I read with interest a very informative blog by Dr Dean Tomasello called, “Pinning the Skin and Anti-Aging”. He starts by telling us that we have thin skin and that our top layer of skin performs an amazing role in keeping us hydrated and preventing infections entering into our body. He goes on to say that attaining youthful skin is not so complicated and not too expensive if you approach it correctly. Sure, doing expensive stuff like laser and fillers and other things can definitely be anti-aging and a must to treat specific wants and needs. but treating the skin from the outside-in and inside-out as clearly outlined as ‘pinning the skin’ by Dr Tomasella is the first place to begin. He says 3 things, done consistently, that can improve your skin:
1. a skin cream with the right ingredients, (vitamin A- an antioxidant that mops up free radicals)
2. SPF (sunscreen) to prevent UV damage from free radicals from sun and
3. a dietary change that includes not eating fried foods which causes more free radicals
Basically he is saying if you pin the skin from the inside and the outside with anti-oxidants you must get an improvement, but only if you do it consistently. Interestingly, not only a dietary change of reducing fried foods, but introducing lots of anti-oxidant rich foods will help. I often offer my clients ‘Red’, a drink rich in anti-oxidants based on goji berries, pomegranate and apricot when they are feeling run down; and they all claim it makes them feel better.
Blood vessels and blood flow are in the dermis, the layer of skin below the epidermis – watch you see when you look in the mirror. There is NO direct blood flow in the epidermis. Now this means a lot. Blood brings oxygen and nutrients to areas in the body and takes away waste products. In terms of anti-aging this means the poor old epidermis (the surface skin we see) needs help from you- via blood flow from the dermis. At Revive, we use radiofrequency (RF) via Ceya or CIM machines, in facials, post- microneedling and as standalone treatments for pain and healing; purely for the increased blood flow which enhances skin and tissue. One thing people do not realise is that smoking decreases blood flow to skin, our largest organ- no wonder smokers often have more wrinkles- it is not just from the action of pursing lips with a cigarette.
The number one things we advocate at Revive, which is primarily a skin cancer clinic, is to use sunscreen to prevent damage and use Creme Metamorphique or Super 3 from Beaute Pacifique. If you add in a treatment with RF and alter your diet as Dr Tomasello advises, then it seems that you are on a simple winning formula. Feel free to call to discuss or book an appointment to get the best skin you can.
