Frequently Asked Questions
I keep my baby's diaper area very clean, yet diaper rash is still a problem. What can I do?
What is facial skin rejuvenation?
Is laser hair removal permanent?
Is it good to get a massage on a regular basis?
I have rosacea. What can I do about the constant redness and broken blood vessels on my face?
I have rosacea. What can I do about the constant redness and broken blood vessels on my face?
What is the Ultraviolet (UV) Index?
What conditions can affect veins?
A
What is acne?
Acne is an annoying skin condition that affects people of every age, gender, and race—few skin conditions are as bothersome and disturbing. The scientific name for the condition is acne vulgaris, because acne usually strikes in plainly visible locations such as the face, neck, chest and back.
Acne is an age-old problem that has plagued people for centuries. But there are numerous treatment methods available for this bothersome condition.
B
What is Botox® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® Cosmetics is a highly purified toxin derived from the bacteria clostridium botulinum. It works by blocking receptor sites on muscles and preventing acetyl choline, released by nerves, from stimulating muscles to contract.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected into the skin in very small and safe amounts to selectively block the function of certain facial muscles that are involved in wrinkle formation. The best locations to inject BOTOX® Cosmetic are frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet lines.
It is also an excellent treatment for excess sweating (“hyperhidrosis”) of the axillary areas, palms and soles, with diminished to absent sweating at these sites lasting for up to 9 months.
How long does Botox last?
The first treatment involves injection into a stronger thick muscle and, therefore, may only last three to four months. At subsequent sessions the muscle is smaller and weaker (since it has not been used), and the injections can last five to six months. The BOTOX® Cosmetic action wears off gradually, so there is ample time to reschedule subsequent appointments.
C
What is a chemical peel?
There are three main types of peels. Light peels
are most commonly performed using alpha hydroxy acids and salicylic
acid. Alpha hydroxyl acids are naturally occurring acids found in
fruits and other foods and salicylic acid is actually aspirin. Alpha
hydroxy acids have proven to be effective in treating dry skin,
acne, liver or sun spots, diminishing fine facial wrinkles, decreasing
pore size, and improving skin texture. Light peels are usually performed
in a series of six to eight peels, each peel two or three weeks
apart. This type of peel leaves the skin with a red glow that lasts
for a day or so.
Medium peels are often performed with trichloroacetic
acid. These peels may be performed several times per year as desired.
Medium peels have the same benefits as light peels and, because
of deeper penetration, can remove larger wrinkles and precancerous
skin lesions. The drawback is that a medium peel makes the skin
on the face appear to have severe sunburn for several days. This
peel may be very beneficial for someone with multiple precancers.
This type of peel treats precancers that are too small to be seen
with the naked eye.
Deep peels are not performed in this office.
D
I keep my baby's diaper area very clean, yet diaper rash is still a problem. What can I do?
Diaper dermatitis can be caused by many different things, but it most often develops because of wet diapers. The moist skin is particularly susceptible to chafing and friction and overgrowth of microorganisms. Keep the diaper area as dry as possible. If possible, allow the baby to go without a diaper. We have various specialized creams to help alleviate this problem.
E
What is eczema?
The terms eczema or dermatitis are used to describe certain kinds of inflamed skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis and nummular dermatitis. Eczema can be red, blistering, oozing, scaly, and brownish, with or without thickening of the skin, and it usually itches.
F
What is facial skin rejuvenation?
The skin is the largest and most visible body organ. As skin ages, it becomes thinner and less elastic. Collagen and elastin, the tissues that keep the skin firm, become weaker as gravity, internal, and external factors exert a constant downward pull. As a result of a lifetime of sun exposure, superficial blemishes may become more noticeable. The goal of facial rejuvenation is to restore a more youthful look by helping to reverse the appearance of aging and sun damage. Dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons are trained and experienced in the use of a wide range of surgical and non-surgical methods for treating skin conditions. As experts on skin aging, dermatologists are uniquely qualified to employ a variety of both corrective and preventive techniques to keep skin healthy and youthful looking.
G
What is Glycolic acid?
Glycolic acid is part of the chemical family referred to as alpha-hydroxy acids. Glycolic acid is a naturally occurring compound in sugar cane. When applied, it helps to dissolve the outer layer of skin.
H
What is Hemangioma?
Hemangiomas are benign [violaceous, reddish] tumors of the vascular endothelium. Hemangiomas of infancy are the most common type of hemangiomas, characterized by a unique natural history of growth in early infancy, followed by slow involution over the next several years. Hemangiomas may be present at the time of birth as so-called precursor lesions in approximately half of the cases. Rarely are they fully-formed tumors at birth. In the remainder of cases, lesions become evident after birth, usually within the second and fourth weeks of life.
I
What is Isotretinoin?
Isotretinion is a powerful medication usually prescribed for cystic acne. This medication can be used for severe cases of rosacea, but only for selected candidates since isotretinoin can cause serious side effects and birth defects.
K
What is Keratin?
Keratin is a highly fibrous protein that is the primary material in the cells of the skin, hair and nails.
L
Is laser hair removal permanent?
Laser hair removal generally consists of extended periods of hair removal, with a decrease in the amount of hair and in the diameter of the hairs. Thus, after each session and according to the area of the body involved, one can notice increasingly longer periods between hair removal sessions (4–6 weeks at the beginning, and several months after some sessions). Typically, after several sessions hair removal is virtually complete.
M
Is it good to get a massage on a regular basis?
The therapeutic effects of massage are cumulative. From one session to the next, you are able to relax more and more as the chronic patterns of stress in the body are relieved.
What is Microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion is a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure that polishes away the upper layers of skin to smooth the area’s texture and promote rejuvenating growth. The procedure employs a tool that rapidly sprays tiny aluminum oxide crystals at the skin’s surface, removing one fine layer at a time. A vacuum device is simultaneously employed to take away the separated skin and blasting particles. The procedure is effective for smoothing out mild skin blemishes, such as fine wrinkles, age spots, and light acne scars. It also provokes the body to produce new skin cells and increased collagen, which improves skin elasticity and makes it look fresher. It usually takes a series of somewhere between five and twelve microdermabrasion treatments, each spaced a few weeks apart, to achieve the desired effects. The new, smoother skin can be maintained through periodic treatments every few months or so. Despite the apparent overall length of the treatment process, each treatment is fairly quick, painless, and undemanding with regards to recovery. This simplicity has quickly made microdermabrasion one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the United States
N
What is a Nevus?
Nevus is a small, often[--but not always--]dark and raised growth on human skin; also called a mole.
O
What is Onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis represents approximately 50% of all nail disorders. Onychomycosis is far more common on the toenail than it is on the fingernail. It may be associated with trauma to the nail and is commonly seen in association with fungal involvement of the soles of the feet, known as tinea pedis. This disease, which causes the nails to become thickened, hard to cut and often painful, is worsened by moisture, warmth, trauma, communal bathing, and other activities that lead to the exposure of fungi. Common complaints of the disorder are pain, deformed nails, and interference with daily activities such as walking, typing, or playing a musical instrument. Those who suffer from the disease cite a substantial negative effect on their quality of life. Nevertheless, the perception still persists in the minds of many physicians that onychomycosis is more of a cosmetic nuisance than a significant disease, which is not the approach at Le MedSpa.
P
What is Photorejuvenation?
A non-invasive, non-ablative intense pulsed light which simultaneously treats pigmented and vascular lesions in the epidermis and dermis and stimulates new collagen formation in the dermis, resulting in improved skin tone and texture.
In short, the Harmony® Advanced Fluorescence Technology system will improve and/or remove “brown” or “red” areas. Improvement can be seen after one treatment, but usually a series is required to get the desired results. Remember that sun damage takes years to appear, and it will take time to reverse this damage. “It’s like peeling an onion”.
R
I have rosacea. What can I do about the constant redness and broken blood vessels on my face?
Persistent redness and broken blood vessels (telangiectases) are the hallmarks of rosacea. With repeated flushing and blushing, the vessels eventually stay dilated. Topical and oral antibiotics may be quite helpful against this aspect of rosacea. Telangiectases can be treated by laser, electrocautery (a specialized machine to lightly burn the vessels), or with the Harmony Advanced Fluorescent Technology, including Photodynamic Therapy. Topical vitamin K creams and gels have been developed to reduce redness.
S
My child has sensitive skin and gets rashes easily with bubble baths and wool clothing. What can I do to prevent this?
Your child may have mild atopic dermatitis. It occurs most frequently in families with a history of eczema, allergies, and asthma. This disorder is characterized by dry, sensitive, itchy skin. Mild soaps, cotton clothing, and moisturizers help minimize flare-ups. In severe cases, prescription medications may be necessary.
U
What is the Ultraviolet (UV) Index?
The Ultraviolet (UV) Index provides important information to help you plan your outdoor activities and avoid over-exposure to the damaging rays of the sun. Developed by the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the UV Index is issued daily as a national service. It is a forecast, of the amount of ultraviolet rays expected to reach the Earth's surface when the sun is highest in the sky. The higher the index, the faster UV radiation causes damage to the skin and eyes. The index depends on the elevation of the sun in the sky, the cloud cover, and amount of ozone. The Index predicts UV levels on a 0-10+ scale and is usually published in daily newspapers with the weather or as a part of television weather reports. Always take precautions against over-exposure, and take special care when the UV Index predicts exposure levels of moderate to above (5-10+).
V
What conditions can affect veins?
Spider veins are small, enlarged superficial blood vessels that appear red or blue. They commonly occur on the legs, but frequently occur on the face or elsewhere. These dilated blood vessels may be short, unconnected lines, each about the size of a large hair or connected in a matted, "sunburst" pattern. They may also look like a spider web or a tree with branches. Sometimes, they occur in a small area and aren't very noticeable, or they can cover a large area of skin and be quite unattractive. Larger dilated blood vessels, called varicose veins, may be raised above the skin surface. They may occur along with spider veins. Patients can have pain, ranging from a dull throbbing pain to a burning sensation. The larger vessels are more likely to cause discomfort, although smaller blue veins have been shown to cause pain. If spider veins are unsightly or uncomfortable, they can be treated with laser or by injection of a solution that will cause them to disappear or become much smaller.
W
What are warts?
Warts are benign tumors that commonly involve the skin and other epithelial tissues. The etiologic agents for these infections are a class of double-stranded DNA viruses called papillomaviruses. Warts are generally classified by their clinical features and morphology (e.g., common, flat, filiform) or by location (e.g., genital, plantar, respiratory papillomatosis).
