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Advances in Customizable Skin Care

BY DR. LINDSEY PENNINGTON

hen reviewing literature and social media

Wtrends, the beauty market this year was dominated by skincare. Skincare, as a market segment, is growing faster than any other part of the beauty industry. Sales of skincare products grew by 13% last year in the United States, while makeup grew by only 1% in the same period. Online beauty retailers grew 24% in that time with skincare leading the way. Customers are moving away from harsh, scented products toward medical grade ones. The top skincare trends of this year include sunscreen, retinol, customizable skincare, DIY skincare, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and a continued movement towards prevention. With so many options available online and in stores, individuals can become overwhelmed with choices. Everyone has different skin types and needs and without an expert guiding skincare purchases, incorrect choices are often made. I recommend an examination with a board-certified dermatologist or facial plastic surgeon for a skin analysis to pinpoint your skin issues. For example, I see patients who assume they have dry skin when really the products they are

using are stripping their trends, the beauty market this year was skin and causing irritation. Once those products are discontinued and the other part of the beauty industry. Sales of correct products used, the skincare products grew by 13% last year in the United States, dehydration resolves, and the skin normalizes. beauty retailers grew 24% in that time with skincare leading Pollution, sun exposure, and workplace stress have reached all-time highs, and are also contributors to the quality and aging of our skin. Tools are available and needed to help diagnose underlying issues. We analyze a person’s skin with the Skinscope LED which uses two light modes: a simulated daylight mode for reviewing visible With so many options available online and in stores, individuals can become overwhelmed with choices. Everyone has different skin types and needs and without an expert concerns, and a LED-UV light mode for identifying underlying damage. This analysis, along with a review of an individual’s medical history and home medications, helps your physician make specific recommendations individualized to you. made. I recommend an examination with a board-certified On the treatment side, one of the most exciting devices to recently come to market for skin care is the Skinceuticals pinpoint your skin issues. For example, I see patients who Custom D.O.S.E. machine. We are one of only two offices in assume they have dry skin when really the products they are Louisiana to have the machine, and we are so thrilled to be

using are stripping their skin and causing irritation. Once those products are discontinued and the correct products used, the dehydration resolves, and the skin normalizes. Pollution, sun exposure, and workplace stress have reached all-time highs, and are also contributors to the quality and aging of our skin. Tools are available and needed to help diagnose underlying issues. We analyze a person’s skin with the Skinscope LED which uses two light modes: a simulated daylight mode for reviewing visible concerns, and a LED-UV light mode for identifying underlying damage. This analysis, along with a review of an individual’s medical history and home medications, helps your physician make specific recommendations individualized to you. On the treatment side, one of the most exciting devices to recently come to market for skin care is the Skinceuticals Custom D.O.S.E. machine. We are one of only two offices in Louisiana to have the machine, and we are so thrilled to be

on the forefront of truly personalized skincare! It took three years and teams of dermatologists, scientists, and Silicon Valley engineers to create this specialized machine which brings a compounding lab and customized skincare together in an office setting. Through a combination of photographs and our input as board certified cosmetic physicians, an analysis of a person’s skin can be evaluated through a series of 85,000 algorithms to design the perfect skin care formulation for you. The same machine then compounds it in office, and all of this happens in less than 10 minutes! Custom serums treat skin issues such as fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, redness, acne, rosacea, or melasma. One of my favorite things about this machine is the ability to combine active ingredients such as retinol or azelaic acid, which can be drying for some skin types, with a creamier emollient base to help prevent dryness or irritation, while still utilizing the benefits of the active ingredient. If a patient is pregnant or breastfeeding, we can tailor it to the individual with pregnancy safe ingredients. Being able to combine active ingredients with this machine makes it a one-step approach for patients which helps people stay consistent with their skin care regimen. In addition, it saves time and money by not having to apply numerous products or prescriptions. In office procedures can also be customized to each person’s skincare needs. Our most popular no-downtime procedures are the Diamond Glow Dermalinfusion and Aquagold facial. Diamond Glow is a patented 3-in1 technology that simultaneously exfoliates, extracts, and infuses the skin with customized serums. Exfoliation of the skin is achieved with an exfoliating diamond tip within the handpiece. The gentle suction of the device not only exfoliates but deep cleans the skin while extracting dirt and debris from within the pores. Clogged pores and blackheads are extracted leaving your skin deep cleaned and smooth. During the exfoliation and extraction process, pneumatic pressure simultaneously infuses the skin with customized treatment serums to treat specific skin concerns and goals. This leaves skin refreshed and glowing. After a Diamond Glow treatment, individuals can actually see in the collection jar what was removed and extracted from the skin during treatment, which shows how much congestion can build up and stresses the importance of maintenance. Diamond Glow Dermalinfusion custom serums treat a number of issues including fine lines and wrinkles, clogged pores and congestion, tone and texture, hyperpigmentation including brown spots and sun damage, acne on the face, back, and/or chest (which is great during summer time for swimsuit season), dry, dehydrated, rough patches on the face and/or body including hands and elbows, Keratosis Pilaris (small bumps on the skin usually found on the upper arms and thighs) and even stretch marks. In a clinical study, Diamond Glow has been shown to increase the skin’s volume by 70% for up to 3 days following treatment! It’s the perfect treatment before big events to get skin photo-ready from head-to-toe.

AquaGold Fine Touch is the next advance in customizable skincare. This device is made of a glass ampule with 24-karat gold hollow needles that release product along the entire length of the needle. Each needle is smaller than a hair follicle. The 24K gold minimizes risk of irritation. The benefit of gold all comes down to chemistry. Gold is more biologically compatible with human skin than other metals. Unlike traditional micro-needling techniques that only puncture the skin with topical product application, AquaGold can infuse products directly into the skin at depths of 6 mm, the level of the deeper dermis, where it can have a more significant effect. Some of the solutions that can be infused are Botox, hyaluronic fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane, pigment reducers, vitamins such as C, E and B, growth factors such as platelet rich plasma (PRP)—your body’s own natural growth factors and my personal favorite—and glutathione. There is a range of different AquaGold “cocktails” that can be specially customized depending on specific goals for your skin. For example, using Botox as a part of the cocktail results in reduced pore size, decreased facial redness and flushing, which is great for rosacea patients, a decrease in oil production which helps decrease breakouts, and even a decrease in sweat production. Patients who struggle with acne and acne scarring have seen huge improvements. Adding hyaluronic acid filler such as Juvederm or hyaluronic acid serums can lead to superficial plumping to improve fine lines and wrinkles, while giving the overall skin quality a very “airbrushed” appearance. PRP contains hundreds of protein growth factors. These growth factors are placed back into the skin to stimulate fibroblasts and other skin rejuvenation pathways to fight back against aging and improve tone, texture, and slow collagen breakdown. It’s a great customizable procedure with minimal to no downtime and is safe for every skin type. This is an exciting time for advanced skin care and treatments. There are so many choices, and it can be overwhelming to know which ones are right for you. Having a trusted cosmetic physician to guide you will improve results and save you time and money over the long run. Taking the time to do something for yourself will be a huge boost in confidence and will improve your overall appearance and mood. You are worth it, and your skin will thank you!

BEFORE AFTER AQUAGOLD

Dr. Lindsey Pennington is the only female double Board-Certified facial plastic surgeon with a solo private practice in the State of Louisiana. She focuses on both noninvasive and surgical facial rejuvenation in her Shreveport office. Learn more at www.penningtonfacialplastics.com

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