Scary Skin Concerns
Is your complexion terrifying you?
For every skin problem, we’ve got a solution.
Since it’s Halloween time, we wanted to talk with you about some “scary” skin concerns and what we can do to treat them! The most commonly treated skin concerns are acne, hyperpigmentation, including melasma, rosacea, wrinkles, fine lines, and skin laxity or sagging. If any of these scare you, read our blog to learn more.
Acne
Acne vulgaris is the most prevalent chronic skin disease in the United States, affecting nearly 50 million people per year. It is often associated with sebum or oil production, which is why it frequently manifests in teens, men on testosterone therapy, women in their late 30’s and those with naturally oilier skin.
It occurs when hair follicles are blocked with dead skin cells, bacteria, and oil (sebum). The blocked follicles cause blemishes on the skin, including pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and cysts. The good news….there are ways to treat and control it.
Twice daily skincare is the single most important treatment to consider. If the skin is well cleansed, exfoliated, and surface oil is reduced, we have essentially eliminated the root causes of MOST acne lesions. Additionally, semi-annual chemical peels and treatments like BBL Forever Clear by Sciton are AMAZINGLY effective in treating acne. Finally, don’t forget the importance of a benzoyl peroxide like ZO Skin Health’s Acne Control which is only $35, and SkinBetter’s AlphaRet Overnight or another topical retinoid.
Rosacea
Often confused with acne, rosacea is a common skin condition that causes flushing and visible blood vessels in your face. It may also produce small, pus-filled bumps that look similar to acne lesions. These signs and symptoms may flare up for weeks to months and then go away for a while. While there is no “cure” for rosacea, the signs and symptoms can be managed for months at a time with a few simple steps.
BBL Corrective (Broadband Light) by Sciton is a gold-standard treatment for rosacea patients who are most commonly middle-aged white women. However, the condition can affect anyone. BBL Corrective targets the broken capillaries and visible vessels associated with rosacea and eliminates them, resulting in a less red and more even complexion.
Add a medical-grade skin care regimen to control oil and reduce skin sensitization and products like Rozatrol by ZO Skin Health. Then, you have a fantastic plan to control your rosacea long term.
Hyperpigmentation
Probably the second most common skin condition we treat at The MAC is hyperpigmentation. Whether it be melasma or hyperpigmentation in the form of sunspots or poikiloderma, we have treatment options for everyone.
BBL Forever Young or BBL Corrective photo facial treatments are the gold standards in correcting sunspots and poikiloderma. As insurance or maintenance for your procedural investment, we recommend a custom skincare regimen to prevent free radical damage with the use of antioxidants and inhibit future pigmentation. ZO Skin Health’s Brightalive and Daily Power Defense are two must-have skincare products if you've ever struggled with hyperpigmentation.
Got melasma? Don’t worry. We offer custom skin care regimens, including prescription hydroquinone and tretinoin therapy as needed to help brighten your skin.
As with all skin concerns, SPF is MANDATORY. 90% of age-related changes are caused by the sun so preventing damage is key. You want a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher daily and SPG 50 or higher for lake and pool days.
Large Pores
Contrary to popular opinion, pore size is genetically predetermined. The good news is that you can reduce the VISIBLE appearance of pores. Factors that may lead to enlarged pores include increased oil production, hair follicle size, pore-clogging products, loss of skin elasticity, and sun damage.
We have talked about all of these at some point, but the main treatments for enlarged pores are daily skincare, retinoids like SkinBetter’s AlphaRet Overnight and ZO Skin Health’s Wrinkle & Texture Repair, and microneedling with SkinPen OR our most popular, NEW TREATMENT, M8 or Morpheus8 by InMode which blends microneedling with radiofrequency skin tightening for improvement in tone, texture and laxity all at once!
Fine Lines
What causes fine lines? The skin slows down its production of collagen and elastin as we age, leading to less plump, supple skin. As a result, areas with less oil are prone to the development of more fine lines. Lack of skin protection is also a major factor in the development of fine lines.
We can treat fine lines with skincare, chemical peels, neurotoxins, filler (in some cases), but the best way to treat them is to stimulate collagen and elastin in the skin. We do this with InMode’s Morpheus8 or M8, which is radiofrequency microneedling.
The controlled injury to the skin stimulates the production of collagen and elastin. In addition, the radiofrequency waves produce heat that shrinks (or tightens) the fibrospetal network resulting in smoother, tighter skin. This treatment is excellent for enlarged pores, rough texture, uneven tone, and skin laxity or crepiness.
Wrinkles
One of the most common requests for treatment is wrinkles. We use neurotoxins like Jeuveau AKA #newtox, Botox, and Dysport to treat wrinkles caused by motion in the forehead, frown or glabella, crow’s feet, bunny lines on the nose, dimples on the chin, to produce a “lip flip,” and to correct a “gummy smile” among many other things.
Once a wrinkle has set in regardless of motion or in areas where neurotoxins are contraindicated, we use filler to re-” fill” the volume loss that has occurred in that area. Common areas include malar creases in the apple of the cheek, nasolabial folds, “smile lines,” “parenthesis” around the mouth, pre-jowling, and more.
No, you won’t be frozen solid or overfilled and puffy looking. We want a NATURAL-appearing result. Check out our other blogs on Sculptra, lip filler, and mid-face volume loss, or follow @mac_injectorjess on Instagram.
Loose, Crepey skin
In line with our discussion of fine lines and wrinkles above, we move on to another common scary skin concern, loose, crepey skin. Good news! Morpheus8, AKA M8, is the best treatment we offer for this! You will see healthier, tighter skin in as little as three sessions spaced 6-8 weeks apart. Using radiofrequency microneedling, M8 stimulates collagen (plump) and elastin (snapback), tightens skin, and remodels fat.
Since M8 also remodels fat, you may notice a more toned appearance to the treatment area as well if this was part of you and your provider’s treatment plan. Common treatment indications include scars, stretch marks, enlarged pores, fine lines, jowls, loose skin, cellulite, among other concerns.
As with all things, maintenance skincare is essential! So come in for a consultation so that we can develop a custom treatment and maintenance plan for you. We will tailor it to your schedule and your budget.