Archive for March 2012

Kuerti, Kuerti & Beethoven Facebook contest winners announced!

March 9th, 2012

Cosmedica congratulates Moreen Gover and Marianne Crowe - each a winner of a pair of tickets to Monday evening's Kuerti, Kuerti & Beethoven concert with the Victoria Symphony.

Also, Samantha Ruby D. Muir-Vargo is the lucky winner of a 3-pack of tickets to the exciting event!

Tickets will be left at will-call under your names - ID will be required to claim your prizes. The concert will be at the Royal Theatre beginning at 8:00pm. We sincerely hope you enjoy the event - thank you for your interest in our Facebook Page!

SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic in Globe & Mail

March 8th, 2012

The promise
A "revolutionary" antioxidant combination, CE Ferulic provides eight times the skin's natural photo-aging protection, which means fighting against UV-induced erythema (or redness), free radical formation and cellular damage. When combined with a broad-spectrum sunscreen, it supposedly offers ultimate protection from UV light.

How it works
The product uses L-ascorbic acid (to neutralize free radicals, provide photo protection and stimulate collagen production by inhibiting UVA and UVB radiation-induced damage), vitamin E (to aid in healing, improve the skin's water binding abilities and give a powerful dose of antioxidant protection) and ferulic acid (known for its anti-inflammatory effects as well as its ability to absorb UV and increase the potency of other antioxidants). It's ideal for photo-aged or photo-damaged skin, dry or sensitive skin types, redness and hyperpigmentation.

How to use it
Apply four to five drops to the face and neck in the morning after cleansing.

The bottom line
When I hang out with my beauty-writer friends, who are pale-skinned and own an impressive array of wide-brimmed hats, I always tsk-tsk and wag my finger and clutch my pearls when we spot people sunbathing. But when no one's looking, I ditch my floppy chapeau and bask in the UV desperate to achieve that sun-kissed Hollywood glow. After a few years of this old bait-and-switch routine, I'm starting to worry, of course, about what all that UV is really doing to my skin. My epidermis has yet to show visible signs of sun damage, but I know it lurks beneath the surface, which is why I'm so thrilled to have this product on my side. Since I started using it two weeks ago, I've already noticed a visible difference in my skin. It's smoother, clearer and more even toned. It's getting to a point where I can't pass a mirror without stopping to gaze at my gorgeous face. Looks like Hollywood got to me after all. - Marilisa Racco

Renew. Revive. Refresh. The Wonderful World of Aesthetic Dermatology

March 2nd, 2012

In 1960, the first working laser was used. The following year saw the first medical use of a Ruby laser which treated retinal tumors of the eyes. As tools, lasers have revolutionized our ability to treat the skin. Over the last half a century, this evolution has opened up possibilities of treating sun damage ranging from premature wrinkles and lines to brown spots, dilated red and blue vessels and even precancerous sun spots. Various scars can be improved as well as treating disfiguring birthmarks. In short, lasers improve the quality of the skin.

There are four aspects of aging skin, termed “the 4 D’s”:

Deterioration – this refers to the skin itself – approximately 90% of our skin’s aged appearance is from sun damage – lasers help address this
Deflation – we lose volume as evidenced by hollowing around the eyes, cheeks and mouth – dermal fillers address this by supporting and lifting
Descent - skin laxity, a result of collagen loss, leads to jowls and neck folds – this can be addressed non-invasively such as with focused ultrasound and pulsed radiofrequency therapies
Dynamic lines – this refers to excess lines such as frown and crows’ feet lines due to over-expression – Botox is the common treatment used to soften these lines

Dermal fillers have also evolved such that we treat the entire face rather than simply chase wrinkles. By restoring lost volume, more natural and longer sustained results are possible such as with the non-animal hyaluronan fillers like Restylane and Juvéderm. Botox has been around for over 20 years and while being a worldwide phenomenon, it originated here, in Canada – Vancouver in fact. Paradigm shifts have occurred that have led to more natural and better results while reducing risks and minimizing downtime.

Another exciting area is in non-invasive body contouring. Utilizing focused ultrasound technologies, systems such as the UltraShape V3 and LipoSonix permanently remove fat around the tummy, hips and thighs as well as provide gentle skin tightening.

If there is a cautionary point, it is the footnote that, concurrent with the rapid evolution of technologies, there is also a rapid increase in treatment providers which include many non-physicians such as dentists, nurses and nail technicians. For the public, the lines are blurred when they seek treatments with so-called aesthetic specialists who are not true medical specialists. Their learning curves are necessarily steep and they do not have the knowledge that a five year Residency and Royal College certification in Dermatology provides to properly diagnose and treat the skin.

My own history is that of a physician of 24 years with Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and American Board Certification in Dermatology over 15 years ago. I have always been fascinated with the skin and its ability to interact with the environment. I spent part of my Dermatology Residency studying photobiology, the interaction of light and the skin, at St. John’s Hospital, in London, England. In 1998, I established Cosmedica Laser Centre in Victoria, BC. The concept was to offer a comprehensive service to my patients employing the latest in technologies.

I am thrilled to be working in this field of “happy medicine,” to brighten peoples’ days and see the extra degree of confidence they now wear. In upcoming issues of Homes & Living, I will address some of the latest trends and exciting developments that help to create the “Wow” we all deserve and restore healthy skin.

Dr. Mark Lupin BSc MD FRCPC FAAD

Dermatology Director – Cosmedica Laser Centre

Regional Director – Canadian Dermatology Association

Clinical Instructor – University of British Columbia

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