Salicylic > Benzoyl Peroxide

There are two primary ingredients we use in skin care to get rid of acne - Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid. In some cases you may have encountered products that use both however many people do not know the benefits of Salicylic Acid or the drawbacks of Benzoyl Peroxide.

The truth about Benzoyl Peroxide is that is dries out your skin. And if you're fighting acne this may sound like a good thing but it leads to irritation. When your skin becomes overly dry it produces more oil to compensate for the dryness and when combined with the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin it can clog pores and actually create more breakouts! An additional issue with Benzoyl Peroxide is that it can cause skin irritations that then increase redness and flaking on your skin and a number of studies have actually linked BP with the creation of free radicals and increased instances of sun damage.

Many skin care professionals believe that the best acne products use Salicylic Acid instead of Benzoyl Peroxide. Acne is not just caused by oil that needs to be dried up on your skin it is also caused by the build up of dead skin cells on the skin's surface - Those dead skin cells then combine with surface oil to clog pores and cause the bacteria that creates acne to multiply.  Instead of treating acne by drying your skin up Salicylic Acid helps to shed the dead skin cells from within the pores themselves before dead skin cells can clog pores ensuring that you have clear pores that can’t be clogged.

Salicylic Acid can take up to four weeks to purge and cleanse your pores so you will want to be patient with the results however in the long term it will keep your skin clear without over drying, irritating and ultimately leading to signs of premature aging.

Cellulite & Breakouts

Cellulite & Acne Breakouts have two things in common - 1. They are among our most popular treatment requests and 2. They are both negative effects caused by chronic blockages of Lymph.

All things in nature have a natural progression and when this motion is inhibited or jammed up concerns arise. When this occurs in your Lymph System you feel it quickly! Think of a river - A healthy river runs clean and clear but a brackish river chugs along, thick with soot and silt that can get snagged pocketing pollution along the way. Eventually the sluggish river can become a breeding ground for bacteria and disease and the same is true for the lymph in your body.

Because lymph cleanses nearly every cell in your body symptoms of chronic lymph blockage can include various skin breakouts, acne and cellulite in addition to other health problems like allergies and infections, loss of appetite and gastrointestinal issues, muscle cramping, breast tenderness, mood irregularities, fatigue and more. In general you may feel tired and toxic with heaviness in your abdomen.

Stagnant lymph can also interfere with the system's ability to cleanse pore potentially hazardous concerns like cancerous cells from organ tissue, bacteria or other diseases - These infections move through the lymph fluid where they are targeted and destroyed in the lymph nodes when the system is adequate to the task.

Rejuvenating your Lymph System  through Lymphatic Massage, regular detoxes, and other health precautions like physical exercise, deep breathing, adequate water intake, healthy diet, etc. can actually reduce your susceptibility to skin breakouts, acne and even cellulite!

If have concerns about Cellulite or Breakouts and would like to get more information about Lymphatic Massage please call the spa today to schedule an appointment with one of our trained professionals.

Over-Exfoliation

How much is too much exfoliation?

Exfoliation delivers a tighter, firmer, smoother look and feel of the skin and can reduce breakouts and pore size, but because the results are so noticeable many of us will easily fall into the trap of over-exfoliation.  This over zealous approach can actually reduce your skin's vitality and make it more susceptible to damage from UV light as well as lines and wrinkles. Over-exfoliation can lead to a compromised lipid barrier that increases skin sensitivity and accelerates premature aging.

If your skin is noticeably dehydrated or has patchy areas of dryness, is overly taught, itchy or red, if you have increased sensitivity or inflamed acne or irritation you may be over-exfoliating. In most cases a calming cleanser and toner and a protective moisturizer will start the recovery process for skin healing from over-exfoliation. And as usual sun protection is a must!

After your skin has recovered you can begin exfoliating again with a gentle exfoliant designed for daily use or a more intense non-abrasive chemical exfoliant like Salicylic Acid or Lactic Acid - To enjoy smoother skin without without the undesirable side effects pair a more gentle regimen with professional exfoliation treatments from your professional skin care therapist.

If you're suffering from over-exfoliation and need product help or are interested in booking a series of exfoliating microderm-abrasion treatments or peels please give us a call to schedule your next appointment with one of our highly trained skincare professionals (310) 577-2211.

Murad Supplements

Topical products can only go so far on their own and are generally only absorbed by the outermost layer of the skin and cannot have much of an effect on a skin condition caused by internal factors - For example deep wrinkles caused by the hormonal changes that occur during Menopause. Certain molecules that are beneficial to the skin such as Collagen are actually too large to penetrate into the skin cells to treat and repair from the surface.

Dr. Murad, a leading Los Angeles dermatologist and pharmacist understands that true skin beauty is only achievable where there is true skin health and true skin health begins at the cellular level. The Murad skincare philosophy is inclusive of both internal and external skin factors using formulas that have been developed using the science of cellular water - Treating your skin with both internal and external formulas is a more powerful way to beautify yourself to get the best possible skin health results you can achieve.

The inside approach to skin healthcare utilizes the right blends of nutrients designed to treat the deeper layers of the skin and the body that cannot be reached through topical skincare products. Taking this principle one step further Dr. Murad developed Internal Skincare® Supplements to help treat specific skin concerns - To name a couple Pure Skin® Clarifying Supplement reduces breakouts by 55% in 6 weeks, Youth Builder® Collagen Supplement diminishes fine lines and wrinkles. For maximum skin health and beauty Murad Internal Skincare helps repair, fortify and protect from the inside out benefitting every complexion with antioxidant vitamins, amino acids and other vital nutrients.

If you are interested in getting more information regarding Internal Skin Care or would like to purchase Murad Supplements please speak directly to one of the Skin Care Therapists at Blue Diamond Spa (310) 577-2211.