9 min read
by Samuel M. Lam, M.D., F.A.C.S. In the aesthetic industry, we have been fixated on two principle manifestations of aging: wrinkles and gravity. We address wrinkles through a variety of methods including laser and light technology, dermabrasion and microdermabrasion, chemical peels of various strengths and types, botulinum toxin, and daily skin care regimens. Gravity has been the traditional territory of plastic surgeons that lift and pull until the sagging skin and muscles return to their desired youthful position. The problem with this paradigm is that it fails to incorporate one vital element in the aging process, the loss of soft-tissue volume. Simply put, we don’t just sag, we deflate. An analogy that I like to use so that my prospective patients understand what I am talking about is that of the transformation of a youthful grape into a raisin. In youth, we are a luscious and full grape. As we age, we lose skin turgor and volume and begin slowly and inexorably to become a raisin. Unfortunately, just cutting away, pulling, and lifting tissues only makes that raisin into a pea. Well, a pea looks nothing like a grape! That is why we see so many people walking around Read More
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14 min read
by Guy Lewis It is no secret in the wellness community that there has been an explosion in the number of men who are seeking out and engaging in spa and wellness experiences. Men have long been active and visible participants in the external expression (whether financial or temporal) of health related engagements. Such external engagements have historically been physical exercise, body awareness, and nutrition. What is different about the latest trend in male health consumerism is the “internal” experience of wellness men are seeking such as: relaxation for daily stress; internal representation of the sense of self; and the reduction of stereotypic reactions of what was once considered a feminine industry, the spa. Read More
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10 min read
by Lina Kennedy Hopefully when you decided to become an aesthetician, your main deciding factor was your passion; Passion to help others look and feel better. It’s no secret that having passion for what you do is a major factor in an overall success formula. And, when you combine passion with skills, your chances for success are even greater, but your formula remains incomplete. You need a solid investment program - an investment into the future of your career path, and what better than continuing education and advanced education. In the ever changing face of beauty products and beauty systems, it’s become even more crucial today for aestheticians to stay on top of their game. Read More
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7 min read
by Denise R. Fuller Remember your first grade teacher and how kind and wonderful she or he was? Did they teach you how to read, write, or tie your shoe? What makes a particular teacher or instructor stand out? Maybe it wasn’t your first grade teacher that left such an impression. Maybe it was your high school math teacher, your professor in college, or maybe your aesthetics instructor? The very person that taught you the most basic skills for your career impacted you profoundly. The very foundation of your career can be traced back to that sole provider of education and the passion that they imparted into you. Read More
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17 min read
by Harry Fallick (excerpted from Therapeutic SunCare) More than one million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. Many more are diagnosed with pre-cancerous conditions. These numbers continue to increase, not only in the U.S., but worldwide. Despite the alarming increase in skin cancers, especially in the teen and young adult population, people continue to believe that a tan is healthy. The notion that sunscreen is an occasional summer-only accessory is still prevalent, yet mistaken. Several factors are responsible for the alarming rise in skin cancer. The continual erosion of the Earth’s ozone layer due to pollution has led to a decrease in the amount of ozone protection than was afforded previous generations. Also, unlike previous generations, today there are over 400 medications prescribed that leave patients with an increased sensitivity to sun exposure and a heightened susceptibility to sun damage. The lengthening of the average life expectancy is an additional contributing factor. Read More
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8 min read
by Tina Zillmann Dermatologists, aestheticians, and technicians have used microdermabrasion for over 20 years to combat the signs of photo-aging on the skin, provide treatment for acne and discoloration, and minimize the appearance of superficial wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks on the face and body. Experts in the industry continue to make advancements in technology, technique, and sanitation to provide optimal results and protect their clients and staff. As treatments become all too standard, we must ask how much care are we putting into skin care regimens and treatments. It is important to understand the needs, skin types, backgrounds, and daily regimens of clients, otherwise microdermabrasion can be damaging to their skin and diseases may be spread. Read More
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11 min read
by Janet McCormick Two forms of wax are used in spas, with one being a ‘must have’ hair removal tool that has been used in the beauty industry for generations, and the other being a traditional barrier therapy utilized for hydrating the skin for as long as skin care has been performed. Both deem a closer look at for safe use, epsecially as spa clients are demanding higher levels of safety now. Spas must answer client demands for obviously safe protocols, or lose them, one at a time, to spas that do. Read More
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15 min read
by Tina Zillmann The scope of sanitation requirements from the Cosmetology Commissions, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), include basic cleanliness, consumption of food, and protection from microorganisms. In the June issue we discussed the importance of maintaining your business facilities and equipment. This includes routine maintenance, such as, keeping the area in good order, hallways cleared, and furniture and appliances in good repair. Maintain daily, weekly, and monthly housekeeping schedules, and properly maintain procedure rooms to prevent cross-contamination of your product, clients, or yourself. Food and drinks cannot be sold, but you can offer them to your clientele. Food that you offer to your clients cannot be from your home and must be sealed when they reach your clients hands. Aestheticians, nail technicians, and hair technicians must also eat in designated kitchen areas. It is also vital to follow OSHA’s Universal Precautions rule. Treating every body fluid as though it is contaminated will protect you and your clientele from exposure to bacterial, viral, and fungal diseases. Some examples of these diseases include Hepatitis A and B, HIV, Herpes Simplex 1 and 2, Syphilis, Impetigo, and other illnesses, such as, Tuberculosis and Read More
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11 min read
Aging younger is performing daily housekeeping of your body, which includes drinking the perfect water! We are undergoing a paradigm shift in America from the sickness industry to the wellness industry. Current medical pharmacological sickness industry thinking is based on treating disease and the wellness industry is about prevention and promoting good health. But chronic disease doesn't just appear out of nowhere; it can actually begin in youth and progress at a sub-clinical level, until it reaches a threshold. When the symptoms appear from a disease, it is oftentimes long after the disease has progressed. We do not want to expel the notion that at some point a pharmaceutical company may find a synthetic chemical compound for treatment of a disease that may cause the disease and or the symptoms to go away, because this can happen; the silver bullet so to speak, which will stop or slow the disease. Absent any miracle drug however, we must rely on prevention. Read More
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