Fluctuations in temperature can change the skin. For example, when vacationing in a humid climate, your skin will plump up and look juicy, hydrated, and happy. Returning to the cold Canadian winter is not always a good thing, especially for oily skin types.
If you are an oilier skin type you may find you return with a few more breakouts. This is especially true if you continue to use your winter care in the humid climate.
Fluctuations in temperature can change the skin colour. Normal combination skin types going from humid to arid air will experience a shock. This shock will cause the skin to build the dead layer faster leading to a dry, dull complexion.
You may find that your tan goes from a hydrated look to a dull, greyish tinge. This is because the cold air is drying the top layers of the skin. Some people may start to see flaking as well.
If you do find yourself in need of professional care, we recommend getting a peel.
If you have never had a peel before, you can introduce them as a ‘Boost’ to your facial or dermaplane treatment. Peel boosts are classified as mild skin acids. On the other hand, ‘deep peels’ are classified as medium to strong skin acids ranging from 20% to 85%. They are ideal for pre-treated skin and provide deeper resurfacing of the skin. While boosts are mild and require minimal downtime, deep peels require up to 10 days as they may cause visible shedding and flaking.
Retaining your Tan
Moisturizing will hep to retain the tan and keep a healthier glowing tone. NOTE: skin peels will lift the tan. If you are looking to preserve your tan you may want to consider a different treatment.
Seemingly perpetual dry skin in the winter is more common than you may think. When faced with cooler temperatures, your skin’s natural response is to slow it’s metabolic rate. This includes the rate at which your skin regenerates, known as the cell turnover rate.
The cell turnover rate of your skin determines how frequently dried cells at the surface shed and regenerate. When this process slows down, you get a buildup of dead cells that result in flaking skin, fine lines, and dry patches. These layers of dead cells also block vital nutrients and moisture from absorbing into the fresh cells. This is why no amount of product seems to relieve the dryness.
Introducing regular exfoliation to your skin care routine during the winter will help increase your cell turnover rate and maintain it at an active level.
Types of exfoliation
Exfoliation is achieved using chemical or manual exfoliants. While both offer resurfacing benefits, they differ in procedure and interaction with the skin.
Manual exfoliants (skin scrubs) will give a great skin scrubbing massage while sloughing away dead skin cells. Manual exfoliants are not recommended for sensitive or acneic skin types, or for people with large pores.
Enzymatic exfoliants contain fruit enzymes, AHA, or BHA. They react with the skin on a chemical level by dissolving the binding matter between the skin cells causing them to gently lift and rinse away. The active ingredients and intensity vary depending on concentration level and quality of the acids and enzymes.
Advanced skin treatments
Photofacials and chemical peels are excellent ways to eliminate flaking skin and bring plump new cells to the surface. Amongst the many benefits these treatments offer, they also speed up the skin’s cell turnover rate, boost collagen production, resurface, brighten complexion, and restore vital moisture and hydration.
Keeping your skin happy during the winter months is really quite simple…watch for the hints and DO as it asks! After all, your skin is your first line of defence and will show you who is BOSS when not tended to.
Extra oily this winter?
Your skin is constantly fluctuating with changes in the temperature and moisture levels in the air. With the winter being a dry season both indoors and outdoors your skin is under an accelerated rate of trans epidermal water loss (TEWL), an evaporation and diffusion of skin hydration.
Although water is what your skin requires, it compensates for the lost moisture by producing more oil. This causes a buildup of dead cells saturated in excess surface oils, clogged pores, and frequents breakouts. In order to restore your skins moisturizer balance and hydration, choose products containing hydrating (water) ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E.
Stay away from heavy creams and oil based products as these will only block and clog further.
Addressing WINTER oily skin at home
Use light gel cleansers free of parabens and sulfate. A thorough cleanse in the morning and double cleanse at night gives your skin the fresh cleanse it desires without stripping away vital moisture.
Using a hydrating toner or mist. This gives your skin a boost of hydration which helps your skin absorb moisture from deeper into the skin.
Moisturize regularly. Using a lightweight oil-free moisturizer morning and night while skin is still moist will provide the right amount of moisture without leaving your skin feeling heavy or greasy.
Spa treatments for WINTER oily skin
Photofacials, chemical peels, and traditional facials are a great way to give your skin a fresh start, balance pH levels, and deliver a much needed boost of nutrients for the season. They also help clear clogged pores, excess oil, remove painful blemishes before they spread, and diminish existing scars.
BHA is used to treat a variety of skin conditions. It is an organic acid derived from willow bark. In the skincare industry it is known as a chemical exfoliant. The ph level of this acid is typically between a ph of 3-5.
BHA is considered to be a fat soluble solution. In other words it dissolves in fats. As a result, it can break through the lipid layer which is the oil layer of the skin. For that reason, it is recommended for oily and acne-prone skin types.
However, that is not the only use for BHA on the skin! It is also a recommended treatment for sensitive skin types because it has a lower risk of irritation versus other types of acids.
How does BHA interact with the skin?
BHA produces exfoliating benefits by dissolving the build-up at the surface of the skin which then balances the oiliness of the skin. It is also able to penetrate into the pores which then dissolves the build-up in clogged pores.
It treats conditions that involve scaling or overgrowth of skin, like milia.
BHA helps with milia because it has resurfacing properties. So, not only does it help remove excess oil on the skin, but it helps to exfoliate by removing the dead skin cells so it dissolves the binding glue or the lipids that hold the dead skin cells together so it reveals a fresh new layer of skin at the surface which then pushes impurities up to the surface such as milia and deep acne.
Anti-inflammatory properties
BHA also has anti-inflammatory functions which makes it a suitable treatment for inflamed acne and/or rosacea. Compared to other acids such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid has a more superficial affect on the skin by interacting mainly with the lipid layer.
In other words, it is not as irritating because it won’t penetrate as deep. However, it will promote exfoliation which in turn promotes cell growth. These new skin cells have been strengthened by that process and so the skin is improved overall.
Finally, BHA is also very good at treating Keratosis pilaris which a is a condition that affects the back of the arms and legs.
Dérmica offers ingrown nail treatment in Edmonton, AB.
Is an ingrown toenail causing you pain?
An ingrown toenail is a nail that has grown outside of the nail grooves where the nail typically grows along. The nail grooves are like tracks that guide the nail out towards the tip of the toe.
This causes the nail to grow into the side walls (the skin tissue that surrounds the sides of the nail) creating pressure and at times breaking through the skin. This can then lead to infection and inflammation, severe pain, and trouble walking and wearing closed-toe shoes. They can even cause pain during sleeping from any pressure, for example sheets, blankets, or socks.
We start off by assessing the severity of the ingrown toenail. If there is an active infection that is beyond the point of treatment, you are first referred to your physician to address the infection.
But if the toenail is found to be treatable with the Ingrown pedicure, the technician will prepare the nail by using softening agents. The sides of the nail are then cleared of any debris and buildup. Finally, the nail is trimmed accordingly using specialized tools.
Your technician will ensure that you feel sufficient relief. This process can take anywhere from one hour to an hour and a half depending on how severe it is or if the use of topical anaesthetic is necessary.
Dérmica ensures quality service by providing a complimentary follow up within the first 2 weeks once the swelling has dissipated. If the condition has not resolved. Your technician may include the use of a specialized serum in order to prevent or minimize future occurrences.
We offer treatment for large pores in Edmonton, Alberta.
How do you get rid of large pores?
Well, there is cleaning your pores and then there is “shrinking” your pores. Most people are looking to clean their pores by emptying the contents within. You can see immediate results through pore extraction. We do this is all of our facials. However, if your skin is visibly congested and you’ve never had a facial, we recommend the PORE facial.
While other facials in our menu include other relaxing or beautifying delights, the PORE facial concentrates on pore extraction throughout the entire duration. While we must take time to prepare the skin for safe extractions, we extract as much as possible in the hour allotted. Sometimes a second facial is required when there is severe congestion in all areas of the face.
How long before I need another facial?
It’s important to understand that facials are simply “cleanups” and the skin is bound to become congested again. Therefore, we generally recommend clients come every 4-6 weeks for a facial. However, this timeframe between facials will vary depending on factors such as age, skin type, and environmental factors. Also, getting your skin under control with the right skincare routine and possibly changing some daily habits will space those facials even further.
Can you actually reduce pore size?
Small pores indicate good skin health and present a youthful appearance. If you did not win the “skin lottery” genetically, there is not much we can do to reduce the natural size of your pores. On the other hand if your pores have become enlarged over time, there are advanced skin treatments to help you “shrink” your pores back to a normal size.
Photofacials are effective at reducing pore size, in particular, the ALISA treatment. However, anti aging is a constant battle. We must consider daily external factors that are out of our control, such as winter temperatures, when setting our expectations.
In other words, advanced skin treatments and professional skincare products are great tools to have at our disposal. But we are always fighting against time. That is why the results of any treatment cannot last forever. If you choose to treat large pores with phototherapy, you may require multiple treatments to address your concern.
In conclusion, we all show our age in certain ways. If large pores is a concern for you now and they are left unattended, the matter will only get worse in a short five years. A good skincare routine will at the least slow down the damage. Treatments have the capacity to repair.
