HOW TO BEAT THE SKIN WINTER TIME BLUES

Does your

SKIN

have the

Winter Time Blues?

It's February...that time of the year when Winter seems to draaag on and we wonder if the elusive sun will ever shine again, or if we will ever see those little green buds appear on the trees ensuring that spring is in fact coming. We tend to find ourselves dreaming of vacations to places looking something like this...

Not only does our head and heart seem to be effected by the dragging on of winter, but our SKIN can also get the blues! Does your skin seem to be crying out for relief from the winter time blues? While we may not be able to wish winter into exiting any faster, we can help cure those SKIN winter time blues! Three easy steps will get your skin back on track and turn that frown upside down!

1. Avoidance

 Sometimes the most important thing you can do is not something you do at all, but something you don't do! 

Avoid long hot showers- As tempting as it may be to turn that dial all the way up until the water is scalding, it is one of the worst things you can do for your skin! Those scalding temps can strip the skin of it's natural oils, leaving you feeling as dry as a desert. Stick to a warm shower instead of a hot one. If you are feeling particularly chilled to the bone and need a little thawing, look to a nice steamy bath. Add a little something extra, such as olive oil, to the water to add some of that natural moisture back into your skin. Or, try some coconut oil and drift off into that daydream again...

Avoid over-cleansing and over-exfoliating. In the summer months foaming cleansers with added exfoliants are excellent (depending on your skin type), but even the oiliest skin can get dry in the winter from over-cleansing and over-exfoliating. This doesn't mean that you necessarily must completely cut out using exfoliating products, such as ones containing Alpha Hydroxyacids, but it does mean that you may want to cool it just a little bit. Instead of using these products daily, or twice daily, try going to to every other day, or every two days. Try using a moisturizing non-foamy cleanser during the off days. This will give your skin a break and help your natural oils to replenish giving skin back some moisture! 

 

2. Moisturize Moisturize Moisturize

 

Finding a good moisturizer that you like is the number one essential step to surviving the winter. Even you oily-skinned folks out there must use a moisturizer on your skin in the winter time. The best time to apply your moisturizer is when the skin is still a little damp so that the water can really get locked-in to your skin and hydrate properly. So, apply your moisturizer right after cleansing for best results. And don't forget the rest of your skin! We focus on the face the most, but your body and especially your hands need a little attention too! Never use the same moisturizer you use on your body on your face or vice versa. The skin on your face is completely different from the skin on the rest of your body, and therefore needs to be treated differently, and with a little more attention. And obviously you don't want to waste that goodness on the rest of your body!

  

3. Protection

Last but not least, don't forget to PROTECT that skin!

Protect your skin from the SUN. Even though the sun doesn't seem to shine quite as brightly in the winter months and you aren't spending as much time basking in it, it is still very important you wear some form of sunscreen every. single. day. Even walking from your house to your car and back again exposes your skin to some rays and those rays can be damaging causing premature aging and skin cancer. We recommend using at least an SPF of 15 for the best protection. Physical sunscreen, containing ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the best. At Spa on the Green we offer two options for sunscreen, Solar Defense, a physical sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or Solar Defense-E, the same sunscreen with a moisturizer added to it. 

Protect your skin from extreme cold and extreme wind. This one is kind of a no-brainer, going outside in those extreme temps, especially when the wind is howling away will only add to the problem, so avoidance is best. But, if the snow slopes are calling you, just make sure to cover up as much of that precious skin as possible to avoid the dreaded wind burn! If you hit the slopes too hard and forget your protective face mask stop by Spa on the Green to pick up some of our BrookskinMD Rosaluxe Hydrating Balm, a special moisturizer that contains Hydrocortisone for added relief. 

How to Make Rice Breast Implant Sizers

One of the most important steps in a successful Breast Augmentation is deciding on the size of the implant. This decision can be somewhat overwhelming and requires proper sizing. Sizing can be done in a variety of ways, at our office we encourage patients to do multiple forms of sizing.

Prior to surgery when patients come for their pre-operative visit we do sizing with them by having the patient bring a sheer bra in the cup size they are looking to become with a tight shirt, or even a few outfit changes with different color shirts. We then have them try on different sized silicone implants inside their bra in an attempt to mimic what they will look like after surgery. We help make sure that the size or sizes they are looking at are possible with their specific anatomy and are in proportion to the rest of their body. The final decision is made at this appointment.

Before this pre-operative visit occurs we find it very helpful to have patients do some sizing on their own at home. Sometimes the 30 minute appointment in our office is not enough time to make such a big decision, so it is very helpful if the patients comes to that appointment already knowing around what size they would like to be. At home sizing also allows the patient to spend as much time as they need wearing the sizers with multiple style tops to determine what size best suits them. Since most people don't have an array of different sized silicone implants laying around at home to try on inside their bra, the best way to get the same effect is to make sizers using rice and pantyhose- two things that most women DO have hanging around the house!

Supplies:

• Dry Rice
• Measuring Cup
• Pantyhose or Knee Highs
• Scissors

Step One:
If you are using pantyhose, cut the leg of each hose approximately half way down so that they are essentially like knee highs. If you are using knee highs, skip this step! Make sure the pantyhose you are using don't have any holes in them, or else you will end up with quite a mess!

Step Two:
Stretch the opening of the pantyhose where you will be inserting rice as to allow easy insertion of the rice.

Step Three:
Measure out the amount of rice that will be inserted into the pantyhose.

If you are using cups these are the approximate measurements to use for guidelines:
1/4 Cup = 75cc
1/2 Cup= 125cc
1 Cup= 250cc

If you are using ounces, each ounce equals approximately 30cc.

Step Four:
Insert equal amount of rice into each side of the pantyhose. Press the rice down into the toe of the panty hose and sculpt to form a round shape. Then tie off the pantyhose with a knot at the top. Cut off the excess fabric above the knot and voila, you have your sizer!

It should look something like this:

This can be worn inside a sheer cup bra or inside a sports bra. Try a few different sizes making sure to keep track of how much rice you are using and which sizes you liked the most!

HOLIDAY MAKEUP

Four looks to WOW at your Holiday Event!

THE RED LIPPED DIVA

 Picture via Pinterest

 

This looks packs a big punch without taking a lot of time and is perfect for the girl who wants to stand out at her Holiday event! And of course, the red is a great way to get in the holiday spirit! There are a variety of ways to wear this look depending on your personal preference. It can be added to a full makeup look or worn boldly alone. We recommend doing a minimal eye to draw the attention to your lips. A simple thin black eyeliner and black lash with a light to medium color eye shadow complement this look excellently. To give this look an extra oomph try a lip plumping lipstick like Jane Iredale’s Just Kissed Lip Plumper and finish with a gloss to add that kissable look!

THE GLITTER GODDESS

Picture via Pinterest

A sure fire way to get noticed at your Holiday Event is to add a little glitter! What makes a woman feel more feminine than glitter? Ummm…pretty much nothing! We love that sparkly stuff everywhere we can get it, on our clothes, on our handbags and yes, even on our faces! But to avoid being the spectacle of the party instead of the star, make sure to keep it to a minimum by choosing just one area to highlight with glitter. We recommend the eyes! Start with an eye shadow of your choice and then simply add glitter! We recommend using a cream eye shadow so the glitter will be able to stick. Jane Iredale EyeGloss is the perfect example. If you don’t want to use any eye shadow you could also use a primer mixed with a moisturizer. Or you can take your powder eye shadow and mix it with a moisturizer to make it into a cream shadow. Next add a glittery dust, we recommend Jane Iredale 24Karat Gold Dust, and voila, Glitter Goddess!

THE MINIMALIST

Picture via Pinterest

 

Remember those phrases our parents used to say, less is more and a little goes a long way? Well, those are the inspiration behind this look. This look is perfect for the girl who wants to wow at her Holiday party without being too overdone. A great way to get bright glowing skin and cover blemishes without using too much makeup is to use a BB Cream. We LOVE Jane Iredale’s Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream. Skip the eyeliner for a truly minimal look, but make sure to add a subtle line of your eye shadow under your lower lash to draw attention to the eyes. A small dab of lighter shadow at the inside corner of your eye will open up your eye and make it pop. Always finish the eye with a curl of the eyelash and a great mascara. That is one makeup product we will never allow you to skip, no matter how minimal you are trying to go! Finish with a tinted lip gloss to complete the look.

THE CAT WOMAN

Picture via Pinterest

You can’t go wrong with the tried and true cat eye look. It adds a little glamor to any look and definitely takes your look from day to night. The cat eye is created by extending both the upper lid liner and lower lid liner to connect in a subtle winged extension from the outside corner of your eye. This look can range from tame to wild depending on the medium you choose to create it and how long the line extends. A softer look can be achieved by using a dark eyeshadow and a tapered eyeliner brush or an extreme look can be made by using a liquid eyeliner. We like this look with a soft eyeshadow such as Jane Iredale’s Wink or Nude Purepressed Eye Shadow and a hint of color on the lip such as Jane Iredale’s Erin PureMoist LipColour.

DON'T FORGET...

The first step to any good makeup is a good skincare routine. The finished piece of art can never be perfect without a good canvas to start with! So, take care of that skin! Make sure to use a good cleanser (see previous post for guide on finding your perfect cleanser) and a great moisturizer.  Moisturizer is especially important in the winter months when we all tend to get a little dry. Check out our BrookskinMD moisturizers, MoistuLuxe and NiaLuxe. For those of you feeling especially dull you may want to try a chemical peel for a quick pick me up: our BrookskinMD Quick Peel is perfect just for that and can be done on the day of your Holiday Event!

The perfect way to complete any of these looks is with a bronze glow! Since we absolutely do not approve of ANY time spent in a tanning bed we recommend a sunless tan using Tan Towels. They are easy to use and create a beautiful bronze without the streaks! Pick them up at the Spa today for 25% off!!

Guide to Choosing Your Cleanser

Deciding on the right cleanser can be one of the most difficult decisions in your skin care regime. Many people end up choosing the wrong cleanser, which can in turn make the rest of your skin care regime seem as though it is not working. Your moisturizer can end up getting the blame when your skin is too dry, when in reality your cleanser is too harsh! The type of cleanser you use can also change depending on the weather outside. Here in New England with the harsh difference between the summer and winter air, it can be common to need a foaming moisturizer in the summer and a creamy cleanser in the winter. Also, as we age our skin loses some of it's oil production and someone who spent their whole life with oily skin may begin to find that a foaming cleanser is too harsh for their now dryer skin.

The first step to deciding what type of cleanser is right for you is too determine what skin type you are. We recommend going to see an aesthetician to determine this as they will be able to use their well trained eye to tell you exactly what skin type you are. We provide free skin care consults with our aestheticians at Spa on the Green. If you are interested in coming in for one call the Spa at 413-565-2405.

The basic skin types are; oily, dry/dehydrated, combination, sensitive and normal. Individuals with oily skin typically have larger pores, are more prone to acne outbreaks, and tend to have "shiny" looking skin due to visible oil on the skin a few hours after cleansing. Now, as stated before, as those with oily skin get older their skin type can change and become much more dry. So, let's add another category to the list, aging skin. Also, it is possible for oily skin to also be dehydrated. Are you beginning to see why it is important to find out from a professional what skin type you are?

 True dry skin usually feels tight after cleansing if no moisturizer is applied. The skin can become very dry and can flake. These individuals usually have a lack of lipids in their skin and therefore a lack of oil production. Dehydrated skin can feel the same way as dry skin, but instead of lacking oil it lacks water. Any skin type can become dehydrated. Combination skin is exactly how it sounds, a combination of oily and dry skin. These individuals usually have oily T-zones (forehead, nose, chin) and dry cheeks. You can usually actually see a difference in the pore size from the T-zone to the rest of the face. Sensitive skin can be easily irritated by many ingredients especially things such as fragrances, parabens and even botanicals. Those with sensitive skin should be very careful with any of the products they use making sure to read ingredient labels and buy from sensitive skin lines. Normal skin is in perfect balance with just the right amount of oil production.

After you have determined your skin type, it's now time to look at the different type of cleansers out there. Most cleansers fall into one of two categories, foaming or creamy. As a rule foaming cleansers should be used for oily or combination skin as the foaming agent strips away some of the excess oil. Creamy cleanser should be used for dry and sensitive skin types. Normal skin can use either cleanser. Aging skin usually does best with a creamy cleanser, but depending on the time of year, may need to switch to a foaming cleanser if they used to have oily skin when they were younger. Aging skin does very well with creamy cleansers that have some form of alpha hydroxy-acid in them, such as Glycolic Acid or Lactic Acid. Our Lacticleanse Creamy Cleanser is a great example of this type of product. The acid helps to exfoliated the skin making fine lines and wrinkles less apparent while the moisturizing creamy part of the cleanser helps to add moisture back into the skin rather than dry it out more. We also offer Lacticleanse Foaming cleanser for aging skin that still has a lot of oil production. Oily skin that is very acne prone should use a foaming cleanser with an alpha hydroxy-acid in it such as our Hydroxyfoam Cleanser. Cleansers with Benzyol Peroxide can be excellent for acne prone skin, but this can be very drying so it is a good idea to only use this cleanser in the morning and use a gentler cleanser at night. Sensitive skin individuals should look for products specifically made for sensitive or redness prone skin. Our RosaLuxe cleansers are great for sensitive skin and come in foaming and creamy formulations!

Now that you hopefully have a better grasp on which type of cleanser you should be purchasing, we invite you to stop by the Spa for 25% off ALL of our cleansers!

This offer is for TODAY only, Dec 11, 2012.

HOW TO AVOID BRUISING FROM INJECTABLES

One of the biggest concerns for all of our patients when having an injectable procedure performed is whether or not they will be sporting a nice big bruise for the days to follow. The fear of a bruise can even prevent some patients from getting the procedure done! Treatments with neuromodulators such as Botox and Dysport are less likely to cause bruising than fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane. But of course, bruising is always a risk anytime a needle is used. If bruising does occur, patients can expect the bruise to last anywhere from 10-14 days. Most bruising can be covered by makeup, but sometime those pesky dark purple bruises that occur the first few days following the procedure can be difficult to cover up.

We have good news though! There are certain things that can be done to help reduce the risk of bruising from an injectable treatment. It all starts long before you even step into the office. One of the most important things you can do to prevent bruising is to avoid certain medications, supplements, foods and drinks prior to the procedure. It is most prudent to avoid these substances for 2 weeks prior to your appointment. Things that should be avoided include all NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil, Excedrin and Motrin. The only over the counter pain med that is not in this category is Tylenol or Acetaminophen. So, if you happen to have a headache or an ache or a pain 2 weeks prior to your procedure, reach for the Tylenol instead of the Advil!

Supplements and some Vitamins also play a huge part in bruising as many of them block platelet function. Some specific ones to avoid include Fish Oil, St. John's Wort, Ginkgo Biloba, Ginseng, Garlic, Ginger, Green Tea, and Vitamin E.

Lastly, alcohol can also increase your risk for a nasty bruise, so just like all of the other things mentioned, it is best to avoid it. It is not necessary to avoid alcohol for a full 2 weeks but at least 24 hours is recommended. The longer the better though!

Now, before you go thinking all supplements will causing bruising and swear them off for good, there are some supplements that may prevent bruising or help bruises dissipate faster. Notice, we say MAY. There is no scientific evidence supporting these supplements and decreased bruising, but some people swear by them. Bromelain, an extract from made from the stem of pineapples has been used in folk medicine for years as a anti-inflammatory medicine. It is also thought to diminish the appearance of bruising by breaking down the proteins in the skin that trap fluids. Bromelain can be found in pill form or is present in all parts of a pineapple if ingested. No, you don't have to eat the stem!

Another supplement used to help with bruising is Arnica. Arnica is a flowering plant found in Europe. It too is thought to help with healing and to help decrease the appearance of bruising. It can be found in a few different forms including pills to be taken orally or in creams or ointment which can be rubbed directly onto the affected area.

Now, of course in addition to this there are also traditional methods of preventing bruising that most of you have most likely heard of, such as ice. We usually have our patients sit with some ice-packs on the treated area both before and after the treatment to help prevent bruising and swelling. The ice helps to constrict the blood vessels making bruising less of a risk.

Now that you know all of the tricks of the trade hopefully the idea of having an injectable treatment isn't so scary! We still recommend that you get your treatment at a time when you don't have something important to go to for the next few weeks like say, your wedding or 10 year reunion! If you are interested in learning more about any injectable treatment call the office for an appointment with either Leah or Julia at 413-565-4400.

BRA Day USA

October 17, 2012 marks the first ever Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day in the USA. BRA Day was started in order to bring to light a part of Breast Cancer Awareness that can tend to be overlooked. This day seeks to promote education, awareness and access regarding post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. BRA Day was started in Canada in 2011 and now will occur annually on the 3rd Wednesday of every October.

The spokeswoman for the BRA Day campaign is singer/songwriter Jewel. Her charitable song
 "Flower" was written to benefit breast reconstruction patients. Below is a video of her Public Service Announce regarding Breast Reconstruction and BRA Day

It is important that we spread the word about Breast Reconstruction as 7 out of 10 women eligible for breast reconstruction following mastectomy or partial mastectomy are not being fully informed or informed at all about their options for reconstruction. All women have the right to know what the different breast reconstruction options are and which specific options they would be eligible for.

To find out more information about BRA Day USA or Breast Reconstruction visit BRADayUSA or Breast Reconstruction Options.

We need your help to spread the word about Breast Reconstruction! Help us close the loop on breast cancer!

The Trifecta of Skin Care: The 3 Ingredients you need to fight photo damaged skin!

One of the most common questions we get in the office is what kind of skin care regimen the patient should be on. Patients are always asking about the specific brands of skin care they use, if we have heard of it, if it is good, or if they should be using something else. They want to know if there really is a difference between the products you find in a drugstore vs. a department store vs. a doctors office. They are curious about the specific ingredients found in skin care and if there is one particular “magic cure all” ingredient out there. 

The brand of skin care that you use is important. Skin care lines that you will find in a drugstore will have lesser quality ingredient than you will find in products in a department store. Which makes sense seeing as the products in a drugstore are much cheaper than the products in a department store. The more important difference though is between the products you find in a doctors office, or specifically a plastic surgeon or dermatologist’s office vs. pretty much everything else. Product lines sold to or created by doctors will have ingredients in them that actually work to change the cellular structure of your skin in order to enhance the overall tone and texture of it. These ingredients unfortunately cannot be found in products sold at drugstores or department places simply because they hold the potential to cause a reaction that lets face it, the CVS or Nordstrom clerk wouldn’t know how to deal with, but, a doctor would.

So, what exactly are these ingredients and are they magical cure alls? Of course they are not magic and of course there is not just one single ingredient that will give your skin everything that it needs. However, there are basically 3 main ingredients that are the most important to look for in your skin care products if you are looking to improve sun damaged skin and help the overall tone and texture of your skin.

1. Some form of Retinol or Retinoid. Retinols and Retinoids are Vitamin A derivatives that work to increase the number of Fibroblasts in your skin. Fibroblasts are cells found in the skin that make collagen and elastin. It is obvious how this would be appealing as collagen and elastin are what helps to make the skin plump and resilient. As we get older we lose some collagen and elastin which leads to wrinkly, loose skin. Retinoids and Retinols also help increase cell turnover. When we are younger our cells in our skin turn over very fast which is why if you get a cut when you are younger you heal quite a bit faster than when you are older. As we get older the amount of time it takes for our skin cells to turn over double and even triples! Retinols and Retinoids help to make this number closer to what it was when we were younger. This helps to exfoliate the skin getting rid of that dull look and creating a fresher more glowing appearance to our skin! Retinol is the non-prescription strength of retinoid and can be found in many over the counter products as well as in product lines in doctor’s offices. It is a good place to start when you first begin using this type of product, as it is less irritating. For example we sell in our product line Retinol 50 and Retinol 100. We will very commonly start a patient on one of these strengths initially before bumping them up to the prescription strength retinoid.  It is only necessary to use a retinoid every other day, or for example Monday, Wednesday and Friday as the product actually stays in your skin for 48 hours. Only about a pea-sized amount is needed to cover the entire face and it should always be applied at night after cleansing as the sun deactivates it.

2. The second ingredient to look for is Vitamin C. Vitamin C works synergistically with retinoids and can be used at night on the days that you do not use your retinoid, so, for example, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Vitamin C is a nutrient needed by Fibroblasts in order for them to work properly, so you see how this helps retinoids as they increase the number of Fibroblasts in the skin. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant that can help to protect skin cells from UV-related damage, reduce inflammation and improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin. Some patients will ask us if taking a multivitamin or Vitamin C supplements will help their skin. Multivitamins are an excellent idea for your overall health and can help you get the nutrients you need if you are not finding them in your diet, but it is unlikely that the vitamin C you consume in a pill or a food will ever reach your skin. If you are looking for the benefits of vitamin C to be seen on your face, you must use it topically. The form of vitamin C is also important to consider. Most product labels do not say vitamin C on them but instead various long scientific names that most people would not realize is vitamin C.  These names represent different forms of vitamin C. The most stable and effective forms of vitamin C that you should look for in the ingredient list are: ascorbic acid, retinyl ascorbate, L-ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate.

3. The last ingredient to complete the “trifecta” is some form of alpha hydroxy acid (AHAs). The most common forms of AHAs are glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid and mandelic acid. Glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size and therefore is able to penetrate the outer layer of skin the easiest so that it can reach the layer of skin where living cells reside. This is why it is the most commonly known AHA and it is the one you will likely find in most products. That being said, products with other forms of AHAs are still beneficial and it is not necessary to only buy products containing glycolic acid. AHAs work to improve the appearance and texture of photo damaged skin by increasing collagen in the skin as well as by increasing the thickness of skin without causing inflammation. They also help with general exfoliation of the skin. These products are best used in cleansers and can be used every day. They can be somewhat irritating in high concentrations especially if you are just beginning a retinoid regimen.

So, there you have it, the 3 most important ingredients to help with photo damage! Of course, everyone’s skin is different and therefore it is wise to meet with a skin care expert to get the best advice on exactly what regimen you should be on! At Spa on the Green, located above Dr. Brooks’ practice, we offer Skin Care Consultations with either of our fabulous aestheticians, Jennifer or Heather! Call the spa if you are interested in learning more about what you should be doing for your skin or to learn more about Dr. Brooks’ personal skin care line, Brookskin MD!