IS DERMAL FILLER FOR YOU?

Is Dermal Filler For You?

Twenty-five years ago, going under the knife for a face-lift was the way to get rid of wrinkly, sagging skin. But today, a range of dermal fillers can be injected to soften those facial creases, enhance shallow contours, and plump up thinning lips. With these nonsurgical “liquid facelifts,” you can get back the youthful fullness of your face in about an hour, with immediate results, and no downtime.

These treatments are temporary, lasting anywhere from six months to two years, and therefore, must be repeated for maintenance. It may appear more cost effective to have permanent fillers but these may bring permanent complications. Permanent dermal filler injected in your 40s may not look the same on your face as when you are in your 60s.

The optimal age for a patient to begin getting fillers is in the 40s to early 50s. However, a lifestyle of soaking in the sun, smoking and liquor, and lack of sleep has made it easy for young people in their 20s and 30s to have early frown lines. Also, much younger patients have come for nonsurgical rhinoplasty and chin augmentation. With the increasing popularity of dermal filler procedures, the question has changed from “Should I?” to “Which one?”

Restylane and Hyaluronica are offered as dermal filler options at SkinStation.

Restylane and Hyaluronica are made of hyaluronic acid. If the hyaluronic acid sounds familiar, it's because the same substance is used as anti-aging and moisturizing ingredient in DERMAX HYAL C, among other DERMAX Professional skin care products. Hyaluronic acid is also injected into the aching joints of people with arthritis to provide extra cushioning. Because the body produces hyaluronic acid naturally, it hardly ever causes an allergic reaction, and it gives a smoother, more natural appearance. Other brand names using hyaluronic acid include: Juvaderm, Hylaform, Perlane, and Prevelle.

Radiesse and Radiance are dermal fillers made of very tiny, smooth microspheres of calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA). 

A common misconception is that dermal fillers do the same job as Botox injections. Although both Botox and dermal fillers reduce the appearance of wrinkles, these products don’t treat the same type of wrinkles. Botox is used on areas where the skin gets wrinkled due to frequent muscle movement. On the other hand, dermal fillers literally fill in sunken areas resulting from the aging process.

The dermatologist will determine which fillers to use on specific parts of the face to be treated. Some fillers are more viscous; others are more fluid and can plump larger areas. A combination of Botox and fillers may achieve best results in many cases. 

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This article was published in the Lifestyle Section of Manila Bulletin on July 30, 2013. The author is the CEO of SkinStation. He received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from the 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. 

A NEW WAY TO FIGHT ACNE

 

Fighting acne from within is nothing new. There is the oral antibiotic, erythromycin and its various derivations. Then there is the USFDA approved blue light therapy, which we aptly call AcneLight. When everything else fails, there is isotretinoin, considered the treatment of last resort due to inherent risks associated with the drug.

The good news is that a new anti-acne complex that has proven effective in controlling acne breakouts is now available. Taken as a capsule once a day, DERMAX AcneX anti-acne complex contains three ingredients: Lactoferrin, Lignans from Flaxseed, and Zinc Gluconate. All these work together from within to reduce acne and prevent future breakouts.

Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is a naturally occurring glycoprotein from fresh pasteurized skim milk. It contains immune factors that help regulate, activate, and balance the immune system. It has anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that contribute to faster healing of acne lesions.

Lignans from Flaxseed

Linumlife Extra is our source of standardized phytoestrogen lignans with at least 20% of SDG, the main lignan in flaxseed. It is clinically tested and shown to reduce oiliness in skin. Hormonal imbalance leads to excess sebum production and contributes to acne formation. The phytoestrogens in lignans help balance hormones and control oil secretion.

Zinc Gluconate

An imbalance in testosterone levels can cause acne. Zinc gluconate helps prevent potential hormonal imbalance that leads to acne breakouts. It is highly effective in reducing inflammation from acne lesions. It also boosts collagen formation to keep skin healthy and youthful.

DERMAX AcneX anti-acne complex is a food supplement that does not require doctor’s prescription. Nevertheless, have your free consultation with our medical doctors at SkinStation to know what would be a good acne treatment program for your specific case, to ensure effective control of breakouts and prevent scarring.

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This was published in the July 9, 2013 issue of Manila Bulletin, Lifestyle Section. 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. 

THE FUTURE OF SKIN CARE: NANO-ENCAPSULATION TECHNOLOGY

When we talk of nano, we talk about size. Nano is a billionth of a meter; a thousand times smaller than micro. Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on atomic and molecular scale. The concept and the potential applications can be very exciting.

Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent on its research by the governments in Europe, USA and Japan.  Applications have been found in the field of electronics, energy production, biomaterials and medicine.

With the development of nano sized active ingredients, skin care formulations have leaped to new levels of advancement.  Many major skin care companies launched new nano skin care products with enhanced effectiveness.  Skin absorption has vastly improved with the smaller particle size of nano active ingredients.

Ordinarily, skin care actives would only lay on the surface of the skin accomplishing nothing beyond improving feel. For anti-aging and lightening products, the active ingredients must work inside the skin to have any effect at all. Nanotechnology has made it possible for actives to go beyond the barriers much more easily.  

Then there was the report alleging the potential of nano sized physical sunscreens getting into the body’s bloodstream. Although the clinical basis for such a claim is largely insufficient, the alarm created such a bad press, and stunted the popularity of nanotechnology in skin care. Suddenly, the major brands deleted all reference to nano in their marketing. However, they continue to use nanotechnology in their formulations, as they hide behind terminology like “micro” to avoid any controversy.

Behind the headlines in mainstream media, the research and development in nanotechnology continues. Encapsulating nano particles is one recent major advance.

Why not encapsulate nano actives which are highly reactive and unstable? Encapsulation will protect the degradation of ingredients, keeping them as fresh as when they were first added in the blend.

Why not use encapsulation technology that will slowly release nano ingredients to impart time-release benefit?

And why not use encapsulation technology that will bring the actives to specific epidermal or dermal layer where they will be needed most?

Such incredible nano-encapsulation concepts are real and are available now at SkinStation. We have embraced nanoencapsulation technology in our DERMAX Professional skin care line. We know it is safe. We are convinced that this is the future of skin care. We not only openly declare this. We proudly incorporated “NANO” in our brand name.

(In July 2012, the author spoke before the members of Philippine Society for Cosmetic Science (PSCS) on the same topic, with the title, "Nano+Encapsulation Technology in Personal Care Products". The updated and modified version of that presentation before the PSCS can be accessed here:  https://app.box.com/s/7igjxmfyh5olyz6ktlv7.)

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Skin Smart seeks to clarify facts and myths on skin care. It will also share innovative developments in skin care industry. This column was published in the Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Section on June 25, 2013.  The author  received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry.  He is the CEO of SkinStation and can be reached at fred.reyes@skinstation.ph. 

HOW GLUTATHIONE A.I.D.S. YOUR BODY

HOW GLUTATHIONE A.I.D.S. YOUR BODY

Glutathione is found in every human cell, and produced abundantly by the liver. Glutathione also exists naturally in fruits, vegetables and meats. The majority of its benefits can be summarized in the acronym “A.I.D.S.”

A – Antioxidant

Glutathione is often referred to as the master antioxidant. It is. Glutathione recycles and recharges all the antioxidants in our cells. None of the antioxidants could function at their optimum level without the presence of glutathione. The process of recharging antioxidants is enhanced by the addition of vitamin C to glutathione.

I – Immune System Booster

By keeping our intracellular glutathione level up, we also keep our immune system fully armed. Glutathione supports the ability of the body’s immune system to fight pathogens and antigens - agents of cellular damage, toxicity and disease.

According to webmd.com, people take glutathione supplements to prevent aging, hepatitis, liver disease, heart disease, high cholesterol, diseases that weaken the body’s defense system, memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoarthritis, and Parkinson’s disease. Healthcare providers also give glutathione intravenously for preventing anemia, patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment, treating Parkinson’s disease, improving blood flow and decreasing clotting in individuals with hardening of the arteries, treating diabetes, and preventing toxic side effects of chemotherapy.

D – Detoxification

Glutathione levels are highest in the liver, the body’s major detoxifying organ. Experimental studies have shown that low glutathione levels lead to poor liver and kidney function, and result in unnecessarily large quantities of toxins. Chronic liver diseases, whether alcohol or non-alcohol related, have been successfully treated with high dose of IV-glutathione treatment, resulting in improved liver function.

S – Skin Lightening

Aside from its many biologic functions, glutathione has become popular in the Philippines and other Asian countries for its purported skin lightening effect. There are clinical research data to support the beneficial effect of glutathione in pigmentary disorders. Various concepts have been proposed to explain the lightening activity. One of these is the same mechanism attributed to most antioxidants: Glutathione neutralizes free radicals that contribute to activation of melanin formation.

It is important to understand that glutathione, or any whitening active for that matter, cannot make you any whiter than what you really are. It may only bring back your original skin color that may have been made several tones darker by accumulated sun exposure. Your lifestyle will determine how far you will maintain the effect. One day of unprotected and prolonged sun exposure will negate all the gains you have made in making your skin tone lighter. 

Glutathione cannot give the same absolute results for everyone. What’s effective to others may not be effective to you. Always seek medical advice.

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Skin Smart seeks to clarify facts and myths on skin care. This column was published in the Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Section on June 11, 2013.  The author  received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry.  He is the CEO of SkinStation and can be reached at fred.reyes@skinstation.ph.