Healthy skin is the result of commitment.  We use skin care everyday to wash, moisturize and protect - what if those products were wrong for our skin type?

Victoria, BC patients experience a multitude of reactions to improper skin care which can include acne breakouts.  For inherently acne-prone skin, ensuring the proper balance of hydration can have a very positive impact on your acne treatment.

For teen acne in Victoria, BC, Cosmedica recommends pharmaceutical-grade skin care utilizing therapeutic concentrations of benzoyl peroxide, salycylic acid and/or retinol.  Try SkinTx Acne Treatment System - a two-step medicated wash and treatment lotion.  Adult acne in Victoria, BC may benefit from retinol and/or salycylic acid on alternate nights.  Try SkinCeuticals Retinol or Blemish + Age.  Further manage excess sebum and flaking skin with SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque - 10 minutes once each week (great for spot treatment of face and body pimples too).

When using dehydrating agents such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or retinol, it is important to manage sebum production - ensuring your skin is receiving adequate hydration is key in the quest to control breakouts.  Cosmedica recommends products with humectants - different than traditional moisturizers and less favourable to acne-causing bacteria.  Humectants hydrate skin, maintaining the natural moisture barrier to help control sebum production.  We recommend SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture.

Optimal acne management may include daily skin care and combine topical or systemic prescriptions.  For a complimentary acne consultation, contact us today or request a consultation online.

Victoria, BC patients: brought to you by the makers of Sonicare Toothbrush, the Clarisonic Cleansing system introduces sonic cleansing to face and body. Utilizing a patented oscillating technology, Clarisonic surpasses the capabilities of other facial cleansing units by gently and deeply cleansing skin - not spinning and causing irritation. A selection of brush types from delicate to deep pore allow a tailored cleansing program for very sensitive skin types including rosacea to oily and acne-prone skin types. Clarisonic is proven to cleanse six times more effectively than manual cleansing and improve the penetration of active ingredients in skin care products by more than 60%. Victoria, BC patients greatly enjoy the softness that comes from daily use of Clarisonic - skin looks and feels softer than ever before.

Clarisonic is best enjoyed with medical-grade skin care products - optimize your skin care regime with products proven to produce a clincial benefit to the skin and its structures. For a complimentary consultation with the skin experts at Cosmedica, contact us today or request a consultation online.

Did you know: BOTOX® is one of the most researched drugs in the world - up with the likes of penicillin! Celebrating 10 years of FDA approval, the benefits and safety of BOTOX® Cosmetic in Victoria, BC are supported by more than 4,500 peer-reviewed articles and over 11 million treatments in the US alone.  Treatments soften lines and winkles, turn up the corners of the mouth and resolve facial asymmetry.

BOTOX® is one of a growing category of aesthetics products called neuromodulators - purified proteins which relax muscle movement.  2012 has also seen the introduction of Xeomin to the Canadian marketplace.  In small aesthetics doses, neuromodulators settle precisely into targeted muscles and gradually reduce movement over 3-14 days.  Sensation is not affected. Typical results of a BOTOX® Cosmetic or Xeomin treatment last 3-5 months.  For cummulative benefit, treatments should be repeated at the onset of recurring movement.  Most patients at Cosmedica in Victoria, BC plan a 4-month retreatment for optimal outcomes.

BOTOX® and Xeomin are also indicated for numerous therapeutic benefits in high doses; they carry indications for conditions such as spasticity, cervical dystonia, hyperhidrosis, strabismus and blepharospasm. 

For information regarding BOTOX® Cosmetic or Xeomin at Cosmedica in Victoria, BC, contact us today or schedule a complimentary online.

The benefits of permanent hair reduction may seem obvious (less personal maintenance and more free time) but the risks and cautions are equally important when considering Laser Hair Removal in Victoria, BC.

Not all Laser Hair Removal systems are created equal.  The FDA and Health Canada have a broad definition for what qualifies the treatment and so, for Victoria, BC patients, it is important to understand the differences between true, medical-grade laser systems and broad-band light-based systems.  The chief difference is in how they emit their energy - medical-grade laser emits a pure wavelength of laser energy, specific to the colour and depth of hair follicles.  Broad-band light devices emit a variety of wavelengths, only some of which may target hair follicles.  Medical-grade Laser Hair Removal will require fewer treatments and, when treatments are provided by trained and experienced clinicians, offer a superior safety profile.  Broad-band light devices, such as IPL Photorejunvenation, are certainly beneficial for other conditions and will be found in most cosmetic medical practices for improving brown and red skin discolourations like freckling from sun exposure or flushing from rosacea.

Of the selection of Laser Hair Removal devices available to Victoria, BC patients, the gold-standard system is the LightSheer DUET - a dedicated Laser Hair Removal device exclusively available at Cosmedica.  The LightSheer DUET employs two separate treatments heads - one for smaller treatment areas or for detail around treatment areas, the other for quicker, more comfortable treatment of large areas like the back or legs. 

Contact us today to learn more about Laser Hair Removal in Victoria, BC with the LightSheer DUET or request a complimentary consultation online.