What happens after Sun Damage?

I know it feels good to be out in the sun, feeling the warmth on your skin after a long winter! But when you're in the sun too long, by the time your skin turns pink and painful, most of the sun damage and harm is already done. Sunburns indicate that there is damage to the DNA in your skin cells. Over time, these injuries add up and lead to physical changes like wrinkles, sagging skin, hyper-pigmentation and skin cancer.

What do I mean when I say you need to be conscious of your sun exposure? Wear and re-apply your sunscreen and sun protection, or you will damage your skin and become prone to skin cancers!!

Sunlight can take its toll on just about any proteins, fabric garments and even our own skin, over time. Picture leaving your favorite leather jacket outside in the sun everyday where it is exposed to the sun’s harsh ultraviolet rays, day after day. Inevitably, it would cause considerable physical damage to its appearance. This isn’t something that happens immediately, but constant exposure can, and will, damage your leather, making it look old, dry, lacking flexibility, pigmentation loss, and irregularity. This too is the same for your skin. 

What exactly happens to your skin over time with overexposure to the sun?

Pigmentation changes;

Hyper-Pigmentation 

We have 30+ ladies always coming into my spa grumbling about sun spot that have accumulated over the years; but still tell me just how much they love their tans. Let me tell you what is going on;

Skin colour changes caused by sun exposure are very common. The most noticeable sun-induced pigment change are brown spots (solar lentigos). Light-skinned people are particularly prone to freckles caused by overexposure to UV light. Solar lentigines are benign, but they do indicate excessive sun exposure, a risk factor for the development of skin cancer. Large freckles, also known as age spots or liver spots, can be seen on the backs of the hands, chest, shoulders, arms, and upper back. These areas are particularly prone to skin cancer. These pigmentation anomalies in the long-term accumulate and are much harder to reduce, making the skin appear much older. 

Hypo-Pigmentation

UV exposure can also cause small white spots on the legs, backs of the hands, and arms which is called guttate hypo-melanosis. But what about Hypo-pigmentation? On a basic level, Hypo-pigmentation is described as a loss of skin colour. While Hyper-pigmentation is caused by an increase in melanin (the substance that gives our skin and hair its colour), Hypo-pigmentation is the result of a reduction in melanin production. Most of us have experienced Hypo-pigmentation as a result of trauma (a cut or burn), or sun damage. A blister or a burn that was bad enough to affect the area with a loss of pigment and cause white spots on the skin, is an example of Hypo-pigmentation. It’s important to ensure that such areas of Hypo-pigmentation are well protected from the sun; lack of melanin makes the skin far more vulnerable to sun damage. With luck and treatments these white spots may be temporary, eventually the skin can heal and return to its usual colour once the body regenerates pigment, but some can be irreversible depending on the extent of the damage.

Melasma

More than 6 million Americans get these splotchy brown or grey patches on their skin. Although experts aren’t certain of the exact reason for it, they know that sun exposure can cause and re-stimulate melanin (pigment producing cells). These cells go into overdrive and create a large dark mask or spot on the skin. This condition is very deep into the epidermis, and very difficult to treat. 

Poikiloderma

The neck and décolleté are particularly prone to a constant redness and broken capillaries which is called poikiloderma of Civatte, and can be very noticeable. This redness is year round and difficult to treat. 

Loss of Elastin and Collagen, overall thickening or thinning of the skin.

The skin will start to lose it’s elasticity and begin to sag, which is continued over time with more sun exposure. Also depending on genetics, the skin will start to look thick, like old, worn out, textured leather, or on the other hand, see-through and fragile like paper mache. Both of which are very aging to the overall look of the skin, and hard to reverse depending on how much damage is caused.

Skin Cancer

Unfortunately, the worst part of my job is finding abnormal skin cells and moles, and having to send my clients, that I care for so much, to the doctor to get a biopsy or lesion removal. This is a very stressful time in their lives where they tend to reflect and reevaluate their past decisions, and I simply don’t want this to be you. Please note that when Doctors do remove skin cancerous lesions, it is never as small as the mole itself. A large part of the surrounding tissue always needs to be removed at the same time to ensure there are no cancerous cells left behind. These areas are more commonly found in noticeable places such as the back, chest, nose and face. Sometimes having to remove parts of these features to be safe it was all removed. So when I tell my clients, and the public that I don’t want you to have sunspots and wrinkles, I am also stating that I don’t want it to get this bad. Play safe. 

Prevention and after treatment

- To prevent permanent sun damage, avoid over exposure to sunlight in midday between 10 AM and 3 PM. 

- Wear sun-protective clothing, tightly woven clothes and hats

- Apply a natural physical sunscreen (chemical-free), with an SPF 30 or above

- Re-apply your SPF every 2-3 hours if you are in the sun continuously

Shower and remove all SPF before bed, and apply after sun products such as Eminence’s Aloe Mint Hydrating Gel for calming and soothing or the Rosehip and Lemongrass Repair Balm which is high in Vitamin C. 

If you do acquire too much sun, then be aware that the damage will continue and spread, damaging skin cells for 12-24 hours. So the sooner you start cooling the skin, the better protected it will be. Cold compress, cool shower, aloe, such as the Eminence aloe lotion and/or Rosehip & Lemongrass Body Balm will start cooling and healing the skin. 

- Inspect your skin regularly and after over exposures

- No tanning beds, ever!

- Seek medical care if you have a mole you believe has changed, grown larger, bleeds or has crusty dead skin around it, strange pigmentation on or around them. 

At Home and in-house Treatments

Some key ingredients that will nourish your sun damaged skin are; Vitamin C, Licorice, Peptides, Retinol, facial peels, and always Sunscreen. We carry these products in our boutique which include, DERMed Vital A Serum (Retinol), the Vital C Serum (Vitamin C), Licorice Serum, Eminence Marine Flower Peptide Serum and Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream (Peptides), and the Tropical Vanilla SPF 32 Cream (For face or body).

Book a Comprehensive Skin Care analysis today and we’ll create a customized treatment plan suited to your specific skincare needs. Allow us to start you on the right track to total skin rejuvenation!

The Amazing Stone Crop - for Men!

Hey all you men out there! I was asked to choose one product that I believe to be one of the best product for our male clientele. It was a simple choice for me, I naturally chose the Stone Crop Body Lotion. Any of the Stone Crop products from the Eminence Organic line are great for men. I chose the body lotion because it can be used on the face or body, has a light-weight texture, and is great for all skin types. It also has a fresh smell that all the boys seem to love. It’s like freshly mowed lawn goodness. Dry hands, body, face - you name it, it can be used. It’s amazing for nourishing and feeding environmentally devitalized skin, great for after sun, or just any old night to re-hydrate after a laborious day.

What ingredients make it so amazing you ask? Well let me tell you.

Stone Crops

Not only does stone crop help reduce pigmentation and lighten the complexion which is great for after sun, it also assists in regeneration, firming stressed skin, toning the epidermis, and moisturizing, which will help reduce the signs of aging and calm sensitive skin.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera contains two hormones: Auxin and Gibberellins. These two hormones provide wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin inflammation. Gibberellins in Aloe Vera acts as a growth hormone, stimulating the growth of new cells. Together they allow the skin to heal quickly and naturally with minimal scarring.  This makes these products great for after a day outside in the sun and elements, or if your skin gets injured. It is also a great light-weight moisturizer on its own, lightens pigmentation, and great for post healing. Aloe leaves contain a plethora of antioxidants including  beta carotene, vitamin C and E to help improve the skin's natural firmness and keep the skin hydrated. It also provides a light, fresh green smell.

Lavender

Lavender is a magical ingredient with many advantages and uses. It is great for acne because it won’t clog your pores, it's a natural antibacterial and antiseptic without over drying or irritating like some other essential oils. It is also very healing for pigmentation and scarring.

Green tea

Green Tea is full of antioxidants that are great for anti-aging and regenerating the skin. EGCG is one of them, and has been found in research to reactivate dying skin cells. This ingredient, with its free-radical scavenger abilities, will be sure to bring new life to your tired man skin.

Coconut Water

Coconut water contains an anti-microbial powerhouse called Lauric acid that helps protect against skin infections, and helps fight and protect against acne. It also contains proteins called cytokines that are responsible for encouraging cell growth and cell activation which is amazing for anti-aging and rejuvenation.  It is a natural cleanser and toner with high amounts of  vitamin K and iron to cleanse and nourish the skin.

Pick up a Stone Crop Body Lotion for your Man today or any of the multi-purpose Stone Crop products! June is Man month, so enjoy! Here's to all you great males out there.

Don't forget our June special - Men can enjoy our Spa services 20% off. Call the spa to book yourself or your man today!

Clean your ears

Do your ears feel blocked? Do you find your hearing isn't quite what it should be? Does it feel like you have water in your ears, or sore infected blackheads?  Do you experience ear aches or pain? Have you been cleaning your ears regularly after the shower? If not, then you may be one of my clients in need of a good ear cleaning!

Ears are self-sufficient and naturally clean themselves. Over time as we chew and yawn, our bodies will move ear wax out of our ears, but sometimes this process isn’t perfect, and wax builds up and hardens in the canal and can cause a hard wax impaction to form. 

Every day during my facials I take a minute to look into my client's ears and tend to them. After that, I ask them to clean their ears regularly after each shower. If they fall behind for a few weeks, I ask them to let me take a look in the ear canal before they put a Q-tip into it. We do this to make sure there aren't any significant buildups that can be pushed down further into the ear canal and cause an issue.

To prevent blackheads from forming in the outer ear area, take a clean Q-tip or 2 and clean after every shower. We get buildups from the natural oils and wax we produce as well as our makeup, shampoo and conditioner residues. Take another clean Q-tip and very gently swirl around the shallow opening of the canal. If the Q-tip comes out dirty, use another new one and repeat until clean. Ensuring ear maintenance is done at least weekly will prevent build-up and blackheads from forming. Do not cross contaminate by using a used Q-tip for swirling around the opening of the ear canal.

Consider it like blowing your nose, flossing your teeth, wiping your bum and genitals after you excrete toxins. Sometimes the body needs a little bit of help maintaining cleanliness. This is why we shower and soap and clean our body’s regularly - to help the body stay clean and fresh, and therefore healthy. If we didn’t shower, wash our face and brush our teeth, then we would have a build up of dirt, and bacteria would grow from old, decaying skin cells and sebum oils. That's all just part of the process!

If you suspect you have an impaction, come and see one of our Estheticians at the spa to take a look in your ear or head to the doctor for an ear flushing. This simple procedure is done by gently spraying warm water carefully into the ear to soften and flush the hardened wax plug.

It is not my intention to remove ALL ear wax from the canal as it does help with preventing dust, dirt, and bacteria from entering the ear and therefore the body. It is my intention to keep the ears clean from residues, blackheads and old built up wax to prevent ear infections and impacted ear wax blockages.

The Essentials

Has your grandmother ever said to you,  "If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin"? Solid advice Grandma!

A lot of skin care products out there are so full of chemicals and toxic ingredients.  These are not the best products to be buying and using on our bodies for so many reasons.  I always encourage my clients to find products made from better and more pure ingredients and sources.  One major list of ingredients I love seeing in products are essential oils.  Not all essential oils are made equally in purity, so please be mindful of the brands you buy and use for your personal needs. As well, not all essential oils are ingestible, so do your research and ask the right questions. 

History On Essential Oils

Essential oils, or aromatherapy oils, have been used by many cultures around the world for centuries. Their uses varied between cultures from religious purposes to healing the sick and wounded. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when essential oils gained notoriety as effective healing medicines, but eventually the knowledge of essential oils spread around the globe.

The earliest evidence of human knowledge of the healing properties of plants was found in Lascaux, located in the Dordogne region in France. There, cave paintings suggest the use of medicinal plants in everyday life that have been carbon dated as far back as 18,000 B.C.E. In Egypt Evidence and recorded history have both shown that the Egyptians used aromatic oils as early as 4500 B.C.E. Ancient Egyptians became renowned for their knowledge of embalming, cosmetology and beauty products, ointments and aromatic oils. Aromatic gums such as cedar and myrrh were used in the embalming process and traces of these have been found on mummies today.

Just picked a few of my own personal favorites Essential Oils;

Lavender is one of the most popular and widely used essential oils today. In addition to its relaxing sleep-inducing characteristics, lavender also has natural antiseptic properties and assists in stimulating circulation to support your body’s natural healing functions.  We use it here at the spa to help fight acne and heal post breakouts.  It is more gentle on the skin than myrrh.

What to say about rose! It has amazing antiseptic characteristics but doesn't irritate the skin at all. Great for everything from rashes, irritation, acne, and anti aging. It has a high potency of Vitamin C which gives it an amazing ability to regenerate, rehydrate and soothe the skin.  I can't speak highly enough about this amazing ingredient!

Chamomile is another very popular and widely used herb that you can use internally to help tone the digestive system, liver, and kidneys. Many people drink it as a calming digestive tea before bed.  Chamomile is also a wonderful external addition to your skin care regime, especially if your skin is sensitive and/or irritated, dry and chapped, or if you have open lesions. Apply cool chamomile tea bags or a soaked cloth on affected areas of your skin to help soothe it. Many irritated skin soothing balms have chamomile in them to help heal burns, skin ulcers, eczema and lesions. 

Myrrh,- I personally cannot say enough about the power of myrrh! We use it here at the spa a lot in the fight against acne.  Many of my most severe acne clients have to go home with their faces covered with pure myrrh.  It works like a charm! Myrrh is known in the Bible as 1 of the 3 gifts the Wise Men gave to Jesus when he was born. For good reason!  It is antibacterial, anti-parasitic, healing, soothing, calming, and helps fight Cancer.  We also recommend it for canker sores inside the mouth and cold sores on or around the lips.

We have entrusted a local herbalist and aroma therapist, Blaine Andrusek, with his well sourced pure essential oil line that is also carrying in some well respected local natural Calgary stores.  Selling his oils in our retail in the last couple of months as one of our new lines has brought great excitement to all our practitioners.  Our Estheticians, Massage Therapist and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine have all been able to upgrade their treatments using these beautiful, addictive oils, essential for life!

Spring Time, Glow Time

The perfect new lightening + brightening anti-aging skin care protocol from The Natural Art Of Skin Care.

Do you want a more luminescent glow, tighter pores, and a younger looking complexion just in time for Spring?

In this article, we've provided you with a free instructional-how-to for our newest in-house anti-aging protocol. Enjoy!

1.Begin by preparing your skin with your favourite classic Eminence Cleanser, or try the NEW Eminence Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Cleanser.

2. At home, use the Arctic Berry Illuminating Peel kit as a way to exfoliate and gently peel the skin. This 3-step peel system is derived from six different natural acids including a papaya enzyme (Papain).  It is also full of antioxidants to fight the signs of aging. FYI - currently one of my favourite peels out there! 
OR
In-spa, try the NEW Mangosteen Lactic Acid 10% Professional Peel which contains gentle AHA's (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) for a brighter, more smooth complexion. Lactic acid is one of the gentlest ways we can dissolve dead skin cells and improve skin's tone and texture. This peel add-on provides immediate glowing results with no irritation or down time.  Made for all skin types, including sensitive. One of its strongest benefits, making it great for especially dry skin clients, is it's "Peel & Seal" feature - known to not only peel your skin, but to hydrate it during the process, unlike other peeling products out there.

Make sure you're choosing a peel that is right for you - a great peel will remove dead skin cells, work on sun damage and/or scarring, and reduce pore size.  This is exactly what everyone needs for a fresher complexion in preparation for the warmer weather approaching. If you don't know which peel is right for you, come in to the Spa and ask one of our knowledgeable staff members.  Because, well.... that's why we're here!

Next

As you can see, your skin is looking brighter already with a good cleanse and peel. An at-home peel can be done at least 1-2 times per week (in-spa peel every 4-6 weeks), depending on your individual skin type and condition. Please consult one of our professionals if you have any questions or concerns.

3. Serums are an added step to boost any routine and are usually applied at night. Serums have one of the smallest molecular structures in skin care and therefore are able to penetrate deep into our skin. I like to "cocktail" a few serums together in order to power punch a facial or my own nightly routine to incorporate as much nutrients as I can.

The serum choice for today's treatment begins with 3 drops of the AMAZING Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum - a multi-vitamin for the skin. Packed full of Vitamin C for its free radical scavenger ability, well known for its ability to brighten pigmentation, and most importantly for me, food for collagen production. This serum also has Vitamin E from avocados for its antioxidant-rich, anti-inflammatory healing powers. This is only a few of the benefits this "magic in a bottle" has to offer. I can't say enough about this serum, I love it!

Mix with the Eminence Marine Flower Peptide Serum that derives its peptides from sustainable sea algae's, how Cool! With the Smart Collagen Complex™ made up of minerals, amino acids and botanicals, this serum is great for stimulating our bodies own Collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Another great anti-aging serum to add to the cocktail is the Bamboo Firming Fluid from Eminence. The perfect addition to stimulate, grow and boost Collagen.  For my more hardcore skin firming clients, I substitute in the Vital A (Retinol) serum from our cosmeceutical line, DERMed. The Vital A acid is a more potent form of Vitamin A. If you're looking to add this serum to your routine, you must be careful and start a low dose, once per week. This is a true acid that can cause irritation when used incorrectly. Please consult a professional for proper use.

4. To finish this pore minimizing, youthful, thirst quenching treatment, I recommend the Eminence Coconut Age Corrective Night Cream or the Monoi Age Corrective Night Cream. When carrying out your day time regime, we highly recommend a moisturizer with Sun protection. Some of our favourites around the spa are the Tinted Moisturizer, Tropical Vanilla SPF Cream (Face or body), or the Eminence Sun Defense (powdered) Mineral Sticks.

We also highly recommend incorporating an eye cream into your daily regime as this is a great way to prevent volume loss and thinning of the skin around the eyes, puffiness, pigmentation, and fine lines and wrinkles. In light of this article, we recommend the Marine Flower Peptide Eye Cream, as this is a great all-around eye cream to improve some of the concerns mentioned above. 

For any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at the spa.

*All Mangosteen Products are available for purchase in the spa as of March 7th.  All other products mentioned in this article are currently available to purchase from our retail shelves today.