How to Prevent Acne Scars

How to Prevent Acne Scars

The Proactive Guide to Keeping a Fresh Face

While having acne can be a harrowing time in any teenager’s life, having acne scars results in lifelong embarrassment and self-consciousness. And while there are treatments available for getting rid of acne scars, they can be costly and a hassle to go through. A better option for eliminating acne scars is learning how to prevent them altogether. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure.

How to Prevent Acne Scars from Forming with Existing Acne

If you already have a breakout, here are some great tips that will help keep it a temporary nuisance by preventing acne scars from ever developing:

  • At the first sign of a breakout, start treating your acne right away. Cleanse the area daily with a mild, oil-free soap and use over-the-counter treatments or prescriptions from your doctor. Never ignore pimples and zits, waiting for them to go away on their own.
  • Of course, treating your pimples, zits and whiteheads doesn’t mean squeezing or popping – this process is to be left to the professionals! When performed by a skilled skin specialist, acne extractions can do wonders to clear up a breakout. Home extractions on the other hand, will usually have the opposite effect. When you pop or squeeze a pimple, the bacteria inside (often in the form of pus) can be forced deeper down into the follicle. This can create inflammation, a bigger pimple, infection and ultimately, scarring.
  • Likewise, don’t pick at scabs either. This should be common sense since virtually any scab you pick at—not just acne scabs—will cause scarring.
  • Further, don’t scrub the skin excessively, use harsh skin care products or do anything that will worsen the inflammation around your acne. Inflamed pimples and zits are more likely than non-inflamed breakouts to cause scarring.
  • Finally, if you’ve experienced acne scarring before, always consult your doctor during breakouts. This is especially true for larger, more serious breakouts such as cysts or deep nodules. These are the most dangerous types of acne when it comes to leaving scars since any infection will kill all the skin tissue around the acne. Doctors can easily help prevent this, but only if you go see them.

Taking it One Step Further—How to Avoid Acne Altogether

Of course, learning how to prevent acne scars wouldn’t be a big deal if you didn’t have to deal with the underlying cause of scarring: the acne itself. To take the preventative method one level deeper, try these simple ways you can prevent pimples, zits and breakouts from ever occurring:

  • Wash your face regularly with an anti-bacterial, oil-free soap. The soap should be mild and gentle on your skin, and not contain any scents or artificial coloring.
  • Avoid greasy foods, not only because touching your skin with greasy fingers can clog your pores, but the unhealthy side-effects of these food work on your body from the inside, creating an environment that is ripe for acne growth.
  • Avoid oil-based sunscreen, but do apply sunscreen regularly to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun.
  • Get enough sleep at night and exercise during the day. Sleep helps your body deal with bacterial infections while exercise will help you sweat, unclogging your pores.

As long as you are diligent, acne scars should be a thing of the past—not your future. To find out how you can get rid of existing acne scars, click here right now and don’t suffer from embarrassing blemishes and scarring for one more day.

Tips for Dry Lips

Tips for Dry Lips

Well the weather outside is frightful, but your smile doesn’t have to be! Cold weather is known to dehydrate your lips causing them to crack, flake and even bleed. Ouch! As if that isn’t bad enough, chapped lips can be quite painful. The key to maintaining a moist mouth is prevention. Stop dryness before it starts with our list of Q Tips for dry lips:

Get Rid of Flakes

It may be tempting to pick at the flakes that are plaguing your pout, but this can lead to bleeding, tenderness and irritation. Try moisturizing your lips with a hydrating balm, then gently buff away dead skin with a moist toothbrush. We recommend PCA Skin’s Gentle Exfoliant, which is mild enough to slough away flakes without irritating the sensitive lip area.

Pick Products that Work

Before you start compulsively reapplying your Chapstick every 5 minutes, consider investing in products that have been proven to penetrate your pucker, not just coat your lips. Look for ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid and castor oil – all of which will ensure a moisturized mouth. PCA Skin’s Peptide Lip Therapy is packed with peptides and amino acids which help build collagen, improving the overall appearance of your lips. Who doesn’t want more of that?

Stay Hydrated

Last but not least, we want you to stay hydrated! Don’t skimp on your H2o intake. Drinking enough water is essential in keeping your lips soft and supple. You may also want to check your kitchen cupboard for some hydrating home remedies. Coconut oil, olive oil and honey all have moisturizing agents that will to keep you from cracking. And whatever you do, don’t lick. It may seem like a quick fix, but in reality saliva actually dries out your lips.

Kick start your lip care regimen now and before you know it, you’ll have soft, kissable lips just in time for summer!

You are what you eat: 5 Super foods to get you glowing from the inside out

You are what you eat: 5 Super foods to get you glowing from the inside out

Let’s face it: everyone wants a youthful, radiant complexion… but where do we start? The old adage ‘you are what you eat’ couldn’t be more accurate, beautiful skin does truly come from within.

Being the largest organ of your body, your skin needs nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants to maintain optimal health. Studies have shown that certain foods can actually enhance and promote a younger looking appearance and even help to fight off various skin concerns such as acne, psoriasis and more.

Here are 5 super foods to help keep your skin in check.

Yogurt

Packed with probiotics which help to fight redness and reduce inflammation, regular consumption of yogurt may help to improve chronic skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis and rosacea.

Yogurt also contains lactic acid which works as an active moisturizer for the skin. Many use yogurt as a home remedy to treat dullness and dryness.

Q Tip: To make your own ultra-hydrating mask, coat desired areas with a thick layer of plain yogurt and let it absorb for 25 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and reveal soft, supple skin.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are high in vitamin C which is one of the most beneficial ingredients for the skin. Not only does it build collagen (which is vital in producing younger-looking skin), it’s also a powerful antioxidant – an essential for preventing cell damage.

This fruit’s red pigment (lycopene) helps to protect skin from sun damage kind of like a sunscreen working from within. Make them a part of your mid-day snack, your skin will thank you for it!

Walnuts

This superfood tastes great and you only need a handful of them in order to reap their benefits. Eat them on their own or toss them into your favourite salad for fuller, healthier hair, brighter eyes and more beautiful skin.

Packed with vitamins B and E, walnuts help to lower stress levels and balance your mood. This powerful vitamin combo also fights free radicals, thus slowing the aging process.

Q Tip: Plagued by raccoon eyes? It’s been proven that regular application of walnut oil can lighten dark circles and ease puffiness.

Wild Salmon

Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids and loaded with astaxanthin. This powerful blocker of free radicals prevents damage to cell membranes and DNA which causes the skin to age. While fatty acids like omega-3 have healthy advantages, they also aid in keeping dry skin hydrated from the inside out. Studies have shown that eating one serving every five days can prevent precancerous rough patches called actinic keratoses from developing.

Honey

Honey can do wonders for your skin. Not only is it extremely hydrating, it is rich in antioxidants and has anti-aging benefits. For hundreds of years women have used honey to keep their skin soft and smooth. It has the ability to retain moisture and lock it into the skin.

The advantages span far beyond vanity. Skin concerns such as acne, eczema and psoriasis are just some of the chronic inflammatory conditions that this natural ingredient can help to improve.

Q Tip: Want a homemade zit-zapper? Try applying a thin layer of organic honey to the area and leave on for 30 minutes. You’ll be in the clear before you know it!

Remember, like any new skincare regimin, you need to give it some time to see visible results. Making a healthy lifestyle change can be challenging at first, but like all things that are hard going the results will be well worth it!

3 Ways to Fight Hair Loss

3 Ways to Fight Hair Loss

Losing your hair can do a number to your self-esteem; and both men and women suffer from hair loss. Luckily, there are plenty of options available to help you fight balding.

Laser Light Therapy

Laser light therapy stimulates blood flow to the scalp while also boosting the protein synthesis needed for hair regeneration. Laser therapy is a great choice for men and women who experience increased shedding and want to renew their hair as well as promote additional re-growth. 80 percent of people treated by light therapy have experienced a significant decline in shedding as well as a reduction in hair loss altogether. While Laser Light Therapy is extremely effective, there are other components to consider when treating hair loss.

Nutrition

Genetics are always a factor when it comes to hair loss; however, nutrition, hormone balance and stress are also important contributors. Eating a balanced diet is important to your overall health, (and that includes the health of your hair) so try to avoid eating foods that increase hair loss. Greasy, sugary and spicy foods are among the worst culprits for thinning. To maintain a healthy head of hair it’s important to sustain a diet, rich in protein that also includes vitamins and minerals such as biotin, silica, iron and zinc.

Home Care

Did you know that it has been scientifically proven that your hair and body require copper to be at their best? More shampoos today have been formulated to include active ingredients known to slow, stop and reverse hair loss. Tricomin is a therapy spray, shampoo and conditioner that includes “Copper Peptide Technology”. This technology is one of the most unique and successful methods of treating hair loss. FDA trials have proven that it stimulates hair growth and also showed positive results in test studies on people who used it twice daily for 24 weeks.

With the right hair care regimen, nutritious diet and the regular use of home care, you are sure to see an improvement in the condition of your hair.

3 Skin Care Mistakes You’re Making & How to Avoid Them

3 Skin Care Mistakes You’re Making & How to Avoid Them

You’re diligent about your skincare regimen. You invest in all the necessary products:a good retinol, a hydrating night cream and of course, your favorite serum. You always make sure to exfoliate twice a week and avoid scrubs that are overly abrasive or strip the skin of it’s natural oils. Although it seems you have your routine down pat, chances are, you still aren’t using your products correctly. Here are some of the common mistakes our medical estheticians encounter most often:

1. Not Removing Your Makeup Before Bedtime

Whether you fall asleep on the couch or just don’t feel like washing your face; not removing your makeup before you go to bed can wreak havoc on your skin. Makeup can trap dirt and oil in your pores, clogging them overnight. Furthermore, makeup tends to contain ingredients that disrupt your skin’s regeneration, which primarily takes place while you sleep. Cleaning your skin is vital to maintaining a healthy complexion. To preserve your healthy glow, avoid cutting corners. Your face will thank you for it!

2. Not Putting On Sunscreen

It’s no secret that all skincare professionals swear by this rule. Ultraviolet radiation can cause skin damage any time you leave your house – it gets through your clothes and is just as damaging in the winter. The harmful rays destroy collagen and deplete the skins outer layer of essential nutrients. Skin cancer is a very real concern; even after a few severe sunburns as a child your chances of developing it increase significantly. As if the big C isn’t scary enough, UV radiation also results in wrinkles, hyper pigmentation and sunspots, which add YEARS to your appearance.

Sunscreen is a key player in your anti-aging regimen. When used correctly, it can significantly help to protect your skin from damage. Look for a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection, which means that it blocks both UVA and UVB rays. At Q Esthetics we carry top of the line, medical grade protection such as PCA and Elta MD. Don’t skimp on your sun protection, it could save your life!

3. Not Applying Moisturizer to Acne Skin

Finding the perfect balance for acne skin can be tricky. Even oily skin can feel tight and flaky if you don’t moisturize – especially if you’re using topical acne medications. Yet moisturizing too heavily can leave your skin feeling greasy all day long. Our clients often assume that stripping the skin with harsh products or keeping it dry is the key to a clear complexion. In reality your skin will go into overdrive to produce more oils, which can clog your pores and cause those pesky breakouts. Determining which ingredients to look for or avoid in a moisturizer can be challenging. So what’s a breakout-prone person to do? Start by booking a complimentary assessment with one of our trained medical estheticians who are qualified to develop a personalized plan to treat your skin.