Knowing the most common signs of aging can help you retain your youthful looks longer. Let’s discuss the most common signs, and the steps we can take towards delaying the aging process.
Loss of Elasticity
Loss of elasticity or ‘plumpness’ is attributed to collagen loss. Collagen is a building block of the skin. During our youth, collagen plumps the skin thereby creating volume. However, as we age we stop producing collagen at the same rate. This in turn affects the elasticity leaving us with saggy skin as we age. Plus, the loss of muscle tone is going to cause expression lines.
Loss of Hydration
Skin becomes dryer as we age because the sebaceous glands in the skin, like any other structure of the body, are not as active as we age. This loss of hydration manifests itself through a dull, sallow appearance, crepey skin, and fine lines. Overall, the texture of the skin changes as a result of water loss.
Hyperpigmentation
There are environmental factors such as sun exposure and climate as well as other pollutants and oxidants in the air that cause aging in general. These environmental factors can also contribute to hyperpigmattion which can cause an aged appearance to the skin. Hyperpigmentation can be in the form of freckles, sun spots, lentigines, etc.
Thin Skin
The thickness of the skin changes as well with aging. The skin tries to thin out as a result of the deficiencies in collagen and hydration.
Fighting the common signs of aging at home
Try to incorporate products that accelerate your skin’s cell turnover rate; They are very useful. Examples include retinol, glycolic and lactic acid. When combined, vitamins C and E make a good protectant.
When it comes to exfoliation, try using an enzymatic exfoliant. These are really good for anti-aging because they achieve deep exfoliation and hydration without causing friction at the surface.
Wearing SPF daily helps. Be mindful when you are being exposed to the sun for periods longer than 15-30 minutes consistently. Wear a hat during longer periods of sun exposure. Cooling the skin also helps, for example, cold spoons kept in the fridge will calm the skin and reduce inflammation.
Finally, avoid the use of irratating cleansers and moisturizers. Stick with products that actually bring nutrients to the skin.
Professional Treatments
When it comes to skin rejuvenation, photofacials are amazing because they do not cause superficial damage to the skin. The light energy penetrates directly to the main contributing factor of loss of elasticity which is the collagen cells.
We have a certain amount of collagen cells in our skin at any given time. When the light energy hits those cells, they are stimulated/traumatized enough so that they regenerate new collagen cells in order to replace those “traumatized” collagen cells. However, those collagen cells that are affected by the light energy for the most part are not completely destroyed, yet they are “repaired” in a sense so you end up with a multiplied amount of collagen present in your skin after a photofacial treatment.
Blackheads in the ears are more common than you think. Like the face, the ears are an area that collect oil, ear wax, dead skin, and debris. The pores in the ears can also become enlarged and clogged. As estheticians, we see blackheads in the ears, especially in oilier skin types, or in people that do a lot of physical activity.
Can ear wax cause blackheads?
Ear wax would be part of the blockage among with dead skin.
Do earbuds cause blackheads in the ears?
Earphones can contribute to the issue if they are not kept as clean as they should be. If you use ‘airpods’, Apple has announced that they are ok with using rubbing alcohol to disinfect your devices.
How do you remove blackheads in your ear?
Ear blackhead removal is done through extractions during a facial. Let your technician know to check the ears. Keep in mind the blackheads will return after a facial. The facial will clean the pores, but the area will continue to collect oil and debris.
Our facial menu includes a variety of facials.
Tips for home
To increase the amount of time between ear blackhead removal facials, blot your cleanser behind your ears and in the concha of the ear. Dry gently but thoroughly. If you are prone to blackheads in your ear we suggest limiting the amount of time you wear earphones.
You can wear makeup after a chemical peel, however, when it comes to applying base makeup, the quality of the base make up is going to make a difference. You are better off using a professional mineral-based makeup. Mineral-based makeup helps protect the skin and is very gentle.
Typically, mineral makeup brands do not have harmful ingredients that absorb into the skin. Instead, they veil the skin and allow it to breathe while also providing an added physical layer of UV protection.
On the other hand, if you are using department store makeup, avoid using it for 48 hours after your chemical peel treatment.
Keep in mind that your skin will look more textured underneath the make up- whether you’re using mineral makeup or not- when you’re going through the shedding process.
How do you wash your face after a peel treatment?
Use a mild cleanser for the first couple of days after a chemical peel. Use it in a typical cleansing routine- once in the morning and a double cleanse in the evening. After that, you can go back to your regular cleansers and incorporate exfoliation after 72 hours.
Well… you don’ have to sleep suspended from the ceiling! There’s not too much to worry about on this front. Just make sure that you have clean pillow cases. If possible, try to use satin pillow cases or a material that is not coarse on the skin . Sleep with your hair tied back so that it’s not in your face.
How do you maintain your eyebrows after microblading?
Maintaining your brows after microblading is easy! Follow the steps for a smooth healing process.
Short Term Maintenance
The first ten days.
For starters, it is important to keep the brows dry during the microblading healing process. You can blot them clean but you don’t want any soaking in the area. Try to avoid heat application, for example, hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, or hot showers. No picking at the scabs! You will need to moisturize the area with the provided barrier balm a minimum of 2 times per day to keep the area soft, protected, and moisturized.
Gently clean the eyebrows morning and night with a damp cotton pad or gauze and a mild cleanser.
During the healing process and only during the healing process, avoid the use of sunblock and any makeup over and around the brow area. Also, avoid direct and extended sun exposure.
Finally, avoid waxing or tweezing your brows for 2 weeks.
Why can’t you get microblading wet?
You cannot get the eyebrows wet because the microblading healing process creates scabs in the skin. Those scabs serve a purpose in microblading- they seal in the pigment. When the skin is ready, it will detach and release the scab. But in the meantime, there are still connections between the scab/s on the outside and the tissue on the inside of the open incision. Soaking the brows area is going to make those scabs soggy and will make them potentially lift prematurely.
How long after microblading will my brows look normal?
The eyebrows start looking normal usually by weeks 2-3 the brows have healed and settled.
Long Term Maintenance
Waxing the brows after microblading.
If you waxed your brows before, then you’ll need to continue to wax them after microblading. However, don’t be surprised if your eyebrows start growing in areas where gaps existed before! Microblading has a tendency to stimulate the region and kickstart the growth cycle.
Do you still have to fill in the brows after microblading?
Whether or not you will have to continue to fill in your brows depends on how much coverage was achieved with the procedure and your desired look. If the microblading level is chosen appropriately, it should give you a natural brow that does not require a fill. But if you’re going for a glamorous or full make up look, you’ll still add a little pencil to compliment the look, but not necessarily to fill gaps.
While dermaplaning vs shaving are both forms of superficial hair removal, dermplaning has unique skincare benefits. Both shaving and dermaplane are forms of depilation. In other words, the bulb of the hair and anything underneath the skin is left intact.
Skincare benefits
Dermaplaning has additional benefits for the skin. It achieves superficial exfoliation using a blade to lightly graze the dead skin off in a controlled manner. On the other hand, if you are using a “bic” or a razor, you are going to get some grazing of the skin, but not in a controlled manner. If you are pushing hard enough to get that finish, you’ll end up causing some damage even if the blade is brand new.
Differences between shaving and dermaplane
When dermaplaning, we use single blades that come in different sizes and levels of sharpness. As a result, our tools allow us to achieve a controlled exfoliation of dead skin. Whereas with a bic the intention is that it will be strong and rigid enough to cut hair- not skin. Plus, it’s shaped in a way designed to cut hair- which is very different from skin.
Although hair and skin are made of the same thing, hair no longer has that live activity to it so it can’t be hurt by the pressure of a razor, whereas the skin will be punctured and become injured.
‘At home’ straight blades
Again, the sharpness and type of blade is different than what is used in a professional setting. You won’t be able to get as fine a finish without causing injury to the skin.
Located in YEG, Dérmica offers short and long term solutions for hair removal.
Waxing- Short term hair removal
Traditionally, waxing involves the use of warm wax, typically honey or pine resin-based and cloth strips. The esthetician first preps the area by disinfecting and applying a protective barrier to the skin. The warm wax is then applied using a wooden spatula and covered with a cloth strip; this is referred to as strip waxing or soft waxing. The strip is then quickly pulled off parallel to the skin and voilà your skin is left smooth and hair free!
Prior to booking a wax service ensure your hair is at least ¼ inch long, and has not been sunburned, treated with AHA/BHA, or prescription acne medications. Avoid caffeine for a couple hours before your appointment to reduce sensitivity. Results are visible for about 2 weeks, with 4-6 weeks before you are ready for your next visit. After care for waxing includes: avoiding heat, sun exposure, strong/fragranced, lotions, and washes for 24 hours and frequent skin exfoliation.
IPL- Long term hair removal
For a permanent solution, opt for IPL hair removal treatments. These advanced treatments should only be performed by trained and certified technicians. They are somewhat of an investment and can cause injury to your skin if not delivered properly, so do your research and make sure operational requirements are met by both the business and technician.
If you choose to have your treatment performed by the experts at Dérmica, here’s what you can expect:
Our tech begins by disinfecting your skin, she provides you with your protective eyewear, then off she goes zapping away.
Some lasers, like ours, are equipped with cooling systems, making your service a breeze. The cooling system makes your treatment significantly less painful (if at all), and 100% less messy than other lasers.
For the following 24-48 hours you will be required to avoid direct heat, perspiration, sun exposure, strong/fragranced soaps, lotions and washes. Ensure your skin has not been sunburned, treated with AHA/BHA, or medications/vitamins that may affect your skin.
Typically you will notice a stunt in the growth of hair, followed by what seems to be continued growth, then towards your 4-6 week the hair will begin to fall out. At this point you are ready for your next session.
