Proper skin hydration is more challenging than you realize especially as we transition from the dry, hot days of summer into the cool, crisp days of fall. Though we often associate dull, scaly skin with dry winter air, summer suns is much more damaging to our skin. In fact, research shows that harmful UV radiation is responsible for approximately 80 percent of the visible signs of aging. Other summer risk factors—chlorinated water and excessive sweating—also take a toll on our skin hydration. You do not want to head into the fall months, with dull, dry skin!
SUMMER & EARLY FALL Challenges to Proper Skin Hydration
Even if you are drinking eight glasses of water a day and regularly applying a moisturizer, your skin can become dehydrated. You may not even be aware it is occurring because skin usually feels clammy in warm weather, but the same sweat that creates that oily feeling can leave your skin parched. As sweat evaporates, it takes some of the moisture that was in your skin with it gradually causing dryness. At the same time, sweat leaves oily deposits behind skin’s pores. Research even indicates that sweat liquefies dirt particles and toxins, allowing them to seep more deeply into our pores.
This can cause multiple problems for you:
(1) When pores are clogged, moisturizers cannot penetrate the skin properly, limiting the effectiveness of topical treatments.
(2) Adding an oily moisturizer to sweaty skin tends to cause irritation and breakouts. Typically, therefore acne symptoms tend to get worse in summer and early fall.
(3) Sweat can dilute moisturizer and sunscreen. We inadvertently wipe most of it off along with excess perspiration.
In other words, topical treatments alone are not going to maintain skin hydration in the dryness of late summer and early fall, you will need to seek out professional intervention in the form of a Hydrafacial.
WHAT IS HYDRAFACIAL? & How Does It Help Skin Hydration
The Hydrafacial system offers both deep exfoliation and skin hydration, all without causing any discomfort. It is technically a form of dermabrasion, but instead of using crystals to get rid of dead skin cells and debris, it uses a blend of water pressure and mild organic acids. This allows the Hydrafacial to accomplish many of the same cosmetic objectives as a chemical or laser peel, but without causing lasting redness, peeling or flaking. Accomplishing all of this is no easy feat, so the Hydrafacial system uses four treatment phases.
VORTEX EXFOLIATION PHASE
During the Vortex stage of treatment, the Hydrafacial applicator applies Activ-4 serum to your face. The serum contains two gentle organic acids, lactic and glycolic acid, that strip away the most superficial layer of the skin (the stratum corneum). Excess oil, dead skin cells and dirt are removed along with this layer. Activ-4 also contains antioxidant-rich compounds that nourish the skin and combat damaging free radicals. Once the Activ-4 serum has had a chance to loosen built-up debris, the debris is sucked away. A radiant, clean surface is revealed.
VORTEX PEEL PHASE
The Hydrafacial Vortex Peel phase penetrates deeper into the skin to tackle signs of sun damage and aging. This stage also removes any remaining oil and debris that is embedded into the base of hair follicles. To accomplish these goals, another serum—the Glysal serum, a mixture of salicylic and glycolic acid—is applied to the skin. These acids are well known for their ability to fight whiteheads and blackheads.
VORTEX EXTRACTION PHASE
Once the Glysal serum is done loosening any remaining oil and debris, the Hydrafacial system switches into nourishment mode. During the Vortex Extraction phase, all pore-clogging gunk is powerfully extracted into a sealed container. This is here you get to see how much debris has been removed, proving how Hydrafacial treatment works in real-time. Then, nourishing serums, rich in antibacterial agents and peptides, are infused deep into your pores, preparing your skin for the final phase of treatment.
VORTEX FUSION PHASE
Once the skin has been exfoliated and primed with essential nutrients, a final comprehensive nutrient mask is worked deep into the epidermis. This serum, called Antiox-6, contains a range of potent antioxidants that are particularly adept at healing sun damage and reversing the visible signs of aging. Antiox-6 contains hyaluronic acid (the same wrinkle-fighting agent used in dermal fillers), vitamins A and E, and several plant extracts.
THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A HYDRAFACIAL IN LINWOOD
Achieving smooth, healthy and hydrated skin is just one of the many perks of Hydrafacial treatment. Hydrafacial not only removes oil and dead skin cells, combats damage, reduces bacterial overgrowth and increases collagen production, the Hydrafacial can also tackle several common skin conditions.
Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Fine lines, wrinkles and looseness diminish over a period of about two months following Hydrafacial treatment. As we age, the amount of collagen our body produces declines. As a result, our skin becomes weak and more susceptible to damage from the sun. The normal stresses of movement also start to take a toll, gradually stretching and creasing our skin. Hydrafacial treatment combats collagen loss by removing the uppermost layer of the skin and activating our body’s “healing response.” The body needs to send collagen to the epidermis to regenerate it, so more collagen is distributed throughout the skin in treated areas. Hydrafacial uses many collagen-stimulating compounds that amplify the natural process, causing collagen production to temporarily surge. As this collagen goes to work, you will notice gradual improvements in the appearance of your skin.
Dull, Flaky Skin
Skin that looks dry and lacking in vibrancy is usually being smothered by dead skin cells. Hydrafacial removes build-up and allows the skin to breathe again. It vacuums away dead skin flakes and adds hydrating nutrients that stop them from coming back.
Abnormalities in Skin Color and Texture
Skin texture and skin color issues come in many forms. They can be caused by uneven collagen distribution, broken capillaries and sun damage. Age spots, one of the most common pigmentation problems, arise after many years of accumulated UV damage. Repeated Hydrafacial treatments can slowly alleviate these problems by removing damaged skin cells and improving collagen density and distribution. Even better, unlike laser treatments and chemical peels, the Hydrafacial system can be used on all skin tones. It will not lighten dark skin or create a patchy look.
Oily, Acne-Prone Skin
Hydrafacial’s advanced exfoliation system can remove more oil and debris than any topical treatment. By healing and strengthening your skin, Hydrafacial helps combat bacterial overgrowth. This leads to an overall reduction in the frequency and severity of skin breakouts. Dermabrasion is also a great way to gradually fade acne scars and tame redness. This treatment has even been shown to shrink enlarged pores. The great thing about Hydrafacial is that it does not cause lasting redness or “peeling’ like a laser or chemical peel, meaning there is NO – zero – downtime. Patients usually have a bit of a rosy “glow” right after their Hydrafacial, but this fades within about an hour. Because this treatment is so uniquely gentle, it is suitable for patients with sensitive skin. The Hydrafacial system can also be customized to meet your individual needs—it does not take a “one size fits all” approach to skincare. Different finishing serums can be used to tailor the treatment your skin types and age group. You can elect to use a serum calibrated to enhance collagen production or to heal UV-damaged skin. When you come in for your Hydrafacial consultation, we will help you select the serum that is right for you.
GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR HYDRAFACIAL WITH THESE SKIN HYDRATION TIPS
Getting a Hydrafacial is the best way to replenish dry skin and manage the stresses of sun exposure from the summer months. You can maximize the results of your Hydrafacial by keeping your skin healthy during these early days of fall.
REGULARLY APPLY A MEDICAL-GRADE SUNSCREEN
Continue to apply sunscreen into the fall and winter months. And remember, all sunscreens are not created equally. In fact, some over the counter brands of sunscreen have the potential to harm your skin. Not only do they contain an array of chemical perfumes, alcohols and other common skin irritants, they usually don’t meet their stated SPF value. Inexpensive sunscreens tend not to be very long-lasting. They easily dissolve by sweat and water or can be removed by friction. If you want to get serious about sun protection—for the sake of both your health and your appearance—you should ask a trained skincare expert about getting medical-grade sunscreen. Medical-grade sunscreens are thoroughly quality-tested to ensure that they both meet their SPF requirements and stand up to the rigors of use. Most of them also contain antioxidants. This allows them to heal sun damage as it occurs. This is important, because even the most powerful sunscreen cannot filter out 100 percent of the sun’s rays.
WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Even though the temperatures are cooling, it is still a good idea to wear a hat and sun-protective clothing, not just sunscreen. This provides an added layer of protection against sun damage.
USE SUNSCREEN EVEN ON A CLOUDY OR RAINY DAY
Even on cloudy days, some of the sun’s UV rays make it to the Earth’s surface. The UV index on cloudy and rainy days is usually lower than it is during sunny weather, there’s still enough radiation present to cause damage. Why risk it? Make it a habit to use your favorite sunscreen before you leave the house, even if it is raining.
PROTECT YOUR LIPS
Most people only use lip balm when their lips are cracked and raw. However, you should know that your lips are just as vulnerable to sun damage as the rest of your body. To keep your lips looking young and feeling healthy, consistently apply a lip balm with an SPF. We can also add a Hydrafacial Lip Perk to create smoother, younger looking lips to your Hydrafacial treatment.
Fall is such a fun time of year. We continue to enjoy the outdoors in the cool, crisp days and even cooler nights. We can also use this time to take better care for our skin. If you’re ready to try a Hydrafacial or you would like a skin hydration consultation, give us a call at 609-732-2244 or contact us HERE.
