“All the sit-ups in the world can’t tighten loose skin, but Thermage can.” Personal Trainer, Everett, WA

Over time, tummies, knees, legs, arms and hands are all areas that start to show the signs of aging. The skin starts to look thin, loose, crepey and saggy. This is especially true for women who have given birth and for those who have lost weight and are now left with loose skin where there was once fatty tissue.

Is there a way to tighten loose skin without surgery?

The answer is yes! Body by Thermage® (non-surgical skin lift) uses patented radio frequency energy to safely heat the deeper layers of the skin, stimulating existing collagen and promoting new collagen growth for younger looking skin.

How long will the results last?

The effects continue to improve for up to six months following a single treatment. Results can last for years depending on the patient’s skin condition and natural aging process.

What kind of results can be expected?

Everyone can expect some collagen tightening. Many patients experience the following:

• Flatter, smoother skin on the tummy, legs, knees, buttocks or arms
• Tightening, firming and lifting
• Softened wrinkles above the knees
• Reduction of crepey skin

Is there any downtime?

There’s no special care needed after the procedure and most patients return to their regular activities immediately following treatment.

Contact us today to set up a consultation to see if Thermage is right for you.

Many skin cancers are preventable if you follow a few simple steps to shield your skin from harmful UV rays. Remember these tips before you head outside:

• Slip! on a shirt, preferably a dark-colored one with tightly woven fabric and long sleeves.
• Slop! on broad-spectrum sunscreen (protects against UVA and UVB radiation) with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more.
• Slap! on a wide-brimmed hat.
• Wrap! on big, wrap-around sunglasses that block UV rays to protect your eyes and theskin around them from the sun.
• Stay in the shade, particularly between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Knowing the correct way to apply sunscreen is a crucial step in this sun safety routine. To make sunscreen most effective, apply it 20 to 30 minutes before stepping outside. A palm-sized amount of sunscreen should be enough to cover an average adult’s arms, legs, neck, and face. For best results, most sunscreens need to be reapplied every 2 hours, and after swimming, sweating heavily, or toweling off.

Why is sun safety important?

Sun safety is important all through the year, not just in the summertime. Most skin cancers are caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, and the negative effects of UV radiation build up over a person’s lifetime. In fact, we can all be exposed to UV radiation while driving in our cars or sitting by a window in our offices. UV radiation is even present on cloudy days, when the sun is not visible.
We cannot completely avoid the sun, but we can be aware of its risks and protect our skin. Many skin cancers could be prevented by following these simple steps.

How to protect yourself.

To reduce the harmful effects of sun exposure, you should protect your eyes and skin every day.

• Try to avoid being directly exposed to the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. That’s when UV rays are the most intense.
• Wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses that block UV rays.
• Dress in long sleeves and long pants or skirts, if possible.
• Protect all exposed skin by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
• Do not use tanning beds or sun lamps.
• Wear sunglasses that block at least 99% of UVA and UVB radiation.

For more information visit bit.ly/SunSafeACS.

The ’80s, ’90s and ’00s were decades when tan skin was synonymous with sexiness, health and vitality. It was rare for a celebrity to grace a red carpet without a sun-kissed “glow.” Things have changed. We now know that achieving tan skin from the sun or tanning beds not only ages skin prematurely, it can lead to the deadliest form of skin cancer: melanoma. Unfortunately, many young girls feel the pressure to frequent tanning salons this time of year so they’re dark-skinned in time for prom or spring break. I encourage these girls to follow in the footsteps of this year’s fashion-forward starlets and embrace their natural skin tones for their next special event. And, if having a bronzed glow is a requirement, consider getting a spray tan or purchasing a sunless tanning product for beautiful skin that’s worthy of a walk down the red carpet!

So, can topical antioxidants really do the job of the natural antioxidants? The answer is yes! Applied daily and in combination with sunscreen, antioxidants provide a first-line defense against free radicals and mutations to the vital skin cells. Years of research and technology have gone into the making of antioxidants that not only protect, but also help to reverse past skin damage. Many of today’s most trusted antioxidants contain patented ingredients such as phloretin, vitamin C and ferulic acid with a small enough molecular structure to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and help build collagen, accelerate cell turnover and inhibit hyperpigmentation. At Infinity, you may choose from such proven antioxidants including SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF, SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, NeoCutis Journée, or SkinMedica C & E Complex.

Like washing your face or brushing your teeth, think of applying an antioxidant and sunscreen as an essential part of your personal regimen every day. Your skin will thank you!

Focus On: SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF
An Infinity staff favorite!

Phloretin CF® represents a new class of preventive and corrective topical antioxidant treatment. After five years of extensive research, SkinCeuticals developed this patent-pending breakthrough technology combining the newly-discovered, broad-range power of phloretin with vitamin C and ferulic acid in a biodiverse formulation to divide and conquer sources of damage at every level.

Phloretin CF®, a broad-spectrum treatment, protects against not only free radicals, but the range of other reactive molecules known to cause damage and DNA mutations among the integral cell types. In addition, it corrects existing damage by stimulating the synthesis of essential proteins and fibers and accelerating cell turnover. The result — a strengthened support structure on the inside and a more youthful, firm, radiant appearance on the outside.

BENEFITS

• Prevents premature signs of aging and corrects existing photodamage
• Divides and conquers the range of reactive oxygen species (ROS) throughout the skin
• Prevents cell mutation by shielding skin’s DNA
• Accelerates cell turnover
• Boosts skin’s support structure
• Inhibits UV-induced discolorations

Liquid Nitrogen Cryotherapy for Seborrheic Keratoses or Brown Spots
Seborrheic keratoses are brown spots and bumps that begin to form in midlife. They look scaly and warty. They grow anywhere on our bodies, but are most prominent on areas of sun damage as well as forming thick, rusty growths on the trunk of the body. A similar issue involves the brown, smooth, flat sunspots that also form from sun exposure. Patients often develop one or two particularly prominent spots on their face or hands. These growths are harmless medically so their removal is not covered by insurance. Rather than having a full face or full hand laser treatment, patients can benefit from a single liquid nitrogen freezing treatment administered by a physician or physician’s assistant.

IPL for Cherry Angiomas
Cherry angiomas are bright red spots that form in midlife and are also a sign of aging. They can form anywhere and can be unsightly. One or perhaps two treatments with IPL will remove them completely and the treatments are quick and very affordable.

Snip Removal of Skin Tags
Skin tags are another kind of “birthday present” that we get as we age. These harmless growths occur around the eyes, neck, armpits and groin. At Infinity, our physicians surgically remove these nuisance growths painlessly and in a matter of minutes. Want to find out more about these and other skin care fixes? Call Infinity today!

Other key features of the new Visia include the following:

• 3D Viewing:
  Patients are able to visualize their skin’s surface in three dimensions from any angle, rendered in natural skin tone, color relief or gray scale.
• Aging Simulation:
  The 6.1 Visia is able to simulate the aging process to show patients what their skin would look like 5-7 years older or younger. Captures wrinkles, spots or both.
• Zoom & Pan:
  Infinity staff are able to select any area of the face and zoom in for a close examination of fine detail.
• RBX® Technology:
  This innovative technology features unequalled visualization of conditions such as rosacea, vessels, hyperpigmentation and acne.

Best of all, patients are provided with a customized report containing all their images, together with easy-to-understand summaries and recommendations for skin care products and treatments.

Infinity Skin Care is pleased to offer its patients this new, state-of-the-art system.

Duality^™ MD is a breakthrough anti-aging acne solution providing serious acne control and dramatic anti-aging benefits.  Its unique dual chamber dispensing solution combines two of the most medically validated, yet previously incompatible technologies in one product—the maximum allowed percent of Benzoyl Peroxide and concentrated retinol.

“For a large portion of my patients, anti-aging and acne maintenance go hand in hand. I have several patients who hit their mid 30s and are suddenly dealing with adult-onset acne. They are also starting to actively fight the signs of aging. Duality^™ MD addresses both adult acne and anti-aging in one product,” explains Dr. Schulz, MD.

Two Chambers. Two Products. One Amazing Product.

The two products that come together to form Duality^™ MD include an advanced micronized benzoyl peroxide and a concentrated retinol. Chamber one dispenses micronized benzoyl peroxide to increased penetration and efficacy without common side effects of dryness and irritation. Concentrated retinol offers dramatic anti-aging benefits to address fine lines and wrinkles, tone and texture as well as hyperpigmentation.

Jan Marini Age Intervention Duality^™ MD is available only through physicians. Contact Infinity for more information.

Not so long ago, entire families braved the summer months without an ounce of sunscreen. Teenagers used to lie in the sun for hours covered in baby oil or even butter (!) and children were sent outdoors early in the season to get their “base tan” that would accumulate over the summer months. Today, we know better. A base tan does not prevent sun damage, any more than going to a tanning bed prior to a tropical vacation will prevent sunburn. Note that even one blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles the risk of developing melanoma later in life.

So, where does one start? First, it’s best to understand that ANYONE CAN SUNBURN. Having dark skin doesn’t mean that you won’t burn. Everyone should apply sunscreen every day. Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s harmful rays reach the earth. UVA light penetrates window glass and can account for a great deal of unintentional sun exposure. The ozone layer has thinned and the sun’s rays are more powerful than ever, especially for Midwesterners who spend as much time outside as possible during the summer months!

As a dermatologist, I see many patients who are diligent about wearing sunscreen, but still wind up with a sunburn they didn’t expect! What went wrong? Most often this occurs because the sunscreen has a high SPF number but is not a good quality sunscreen (see below), the patient doesn’t reapply their sunscreen, or the patient doesn’t apply the sunscreen in advance of the exposure but rather puts the product on after they arrive at the pool or beach.

Let’s all get sun safe and sun smart together!

SUNSCREEN TIPS:

• Understand sun protection factors (SPF). SPF numbers refer only to UVB blocking ability, not UVA. An SPF of 8 filters out 86 percent of ultraviolet B radiation. SPF 15 blocks 92 percent of damaging rays and SPF 30 blocks 96 percent of ultraviolet B rays.

• Sunscreens work by absorbing most of the sun’s rays before they penetrate the skin, but some still gets through. Effective sunscreen includes an ingredient called avobenzone that blocks the full spectrum of UVA light. Avobenzone should be 3%.

• Sunblocks such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide block or reflect the sun’s rays. These are effective for blocking the full spectrum of UVA and UVB light. Look for at least 7.5% titanium dioxide or zinc oxide if the sunblock is chemical-free. Lesser percentages are acceptable in combination products.

• Apply sunscreen/sunblock to dry skin about 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. Reapply sunscreen/sunblock every two hours, or after sweating, swimming or toweling off. Water resistant sunscreens protect the skin for 40 minutes of water exposure, waterproof sunscreens for just 80 minutes.

• Say no to tanning beds! Tanning devices emit UVA light which can damage the skin and eyes as much as direct sun light, and have been linked to an increased risk of melanoma.

Avoid exposing baby’s delicate skin to the sun and start toddlers on a sun safe lifestyle so protecting their skin from sun damage becomes as commonplace as brushing their teeth or going to bed each night.

For adults who have spent a lifetime in the sun unprotected, many products and procedures offered at Infinity Skin Care and Spa can help reverse sun damage. These include the Fraxel Laser Resurfacing Procedure (the gold standard for pigment issues and an FDA approved treatment for precancerous growths), IPL for facial vessels and brown spots, cryotherapy for large, raised brown patches and a wide selection of sunscreens, antioxidants and skin brightening creams to complement our effective skin care treatments.

And, it’s never to late to start protecting your skin from the sun. If you’ve never owned a proven sun safe sunscreen, now is the time. Also consider combining sunscreen with a daily antioxidant and sun protective apparel, like Coolibar hats, shirts and swim cover-ups that deliver excellent UV protection while keeping you cool, comfortable and fashionable.

Lastly, schedule a yearly skin screening appointment to rule out any cancerous,
pre-cancerous or suspicious moles or brown spots. Watch for any skin changes, especially moles that suddenly increase in size, or change color or shape. If you have any questions about what sunscreen is right for your skin type, contact the staff at Infinity Skin Care and Spa and they can help determine the correct sunscreen for your skin type. Watch for sunscreen promotions throughout the year or join our mailing list for even more information about our skin care products and treatments.