Skin Needling

 So I am out to lunch with a dear friend that is visiting from Montclair New Jersey and she starts talking about skin needling. I was completely perplexed. I said to her “What is this?” She then explains how women are using needles on their face to help with ageing. As much as I tend to be in the “know” how did this has gone under my radar?  I then look it up online and I found out I am WAY behind on this treatment.

 From what I have found out in my research is there is a pen like device that goes over area of the skin to be treated. The pen pulses the needles and then after fillers can be placed into the area treated. From the information the needles help the skin’s elasticity, help promote collagen growth and reduce pore size.

 When viewing the procedure it doesn’t look like it hurts but after; WOW the swelling. One doctor showed a patient with 12 days of swelling. I don’t know about you but I work and don’t have that kind of time to lie around. I also found pictures of smaller areas treated that seemed much more beneficial. Any acne scars that are very deep seem to benefit from the needling.

 I am lucky with my genetics that my skin is in good shape. I have kept the sun off my face for the last 20 years so I don’t have brown spots or freckles. I also haven’t done any fillers on my face at this point and I don’t think I want to try needling. If you are having acne issues or interested in trying to get rid of your wrinkles ask your dermatologist about skin needling but take my advice DON”T do a large area of your face or your vacation time will be used up watching the Vacation Channel at home. 

Better Skin

Over the years while working in the makeup industry, I have

seen all kinds of skin. Skin with acne is the most challenging. Before

I was a stylist, I dabbled in acting. I was 25 years old and battling

skin issues. There was no digital photography at the time, so all of

my pimples were getting photographed. I was able to cover the acne

I had, but I didn’t feel confident or pretty without clear skin. To be

honest, I was quite upset that I had great skin as a teenager but I was

faced with blemishes in my 20’s. You start to ask, “What is different?

What have I altered in my skincare? How stressed am I?  What am I

eating to cause my skin to change?”

     I made an appointment with a dermatologist. I was prescribed

topical washes and medications. I saw some improvement but

not enough. Unfortunately, I had a miscarriage prior to seeing the

doctor. He didn’t want me on Retin A (Tretinoin topical) or long

term antibiotics, since I wanted to try to conceive again.  The doctor

suggested a soap free cleanser. This helped a little. Then I took

matters into my own hands. I discovered some information, which I

want to share. However, contact your doctor before trying any of my

suggestions or stopping medication. This is what worked for me.  

REMOVE ALL HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP from your

diet. It is hiding in most of your snacks and drinks from pretzels

to, salad dressings and ice tea mixes to sports drinks and sodas.

Basically it is in anything processed. Some people can’t break down

the high fructose in their intestines, so it stays in your colon. When

your body flushes toxins, your skin stays clearer. WATER is most

helpful. We all know this. It keeps your body running smoothly and

flushes out the toxins.  You want to drink at least six to eight glasses

a day, eight ounces each.

   

Do you eat a lot of starches? Your glycemic level may be high.

If you are out to dinner and you eat bread, pasta, and then cake

for dessert you might be spiking your sugar levels. Best advice?

BALANCE. Make sure for each starchy food ingested; you have

eaten a low sugar vegetable to balance it out. You can also purchase

from the health food store the supplement Burdock. Take this with

lots of water on a high starch night out.

When considering cleansers, you may want to try a glycolic

acid cleanser. Leave on for three minutes and then wash again with

a salicylic acid cleanse. Dry and then spot treat with benzyl peroxide.

Don’t over cleanse! If you do, you will produce more oil and have

more breakouts.

My skin did get better, and I did get pregnant. Today I use only

one cleanser, a sunscreen, and anti-aging serums. I also workout,

and I try to eat balanced meals with very few unhealthy snacks. I

was at a breaking point with my acne (even while under a doctor’s

care) when I didn’t see results and I wanted better skin. After

considerable research on the web, I found answers. I hope this will

lead you to finding the best answers for you and to better skin.

Burdock 

Dermaquest Glycol Cleanser 15%

Neutrogena salicylic acid

Clearasil benzyl peroxide 10%

My first headshot by Pia Alesci. Acne hidden with lights.