Spring Skin Detox

Spring is an ideal time to update your skin routine and to detoxify the skin.  Over the winter, we are typically exposed to cold and dry weather, comfort foods, and plenty of indoor pollution leaving our skin feeling rough, dry, depleted and congested.  Combined facial exfoliation and detoxification is one of the best ways to achieve  clear, healthy and glowing skin for a fresh start to a new season.

The best way to begin managing this problem is to start off with sapphire microdermabrasion to gently but thoroughly remove all the excess dead skin cells sitting at the surface of the skin.  Not only will this create smoother, softer and more refined skin; but it will also improve blood flow, which will allow products and treatments to absorb deeper into the skin and as a result be more effective.  After the microdermabrasion, a rich, detoxifying Canadian glacial clay mask is applied to the face and neck.  This mask draws out toxins and impurities while deeply infusing trace minerals and botanicals into the skin, giving the skin the nutrients it needs to help repair itself.

Following the detoxifying treatment, lymphatic drainage will take place to help the cells release any remaining accumulated toxins and fluids within the tissues and moves the toxic fluids to the lymph nodes, kidneys and liver to be processed and eliminated.  This procedure helps visibly helps reduce facial puffiness and fluid retention, most notably around the eyes.  Once the lymphatic drainage is complete, a relaxing and healing cold laser treatment will take place.  This cool light works to increase collagen production and stimulates the skin’s natural healing abilities, resulting in firm, clear and beautiful skin.

Please call the clinic or email me (erin@westvanwellness) for more information on this incredible spring skin treatment or to book an appointment today!

Post-Summer Skin Care

We all love the summer, salt water and sunshine, however we all know the sun does cause significant damage to the skin.  Even with the most diligent avoidance of the sun, some exposure is inevitable.  Sun spots, freckles, loss of skin firmness and elasticity, wrinkles, dehydration and even acne flares are all external signs of this deep damage.  The good news is that much can be done to help repair the harm that has taken place.  Autumn is the perfect time to begin a skin care program to help restore and repair your skin.  These are a few of the best treatments to achieve the beautiful skin we all desire:

• Medical Microdermabrasion

Medical microdermabrasion uses a sapphire plate and ultrasonic speed to gently remove dead skin cells sitting at the surface of the skin.  Over time, these dead cells build on top of each other to create a thick, uneven surface that leads to dull, dry skin and fine lines.  Exfoliating these cells away reveals the younger, smoother and  fresher skin below.  This helps reduce fine lines and hyper-pigmentation while allowing  skin products and moisture to penetrate into deeper layers of the skin.

• Cold Laser Therapy

Cold laser therapy works at a deeper, cellular level within the skin.  It painlessly boosts collagen production, increases cell renewal (vital after the summer or a sunny holiday), and increases blood flow to bring more nutrients to the area.  In addition, cold laser works to realign the melanocytes (cells that produce melanin which gives skin its color) to further improve sun spots and freckles.  This results in skin that is firmer, lifted and more evenly toned.  This treatment is also ideal for acne breakouts, as the blue light kills surface bacteria that leads to blemishes.

• Antioxidants and Nutrition

One cannot have the beautiful skin they desire without proper nutrition.  Proper balance of organic produce, lean proteins, low glycemic carbohydrates and healthy fats is critical to both health and beauty.  Avoid aging foods: sugar, refined grains, trans fats, caffeine, processed foods and any food sensitivities you may have.  Choose organic whenever possible to limit your exposure to pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and other unhealthy chemicals.

Antioxidants, which are mainly found in fresh fruits and vegetables protect cells from free radical damage. Resveratrol, a flavanoid found in foods including red grapes, has been shown to be particularly effective in preventing aging.  Increase your antioxidant intake by eating a wide variety of fresh colorful vegetables and fruits and asking if antioxidant supplementation is right for you.

• Pure Collagen Therapy

Dr. Belter Pure Collagen Therapy is perfect for mature and dehydrated skin.  It uses the purest freeze dried collagen on the market and is combined with nourishing vitamins and botanicals to increase skin hydration by 180% .  Patients notice immediate improvement; their skin is smoother, firmer, lifted and lines are reduced.  For optimal results, this treatment should be done once per month.

• Home Skin Care

Even with the best professional skincare treatments, your skin will not look its best without proper home care.  With so many products on the market, it is very easy to be overwhelmed with finding the right skin regimen for you.  Start with the basics: cleanse, tone and moisturize (during the day use a minimum of SPF 30) using high quality natural products.  Depending on your skin analysis, other products such as eye cream, serums or other specialized treatments may be beneficial.

Clearly, there are many options available when it comes to repairing the damage accumulated during the summer and sunny vacations.  Depending on the degree of sun exposure, everyone will need a different course of treatment to achieve their desired results.  I offer complimentary skin analysis to patients, so feel free to come in anytime and I can help you design the perfect skin care routine for you!