50% of aging is life style choices and the other 50% is hereditary.

Majority of people start to show the first signs of aging around the eyes. Droopy lids, puffy, saggy bags, and dark circles. There are multiple causes of dark circles under the eyes. Cosmetic companies have capitalized on this and as a result many claims have been made on how to control these issues. Most of the underlying etiologies don’t have a magic cream to whisk these things away.

Let’s examine some causes. The most common is dehydration of the skin. You are what you eat so eating fruits and veggies daily enhance the skins hydration. Another culprit is hyper pigmentation or darkening secondary to photo aging, sun exposure or superficial lentigenes (dark flat freckle like spots). These spots are either acquired by life choices or they’re hereditary. Hyper pigmentation present at youth or adolescent continues along with darkening or sun exposure and age.

Learning to care for your skin is more than soap and water. “Over the counter” soap will dehydrate and strip your skin of its natural oils. Proper skin care maintenance will slow the signs of aging. Treatment of the skin includes retinol, bleaching cream and sunscreen to decrease the melanin content. Many find retinol causes red, dry, flakey skin, occurring with over use or if the retinol is too strong for the person’s skin type. It is very important to be evaluated, determining the proper tolerances for each individual. The younger you are when you start proper skin care the better for prevention… but it’s never too late.

Products sold in medical spas have strict requirements mandated by the FDA. The products actually produce proven results if used properly. Medical Spas employ licensed estheticians, with hours of education. Typically they continue studies during their careers at the direction of a medical director (usually a plastic surgeon or dermatologist). Estheticians evaluate and educate the consumer on their individual skin type and the product choices best suited for correction or routine maintenance.  You’re probably thinking the products must be expensive while they’re very cost competitive and let’s face it: you get what you pay for. The largest organ of the human body is the skin; it has great ability to rejuvenate. Our skin care center can formulate programs best suited for specific needs and our products contain nature’s valuable vitamins and minerals including:

  • Vitamin A – Retinol which neutralizes, firms, smooths, and enhances skins texture and tone. Found in foods such as liver, eggs, spinach leaves, pumpkin, collared greens, broccoli and cantaloupe.
  • Vitamin C – Strengthens damaged collagen and elastin caused by free radicals making skin lighter and brighter. Found in many fruits and vegetables, and also has anti-inflammatory properties. It is one of nature’s most powerful vitamins.
  • Vitamin E – An antioxidant that improves the skins surface moisture. It softens smoothes and promotes healing. Found in foods such as almonds, avocados, asparagus, olives, nuts and spinach leaves.
  • Salicylic Acid – Causes skin cells to shed more readily, prevents clogging of pores and acne while promoting new skin growth.
  • Glycolic Acid – Gently exfoliates the dead layer of skin while helping to moisturize by drawing water molecules from the lower levels of the skin.
  • Green Tea - Possesses highly potent antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects.

It’s important to read product labels. The most active ingredients are listed first and the farther down this list of ingredients the less potent. Packaging is also important. Retinol and Vitamin C cannot remain stable if not packaged properly. Take our challenge… bring in your products (along with this article) and we will educate you on their effectiveness. Hopefully you are getting what you’re paying for?

 

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