Laura Skin Care

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Author Archives: Laura Pagliaroni

What You Should Know About Chemical Peels

   Facial Peel  Dec 07, 2018  Comments Off on What You Should Know About Chemical Peels
What You Should Know About Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are a great treatment to improve your skin’s appearance. By applying a chemical solution to the skin, it causes ‘blistering’ that eventually peels off to reveal smoother, less-wrinkled skin; this is a technique that has been used for centuries to promote the regeneration of improved skin tissue.

While there are many types of skin peels to choose from, it can be overwhelming deciding what’s best for you—after all, putting acid on your face doesn’t sound like an obviously safe procedure! Fortunately, any skin care professional will be able to determine your skin type and discuss the possible benefits of one skin peel over another for you specifically.

Should I get a Chemical Peel?

Typically, darker skin tones will come out uneven after a chemical peel (causing the skin to become darker or lighter depending on the depth of the peel), but you can still benefit from certain peels. While skin bulges, sags, and deep wrinkles don’t react as positively to the peels.

So, chemical peels are best for lighter-skinned individuals, but everyone can still benefit (though other cosmetic procedures would be more effective, such as lifts or laser resurfacing). Regardless of who you are, contact us to recommend the best treatment plan for your specific needs.

Three Chemicals and their Effects

Chemical peels vary in their depth, providing gentler effects on the surface or intense cleansing deep into your skin. There are also various chemicals that can be applied which produce different effects depending on your goal. Here’s three chemicals used in peels and a little about them:

  • Lactic Acid – This is a light peel useful for dry skin.
  • Salicylic Acid – Exfoliates skin, balances oils, and targets acne-causing bacteria.
  • Glycolic Acid – The deepest penetration helps exfoliate and rejuvenate skin.

For people with sensitive skin, you’ll have to be careful with intense chemical peels, while everyone who gets a peel should be wary of too much exposure to heat or the sun for two days after. And expect to return for more peels since they work best when repeated; ideally, a series of six peels over three weeks.

Time to Peel!

Now that you know a little about chemical peels, it’s time to go visit a skin care professional, discuss what types of peels they offer, and determine what’s best for you. Your skin will be glowing and smooth before you know it. Just make sure you don’t get a peel that doesn’t suit your skin!

Drinking Enough (Clean) Water?

   Acne  Nov 06, 2018  Comments Off on Drinking Enough (Clean) Water?
Drinking Enough (Clean) Water?

Whenever anyone brings up a discussion about acne, one of the first things that follows is, “Are you drinking enough water?” We’ve all heard it, but how do we really know if we ARE drinking enough? And what if the water is impure? They don’t ever bring up the benefits of pure water and the detriments or prevalence of tainted water!

How Much Water is Enough? (1 oz. per 1 lb.)

The old formula used to be eight eight-ounce glasses a day; but what about babies? Certainly, they shouldn’t drink that much while high-performance athletes likely require much more than that! The new rule-of-thumb is: an ounce of water per pound of body-weight.

So, how do we know where to draw the line with this equation? It comes down to activity and environment. If you live in a hot environment or exercise a bit, then drink an equal amount; if you exercise a LOT and live in a HOT environment, then you should drink even more! Be sure to use your best judgment.

Water Filters: Just a Bottle or the Whole System?

With recent advancements in technology, it isn’t difficult to go out and buy a water bottle (or straw) that provides access to perfectly clean water, while the built-in filter does all the work. (We used to need to start a campfire and boil it!) But if you have a family to hydrate, then you should invest in a system that connects to your plumbing.

While larger water filter systems/pitchers can help, it gets old having to refill it two or three times a day. Fortunately, we have Whole House systems, which can both soften the water and eliminate any toxins which may have been present at the reservoir, well, or collected from the pipes. These Whole House systems last for years and don’t require any maintenance, so you can install it and start drinking!

Eat Your Water! Wait… What?

Maybe you just can’t stand drinking water, I’ve been there- it gets old after your 100th ounce! Fortunately, we can get the dual effect of eating healthy and drinking water by eating foods that have a high water-content: that means fruits and vegetables. (Professional Tip: The Institute of Medicine suggests 20% of your water intake from food.)

Tasty ‘Waters’ you can try are: Coconut Water, Grapefruit Juice, and Watermelon Juice (these are low in sugars but high in nutrients); consider soups (but don’t boil your veggies, because you lose most of the nutrients when you drain the water); and foods like: avocados, strawberries, yogurt, and tomatoes.

Time to Hydrate!

It’s time to get serious about hydration. Not only will it help you flush toxins from your body and clear up your acne, but it will improve every aspect of your health! From helping you digest your food, to craving less, and having more energy; water is the key to healthy living. But make sure it’s clean! And don’t forget you can have your cake and eat it too by eating delicious foods and drinks with a high water-content.

How to Keep Your Skin Fair in the Winter Air

   Skin Care  Oct 09, 2018  Comments Off on How to Keep Your Skin Fair in the Winter Air
How to Keep Your Skin Fair in the Winter Air

When Winter comes to Petaluma, CA  it brings with it: sweaters, scarves, boots, hot chocolate, and soothing fires, but it also plagues our skin with dry air leaving our skin itchy, dry, irritated, and red. Fortunately, we’ve learned how to care for our skin a lot better and we have advanced technology to help us combat the offensive nature of Winter.

  • An obvious solution to dry skin is water! But not just inside, outside too. Even though hot chocolate is a Winter staple (and delicious) it means we’re drinking less water and more sugar; so, make sure to drink tons of extra water. You also need to moisturize (skip petroleum-based moisturizers which dry you out more), pick a natural, water-based one. You can also moisturize overnight, especially trouble areas like: hands, elbows, knees, and feet. And don’t forget to moisturize immediately after our next tip.
  • Showers (and baths) are a culprit for dry skin year-round (not just Winter). When water washes over our skin it picks up and carries away the moisture in it as well, plus hot water makes this even worse! Also avoid exfoliating while in the shower (or anywhere else) if you already have dry skin; do it less frequently, even if your skin isn’t dry yet. In the same light as this tip, make sure to ditch wet clothes as soon as you can, they will increase your chances of getting sick as well as drying out; not only wet clothes, but irritating fabrics (like wool) too!
  • You should also be conscious of the cleansers you use on your skin. ‘Fragrance-free’ products are what you’re looking for (not ‘unscented’ because those may still contain fragrances), skip the clay-based masks for hydrating masks (less frequently than normal), avoid alcohol-based or astringent toners, and a sneaky culprit is laundry detergent with tons of chemicals. You can also invest in a few humidifiers around your home to increase the humidity, while heaters typically emit hot, dry air; lower your thermostat a bit; and use a moisturizing sun-screen.

In short, the best things you can do are hydrate (inside and out), avoid drying agents (hot water, hot air, and astringent beauty products), and be gentle with you skin (avoiding harsh fabrics and chemicals). Don’t forget to visit a skin specialist; even if all these things appear to be working, an expert will be able to ensure you aren’t missing anything.