Is it just us, or does it seem like personalization is the new black? Social media is awash with promos for tailor-made goods including jeans cut to your measurements, personalized vitamin blends, and subscription boxes geared towards your personal tastes.

This trend extends to skincare. Perhaps you’ve seen the ads for Curology, Y’OUR, or other brands that will whip you up a customized cream based on a brief online quiz. It sounds pretty cool—why not get skincare that has all the ingredients your skin needs, and nothing it doesn’t? But, does custom skincare work? Is it really all that customized? How can you be sure you’re getting safe, effective ingredients?

These are great questions, and we decided to tackle them here.

You might think of it as quasi-customized skincare: the quizzes narrow down your needs to identify ingredients that are likely to help and rule out ingredients that you shouldn’t use, but there are limitations to the level of customization available.

How are custom skincare products made?

Every brand has its own method, but typically, you will complete a questionnaire about your skin type, skin concerns, age, allergies, environment, etc. Some brands also ask you to submit selfies to be reviewed by a dermatology nurse or PA. Based on your answers, they will pull from their arsenal of ingredients and mix up a product or set of products that are most likely to be good for your skin. In theory, this is a smart shortcut to tailoring your skincare regimen to your needs.

However, online diagnosis via quizzes (even if selfies are provided for review) leaves the door wide open for misdiagnosis. If you want to get your skincare right, an in-person consult with an expert is key. Your skin’s texture, elasticity, and other factors can only be fully understood in person.

How customized is custom skincare?

The idea that skincare could be tailor-made for you and no one else sounds pretty nice, but there are limitations to the level of customization available. There are only so many ingredients that each company uses.

It may be more accurate to think of “custom” skincare as product selection guidance: their quizzes narrow things down to identify what ingredients are likely to work and help rule out ingredients that may not be helpful for your skin.

While the “customized” skincare fad fits with marketing trends, it’s not meeting a known need for more individualized skin products.

Every skincare company relies on certain known, safe, effective ingredients (e.g., retinol, glycolic acid, niacinamide, AHA, etc.)—and almost every skincare company also formulates ingredients into specific products to meet particular needs. In other words, most skincare lines already have numerous targeted options in their lineup, similar to what you’d get if you ordered “custom” skincare.

Is online personalized skincare safe?

For the most part, reputable companies who are run by dermatologists or other qualified medical professionals use familiar ingredients that are known to be safe for the general population. Additionally, since product choices are made based on your perception of your skin type and sensitivities, it can reduce the chance that you’ll have a bad reaction.

However, personalized skincare doesn’t mean you are getting the best skincare. Because you aren’t seeing an MD, the ingredients used are limited in potency. This reduces risks of online diagnosis, but also means the products won’t be as effective as what you can get from a physician’s practice.

The verdict: personalized skincare is on the right track, but there’s a better way to get the best products for your skin

Many people swear by personalized online skincare, and several of these brands have solid reviews. Companies that are dermatologist-led are likely to offer skincare with safe, proven ingredients.

A medically trained provider can help you mix and match brands and products to get the most benefit for your skin. You’ll also reap the benefits of skin imaging technology and can receive personalized, in-office treatments.

All that said, there is no substitute for having a skin evaluation with a licensed, experienced medical skincare professional. Here are 4 reasons why:

1. You’ll get better advice with an in-person exam.

An in-person consultation will allow your provider to closely examine your skin’s characteristics including texture, elasticity, and more. They’ll also talk to you about your medical history, concerns, and goals in greater detail.

2. An experienced provider has tools the internet does not

IRL skincare doesn’t necessarily mean old-fashioned! For instance, here at The Parker Center, we use VISIA®, an advanced imaging technology that reveals early signs of aging and damage that aren’t yet visible on the skin’s surface. We can use this technology to track the progress of your treatments and adjust your plan over time.

3. You can get medical-grade, prescription-strength products.

A doctor or physician-supervised provider in a licensed practice will also have access to medical-grade, prescription-strength skincare products, which are not available online.

4. You’ll have access to an array of treatments and brands for faster, more meaningful results

Purchasing skincare through a physician’s office gives you access to several brands, and your provider can help you mix and match brands if that proves most beneficial for your skincare needs. (In other words, you will get customized skincare with proven products.)

Moreover, a licensed skincare provider can design a comprehensive protocol that includes in-office treatments, helping you safely achieve more rapid improvements. To see what we mean, check out our Parker Center Acne Treatment Protocol (the before and afters say it all!!!).

For custom skincare plans in New Jersey with a personal touch, call us!

It’s great to have personalized options for fashion, food, and style, but when it comes to your skin, trust an experienced medical team in your home town. If you’re in the Paramus area, we invite you to come in for a free cosmetic consultation with our skincare team at The Parker Center. We don’t take shortcuts—we’ll work together with you to find safe, effective solutions for your skin concerns. Call 201-967-1212 to get started.

The post Is Customized Skincare Worth the Hype? appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

From Swedish death cleaning to the KonMari decluttering method, minimalism is having a moment. While cleaning up clutter, fixing hoarding habits, and making your environment more peaceful takes time and dedication, we can help make simplifying your beauty routine easier.

Here are a few tips for getting started.

Stick with a few key skincare products that actually work

If you’ve fallen into the trap of purchasing celeb-recommended specialty products or multi-step skin systems in the hope of helping your skin, we don’t blame you. It’s hard to resist those promises. However, dozens of bottles of products aren’t required to keep your skin happy and healthy—what is required are the right high-quality products, selected to precisely suit your skin (not Kim’s or Andie’s or Gwyneth’s!).

If your arsenal of products just aren’t giving you the results you need, we encourage you to consult with a medically-trained skin professional to find a simplified, proven routine. Not only do professional skin treatments help you enjoy healthier skin in the long run, a medical aesthetician can make tailored recommendations for your specific needs.

Medical-grade skincare products also provide more consistent, effective results because they are formulated with stronger ingredients, so you’ll have fewer products that work better. The truth is, all the celebs we admire for having great skin are probably doing exactly this (except when they are paid to try out and then endorse a product).

Once you’ve nailed down your personal skincare routine, you can simply enjoy your glow and ignore all the latest-flash-in-the-pan-product hype.

Declutter your makeup drawer

As your tastes changes, trends come and go, or you toss random buys into your makeup drawer, your beauty collection can skyrocket. This not only takes up physical space, it also makes it hard to simply apply your key products and get out the door.

To winnow down your collection, think about what makeup looks you feel the most confident wearing daily and get rid of novelty products you bought on impulse, thinking you should “change up your look” or it “might be good for a special occasion.” (If you end up scoring an invite to the Met Gala, you probably won’t be resorting to the stuff sitting around in your drawer anyway!) Stick with your personal makeup classics, enjoy a simplified routine, and let your confidence shine through.

While you are at it, be sure to toss any products that are old. If you’re feeling hesitant, remember that expired products can easily harbor bacterial growth. Every makeup product you own should have a small graphic on the label that says how long you can use a product after it’s been opened:

A post shared by Charlene Westfall (@firstaidphysique) on Jul 12, 2018 at 2:55pm PDT

But what about new or nearly-new products you simply haven’t used? If tossing them feels wasteful, consider gifting them to a friend or donating unwanted makeup to women in need (products like lipstick and eyeliner can be refreshed and sanitized). You’ll clear up space and help others.

A little-known secret to minimizing: permanent makeup

To further minimize your makeup routine without sacrificing your look, consider permanent makeup and microblading. By placing pigment into your skin to fill brows, line the eyes, or provide a base lip color, our permanent makeup specialists can give you results that look natural and last for years.

It’s especially wonderful for busy, active people who can’t have their makeup fail at important times, travel a lot, or simply want to keep looking great right on through intense workouts. And just think how easy your morning routine will be!

Put your beauty products on double duty

You may be surprised to find that some of your classic makeup items can be used in multiple ways.

Take advantage of the monochromatic trend. Single shade looks have been in for the last year or so—and this trend only seems to be growing. This is great news for minimalists, as it allows you to perk up your entire face with just a few products. Have a favorite peach blush? After applying to your cheeks, swipe a thin layer over your eyelids and tap some on top of your go-to lip balm with your finger. Apply some eyeliner and mascara, and you’re good to go!

A post shared by Kelsey Deenihan (@kdeenihan) on May 2, 2018 at 5:13pm PDT

Use lip gloss to give your face some extra radiance. A clear gloss can be dabbed virtually anywhere on your face to add a little extra vibrancy and natural highlight, such as the center of your eyelids, along the high points of your cheeks, and down the bridge of your nose.

How do you approach minimalist beauty? We’d love to hear your tips in the comments below!

The post Minimalism Isn’t Just for Your Home or Closet—Discover the Joy of Simplifying Your Beauty Routine appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

Some women enjoy more radiant skin than ever while they’re expecting, but for many others, that “pregnancy glow” just never happens. Thanks to hormones in overdrive, acne, melasma, and other skin problems often flare up—even for women who’ve never had a blemish before in their entire lives.

The problem is that many go-to solutions, such as laser resurfacing and topical acne treatments, are not recommended during pregnancy, either because they break the skin (increasing infection risk), heat tissues to high levels, or involve medications that have not been proven 100% safe for pregnant women or fetuses. Obviously, your baby’s health and your own come first, and most reputable providers will not perform a cosmetic treatment that hasn’t explicitly been shown to be safe for pregnant women out of an abundance of caution.

Yes, there are safe skincare treatments for pregnant women

The good news is that pregnancy-related skin conditions typically resolve within a few months after giving birth. The even better news is that there are safe treatments to help keep blemishes under control, balance your complexion, and amp up your glow during pregnancy. Here are a few of our favorites at the Parker Center New Jersey MediSpa:

Rezenerate® Nanotechnology Facial

One of our newest skincare treatments at the Parker Center is also one of our favorites for moms-to-be: Rezenerate Nanotechnology Facial.

Many skincare treatments promote collagen production and skin cell renewal by creating a slight injury to the skin—very effective, and perfectly safe for most patients. However, this injury process could pose a slight risk that we feel is best to avoid during pregnancy, just to be extra safe. Rezenerate delivers nanoscopic (100s of times smaller than microscopic) channels of serum through the skin’s surface, effectively helping skin heal and regenerate while bypassing this injury process.

The moisturizing and antioxidant serum blend in Rezenerate includes only the safest ingredients (no salicylic acid), and Rezenerate can be a great option to calm pregnancy-induced acne outbreaks, reduce discoloration, and improve skin texture. Patients enjoy a gentle tingling sensation during treatment, and Rezenerate immediately leaves skin feeling softer, smooth, and glowing. You can also safely repeat treatment every 2 to 3 weeks for maximum results.

Microdermabrasion

This classic exfoliation treatment is fantastic for all skin types—and because it does not involve any chemicals or intense heat, it’s safe during pregnancy in most cases. During this treatment, a very fine tip or blast of crystals is applied to slough away dull, dead skin cells and increase collagen production, helping skin become smoother and firmer. Microdermabrasion can also lessen dark spots or pigmentation problems that appear during pregnancy.

While microdermabrasion in the hands of an experienced provider is already one of the safest skin resurfacing options, some systems are gentler than others. The Parisian Peel microdermabrasion system we use at the Parker Center comfortably delivers a controlled cycle of ultra fine crystal particles, which are blown onto the skin and quickly vacuumed up, along with dead cells and debris.

SPF, Moisturizers & More: Opt for Physician-Only Skincare

Daily skincare can go a long way to keep brown spots and hyperpigmentation to a minimum, prevent sun damage, and help your skin feel great when more aggressive treatments are off-limits. In fact, omitting sunscreen from your routine could do more harm than good, as skin is more sensitive to sun during pregnancy.

However, many skincare products, especially those intended to treat acne, melasma, or other skin conditions, contain ingredients you should avoid while pregnant, such as Retinoids (Retin-A, Accutane, tretinoin, etc.), Beta Hydroxy Acids, Hydroquinone, Benzoyl Peroxide, and oxybenzone (which is also found in chemical sunscreens).

To find safe skin care, work with a board certified plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or licensed aesthetician working under physician supervision, who is experienced in skin care for pregnant patients and knows what products and ingredients are safe to use while pregnant. An expert skincare professional can even turn you toward products you never knew were safe during pregnancy, such as SkinCeuticals Phyto-Corrective Gel, which calms inflammation and redness, or ZO Skin Health Calming Toner (BalaTone), which moisturizes, soothes and reduces visible pore size.

Another reason to a doctor’s office for skincare: the cosmetics industry is largely unregulated, and many OTC and online-order products have no third party testing their safety. In contrast, physician-only products contain clinically proven safe ingredients and are rigorously tested to make sure each item contains what is listed on the label in consistent amounts—an absolute must when your baby’s health is at stake.

Pre-Natal Massage Therapy

Okay, this isn’t technically a skincare treatment, but pre-natal massage with an experienced, licensed massage therapist can be a great way to boost your mood and appearance when you can’t get your regular BOTOX fix! Recommended after the first trimester, this gentle technique can relieve back pain and sciatica, as well as help reduce visible puffiness in the face and ankles.

Baby on the way? We’ll help you get glowing safely

For guidance you can trust while you’re expecting, come see our experienced skincare team at the Parker Center. Many of us are moms ourselves, and understand how frustrating it can be to deal with breakouts, irritation, or a patchy complexion on top of the other changes you are experiencing. During a and skin analysis, we will help you find the right treatments to safely improve your skin during your pregnancy. If you like, we’ll even help you design a long-term plan to achieve your skincare goals while juggling the role of being a new mom. Contact us today to get started!

The post What Skincare Treatments Are Safe for Pregnant Women? appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

Acne is a frustrating part of life for many people, and it can leave a mark for years to come in the form of acne scars. Health.com recently featured the story of one woman who spent years struggling with acne—and how she finally found a fantastic new option to treat the pitted scars on her face.

INFINIskin for acne scar reduction

Author Rebecca Snow tried everything from prescription medication to chemical peels and top-of-the-line skincare products, to no avail; her acne would clear briefly and then return—and she was left with an increasing number of pock marks on her face.

Tired of feeling bad about her skin and willing to try anything to see improvement, Rebecca reached out to a dermatologist, who told her about a new option for reducing scarring and improving skin tone, tightness, and texture: INFINIskin.

By combining the thermal power of radiofrequency (RF) with the restorative effects of microneedling, INFINI helps your skin create new collagen and elastin—in turn improving skin texture, tightening tissues, and reducing the depth of acne scars.

The INFINI device delivers RF energy through little channels in the skin created by microneedles, which are about the circumference of a strand of hair. Each needle delivers radiofrequency to deeper levels of the dermis, thus promoting collagen and elastin production and treating scars of varying depths.

While the procedure initially made Rebecca nervous, some pain medication and numbing agents made the treatment pain-free. What’s more, it only took 15 minutes! After two easy sessions and a little time, Rebecca began to notice a big difference in not only her skin, but her confidence levels to boot.

Read more about her experience here.

New Jersey acne scar treatment

If you’ve had a similar experience to Rebecca, you know how frustrating it can be—but you don’t have to live with acne or acne scarring any longer. If you’re ready for a change in the new year, contact us today.

We offer a variety of acne treatments, scar treatments, skin care options—including INFINI—right here in Paramus. Our consultations are 100% free, and we would be glad to help you learn more about your options.

The post Can INFINI Improve Acne Scars? appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

Imagine…you get to the beach, tote bag full of all your goodies, ready to bask in the glory of a beautiful day, except one crucial element is missing—your sunscreen.

Applying sunscreen whenever you head outdoors is the most effective way to protect your skin from UV damage that causes wrinkles and brown spots, and can even lead to cancer. Thorough application every 2 hours you are outside is key to ensure maximum protection, but this is easier said than done for many of us (if you’ve ever sported a weird-shaped sunburn because you missed a spot, you’re not alone).

What if you didn’t have to worry about taking time to painstakingly smear on just the right amount of cream, or even packing extra SPF in the first place?

Turns out, there’s a promising solution to these sunscreen dilemmas—the SnappyScreen touchless sunscreen system. Refinery29 recently featured this rather ingenious invention, and we were intrigued.

It’s like a touchless car wash for reapplying your SPF

The SnappyScreen is a touchless sunscreen booth that emits a 360° mist of SPF (similar to a spray tan). The customer gets in the booth, enters their height on a touchscreen menu, and chooses an SPF level (15, 30 or 50). The booth spins around and sprays you from head to toe in 10 seconds…voila! Skin protected.

Does hands-free sunscreen work?

According to the dermatologists surveyed in the article, yes, it does work. Of course, you would need to choose an SPF that matches your skin tone and sun sensitivity—we recommend a minimum of SPF 30. Also, you’d need to get back in the booth every 2 hours, minimum.

You can find SnappyScreen at select hotels throughout the United States, including some Marriotts and Hiltons. Keep your eyes peeled—they might be coming soon to a beach near you!

Skincare concerns? Don’t wait until next summer.

Here at the Parker Center in New Jersey, we’ve worked extensively with patients who want to reverse sun damage, as well as people undergoing treatment to repair skin cancer lesions. Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Parker has achieved beautiful results for his skin cancer patients, but it’s still better to avoid skin cancer surgery if possible, and being diligent about sunscreen use is one of the best ways to do that.

If you’ve ever read our blog before, you know how we feel about taking care of your skin. Working with a qualified professional is of utmost importance, whether you just want to look younger or need to address serious sun damage. If you have any questions about the best ways to take care of your skin, contact us today. We would be glad to help!

The post Is Hands-Free Sunscreen the Future? appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

Acne can seem like one of the world’s greatest mysteries—trying to definitively pinpoint what causes it, what puts you at risk, or how to effectively treat it has proven difficult even for medical experts. An article from PureWow recently resurfaced in our inbox, and it shines a light on some of the most common adult acne myths. To help ease your mind, we wanted to share some of the untruths they busted, plus some tried and true options for clearing your skin.

Myth: Acne is an adolescent problem

Puberty is bundled with plenty of unpleasant occurrences, including pimples. In fact, a whopping 80% of people between the ages of 12 and 24 experience breakouts. It’s so common in teenagers that people lose sight of the fact that millions of adults also suffer from the condition. According to a survey from the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 30% of women between the ages of 30 – 39 and 26% of those between 40 – 49 report having acne.

Myth: Your personal habits are causing your pimples

Chances are that your latest breakout isn’t because you forget to wash your face. Though your diet and personal hygiene can impact your skin health, forgoing a full cleanse one night isn’t likely the root cause of your latest acne breakout. Your genetics, hormones, diet, and pollution are much more likely to blame.

In fact, if you wash your face too often, you might be exacerbating the problem by stripping your skin of natural oils. If this happens, your body overcompensates by producing more oils, which in turn clog your pores and lead to inflammation.

Myth: A spot of toothpaste will clear up a zit

Contrary to popular belief, the idea that toothpaste can quickly alleviate a pimple is totally false. At best, the toothpaste will leave you smelling minty fresh. At worst, it will dry out your skin and irritate your already inflamed spot. Avoid the Crest and instead opt for a medical-grade product.

Don’t feel defeated! We have some tried & true solutions

Now that we’ve cleared up some of the most common myths, let’s talk about what can actually help you if you’re struggling with acne. One of the best things you can do for your skin is to work with a professional who can thoroughly examine your skin, properly diagnose the type of acne you have, and make expert recommendations for treatments and products that will help.

If you’re ready to say goodbye to the blemishes, we encourage you to contact us today. Dr. Parker and his highly trained and licensed aestheticians have many years of experience helping patients just like you enjoy acne-free skin. Our advanced acne treatment protocol was developed to treat acne at its root cause while also improving the visible effects of acne—and it is designed to adapt to every patient’s unique needs. What do you have to lose (except your acne)?

The post How Many of These Adult Acne Myths Did You Believe? appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

All day sun protection without having to slather on greasy sunscreen sounds too good to be true—and it is. While the temptation of “edible sunscreen” products that claim to protect you from the inside out is understandable, you’re better off sticking to more traditional topical products if you value the health of your skin.

What is edible sunscreen?

Ingestible sunscreens are products that profess to help protect your skin from burning and the damaging effects of the sun—not through a topical cream but rather a pill (such as Helio) or liquid product (UVO).

When ingestible sunscreens came on the market, they had a certain appeal for those of us who prize convenient, easy-to-use solutions to some of our most common concerns. Sun protection in the form of a supplement seems like a fantastic way to to ensure you’re taking care of your skin without having to remember to apply sunscreen.

Does edible sunscreen work?

Unfortunately, the claims surrounding these products are misleading at best—and potentially dangerous if you use them to replace your normal SPF. While the appeal of alternative sunscreen products is understandable, relying solely on ingestible sunscreen will most definitely put you and your skin at risk.

Here are four reasons to steer clear:

1. They are not backed by science. There is no scientific evidence that these products function as well as traditional sun protection. In fact, a close look at the marketing and branding shows that they are careful to avoid making concrete claims about what the products even do.
2. They haven’t been thoroughly vetted or clinically proven. You’ll notice that none of these products show an SPF factor on their packaging. That’s because no level of protection has been proven. In contrast, topical sunscreens that list an SPF have been vetted and follow FDA requirements. So stick with options that clearly proclaim their specific SPF level—they’ve been proven effective.
3. Their ingredients don’t pack a punch. While some of these products do use ingredients that have some scientific basis in skin protection, they are not provided in strengths that would make a difference. For example, Polypodium leucotomos can help those with sun sensitivity or to increase the time it takes for skin to burn, but its actual sun protection is still only equivalent to an SPF of three or five.
4. You are unnecessarily putting yourself at risk. Foregoing a topical SPF 30+ sunscreen will lead to more frequent sunburns—and increase your risk of skin cancer.

If you require more convincing, read “I tried edible sunscreen. Here’s what happened,” a humorous essay by Thrillist’s Wil Fulton. In the article, the author recounts his experience with ingestible sunscreen, from his initial excitement to his inevitable, incredibly painful, sunburn.

Alternative sunscreen solutions

If you are still hoping for an alternative to traditional sunscreen products due to skin sensitivity or a dislike of greasy lotions, there are other options to consider without risking your skin with questionable supplements.

• Try a different sunscreen. There are several brands of sunscreen available for those who detest the feeling of greasy creams. This round-up of the best non-greasy sunscreens by Cosmo is a great place to start.
• Invest in protective clothing. For those who spend a lot of time outdoors, picking up a few key pieces of UV-blocking clothing is a great way to keep your skin safe. Just remember to cover any exposed areas with sunscreen.
• Wear a UV monitoring bracelet. These personal UV monitors may be a nice tool to remind you to apply sunscreen or seek shade, but you should still reapply sunscreen every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
• Try, but don’t rely, on supplements. While vitamins C and E have demonstrated that they can protect the skin from damage, they’re not an adequate sun protection method. Instead, consider them an additional level of protection if you are particularly prone to burns or other sun damage.

Whether you’re seeking sunscreen for sensitive skin or simply want to know how to avoid a sunburn, it’s pretty clear: edible sunscreen is not the easy way out.

If you need help choosing the perfect products for you, we encourage you to contact us today. Our friendly, experienced medical aestheticians and skincare specialists can evaluate your skin and make expert recommendations for medical-grade sunscreen products to keep you protected all year long.

The post Can a Pill Protect Your Skin from the Sun? 4 Reasons to Skip “Edible Sunscreen” appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

Before & After: Vi Peel*

before                                                  after

Results are 3 months post-treatment

In case you haven’t heard, the Parker Center is now offering the Vi Peel—and we can’t wait for you to see just how great this new option is! We recently sat down with Krista Wolford, one of our amazing aestheticians, to chat about what makes the Vi Peel different and why you may want to add it to your beauty & skincare wishlist.

What are the most common concerns you hear from patients?

Aging is most definitely the number one concern I hear. Fine lines, creases, age spots, and even a generally duller complexion are normal, though unwelcome, things that happen over time. I also have a number of patients concerned with hyperpigmentation, brown spots, and acne. Ultimately, it boils down to patients simply wanting to look and feel better in general.

What is the Vi Peel? And why are you so excited to offer it to patients?

Technically, there are a few different types of Vi Peels, which allows us to fully customize treatment to each patient’s needs. There is one for aging skin, advanced aging skin, pigmented skin, acne-prone skin, you name it.

The Vi Peel is unique to many other options because it is formulated with many different ingredients to help improve your skin on multiple levels. Many of the Vi Peels have vitamin C for brightening, TCA and salicylic acid for removing old skin, and vitamin A for making the skin more youthful. Things like kojic acid may be used for those with acne or who hope to lighten brown spots, or even hydroquinone to help with more severe hyperpigmentation. Most other peels have the same three ingredients in varying strengths.

Because the Vi Peel is fairly gentle, we can also use it under the eyes or on the brow bone—places that are usually off limits with chemical peels. This is a wonderful way to help soften those fine lines around the eyes without a more invasive treatment.

What our patients love (and why I’m so happy to offer this) is the versatility of this peel. It means more targeted treatment and better results. It’s also cruelty- and paraben-free, so you can feel good about it!

What can patients expect during and after treatment?

The actual application of peel is similar to most chemical peels, barring a few key differences. I find it easier to apply and the process is pretty much painless. The Vi Peel also doesn’t require the skin preconditioning that more in-depth peels do, making the treatment quick and easy. The Vi Peel also contains phenol, which has some numbing properties. It’s pretty neat. The fact that there isn’t really any pain involved is a huge, huge benefit. Some other peels can get “hot,” and while it’s a tolerable sensation, it can definitely be uncomfortable. The Vi isn’t!

Treatment typically takes just 15 minutes and then you’re done! After the peel, it’s totally normal to experience a bit of redness and itchiness, with peeling starting after the first 48 hours and lasting around 4 – 6 days. The most intense peeling will occur around day three or four and then taper off over the next few days. It’s important to understand that while the peel application is gentle, skin peeling is a necessary factor. That old, dead skin just has to go!

If you’re worried about walking into work with a red, peeling face, having your Vi Peel done on a Wednesday or Thursday is perfect; the worst of it will happen over the weekend. By around day 7, you’ll start noticing a healthier, brighter, more beautiful complexion.

How many Vi Peels are recommended for the best results?

I tell all of my patients that you will see a nice difference after your first Vi Peel, but for this peel to be super effective, you really need to do a series. Generally, a series of three peels spaced two to three weeks apart can do wonders.

Once I help a patient achieve the results they’re looking for, I typically recommend returning maybe once per year for a maintenance treatment.

See what the Vi Peel can do for you!

As you can see, all of us here at the Parker Center are pretty excited to now offer this wonderful resurfacing solution. If you’d like to learn more or explore your other options, we welcome you to contact us today to schedule a consultation and skin evaluation. We’d love to work with you toward achieving your best skin yet!

The post Get the Deets About Vi Peel from Our Lovely Aesthetician, Krista appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

Wondering if there’s hope you can ever enjoy a complexion unmarred by acne scars? According to a report outlining a handful of recent advancements in scar care, all signs point to yes!

Here’s the scoop.

One clinical study published in Dermatology Surgery shows that participants gave a thumbs-up to two non-surgical methods for reducing scarring: microneedling and fractional laser resurfacing.

Patients were randomly chosen to receive either microneedling or fractional laser treatment for scars left from previous acne outbreaks. While the study was relatively small (42 participants), it’s worth noting that every single participant reported noticeable improvement in the appearance of scarring after a 3-treatment series, regardless of which treatment they received.

While those who underwent laser treatments experienced a greater incidence of temporary post-procedure redness and inflammation than the microneedling recipients, neither group reported their procedure as being significantly painful or causing interruption to their normal activities.

Additional reports share news of new topical treatments for active acne, which may help prevent acne scars from forming in the first place.

What should you take away from these studies?

Mainly, that there are a number of effective ways to address acne and reduce scarring. The best first step is to meet with a board certified plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or experienced aesthetic professional (working under physician supervision) who can evaluate your skin type and help you design a safe, effective treatment plan for your condition. Then, work closely with your skincare team, carefully following post-treatment instructions, to help ensure you get the results you want.

Reports of positive results from laser treatments and microneedling are no surprise to our Parker Center skincare professionals, who have helped successfully treat acne scars and other scarring for years using both methods, but it is certainly encouraging news for our patients!

So if you’re ready to enjoy clearer, more beautiful skin, get in touch with us! We’ll be happy to guide you through your options, including fractional laser resurfacing, acne-fighting facials, and microneedling in New Jersey at our Parker Center Medi-Spa.

The post Tired of Seeing Acne Scars? Advancements in Improving Scarring You Should Know About appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

There’s a woman in your yoga class who sells Nerium, and she looks fantastic—and you’ve been hearing more and more about its wrinkle-fighting prowess from a long-distant friend on Facebook. Couldn’t hurt to give it a try yourself, could it?

Well, you may want to read on before trying the next “miracle” skin cream, no matter how promising it seems.

Be Cautious: Your Skin Deserves the Best

The truth is that skin care remains something of a “wild west” industry. Although they can contain powerful ingredients, most over-the-counter cosmetics and topical creams do not require FDA approval—they fall into a grey area that allows them to go straight to the market without undergoing the same rigorous process of clinical trials required of pharmaceuticals like BOTOX®. Unfortunately, this means that safety studies are often performed by or paid for by the companies themselves (even “independent” studies can potentially be funded by the product’s manufacturer).

So while they may seem like a good bargain, many of these products are ineffective or don’t deliver what they promise (and all you lose is the money you spent on them). At worst, these companies are using ingredients that have not been suitably studied and may cause adverse reactions in some users. For instance, NeriumAD, a product that’s getting a lot of buzz lately, contains extracts from nerium oleander, a plant which is known to be highly toxic and even lethal to humans in certain doses. Without transparent, scientific safety data, unanswered questions about product risks and efficacy remain. Given that, we think it’s best not to apply it to your skin!

Moreover, multi-level-marketing based (a.k.a. pyramid scheme) companies like Nerium, Mary Kay, and Rodan & Fields make it easy for anyone with a little start-up cash to become a dealer. These companies provide marketing kits designed to make their salespeople sound like experts without any medical skincare training, which means you could be getting risky product recommendations based on guesswork and advice that is not much more than hearsay. Given that skin is your largest organ, we think it is much safer to get skincare advice directly from a doctor or trained professionals working under a physician’s supervision.

But my BFF is a Mary Kay Consultant and I want to support her!

We’re not saying that all cheaper skincare options are snake oil or poison, but you should proceed with a healthy skepticism. Just follow these basic common-sense guidelines (courtesy of your trusted Parker Center skincare professionals!):

• If you don’t have any specific problems and are simply looking for basic skin care (cleansers, moisturizers, make-up, etc.), you’re probably okay. Just be sure your expectations are realistic and that there are no ingredients that could produce a negative reaction. But if you need treatment for acne, rosacea, or any other medical skin problem, skip the Avon party (and the Internet) and go see your doctor.

• Don’t expect to find the fountain of youth in one of these bottles. If it seems too good to be true, it is—no probably about it. Don’t fall for the hype. Not even the best over the counter skin rejuvenation plan can give you the skin of a 20-year-old if you’re over 40.

• Ask about a brand’s warranty or money-back policy in case you are not happy with a product or it doesn’t produce the marketed results. Reputable companies will offer to replace a product or issue a credit or refund if you are unhappy with your purchase. Don’t buy anything if you cannot easily locate contact information for the company—this is a tell-tale sign of a questionable product. Finally, be warned that it probably won’t be any fun asking for your money back if you’ve bought the product from a friend; it’s yet another reason to avoid buying skin products from friends in the first place.

• Take a little time to do your research before handing over your cash. Red flags will usually present themselves very quickly; for instance, just a quick Google search will reveal a plethora of discussions over the “is Nerium toxic?” controversy. If anything seems fishy about a product’s safety or authenticity, it’s best to say no.

• Be very careful about buying skin care online. The lack of control over online sales of skin care products has resulted in many frightening—and frighteningly common—instances of fraud. Counterfeit versions of popular products, which often contain nothing close to the correct formula, are cleverly disguised by legitimate-looking packaging and can all too easily end up in the hands of unsuspecting buyers looking for bargains.

The best way to ensure that the skin care products you use are safe, effective, and worth your hard-earned money is to get them from a board certified plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or experienced aesthetician working under MD supervision. This is smart for three big reasons:

1. You’ll get personalized care for optimal improvements in skin health and appearance. Medically trained aesthetic professionals place their highest priority on patient outcomes and are not trying to build a sales network. Visiting a professional on a regular basis helps ensure your at-home skin care regime continues to provide optimal benefits. Plus, it builds automatic time into your schedule for regular screenings to help detect any skin problems before they become too serious.

2. You’ll see the results you want more quickly. Only licensed physicians can dispense prescription-strength skin care products, which contain a higher potency often needed to deliver the desired improvements in a suitable amount of time. Over-the-counter products, including those from companies like Mary Kay or Avon, contain more diluted formulas in comparison, meaning it can take more product—and a lot more time and money—to notice any improvement.

3. You can rest assured you’re getting the product you are paying for. The only way to be certain that you are getting the real deal with skin care is to buy from an authorized physician’s office which you trust. Doing so shields you from the swathes of phony, counterfeit products on the market that are ineffective and possibly dangerous.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It’s just as important to keep your skin healthy as it is to keep your heart in top shape. The best way to improve your skin’s appearance is to work with an experienced medical professional when choosing skin care products. Although you may (or may not) pay a little more up front, you can be confident that what you are putting on your skin is safe and effective for your needs. That means no more wasting money on useless products and achieving results that speak for themselves. Now that’s the real bargain!

The post Nerium, Avon, & Mary Kay: Should You Buy Skincare Products from Your Neighbor? appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.