Dérmica offers anti aging facial treatments in Edmonton
Turning 40 is a wake‑up call! Almost overnight, we notice things we’d never seen before: dull complexion, freckled sun spots, visible pores, and fine lines in the forehead, eyes, and mouth area that don’t bounce back the way they used to! If this sounds like you, let us reassure you—you’re not doing anything wrong. This is simply skin evolving with time.
As we age, cell turnover naturally slows down. That means dead skin cells stick around longer, causing that tired, lacklustre look. Years of sun exposure can show up as hyperpigmentation, while collagen loss contributes to fine lines and a less refined texture. Pores can appear larger too, especially if skin becomes dehydrated or loses firmness.
Skin Maintenance Through Quarterly Facials
Stop thinking of facials as a luxury, instead think of them as maintenance. Regular facials can be genuinely helpful— they support decongestion, hydration, circulation, and barrier function, all of which become more fragile with age. When the skin is well hydrated and functioning properly, it appears smoother and more even, without invasive treatments. We recommend 3-4 facials per year after the age of 40.
That “A‑HA” Moment Your Skin’s Been Waiting For
Adding an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) peel boost can further support aging skin when used appropriately. AHA encourages new cell turnover by removing the buildup of dead cells. In turn, this allows hydrating ingredients to penetrate more effectively. This means brighter skin, smoother texture, softened fine lines, and a noticeable improvement in pigmentation over time.
Some AHAs—particularly glycolic and lactic acid—do more than exfoliate. Research shows they can stimulate fibroblast activity and collagen production in the dermis when used at appropriate concentrations, helping improve fine lines and skin firmness over time. Lactic acid, in particular, also acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the skin—valuable for drier, estrogen‑affected skin over 40.
Glowing skin after 40
Skin over 40 doesn’t need to be “fixed”—it needs to be supported. As cell turnover slows, collagen production declines, and pigmentation becomes more stubborn, the goal shifts from aggressive correction to smart, intentional care. Facials help maintain hydration, circulation, and barrier health, while an AHA boost works alongside those benefits by gently encouraging renewal where the skin naturally slows down.
Located in Edmonton, Alberta, we offer the Alisa photofacial- a treatment for large pores.
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, IPL photofacial treatments can help you “shrink” your pores back to a normal size, particularly, the ALISA treatment.
IPL phototherapy uses a broad spectrum of light pulses that penetrate deep into the skin. These light pulses gently heat the tissue and stimulate a natural restorative response. This process boosts collagen production, which enhances skin elasticity and tightens the surrounding tissue. As a result, the pores appear smaller and less noticeable.
How many treatments are needed?
The number of sessions needed depends on a few factors such as your present skin condition and pore severity. Other factors include skin type and age, with younger clients responding faster due to higher collagen production.
Typically, clients begin to see results after a few sessions, with optimal improvements in pore size and skin clarity appearing after 3–4 treatments, spread 3-4 weeks apart.
Do photofacials hurt?
Photofacials are non-invasive. They are relatively painless, especially for individuals with light to medium skin tones. Individuals with medium to dark brown skin are eligible for the treatment but may experience a light pinching sensation. This sensation is normal. It occurs because darker skin tones contain more melanin which absorbs more of the IPL’s broad-spectrum light. It is this excess absorption that can lead to increased heat buildup in the skin, causing discomfort.
Photofacials require minimal downtime. For those seeking a refined, radiant complexion without invasive treatments, photofacials offer a luxurious and effective path to clearer and tighter skin
Does crying contribute to wrinkles? The endless nights of sobbing will leave your eyeballs and under-eyes feeling like a bad rug burn. Your skin feels as tender as the heart that’s been shattered. Now take a moment, dry those tears and listen up!
Think of your skin as a reflection of the emotional storm brewing inside your body, it too is suffering with you and needs a little extra TLC. During times of distress we tend to stray away from our daily self-care routine as this drops down the list of priorities.
Let us examine a common skin issue during this period.
SENSITIVITY OR DRY SKIN AROUND THE EYES
The constant flow of tears, friction, and pressure on your eyes leaves your skin feeling tender and looking tired. This fragile skin is easily irritated and can become puffy or sunken, magnifying fine lines and wrinkles.
It is important to protect and nourish your eye area by using proper eye care products and application.
HOW-TO TIPS:
If you already using eye care, add an extra dab after applying moisturizer for added barrier. When applying, ensure you are only applying on the ocular bone using your ring fingers in a dabbing motion. Use day and night before applying your moisturizer, and possibly once in between if your eyes are feeling really dry.
Keep products in a cool dark cupboard or fridge for added soothing effects. Once products are cool give yourself a gentle eye massage. This should help keep wrinkles away after some heavy crying.
Acne can be caused by many different factors and can be treated using different methods.
Genetics
One of the causes of acne is genetics. Some skin types are more prone to developing acne such as oilier skin types this is due to the fact that they have overactive sebaceous glands which can clog the pores trapping bacteria, germs, and other environmental pollutants thereby creating a backlog.
It can be harder to cleanse oily skin because most products are not fat soluble. In other words, they cannot break down that oily barrier at the surface. As a result, the skin is left congested.
Hormones
Another factor that causes acne is hormonal disruptions or fluctuations. This can start as soon as puberty. The skin starts to produce more oils as it goes through changes. Some women will develop acne during pregnancy due to the hormonal changes. This typically resolves after delivery but can carry on during breastfeeding. Additionally, some women may develop acne after having the baby due to hormonal fluctuations.
Hygiene
Another cause of acne can be improper hygiene and skincare. This can range from not cleansing the skin enough which can leave bacteria and other environmental pollutants on the skin. These can then enter the pores or breaks in the skin potentially causing infections.
Skincare products
Acne can also be due to using improper skincare products. If the skin is not cleansed properly with a fat-soluble cleanser, then you are leaving a film on the skin that creates a backlog with every wash. If the improper cleanser is used it can also disrupt the skin’s health by causing it become too oily and congested. Examples include oil-based moisturizers, rich creams, or body lotion when used on the face.
Overusing certain products that dry the skin can cause skin types that may not be acne-prone to develop minor acne due to over drying of the skin. When this happens, the skin ends up overcompensating by producing more oil. As a result the skins’s balance is thrown off.
Diet
Another factor could be diet. It is said that some acne may be caused by certain dietary intolerances or allergies, such as high fructose, meat products, or other food products that disrupt the hormonal balance in the body. This is a matter that should be discussed with your doctor.
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.
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.
