Atlantic Ave Magazine April 2019

Delray Dermatology + Cosmetic Center
BY Dr. francesca lewis, md, faad
Glowing Skin
It is the reason we as consumers
spend billions of dollars per year
on the cosmetic industry, all to
try and achieve “perfect” skin.
I
always tell my patients instead of spending thousands of dollars
per year on expensive department and drug store creams,
invest in a solid skin care regimen with a scientifically proven
background. The staples of such a regimen should include a vitamin
C, E, and Ferulic Acid serum in the morning, a zinc based SPF
moisturizer every day, and a retinol containing product at night
time to stimulate collagen and reveal glowing skin.
Beyond our medical grade skin care regimen, I am often asked what
other treatments are my go-tos for glowing, vibrant, healthy, sundamage
free skin. There are a few treatments I would recommend doing
with frequency such as Hydrafacial. A monthly Hydrafacial will remove
all of the built-up dirt and debris from the skin, hydrate, smooth
and restore the texture of the skin. It is well loved for leaving the skin
immediately glowing and clear.
Clear + Brilliant laser is another treatment that I recommend at
least four times per year to remove sun damage brown spots, as well
as help with fine lines and pore size. It is a mild resurfacing laser with
little to no downtime and is wonderful for patients starting to see
signs of aging and patients who have undergone deeper resurfacing
in the past to maintain results.
The newest treatment on the market is called Aquagold Fine Touch
Microchanneling. It combines the benefits of microneedling with
benefits on injectables. The device itself has gold plated microneedles
that allows the infusion of product into the skin. What we choose for
ingredients depends on patient concerns and skin type. However, the
most common ingredients we might choose include PRP, Botox, and
Juvederm. The Aquagold treatment is complimentary and does not
take the place of traditional Botox and Filler injections. PRP (Platelet
Rich Plasma) is obtained from spinning down the patient’s own
blood in a centrifuge to separate out the plasma portion with the
highest concentration of platelets and growth factors. This has been
demonstrated to stimulate collagen production long-term when introduced
back into
the skin. The Botox
is in a much smaller
concentration than
typical for injections to relax
muscles. With infusion into the top layers
of the skin, it has a slightly different purpose than traditional wrinklerelaxing
injections. It has been shown to tighten pore size and overall
firming of the skin, diminish redness from rosacea by creating constriction
of capillaries, and therefore improve skin tone. The very
small concentration of Juvederm Hyaluronic Acid filler introduced
into the mixture provides skin hydration, plumping, and diminishment
of fine lines. Addition of Vitamin B5 for plumping and Vitamin C
for brightening round out the mixture.
Because of the relatively short depth of penetration into the skin
(1mm) compared to traditional microneedling (2-3mm) the downtime
is significantly less. Usually most patients expect one day of pinkness.
The effects of the treatment can take approximately 2 weeks to
settle in. This is a treatment that could be repeated monthly or every
few months depending on the patients desired outcome. We love this
treatment for the glowing look to the skin it provides. Both the Clear
+ Brilliant laser two to three weeks before an event and the Aquagold
one to two weeks before an event are common go-tos among celebrities
to get their skin red carpet ready.
The next time you look in the mirror and think your skin looks dull
and tired, consider these treatments, just some of many in our armamentarium
to restore youth and vibrancy to the skin.
Francesca Lewis, MD, FAAD
Board Certified Dermatologist
Founder Delray Dermatology + Cosmetic Center
561-440-8020
delrayskin.com
86 | April 2019 | www.AtlanticAveMagazine.com