Get Glowy Skin With A Chemical Peel

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Chemical peels are one of those facial treatments you can benefit from no matter what skin issue you want to improve, whether acne scars, fine lines, or dark spots. A peel will make them fade away and reveal glowing skin that looks amazing. We had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Raza Mehdi from our Skin and Cancer Institute to get some inside information about this popular option. Dr. Mehdi is a fan of chemical peels and does them on himself regularly. He was “peeling” while we talked to him.

Get Glowy Skin With A Chemical Peel

“What’s interesting about these is your friends and coworkers can’t figure out what you did but notice a significant difference,” Dr. Mehdi said. “It’s amazing how much it improves skin tone, texture, and color.”

What To Expect During A Chemical Peel

Your dermatologist will start by cleaning your face with alcohol. Next, they’ll apply the chemical peel evenly on your face (or another area). It’s a little-known fact that chemical peels benefit skin all over the body, including the neck, chest, back, and arms. The acid solution works its magic on your skin for as few as two minutes while cool air is fanned onto your face. It’ll feel tingly but not painful. Then, your face is cleaned, and, just like that, the treatment is over.

The Treatment is Fast

A chemical peel is a fast and easy treatment, according to Dr. Mehdi. You can expect to be in and out of the room in fifteen minutes, which is a small investment of time for a significant result. You’ll begin to see your skin start to peel after a couple of days, and your glowing skin will reveal itself soon afterward.

How A Chemical Peel Helps Acne

Cystic acne responds well to chemical peels. The peel helps control oily skin and more. Dr. Mehdi said you could expect your chemical peel to support acne healing because it can “shut oil glands, shrink pores, and kill bacteria.”

Lighten Up Melasma

Dark areas of pigmentation, or melasma, are caused by several things, most notably sun damage. But that’s not the only thing that can give you blotchy skin. Changing hormones can cause a “pregnancy mask” to develop. Plus, menopause sometimes alters a woman’s hormones enough to cause melasma in older women. A chemical peel helps brighten these dark spots.

Smooth Your Fine Lines

A chemical peel will smooth out your wrinkles, which is terrific if you want a more youthful look. But that’s not all it does, according to Dr. Mehdi. “It helps everything. It shrinks and helps with fine lines. It regenerates new skin cells, leaving you with new skin, free of contaminants and oils,” he said.

Products To Use After A Chemical Peel

The only product you need after a chemical peel is sunscreen. Light makeup is also acceptable. But, try to steer clear of moisturizer. Remember not to pick and pull your skin because you want to peel evenly.

How Much Does A Chemical Peel Cost?

Now that you know a chemical peel is a small investment of your time, you’re probably wondering what sort of monetary investment you’ll need to make. Luckily, chemical peels are a service most of our Skin and Cancer Institute offices provide for free with each office visit. Dr. Mehdi said you could “Compare this to around $175 at a medspa.”

Dr. Mehdi is happy to see you for an appointment at his San Clemente and Redondo Beach offices. We have dozens of other Skin Cancer Institute dermatologists scattered throughout California, Nevada, and Arizona for your convenience. We’d love to see you for an annual checkup, so feel free to contact us today for an appointment.

Why You Should Let a Dermatologist Check Your Acne

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Whether it’s a blemish, bump, or blackhead, you want to clear acne fast. We understand–we’ve been there too. But trying to treat it on your own with over-the-counter products is often a waste of time and money. Plus, it can be frustrating. Drug store products are usually only effective for mild acne like whiteheads and blackheads, and shallow pimples. If your acne is deep and inflamed, you need a dermatologist’s help.

A Dermatologist Can Diagnose Your Acne

Your dermatologist can evaluate your skin and prescribe medical-grade products to treat your acne’s specific type—and source. For example, if you have painful and swollen blemishes, you’ll most likely need more than just a topical cream. You’ll need a combination of medications, including oral antibiotics, to clear your skin. And sometimes, you’ll need a steroid shot to bring an inflamed pore down to size. It’s best to let a board-certified dermatologist take a look at your skin.

Most People Make Acne Mistakes

Understandably, you might be tempted to diagnose and treat your own acne, but it’s not advised. Trying to figure it out yourself is a recipe for frustration and wasted time. It could even make you spend money on products that don’t help you. And worse, your skin could scar if you don’t get the proper medical treatment in time.

What Type of Acne Do I Have?

Acne falls into six categories: whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. You can effectively treat clogged pores that are closed (whiteheads) and clogged pores that are open (blackheads) with over-the-counter products. But anything more severe than this needs medications and medical-grade products. Let’s dive right into the last four types of blemishes—the ones your dermatologist is trained to help you resolve. We’ll talk about what causes them and how to clear acne fast, which, by the way, takes up to eight weeks because, sadly, there is no overnight cure.

Papules

These are red, inflamed bumps. They happen when the oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria inside have spilled out and inflamed the surrounding skin. They do not contain pus. Touching it feels painful. Your dermatologist may go beyond the standard benzoyl peroxide treatment and prescribe a retinoid, antibiotic, or (for women) birth control pills.

Pustules

These are similar to papules but have a white, pus-filled center. Like papules, the surrounding skin is red and tender. Pustules are caused by hormonal changes and clogged pores. They can–but shouldn’t–be popped because that can cause your skin to scar. The best treatment for pustules is almost always an antibiotic. However, this can also be combined with a topical treatment like a retinoid.

Nodules

Nodular acne is a painful and hard lesion deep in the skin. It can last for weeks or even months and is not likely to resolve on its own. It’s too deep for topical medications to be effective and often requires an antibiotic. If this doesn’t work, your dermatologist might prescribe Isotretinoin, an oral acne medication.

Cysts

You might have cystic acne if touching it feels painful. It’s softer than nodular acne. Cystic acne causes are varied but almost always include an infection deep within the skin. This is the most challenging acne to treat and will require oral medication with a topical retinoid. Sometimes a steroid needs to be injected into the pore to clear it out.

Acne is a condition that we all want to clear quickly (but often can’t) with topical over-the-counter medications. Many types of acne require a dermatologist prescription for oral medication. It’s best to let a dermatologist check your skin.  If you’re suffering from acne, reach out to us today for a check-up.

What is Coolsculpting?

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CoolSculpting is an amazing and nonsurgical treatment option to address stubborn fat in several areas around the body.

How does CoolSculpting work?

CoolSculpting uses freezing temperatures to help diminish stubborn fat. Most CoolSculpting treatments take about an hour and during the procedure, the provider applies the CoolSculpting treatment pad to the targeted area and cools the fat cells. During the cooling process, fat cells are killed while muscle and other tissue remain unaffected. This process is reported to have almost no pain due to the cooling effect of the treatment pad. However, some people can have the sensation of mild pain. In that case, we will numb the target area prior to treatment.

What results can you expect?

Coolsculpting has very little downtime, so you can return to your regular routine one hour after treatment. Some people report having mild soreness at the site of CoolSculpting, similar to that they might have after an intense workout or a minor muscle injury. After your treatment, it will take several months for the majority of the fat cells to be eliminated. Some people report losing up to 10 pounds of fat from one CoolSculpting treatment, which can have a very noticeable impact on the look of the targeted area. Our practitioners sometimes recommend that patients massage the treated area daily to increase the elimination of fat cells.

If you’re looking for an easy and hassle-free way to lose weight around your waist, buttocks, thighs, and more, book an appointment with us today by calling (888) 993-3761.

Which Sensitive Skin Irritants You Need to Avoid

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During the dryer or older months of the year in fall and winter, an individual with sensitive skin may need to take extra precautions. You can prevent irritating your skin further and maintain healthy, hydrated skin by avoiding some of the following irritants.

Individuals with eczema, psoriasis and other skin concerns will already know these are irritants to stay away from. Hot water, strong or harsh body soaps, rough fabrics such as wool or synthetic fiber, and perfumes or fragrances can each irritate your skin especially if you have sensitive or dry skin. Taking hot baths is not recommended so try to limit your shower or bath to warm. Using harsh soaps can strip your skin of its natural oils. Opt for a non-foaming cleanser or a soap for gentle skin and limit usage to areas that sweat more. This can help prevent the loss of your skin’s natural hydration. Also, exfoliating your skin too much or excessively can create redness and rashes. If you typically exfoliate your skin often, it may be better to use a gentle exfoliant with alpha hydroxy acids. These can remove the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin.

How to Diagnose and Treat the Most Dangerous Form of Skin Cancer, Melanoma

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As skin cells which produce pigment mutate and grow, the risk for the development of melanoma arises. Melanoma is the result of a tumor very similar in appearance to a mole but can grow quickly and even spread to other parts of the body. There is a high level of risk associated with Melanoma in particular, over other types of skin cancer including basal and squamous cell carcinoma which are not as fatal.

What Happens During Your Examination

A diagnosis is made after your physical exam takes place where the board-certified dermatologist removes and tests a tissue sample. During the biopsy, your skin cancer dermatologist may opt for removal of the suspicious growth by punch biopsy or excisional biopsy.

If you have a positive diagnosis for melanoma, the next determination by your doctor would be the stage level and severity of the cancerous tumor.

Important Factors and Considerations

Your doctor will review the thickness of the tumor to determine whether it can be removed with difficulty or ease. The thicker the tumor, the more severe it is.

Another important check would be to ensure the melanoma has not spread to your lymph nodes. If this is considered a risk or possibility, your doctor my recommend a sentinel node biopsy. During this particular procedure, a special dye is injected where the melanoma was removed. The dye then flows to the lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are then tested for cancer cells. If the test is negative, the implication is that the melanoma has not spread beyond its original location.