What exactly are peptides? 

Peptides are the building blocks of proteins, and have become an essential ingredient in anti-aging skin care. They are a string of amino acids that are held together by bonds of nitrogen and carbon. Short chain peptides are able to penetrate the epidermis and send signals to cells, informing them how to function.

There are many different types of peptides, which have various effects on the cellular function of the skin. Considered by many to be one of the most effective treatments in repairing damaged and aging skin, the most important thing to remember when using a peptide formula is diligence.

Results from peptides will generally not be visible for anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks. It can be discouraging to not see changes before that time, but routine use will deliver results. Once you begin to notice changes in your skin, it is important to remain diligent in the use of peptide products. If you discontinue using the products – your results will fade.

What do I need to look for?

• Matrixyl (Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4) Consisting of five amino acids linked together, this peptide increases the synthesis of elastin and collagen. It has been shown to decrease skin roughness and reduce wrinkle volume.  It also has been shown to decrease wrinkle depth after four months of twice daily applications on the face and neck.

• Matrixyl 3000 (Palmitoyl Oligopeptide & Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7) Unlike the “classic” Matrixyl, this is a combination of two peptides, palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7. These work synergistically to increase skin’s permeability and decrease inflammation. It also reduces wrinkle depth and roughness of the skin.

• Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8) Formed of six amino acids, this peptide relaxes facial muscles that cause wrinkles through neurotransmitters that keep the signal protein  from triggering muscle contraction. Unlike Botox, this peptide does not cause paralysis of the muscles, it allows them to relax, still allowing for normal facial movement.

What does this mean for my skin?

You basically can’t go wrong choosing a product with peptides.  Just make sure you are using them consistently.  Remember that it will take time to see results – but those wrinkles didn’t appear overnight!

This may seem an odd question to ask a plastic and reconstructive surgeon but over the years I developed strong relationships with my patients and they felt they could ask me almost anything!    I was happy to oblige an answer – as long as I actually had one!    After being asked several times about split ends I decided to seek out a solution.  That solution ended up being Theraderm’s Enriched Moisturizer!

How the Story Goes

A lady’s hair and how it looks is a most important part of her overall appearance of beauty. Most problems with the hair itself can be successfully addressed at the beauty shop. One of the most common hair problems I have been privileged to discuss with patients over years of plastic surgery practice is hair that has “split” ends. This is damage to the hair itself. I have seen hundreds of ladies who are confronted periodically. The most effective solutions for any problem derive from a study of the causes and factors that create the problem. It is no different with hair ends.

Hair is an extruded strand of a special protein material called keratin. By extruded, I mean that the growth center is a hair follicle within the skin. As new hair is manufactured and pushes outward, the strand of hair lengthens. Keratin becomes dry and brittle with time if natural oils are not replaced. The rate of growth for hair is about 0.5 inches per month. Most hair styles have average hair length of 12 inches or more. That equates to the end of the hair strand being about two years age. During this time frequent hair washing with shampoo and/or coloring of the hair, perms, flat irons, blow dryers etc. may most likely  occurred. The result is a frayed end of the keratin shaft that we call a “split end”

Sheep are able to have “hair” (wool) that remains soft, supple, and water-proofed, for warmth because of its lanolin content. Dry and compromised human skin responds equally nicely with natural lanolin oils to replace the skin barrier lipids that have been removed by frequent washing (doctors, nurses, beauticians, etc.), or harsh chemical solvents in the workplace (mechanics), and even by those that have frequent hand contact with paper as part of their job.

The Solution

I have used lanolin in the my formulations of Therapon Skin Health products for over 20 years. Oils derived naturally from animal sources are able to completely penetrate and absorb into the skin. Neither vegetable oil (cocoa butter, corn oil), nor mineral based oils (petroleum, Vaseline) penetrate at all. After the first washing of hands “moisturized” with these oils, the dryness is there again.
Several years ago I began having patients with hair having frayed “split” ends to restore soft luxurious hair using Theraderm Enriched Moisturizer on their hair once a week until the hair was restored. The process is quite simple and works every time. Wash hair using warm water and ½ teaspoon Theraderm Cleansing Wash. Slightly more water will cause a more “sudsy” feel. Then rinse hair and scalp well.
While hair is still very wet, use ½ teaspoon of Theraderm Enriched Facial Moisturizer and apply to several places (4-6) on scalp. Work thoroughly and evenly into scalp AND hair and leave in place for 10 minutes. You may wrap hair in towel during this time. This moisturizer is lanolin enriched and restores natural oils to both scalp skin and hair. The benefits are to prevent/eliminate “split ends” in hair strands and to restore soft supple scalp that doesn’t itch.    Now re-wash hair to remove excess moisturizer and dry with low heat or room temperature until dry. Repeat every 6-12 weeks if needed. Hair should gain luxurious texture, softness, and shine. The scalp should stop having flakes, itching, or irritation!

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

With winter giving way to spring and summer (or so we hope!) it’s time to reassess your skincare regimen. Likely you’ve been using a heavier moisturizer during the dry winter months, but  it might begin to feel too rich. Also, as we age, our skincare needs change so it’s always a good idea to reassess our skincare routines every so often.

Here are some tips for choosing the best moisturizer for your skin type.

Dry Skin

Look for a heavier oil-based moisturizer such as our Enriched Facial Moisturizer which uses the highest grade of cosmetic lanolin to soften and smooth skin, replenishing natural moisture and restoring softness and suppleness to the skin.

Also, if you’re over 35, consider introducing an eye cream to your skin care regimen.

Normal or Combination Skin

Most of us have normal or combination skin. The Theraderm Peptide Hydrator is ideal for normal, combination or oil-prone skin because it is infused with patented keratin peptides and micronutrients that restore damaged skin cells while hydrating and softening. It uses extracts from cucumber, green tea leaf, grape seed, and chamomile flower to calm and soothe skin inflammation while providing micronutrients for healthy skin.This facial moisturizer provides an optimal skin surface for flawless makeup application.

Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, you want a lightweight moisturizer that is non-comedogenic and made without parabens, dyes, or fragrances such as the Theraderm Gentle Facial Moisturizer. This water-based moisturizer won’t clog your pores, and it shouldn’t irritate sensitive skin. If you struggle with acne, you might want to check out the Reversion Acne Control line.

Once you find the perfect moisturizer for your skin, it is important to use it regularly — morning and night, for best results. And don’t forget to exfoliate!

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter for your chance to win a ticket to the EXCLUSIVE “Lost in Suburbia” book launch at the super cool “Blo Beauty Bar” in Atlanta, GA!!  It’s easy – but you have to hurry!  The event is Friday, April 26th from 6-9pm!!!   The author, Tracy Beckerman, gave us a ticket at the last minute and we wanted to pass the fun along to one of our valued customers!  Good luck!  It will be a BLAST!  You can read more about it here:  Lost in Suburbia, NYC

The Atlanta event will be held at “Blo Beauty Bar” 2565 Apple Valley Rd, NE, Atlanta, GA  30319
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Please note:  This giveaway is for a ticket only.  The Skinny will not be providing transportation to and from the event.

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter for your chance to win a ticket to the EXCLUSIVE “Lost in Suburbia” book launch at the super cool “The Blo Out” in Charlotte, NC!!  It’s easy – but you have to hurry!  The event is Thursday, April 25th from 6-9pm!!!   The author, Tracy Beckerman, gave us a ticket at the last minute and we wanted to pass the fun along to one of our valued customers!  Good luck!  It will be a BLAST!  You can read more about it here:  Lost in Suburbia, NYC

The Charlotte event will be held at “The Blo Out”, 1518 E. 3rd Street, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC  28204

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Please note – this is for a ticket only.  The Skinny will not be providing transportation to and from the event.

If you haven’t tried Theraderm’s Eternox Peptide Creme, you should!  It is a Peptide-infused, anti-aging wrinkle treatment.  Do we really need to say more than that?  Probably not – but there is so much more to say!   Let’s start with what Dr. James Beckman formulated it to do:

• Decreases the appearance of moderate lines and wrinkles
• Utilizes an exclusive combination of three patented peptides
• Facilitates collagen production at the dermal level
• Increases skin firmness and smoothness
• Excellent choice for patients currently using cosmetic injectables
• Rich with botanical extracts to soothe skin
• Luxurious, airy crème

• Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline^®)
• Matrixyl^®
• Patented soluble keratin peptides
• Hyaluronic acid
• Pure, cold-pressed Aloe barbadensis leaf extract
• Botanical extracts

Registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

This may seem a little odd – but lets talk about what Eternox Peptide Creme DOESN’T have:

Does Not Contain:

• Parabens
• Fragrances
• Gluten

Hands down, this is one our most popular products!  Not only does it feel amazing, it works!

For best results, give this product a little time to work.  Remember, those wrinkles weren’t created overnight!  Give this creme a try and let us know what you think!

We all love a good tan when the warmer weather hits,  but it’s still very early and most of us haven’t had time to bronze our pale skin.   Additionally, as mature adults we are very aware of the dangers of the sun and tanning beds.  So what’s a girl to do you ask?  Simple!  She spray tans!   Now I realize that spray tans have gotten a bad rap in the past (think Snooki in Jersey Shore) but if done correctly and SPARINGLY, a spray tan can be a quick and easy way to start out the season with a little color.    Below are a few tips to get a gorgeous, even tan so you can begin wearing those sleeveless tops and shorts.

Exfoliate

Exfoliating is the single most important thing you can do to ensure an even tan that will last.  Several hours before you step into that tanning booth you should exfoliate head to toe, making sure you concentrate on knees, elbows, feet and hands.   This removes the top layer of dead skin leaving a clean palette that allows the color to penetrate rather than just sitting on the surface.  It also allows the color to go on more evenly and will help prevent orange elbows and knees!  My favorite exfoliator is Theraderm Nupeel.  It is super gentle and very easy to use.

Dress Appropriately

Now is not the time to wear your favorite undergarments.  And it certainly isn’t the time to wear tight or heavy clothing.  The spray on color will stain your skivvys and with tight clothing, you run the risk of streaking or rubbing some of the color off.  Dress loose and casual.

Take cover

Although you have exfoliated – it is still best to cover elbows, knees, palms and between fingers with a light lotion.   This will further prevent dark spots.  I also lay a towel down on the floor of the booth so I don’t end up with dark orange soles on the bottom of my feet.  I wasn’t aware of that issue the first time I had a spray tan. The next day I went to the neighborhood pool with what I thought was a gorgeous tan only to have my girls laughing hysterically at my brownish-orangeish feet!  Not a great look.

Hope this helps!   How about you?  Do you have any tips for a perfect spray tan?

Find out what your skin is going through during each decade and what you need to do to combat it.  Simple tips that anyone can do!

Your 30′s

Skin is still light and luminous, but small lines may be forming around your eyes and forehead.   The best thing you can do for your skin is to use a light moisturizer, begin exfoliating weekly and use a broad spectrum sunscreen daily!  If you want to go a more aggressive route, you could use injectables to soften lines or non-ablative lasers treatments to give skin additional glow.   It is also a good time to consider monthly microdermabrasion treatments for further exfoliation!

Your 40′s

This is when those days of laying out in the sun for hours covered in baby oil and iodine really catches up to us!  Sun damage, brown spots, large pores and freckles rear their ugly faces during this decade.  Use an alpha-hydroxy product to bring back the glow and gently exfoliate the skin.  Speaking of exfoliate – you really should be doing this AT LEAST twice weekly if not daily.  A gentle enzyme one is best.  Don’t use an abrasive one as it can cause damage to delicate facial skin.   Use a peptide product to pump up the collagen action and tighten skin, and don’t forget your eyes!  An eye cream is essential in keeping crows feet at bay.   There are several aesthetic procedures you could consider now.  Chemical peels are a great way to rejuvenate tired skin and generally have very little downtime.  IPL is another treatment that will help even out your skin tone and texture.  Dermal fillers are also popular and they last several months.   You may continue microdermabrasion treatments, but up the frequency to once weekly.

Your 50′s

This decade probably has the most dramatic changes.  Muscle, fat, collagen, and bone tissue begin to shrink making wrinkles more prominent.  You may also notice age spots develop not just on your face, but all over your body.  You really need to up your anti-aging game at this point and a skin brightener is a great addition to the line up!  Continue using an alpha-hydroxy product and make sure you use a product with anti-aging peptides.  Antioxidants are very important as well as they help combat previous sun damage as well as prevent future damage.  Treatments you should consider include:  lasers to help with dark spots and enlarged pores, skin tightening treatments such as Thermage and possibly minor plastic surgery.  Fat transfer combined with fillers can give a very youthful yet natural appearance.

Your 60′s and beyond

Ah, the golden years.  The cellular turnover rate has nearly come to a halt causing a dull appearance.  Daily exfoliation is a must!  Broken vessels as well as age spots  may appear on the face and hands.  Elastic and collagen continue to break down causing skin laxity and sagging.  Skin cells tend to not stay plump with moisture as they once did, so it is up to you to keep those cells “full”.  Hyaluronic Acid attracts 1,000 times its weight in water so find a product with this as a main ingredient.  Obviously it is important to continue to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen and peptides regularly.  Treatments in this decade and beyond are almost countless.  This is a good time to visit a reputable plastic surgeon for a treatment plan.  You may be surprised that they actually do more than surgery and tend to have very highly trained aesthetic staff members.  So don’t be intimidated thinking you will walk out with a full face lift!

Hopefully this will help you take control of your skin no matter what age you are!

What is a Free Radical?

We know this is super science-y (is that word? probably not!) but we want you to be know exactly what a free-radical is.  We will be going way back to that high school chemistry class in this post.  You may or may not remember that normally, bonds don’t split in a way that leaves a molecule with an odd, unpaired electron. But when weak bonds split, free radicals are formed. Free radicals are very unstable and react quickly with other compounds, trying to capture the needed electron to gain stability. Generally, free radicals attack the nearest stable molecule, “stealing” its electron. When the “attacked” molecule loses its electron, it becomes a free radical itself, beginning a chain reaction. Once the process is started, it can cascade, finally resulting in the disruption of a living cell.

Some free radicals arise normally during metabolism. Sometimes the body’s immune system’s cells purposefully create them to neutralize viruses and bacteria. However, environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke, UVA/UVB rays and herbicides can also spawn free radicals.

Why Should I Care?

Normally, the body can handle free radicals, but if antioxidants are unavailable, or if the free-radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur. And by damage we mean:  cancers, break down of the immune system, illness and premature aging.  Of particular importance is that free radical damage accumulates with age.  Wow.

How Do I Combat Free Radicals?

Maybe you have heard the term “free-radical scavengers”?  Orrrr…..maybe not – but they are important in “capturing” these rogue cells or “free radicals” so they cannot start that damaging chain reaction.   Antioxidants are free-radical scavengers!  They alone stop this process.   You hear us talk about antioxidants often because they are imperative in protecting your skin from the visible signs of aging.   This is not simply marketing jargon it truly is science.   There are lots of antioxidants out there – you can get then through fresh fruits and vegetables as well as oral supplements.  We opted to put them directly in our skin care products so they will be applied directly to the surface of the skin!  Because there are so many out there….you must make sure you are getting a high quality one.  You can actually check the effectiveness of your antioxidant on the ORAC scale.  I’ve posted part of one here:

Note the antioxidant I have highlighted!  Pycnogenol.  Sound familiar?  It should!  It is the active ingredient in Theraderm’s OPC Reparative Gel.   Can you see that number?  1.5 MILLION.   Vitamin C has 190 THOUSAND.  You can see that our chosen antioxidant is much MORE powerful than Vitamin C as a free-radical scavenger!

If you want optimal antioxidant protection from free radicals in order to have younger looking skin – you MUST use a product with Pycnogenol in it!   And if you want additional protection – use OPC Reparative Gel right after Theraderm’s Fruit Acid Exfoliant.  The Fruit Acid gently “lifts” the skin cells allowing the OPC to penetrate more deeply and more evenly.  It’s a win-win!

So there is your chemistry lesson for the week!  Protect yourself from free-radicals – purchase OPC Reparative Gel today!