June is Acne Awareness month! So, to commemorate, I wanted to share what I’ve learned through my journey of having acne as an adult.

In the United States, Acne is the most prevalent skin condition. While acne is most common in adolescents, it can also carry on into adulthood for many people.

Acne is not only physically painful, but can be emotionally distressing as well. As someone who has dealt with persistent acne for several years in their adulthood, I can attest to how much acne can affect self-esteem. For many people who struggle with acne, we feel ashamed and upset to have breakouts on our skin. It can especially be disheartening when you feel you have tried every trick and remedy you’ve heard of, and it still won’t go away.

Read on to find some tips to managing and living with acne – at the MedSpa and at home!

Medical -Grade Treatments for Acne

At Blume Skin & Body, we have three main treatments to help address all facets of acne.

1. VI Chemical Peel

The VI Peel improves the tone, texture and clarity of the skin. There are 5 different formulations of the VI Peel to target different skin concerns. For someone with acne, the VI Peel Purify will help to kill off the bacteria that causes acne and in the next week, blemishes will dry up and flake off completely. The VI Peel Purify includes added Benzoyl Peroxide, Kojic Acid, and Hydrocortisone to target active breakouts in acne-prone skin. The VI Peel Purify with Precision Plus is an added booster to also address acne with hyperpigmentation and scarring.

VI Peel Process

2. Forever Clear BBL

If you’re into skincare, you’ve probably heard of a Photofacial (or IPL/BBL), but you may not have heard of a BBL meant to treat acne. The Forever Clear BBL is unique to other Photofacials, and it uses a three-step process to combat acne. First, skin is treated with a blue light to eliminate acne-causing bacteria down in the pores. Then, the skin is treated with a yellow light to reduce inflammation and redness caused by acne. Lastly, the skin is treated with infra-red light to tighten skin and initiate the skin’s healing process.

3. Microneedling

Once the acne has been controlled and there are no more active breakouts, they may still be skin issues with tone and texture. Acne can leave behind stubborn scars and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (red marks left after acne is gone). Microneedling is a treatment that creates tiny, controlled micro-wounds in the skin which then triggers the skin’s natural healing process to heal over those scars.

Reminders for At-Home Care of Acne-Prone Skin

The most important thing to remember with acne-prone skin is to have patience. Clearing your skin of acne can be a long road with ups and downs. This is because there could be several factors contributing to acne, including stress, hormones, diet, and many more. Addressing acne means addressing it from each angle, which requires a lot of patience!

It’s important to try and learn what your acne triggers are. Keeping a diary or notes in your phone about when you get breakouts can help you to determine whether your acne may be caused by hormonal changes, stress, environmental factors, or even certain foods. Dairy and sugar can be a trigger for acne in many people, so try cutting back on those to see if it improves the acne.

Other small habits that can add up over time would be avoiding touching your face, sleeping with your hair away from your face (if you have long hair), making sure to switch out your face towels and pillow cases frequently, and most importantly, not picking at your skin!

Finally, make sure to honor your esthetician’s work by consistently using the skincare regimen they recommend at home. Keep at it and don’t get discouraged! Progress may be slow, but every improvement should be celebrated. Each person’s acne and skin is so different, so what may work for one person may not work for you. It will take a bit of trial and error to find the solution to clear skin.

At the end of the day, acne is such a common condition and almost everyone has experienced it to some degree. We can love ourselves regardless if we have acne or not, and remember “perfect” skin does not exist – everyone gets blemishes and flaws and we don’t need to feel ashamed or embarrassed to talk about it! The Blume estheticians are here to help you contain and rid your face of blemishes – and they will do all that they can to get you the results you’re looking for, free of judgement.

If you’re ready to get clearer skin, call us and set up a consultation appointment today!

The post June is Acne Awareness Month appeared first on BLUME.

The year is 2002, you have a party to attend in a few weeks and you have been dealing with acne for months. Being unbelievably fed up is an understatement. Your best friend suggests going tanning or laying in the sun to dry up your acne. The thought of getting a little tan is enticing too. Having a little color may conceal the acne as well! Your friend has been tanning for a week and it’s helping her….. until it doesn’t anymore.

In theory this method makes sense right? The suns ultra violet rays can dry the skin. So if you are dealing with acne, you must have oily skin, therefore the sun will dry up the acne. It may feel like the sun is doing something to your acne for maybe a week or so, but this is actually the complete opposite and very dangerous for your skin.

The sun doesn’t actually dry out sebum (oil) on your skin. It dries the actual skin. As a result to the skin being dry, your oil glands will then produce more oil as a response to the dryness. Picture a little army of oil coming out with a vengeance trying to protect and hydrate the skin that is in need. “We must attack the dryness! Come on troops hydrate on the double!” As a result of the oily army’s attempt to protect and secret, this then produces more breakouts and deep rooted clogged pores.

Getting Down to the Basics

Acne is not all created equal, and each different type of acne should NOT be treated the same. The most common types are cystic acne, which is typically hormonal, very red, inflamed and painful, acne due to oily skin and acne due to dry skin (which is more common than you’d think). Adding UV light to inflamed painful acne is only going to inflame it more. Adding UV light to dry skin that has acne will only make it more dry and create more of a breeding ground for acne. Adding UV light to oily skin that has acne will only dry out the very surface of the skin, making it almost impossible for the oil to secret properly. Therefore creating more oil as your oil glands are trying to produce more since it is unable to secret thoroughly.

Now that we know what the UV rays can do to acne in the beginning stages of “trying to dry it up’. Let’s talk the aftermath.

Picture this, you fall on the pavement, scrape your knee. It bleeds, and scabs over. You treat it, maybe with ointment and a bandaid. You keep it covered so that it can heal properly, since there is brand new skin underneath that scab. We want to protect it so that it doesn’t scar. So let’s circle back to your face. The scab on your knee is the breakout on your face. It is healing skin that has been inflamed, irritated, and perhaps picked at (hopefully not). If the skin isn’t protected against the UV rays you can develop Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) and /or increased scarring. Acne prone/broken out skin is healing skin, combining healing skin to UV rays is a recipe for sun damage, which is even harder to remove than the acne itself.

Here are a few solutions to help treat the acne and keep it safe at the same time.

Facials:

Getting facials on a regular basis (4-6 weeks apart) can help reduce the amount of breakouts that pop up. Facials help to kill acne causing bacteria and soothes the skin from irritation that comes with painful acne. Extractions during a medical facial are extremely important. The bacteria that is lodged in the pores won’t just “come out” and you can’t just “scrub or wash it away”. It physically needs to be removed just the right way.

Peels:

Chemical peels are a great way to help kill bacteria from acne, break down the thick dead layer of skin on the surface of the epidermis, and target acne scars and hyperpigmentation (PIH). Deep set clogged pores can not be removed with a chemical peel as it works from the inside layers out. A facial like I stated above would be the best option to start.

Microneedling and Laser:

These minimally invasive treatments are fantastic for helping to eliminate acne scars, PIH, and redness (broken capillaries and broken blood vessels). However, if your acne is still active, meaning if your acne is still bacteria filled and inflamed, these methods will have to be put on hold until the acne is under control.

Lastly, finding yourself a highly skilled Medical Esthetician that is well versed in acne is huge. Like I stated above, acne is not all created equal. So treating it should be customized.

There was a time where doing at-home beauty treatments were all the rage, putting toothpaste on a blemish was the “go-to” and reading Cosmo was a great way to find beauty hacks. Well, its a new day my dear, and beauty is at the hand of the esthetician. One hand has all your customized treatments ready to take charge. The other hand is holding yours during this confusing time. We are here to help you all along the way of your skincare journey. Whatever your journey may be, we got your back.

The post But the Sun Dries Out my Acne… appeared first on BLUME.

The Instagram filter look can mess with our heads majorly. It projects an unachievable goal to not only young girls, but to grown adults too! While we are all trying to raise our daughters with lessons of self love, body positivity and plain old acceptance, there’s no denying we all STILL want to have awesome skin. But our mental health doesn’t have to suffer to get it. Here are 5 habits to get fabulous skin.

Moisturize

Now this may seem too simple, and it sort of is! Many individuals that have dealt with skin issues like acne, or oily skin typically skip this important step in fear of making things worse. It’s actually the complete opposite. When our skin isn’t properly hydrated it creates a thin dead layer of skin on the very surface of the epidermis. Sometimes you can see it and usually you can feel it. What happens is, that dead layer of skin creates such a barrier that your natural oil production is unable to secrete properly. Instead, it secretes slower than normal, creating a shine to the skin, giving the skin an oily appearance. That’s why many think they have oily skin. Since that oil secretion is moving so slowly, the oil can get stuck under the dead skin and form into deep clogged pores. Moisturizing on a regular basis can ease that dead skin helping to balance the entire function of the skin, including oil production.

The same applies to dry, combination and aging skin. Moisturizing is crucial for lubricating the pores, and feeding the skin what it needs. Fine lines and wrinkles will be less visible when they are properly hydrated. So finding a great moisturizer for night time is very important.

Sunblock

Now that we’ve covered the night time moisturizer portion, now we can cover the day time. Ah yes, SPF should be your BFF. Daily use of SPF is a great way to achieve fabulous skin. The best sunscreen to look for isn’t necessarily one that has a large SPF number on the front of the bottle. It’s actually the percentage of the active ingredients on the back of the bottle that give the sunscreen its protection power. High percentages of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are mineral ingredients that create a physical barrier from the sun. If you are using products that make you more photosensitive, like retinol or glycolic acid, or receiving treatments that make you more susceptible to burn or hyperpigmentation, SPF everyday is imperative.

Retinol

Piggybacking from the importance of SPF, retinol is an amazing product to incorporate into your skincare routine. Retinol based products can come in all different shapes, sizes and potencies. Retinol or Retin-A is a derivative of Vitamin A. It helps with cellular turnover and helps to soften signs of aging (fine lines and wrinkles) and is a key component in helping with acne. It helps with skin texture, dilated pores and general skin wellness. Retinol use can be as simple as using it intermittently a few times a week, or spot treating acne blemishes. It is important to remember that you must limit your sun exposure during the time of use. For example, don’t use retinol the night before you know you’re going out on a hike, swimming, or any outdoor activity the following day. And when you do go out, make sure the retinol has been cleansed off the following day and a proper SPF has been applied.

Serum

So many serums, how do I know which one is best?! That all depends on what your skin is doing at the moment and your goals. Hyaluronic acid, antioxidant, peptide, and growth factor serums all have so many amazing benefits. So to pick the best one for you leads me into the next must-have for fabulous skin.

Medical Esthetician

Establishing a good relationship with a highly trained, knowledgable Medical Esthetican will guarantee the right path for you on your skincare journey. Which serum to invest in, and which treatments you should dedicate your time on maintaining your fabulous skin. Whether is laser, facials, microneedling, peels or microdermabrasions, your esthetician will establish a treatment regimen to fit your needs completely.

Living in a highly virtual world where the filters are at our fingertips, it’s important to remember the true beauty within us. True beauty can’t be seen in a mirror or a computer screen or a phone. We were all born to be real, real people with real flaws. Perfection is such an illusion that we continuously have to remind ourselves of. Luckily the support from trusted professionals can help keep your true beauty shining through.

The post 5 Habits to Fabulous Skin! appeared first on BLUME.

Thankfully, Blume Skin & Body has a solution for hormonal breakouts. The first step is to meet with an Aestetician, I saw Caitlin and she took me under her esthetic wing and gave me a deep pore cleansing facial and treated me with the Sciton BBL Forever Clear Acne treatment. The Forever Clear BBL is a cutting-edge acne treatment that uses the power of light to comfortable and effectively clear acne without creams or medicine. After the first treatment my skin was dramatically different. The swelling and redness went down and several pimples purged and were able to be extracted.

I have had a few more BBL Forever Clear Acne treatments to kill the remaining bacteria and address my redness. At the first sign of a breakout, I will have the treatment before the acne gets any worse.  Blume Skin & Body has several treatments that deal with the pigmentation left from my breakouts. I plan on having the VI Peel to remove the pigmented skin and give me a brighter complexion.

The post How I Stopped My Acne Breakouts and Had Clear Skin Again appeared first on BLUME.

Certainly, people look for quality outcomes and value. At the Blume Skin Centre, we believe value is getting what you want for a quality price. Whether it’s dermal fillers like Juvederm, Restylane, or Sculptra, and Botox, or Dysport, what you get for the price is true value. This is the same for Radio Frequency treatments, Ultherapy, facials or peels.

We believe that presenting realistic expectations at the beginning of treatments is just as important as customer service and patient appreciation. Sometimes a procedure a patient envisions may not be the correct one for them, so we will offer result driven alternatives. We always try to give our patients a realistic expectation of the outcome. Sometimes this means offering LESS expensive procedures or products.

When you treat patients honestly and they know what to expect, there is great satisfaction with almost no regrets!

The post Realistic Expectations appeared first on BLUME.

The post Transformation appeared first on BLUME.

Skin that is properly maintained with regular peels and home care stays healthy, youthful and radiant at any age. The “new” peels have unique blend of ingredients that produce powerful results with very little discomfort and no down time. At the Blume Skin Centre we have many different peels to choose from. These new generation aesthetic peels will improve the following: tone, texture, clarity of your skin, reduce or eliminate age spots, freckles, and hyper-pigmentation, including melasma, clear acne skin conditions, soften lines and wrinkles.

Vi Peel
Vi Medical Products offers a cutting-edge line of products that reverse and prevent skin aging for beautiful skin that lasts a lifetime. The Blume Skin Centre offers two fabulous Vi Peels. The Vi Peel Precision Plus is perfect for anti-aging, pigmentation and melasma. The Vi Peel Acne Peel is ideal for treating all types of acne. This new peel is designed to quickly clear acne and the scars it leaves behind, regardless of the patient’s age or skin type.

PCA Skin Peels
The experts at PCA Skin have devoted over two decades to the development of highly effective peels that safely treat all skin types. PCA Skin Peels are essential to overall skin health and provide added nutrients for faster, more dramatic results. The Blume Skin Centre offers custom PCA Peels to effectively treat all skin concerns; they are also great options for maintaining skin health and help prevent visible damage.

These restorative peels repair damaged skin and add a healthy glow. Why wait months for results when you can enjoy beautiful, radiant skin in about a week?Please call The Blume Skin Centre and book an appointment with Sandra Caldwell, Medical Aesthetician/CLT, for younger looking, healthier skin!

The post Don’t be Afraid of Chemical Peels! appeared first on BLUME.

The post Give the Gift of Sensational Skin for the Holidays appeared first on BLUME.

Face Dandruff– The wonderful by-product of an exfoliating chemical peel. Those in “the know” will give you a wink or a thumbs-up as you leave a trail of falling skin in your wake.

Barnacles– I read where a dermatologist in Arizona referred to aging skin as the hull of a ship, accumulating barnacles on its journeys through the sea of life. Hulls of a ship? Yes, it makes sense, but mollusks on our faces? They belong on the beach! Not on our faces. These benign skin growths are the results of “maturing” age and heredity. One more thing we can blame on our parents. Our aesthetician, Sandra Caldwell, can use her handy CryoProbe and eradicate this pesky problem.

Turkey Neck– Just in time for Thanksgiving. No one wants to get stuck with the Turkey Neck, especially us ladies. As we mature, the skin on our necks loses its elasticity, resulting in the unwelcomed appearance of the dreaded Turkey Neck. CO2 Fractionated Pixel will tighten up this “Fowl” condition!

Jowls- When we are young, they are cheeks. Again, as we gracefully mature, they suddenly become jowls.  Even worse, they are referred to as sagging jowls. We just can’t get a break! Well, we have an amazing solution for SJ syndrome- Juvederm XC and Radiesse. I have seen the results with my own eyes. Dr Blume, I think you have found a cure for SJ syndrome.

I could continue describing various skin conditions, such as Liver Spots, Crepey Skin, Ice Pick Scars and Spider Veins. We tend to be our worst critics when it comes to our skin. There are solutions to these conditions so don’t be so tough on yourself. We are all on this journey together and we want to help you put your best face forward and age gracefully.

The post Barnacles and Wisdom Lines appeared first on BLUME.

Start planning now by scheduling your skincare appointments so that you have that holiday glow! You deserve it!

The post Your Holiday Check List appeared first on BLUME.