Body Acne - Prevention & Treatments

Acne is a problem not only on the face, but it can also be on the chest and back areas. Beach and pool season is upon us, and if you are worried about taking your shirt off and flaunting your stuff because of body acne, we’ve got some good news for you! Acne on the back and chest an be managed by using body wash containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid such as MedPeel Pre-Peel Cleanser. Use the body wash/cleanser in the shower daily, and you should begin to see a difference in as little as few weeks. For a more aggressive and quick treatment, consider a TCA peel. Trichloroacetic Acid is one of the most effective chemical peels for tougher skin on the body. While TCA is only recommended for experienced peelers and professionals, so aside from the fact that you can’t apply a peel to your back by yourself, you’ll need some help with application. Chat with one of our licensed esthetician’s or lookup a local esthetician near you for a consultation.

Back Acne Scars-Cause
Back acne scars are caused by acne on the back. Acne usually starts on the face, and some people get acne on chest and back. The cause of back acne is the same with face acne. Excessive sebum production and dead skin cells clogs the pores on skin and with bacterial growth on this are causes acne breakouts.

Back Acne Scars – Prevention
Even though clothes do not cause acne on back, wearing clean clothes will definitely reduce the change of bacterial growth on the skin. Sweating is also a factor for acne breakouts on body, thus showering everyday, especially after exercising will prevent acne breakouts. Once acne is gone, they usually leave something to remember them by. Acne scars. Squeezing or pressuring the acne is a big cause for acne scars. If you have acne on back, avoid wearing tight clothes or back packs.

Back Acne Scars – Treatment
Back acne scar treatments are not different from face acne scar treatments. For mild cases, chemical peeling will be enough to get rid of back acne scars. After chemical peel, the top layer of skin will be gone and new skin cells will grow. Redness and sensitivity may occur after the treatment.

Microdermabrasion can be used for moderate acne scars. This technique is essentially sanding down the skin. The principle is the same with chemical peeling, but instead of chemicals a sandpaper or a similar equipment is used. Laser treatment is the most popular and the most effective way to treat acne scars. Laser treatment is used for severe cases of acne scars.

Laser treatment will resurface the skin on your back after a few sessions and you will get a scar-free, smooth skin on your back.

Glycolic 101

Why go glycolic?

Glycolic acid has long been heralded as a cure-all for dull, lackluster skin. Used in a plethora of skincare products, this natural acid boasts the ability to refine and renew the skin, diminishing fine lines, sun-spots, and acne.

How does glycolic acid work?

Glycolic acid is the smallest type of alpha hydroxy acid and has many applications in skincare products as a natural skin exfoliant. Its capability to penetrate the skin is key when allowing old, sun-damaged skin cells to shed, renewing the skin’s texture and vitality.

By loosening the glue-like substance that keeps dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, glycolic acid can help you gain back that healthy glow. This exfoliation process may help reduce wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, and promote an overall rejuvenated appearance.

Through stimulating new cell and collagen production, fine lines and shallow acne scars are reduced, improving the skin’s tone and texture. As well as promoting new skin cell growth, glycolic acid can also help unclog pores--aiding those with acne-prone skin.

Glycolic Acid for at-home Use:

There are many options for using glycolic acid at home. Low concentrate glycolic acid can be found in creams and moisturizers. Unlike regular moisturizers, these also have the ability to promote the ongoing creation of revitalized skin cells.

Higher glycolic acid content can be found in glycolic acid peels, with more instantaneous results. Peels provide the most effective at-home treatments as the glycolic acid is formulated in a way that is safe, yet very effective. Non-invasive and non-surgical, glycolic acid peels can refine the skin’s texture, leaving skin younger-looking and rejuvenated.

The lower the pH level of the glycolic peel, the deeper and quicker it will penetrate into the skin. Physician-strength peels can have a pH level as low as pH0.6. Though low-level pH peels can be highly beneficial to severely damaged skin, they must be administered by a dermatologist.

While store bought peels are less potent, they are easier to use, safe for use without medical supervision and can garner similar results from the comfort of your own home.

An at home glycolic peel, capable of removing pore-clogging debris, improving skin tone and texture, is thus the perfect, affordable solution to beautiful skin.

Pumpkin Face Mask Recipe

What better way to kick off fall then with a Do-It-Yourself Pumpkin Face Mask recipe that will leave  skin radiant, smooth and supple! Yeah, we couldn't think of a more appropriate Sunday skincare session on the first day of fall either. So grab your pumpkin flavored beverage of choice and get ready to pamper your skin with this mask.









Pumpkin Yogurt Face Mask Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree (canned or fresh made)
• 1/4 cup plain Greek Yogurt
• 1 tsp. Cinnamon 

How to Make & Apply Pumpkin Yogurt Face Mask 

1. Thoroughly mix together all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Smooth generously over face, neck and decollete. Avoid the eye area as the cinnamon can burn sensitive eye skin and eyes.
3. Let mask sit for about 20 minutes until almost completely dry. 
4. Use a damp washcloth to remove the mask then rinse with water.
5. Gently pat skin dry. Skin may be pink or red afterwards due to the cinnamon, but this should fade within the first half hour after rinsing skin.
6. Place remaining mixture in an air tight container and refrigerate.
7. Repeat weekly.

Skin Benefits of Pumpkin, Yogurt and Cinnamon

Pumpkin:

• Alpha Hydroxy Acid & Fruit Enzymes - increase cell turnover to brighten and smooth skin
• Vitamin A & Vitamin C - helps soften and smooth skin while boosting collagen
• Zinc - helps control the hormone level and oil production as well as heal skin

Yogurt:

• Calcium - helps skin renewal and prevents skin from dryness 
• B Vitamins - hydrates and protects skin from damage
• Lactic Acid - exfoliates and help reduce appearance of wrinkles

Cinnamon:

• Antiseptic - helps kill bacteria, fight acne and pimples
• Anti-Aging - plumps skin and promotes increased collagen
• Anti-Oxidant - exfoliates and helps remove dead skin cells

Have some concerns with these ingredients or don't have them all on hand? Try out some other popular pumpkin based masks and scrubs with the ingredients you have on hand such as honey, sugar, baking soda, oatmeal or almond milk.

Fall Skincare Favorites!

It's that time of year again when the weather starts getting cool, leaves start changing colors, sweaters make their way to the front of the closet and pumpkins are everywhere you turn from decorations to drinks. Yes, this is one of the most popular and favorite seasons, but chillier weather isn’t always great for your skin. As your warm summer glow fades, dryness can start to set in. Not to worry, we've got you covered with everything you need to keep that radiant and soft skin all season!

Even if you don’t normally consider yourself to have dry skin, the change in seasons has a way of evaporating all the moisture in the air...and on your face. Natural Squalane Oil is harvested from olives which means it's environmentally friendly and cruelty-free. This non-comedogenic moisturizing facial oil mimics your natural sebum, improving skin elasticity by increasing moisture retention and nutrients. In addition to it's moisturizing properties squalane oil fights free radicals and bacteria making it a safe option for all skin types and ages.

If you still aren't sure about trying MedPeel Natural Squalane Oil as a daily moisturizer, prefer a cream or like to double up due to dry and dehydrated skin then Hyaluronic Moisturizer Cream may be the answer. Hyaluronic acid may sound scary, but it holds the key to smooth, flawless and hydrated skin. Gentle enough for everyday use, Hyaluronic Moisturizer Cream is a rich, powerful moisturizer that is the perfect heaviness for cooler weather. You can use it as your daily cream or leave it on overnight for deep penetration--either way, skin will be left plump, softened, and renewed.

Think an exfoliator is too rough on your skin during the colder seasons? Think again. Glycolic Acid 10% Daily Exfoliator is just what you need to prevent the buildup of dead skin cells. Exfoliating maintains your complexion to keep breakouts away, while the glycolic acid minimizes pores. Renewed skin and smaller pores? Sounds like the perfect base for moisturizers that will keep skin hydrated and smooth.

Your skin might do even better with a scrub, like the one found in the Fusion Duo Kit. The microdermabrasion scrub is light enough to use every day, but powerful enough to rejuvenate skin. Paired with the kit’s Pro Collagen Serum, skin is left renewed and strengthened. The serum’s boost of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and natural extracts restores elasticity. Healthy skin can withstand even the toughest of winters.

When you’re coming out of the sunny summer, your skin may look great: there’s no mistaking that healthy glow of a happy vacation. But because most people forget to use their SPF (yeah...we mean you), that glow can come with sun damage that is much more evident when your tan fades. The powerful antioxidants in Vitamin C30X Anti-Aging Serum fights to diminish UV Damage, sun spots, and other visible signs of hyperpigmentation. By promoting healthier skin function, this serum can reduce inflammation, minimize fine lines, and even helps to protect the most delicate areas around the mouth and eyes.

One of the most surprising things to switch up during the winter months is your cleanser. All cleansers are not made equal and what works in summer doesn’t always work the rest of the year. During the summer, it’s important to be able to wash away heavy sunscreens…not to mention the heavy sweat! Swapping out a more gentle cleanser in fall will keep your skin from stripping when it’s at it’s most vulnerable. Pre-Peel Cleanser is perfect for everyday use and will encourage necessary skin cell turnover. Your skin: clean and ready for your heavier moisturizing products. You: radiant and gorgeous.

Use code FALLFAVES from 9/21/2018 - 9/26/2018 to save $10 on each item listed above.

3 Major Beauty Myths DEBUNKED!

Toothpaste on a pimple? Cucumbers for eye bags? When it comes to beauty, folklore and myths abound. How do you know what’s true and what’s not? Well, here are three top beauty myths – DEBUNKED! so you will be in the know!

Number one Myth: it is crucial to clean your face really well with soap and water to help prevent breakouts and acne.

Truth: Actually, overdoing the cleaning and scrubbing with soap can remove the beneficial oils that you want on your skin. These good oils don’t cause acne --and they protect your skin from irritation. Over-cleaning with soap and water can strip your skin so badly of ALL oil that you end up with rashes and increased breakouts! All that scrubbing also can irritate and further inflame acneic skin. Additionally, some soaps have caustic ingredients, such as fragrances or preservatives, that can irritate and even burn sensitive skin causing intense redness and inflammation.

For all these reasons it’s much better to clean oily, acne prone skin with a product designed to dissolve pore-clogging sebum. (It’s the sebum that causes blackheads and pimples.) The best agents for this job aren’t soaps at all! They’re special mild acids such as salicylic, lactic, or glycolic acid (think fruit juice, not chem lab fire!) that work to gently but effectively to unclog pores and remove excess sebum. One of the best around is a 10% Salicylic acid treatment by MEDPEEL. You’ll see and feel the difference right away and see much clearer skin after 2 weeks.

Myth number 2: The more expensive a skin care product is, the better it works.

Truth: The efficacy of a skin care product has much more to do with the ingredient list than the price tag. There are good and bad products at both ends of the price spectrum. The most important thing to know is that you want to look for products with high levels of active ingredients, and these actives should be listed among the top 10 ingredients on ingredient panel. Two great examples are MedPeel Daily Collagen Complex and MedPeel Vitamin C30X Retinol Serum – both really effective products are chock full of retinol and other skin goodies, making them great choices with a minimal price tag.

Myth number 3: lack of sleep causes dark under-eye circles

Lack of sleep can temporarily make these suckers look more pronounced, but the actual cause of dark circles is multi-factorial. This means they can be from a combination of thin skin in the eye area, allergies, excessive eye rubbing, sun damage, blue-tinged veins in the under-eye area, and even deep-set eyes. The best approach is to tackle each one of these factors, sooo, wear sun block and sunglasses outdoors, see an allergist for seasonal eye allergies and try using a powerful under-eye product every day for several weeks to see a difference.

If your problem is a bluish tint from tiny blue vessels showing though the skin, choose a cream with caffeine that can constrict the blood vessels beneath the eyes. If your color is more reddish you may benefit from a serum with high levels of vitamin K, which reduces puffiness and redness.

And if your eye serum contains retinol, vitamin A, vitamin C and peptides it can strengthen the existing fragile skin making dark circles much less visible while ALSO prevent further damage! YAY! 

So there you have it, 3 big beauty myths debunked. Don’t you feel better? And by the way, toothpaste can irritate pimples (the menthol ugh!) and cucumbers cool and sooth mostly because a cucumber from the fridge contains 90% cold water which does most of the work! Ha!

How To Prepare For A Chemical Peel

Tips for Flawless Skin this Wedding Season

It’s one of the most emotional days of your life. The day you’ve always dreamed about, since you were a little girl.

It’s the one day out of the year, besides your birthday, that all the attention is on you. It’s your day to shine.

It’s your wedding day.

From your hair, to your face, all the way down to your toenail polish, everyone is focused on you.

The last thing you want to worry about is having bad skin during this exciting time.

Wedding season is here and it starts with healthy skin. Whether you are a bride, mother of the bride, bridesmaid or attending a wedding, we’ve got the tips and tricks that will assure you a smooth foundation for your make-up to blend gracefully and look seamlessly beautiful for the big day!

The essentials: Cleanse, Exfoliate & Hydrate Daily!

Cleanse

• Always remove makeup (even after the bachelorette party!) 
• Cleanse twice daily with our Pre-peel Cleanser, which contains 3% Glycolic Acid. It can be used as a daily cleanser and skin prep prior to a peel treatment 

Exfoliate

• Exfoliate with our Brighten AHA Vitamin C Daily Exfoliator to help stimulate the removal of dead skin cells and promote natural rejuvenation 
• Regular exfoliation prepares the skin to achieve enhanced chemical peel benefits 
• Helps remove stubborn dead skin cells 

Moisturize

• Aid skin revival with the hydrating ingredients in our Hyaluronic Moisturizer Cream which can be used daily and overnight for dry skin 
• Add a few drops of our Natural Squalene Oil to your beauty routine to quench your skin’s thirst for beautifully, soft skin

Beauty Sleep...Don’t skip this one!

• It may be hard to squeeze 7-8 hours of sleep into your busy schedule but your skin will thank you, by being extra gorgeous. 

Drink lots of water!

• Keeps skin packed with hydration 
• Plumps skin cells while flushing away impurities and toxins 
• Supports an acne-free complexion 

If you have time, do a superficial peel

• Glycolic 30% chemical peel or AHA Vitamin C 30% has little to no down time and is a great preparation for your skin for the big day 

For a quick pick me up

• Try the 3-Day Facelift

Planning a wedding can be hectic. Shopping for the right dress, choosing a venue, and deciding to go with an up-do or letting your hair flow naturally. It can be enough to turn a bride into a bridezilla. Keep calm and carry on with your beauty routine!