our skin is often thought of as the great envelope of our body. It serves many functions such as our external protection, temperature regulation, sensory functions, removal of toxins, and specialty functions concerning our hair and nails. One amazing ability of the skin is that it is continuously being made by our body. The skin reproduces itself approximately every 28 days. This is the time it takes for the birth of a skin cell (epidermal cell) to migrate and mature to the dry surface (stratum corneum) that we see and feel all the time.
The appearance of the skin is dependent upon the amount of abuse such as sun damage, smoking, environment, diet, and topical care that it receives. In order to allow our skin to appear and function at its optimum, we must prevent, nourish, and treat our skin as best as possible. It is also important that these efforts effect the skin cell during their earliest stages of development so that the older cells look and function the best that they can. These efforts also play a large part in the prevention of a large number of dermatologic diagnoses, as well as skin cancer, the most common type cancer diagnosed.
Red Tea (Rooibos) from the mountains of Cape Town South Africa has been used for centuries in various medical remedies. The many health promoting properties of Red Tea were confirmed long ago by scientists in South Africa. Most notably Red Tea has been shown to be a potent antioxidant. When Red Tea is included in skincare products and applied directly to the skin, either by itself or in combination with the topical agents, it potentiates the other topical agents. This synergistic action helps in making the skin healthier in appearance, feeling, and function.
Red tea contains some of the most potent, protective natural anti-oxidant vitamins and enzymes known for the skin. Most important of which are: Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Carotenoids, and Flavonoids. Vitamin C has a wide variety of roles in human health as well as the role it plays in the health and beauty of the skin. It decreases production of melanin allowing lighter and brighter skin. It is required for collagen synthesis allowing for fewer wrinkles. Vitamin C also helps in skin repair after an injury. Vitamin E is a strong anti-oxidant due to its ability to suppress free radicals in the skin. Its ability to be regenerated in the skin is also enhanced by Vitamin C. Carotenoids (fat soluble) are potent anti-oxidants which markedly help with the reduction of the radicals for sunlight and ultraviolet rays. In addition to these vitamin anti-oxidants Red Tea also contains 25%-30% Flavonoids or Bioflavonoids which are water soluble plant pigments. These have been traditionally used to treat various skin and circulatory disorders by strengthening capillary walls. The combination of these natural anti-oxidants aids in new skin health, giving the skin a smoother, brighter, and healthier appearance.
In addition to Vitamin C, Red Tea has large quantities of alphahydroxy acids to further help slough off damaged cells at the skin’s surface. Alphahydroxy Acids, which are natural fruit acids, rejuvenate the skin by encouraging the shedding of old, sun damaged surface skin cells. This occurs because alphahydroxy acids loosen the glue like substances that hold the skin surface cells to each other, therefore allowing the dead skin to peel off. The skin underneath has a fresher, healthier look with a more even color and texture. It also allows contact of the other anti-oxidant agents to advantageously affect the newest exposed cells.
For optimal effects, the increased frequency of usage of all topical agents containing Red Tea will create better penetration and absorption. Increased oral supplementation of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, carotene, and omega 3-fatty acids all lead to higher levels of anti-oxidants found in the skin. Lastly eating diets rich in flavonoids, such as colored fruits and vegetables will help in promoting and maintaining your skin’s health and beauty.
Self Applied Exfoliating Cleanser That Removes Aged Skin
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**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Cosmesis Skincare products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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