IS YOUR ARGAN OIL REALLY PURE?

IS YOUR ARGAN OIL REALLY PURE? Argan Oil is one of the most expensive natural beauty oils, produced exclusively in Morocco. It has been in the spotlight as one of today’s MUST HAVE hair and skin treatments in Hollywood. Riding the wave of Argan Oil popularity are many products claiming to be pure. Unfortunately, many of these are either fake or adulterated. How can you tell the pure from the fake? You should check the following: The Ingredients List. There should be only one ingredient: 100% Argan Oil. No fragrance. No preservative. No parafinum (mineral oil) or any other kind of cheap oil. The Packaging. Definitely not plastic. Look for glass packaging. Better if clear glass, not amber. This means there’s nothing being hidden. The Scent. Argan Oil has a mild characteristic nutty scent. The scent will disappear in a few minutes after application, as Argan Oil is absorbed rapidly. Be suspicious of odorless or scented Argan Oil. The Color. Argan Oil has light golden yellow color. If it is too light, it is most likely adulterated with other oils. If it is too dark, it’s not cold pressed. The Argan nuts may have been roasted for faster processing. This will result in loss of vitamins, essential fatty acids and other nutrients. The Price. Argan Oil is not cheap. It requires 100 kilograms of raw nuts to produce a liter, and this is done the traditional way by Berber women. Don’t be fooled by low priced offers. Be wary also of pricey brands in fancy packaging. To ensure that we are giving only the best to our customers, we imported our PURE BLISS Argan Oil direct from Morocco, complete with ECOCERT certification. The PURE BLISS brand is your guarantee that you are getting genuine, 100% pure organic Argan Oil. PURE BLISS is available exclusively in all SkinStation and DERMAX branches.  __________________________________________________________________________ This column was published in the Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Section on December 22, 2014. The author is the CEO of SkinStation. He received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry. Skin Smart aims to clarify facts and myths on skin care. Send your questions and comments to info@skinstation.ph.

MEDLIGHT LASER FOR BIRTHMARKS

MedLight Laser for Birthmarks

According to folklore, a mother’s unsatisfied craving for strawberry during pregnancy can be the cause of a baby’s strawberry birthmark. Interesting trivia, but the simple truth is that nobody really knows what causes birthmarks.

A birthmark can have a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Some birthmarks are small and inconspicuous. Others are large and unsightly. Some birthmarks fade or completely disappear over time.  Others do not fade and even darken or become larger with age.

MedLight Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser therapy is a safe and effective treatment option for birthmarks. It is used to lighten the appearance and reduce the bumpiness of port-wine stains and other types of birthmarks that are close to the surface of the skin.

Port wine stains can be successfully
treated with MedLight Laser. 

Port-wine stains are red or purple marks that commonly affect the face and neck. They are caused by abnormal bleeding of blood vessels in the affected area. If left untreated they may eventually get darker. Laser therapy for port-wine stains can have better results when it is done at a young age.

After laser therapy, the treated skin may have slight temporary bruising or crusting for about 7 to 10 days. This is to be expected as it indicates that the laser treatment is working. After that time, the skin will have some noticeable fading.

Several sessions of MedLight laser treatment maybe required depending on the size of the birthmark.

It is important to understand that not all types of birthmarks can be treated with laser. In some cases, surgery maybe required. Visit one of our doctors for your free consultation if you would like to learn more about MedLight Q-switched laser treatments.

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This column was published in the Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Section on December 9, 2014. The author is the CEO of SkinStation. He received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry. Skin Smart aims to clarify facts and myths on skin care. Send your questions and comments to info@skinstation.ph.  

HOW TO PREVENT BODY ODOR

HOW TO PREVENT BODY ODOR

Everyone loves the smell of a baby. But at puberty, body odor (B.O. for short) starts to become a problem, triggered by increasing level of androgen hormones. Then as we age, our body chemistry ages along with us. If you can recall the smell of your own grandparents, there’s a term for that - “old person smell.”  The good news is that most people find "old person smell" not unpleasant at all.

There are two glands responsible for body odor: the apocrine glands (located in the underarms, genitals, and around the nipples) and the eccrine glands (found mainly in the underarms, hands, and feet). These glands produce sweat that becomes fodder for skin bacteria, causing the malodor. There is a third gland, the sebaceous glands (scalp, face, and chest) that produce oil that has a light odor, with or without bacteria.

To prevent body odor, start with the basics - bathe daily, use underarm protection, and wear clean clothes that breathe. Here are some other ways to help keep you smelling fresh.

1.   Keep your underarms hair-free. Hair absorbs odors easily. Getting rid of the hair in your armpits can help reduce the amount of body odor.

2.    Watch what you eat. What you eat can affect how you smell. If you are having problems with body odor, limit your intake of garlic, onions, curry, and other spicy foods. Red meat, caffeinated drinks, and foods that contain high amounts of sugar can also increase body odor.

3.   Keep your skin dry. Bacteria like an environment with lots of moisture. It is important to dry off your skin whenever it becomes moist, whether the moisture is from taking a shower or sweating.

4.   Stay hydrated. Drinking 2 to 3 liters of water daily helps to wash out the toxins in your body. This promotes good gut health, which in turn can reduce body odor.

New NanoWhite underarm whitening cream contains
antibacterial silver to keep you fresh-smelling all day. 

5.   Change your shoes often. If foot odor is the problem, give your shoes a chance to dry inside by changing them often. Apply foot powder inside the shoes and on your feet to maintain dryness.

If the problem persists, consult a doctor. You may have a medical condition that is causing the smell. Visit any of our dermatologists to discuss your body odor issue and get a diagnosis. You might have hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes people to have excessive sweating, or a metabolic disorder that prevents your body from breaking down an amino compound.

The doctor may prescribe prescription-level antiperspirants. These can cause skin darkening and irritation. Do not use this if you have no medical issue.

Botox injection can also be prescribed to block sweat glands and eliminate excessive sweating. The effects do not last long, anywhere from 3 to 8 months. Most people may find this an expensive option.

______________________________________________________________ This was published in the November 25, 2014 issue of Manila Bulletin, Lifestyle Section. The author , Fred C. Reyes, is the CEO of SkinStation. He received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from Professional Regulations Commission for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry. 

AXILIGHT LASER FOR WHITER UNDERARMS

Axilight Laser for Whiter Underarms


Dark underarms can be very embarrassing for many women. The good news is that a series of treatments with Axilight (Q-switched Nd:YAG) laser at SkinStation will make underarms visibly fairer, with added improvement in skin tone and texture.

How does laser whitening for underarms work?
Axilight laser is pulsed repeatedly at a fraction of a second, targeting the dark melanin discoloration of the skin. The fragmented pigments are naturally eliminated by our body’s immune system over a 6 to 8 week period.

How fast can I see the result?
There will be marked improvement after the first treatment. You will probably need a few sessions, done every 4 weeks, until the desired skin tone is achieved.

Is there any discomfort during the treatment?
The feeling is often described as “mildly tickly” when laser beams touch the skin. If you smell something burning, it’s not your skin. It’s the underarm hair.

At SkinStation, a female doctor does the treatment, in your own private cubicle (who would want a ward type set up?), to keep you at ease as the area to be treated is perceived to be private by most patients.

Are there other side effects?
Q-switched Nd:YAG laser has one of the highest safety profile. There may be some pinpoint redness, itchiness, and mild swelling immediately after the treatment. These will subside in a short while. Our doctors may prescribe you an anti-inflammatory cream.

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This was published in the November 11, 2014 issue of Manila Bulletin, Lifestyle Section. The author , Fred C. Reyes, is the CEO of SkinStation. He received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from Professional Regulations Commission for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry. He can be reached at fred.reyes@skinstation.ph.