Skincare Articles

By Dr. Stacy Matthews Branch What do you imagine when thinking of the body’s largest organ? Some may think of the liver or the intestines, but the skin in its entirety is the largest organ of the body. Although the intestinal tract is quite long on average, an average adult’s skin has an area of over 20 square feet. People tend to be concerned about the way the skin looks, and not so much on what it does. One of the important functions of the skin is that it provides nutrients to the body and acts as a protective barrier against harms that exist in our environment. Here is a list of examples of what the skin does for us: Produces vitamin D Provides antibacterial defense through special skin fats Protects the inner body against harmful substances Shields against damaging wavelengths of light Has thermoregulation functions to prevent the effects of temperature extremes Has immune functions Houses an abundant supply of our microbiome Has sensory functions needed to interact with all surroundings Provides identifying features of the being Any of the important functions of the skin can be at risk when a defect occurs in the skin whether from a trauma (abrasions, cuts, burns) or disease (eczema, infection, cancer). The skin has an amazing healing mechanism, that can alone help to recover from some traumas or disease states; however, it often needs help to get back to as close to its optimal state as possible. The skin heals in organized stages mainly consisting of hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and maturation.  The skin healing process is not a simple rigid process, but may toggle to and from different steps depending on the wound or defect present in the skin. Hemostasis is the initial means the skin closes a defect. Although inflammation can cause discomfort or go awry, it is an important step in the healing process. This step helps to control bleeding and remove damaged cells and disease-causing agents. Skin resurfacing and rebuilding of tissue occurs during the proliferative phase, and the final remodeling of skin tissue takes place during the maturation phase. Careful care of compromised skin is essential to promote the skin’s natural healing process, prevent further damage, and return the functionality of the skin. 

Taking care of your skin during quarantine should not go to the wayside.  Level up your self-care by taking these 8 essential steps to achieving your best beauty ever.  - Doctor Yazdani

Spring is in full swing here in Southern California with warm sunshine rays, scattered showers, and flowers in bloom.  All of which draws us to the outdoors, less the few who have melasma prone skin.  For them, cloudy days are better welcomed for a troubling skin disorder awaits underneath the thick goo of make up. Background In the US population, the prevalence of melasma is 1-10%, and up to 50% in pregnant women.  What is melasma? There is a strong hormonal basis to melasma. Close examination of the epidermis and dermis reveals increased expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors.  Hence, many more women than men have melasma, and frequently they report onset following a sudden change in hormones such as during pregnancy and peri-menopause, or at start of oral contraceptives and thyroid medication.  The combination of hormones and ultraviolet rays seems to be the perfect setup for developing the discoloration patches.  UV light activates reactive oxygen species and studies have shown persons with melasma have higher markers of oxidative stress when compared to healthy counterparts. Of course there is a gene factor in play with up to 64% of patients having a positive family history of melasma.    The medical approach to melasma can be divided into 4 parts: prevention, topical, oral and procedural.   Prevention According to Dr. Shadi Kourosh, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School, investigating the underlying cause of melasma is one of the most important aspects of melasma removal.   Discontinue use of oral contraceptives. Avoid prolonged sun exposure without protective barriers.  Regularly cleansing, toning and exfoliating the skin with a proper nontoxic skincare regimen.  During times when oxidative stress may be higher, such as in pregnancy and anticipated sun exposure, take extra care to protect and nurture the skin with any of the natural topical agents or medications listed below. All of these steps work together to ensure viable and healthy skin turnover and prevent the permanent dark pigmentation changes associated with melasma. Topical Melasma treatments and topical therapies can be divided into 3 categories: nontoxic/natural vs medication, as well as barrier creams such as SPF.  A broad spectrum, mineral based SPF.  Protect against UV light rays with zinc oxide and titanium oxide-based SPF cream of at least 50 factor.  Natural Remedies Niacinamide kojic acid vitamin C azelaic acid bellies perennis licorice emblica lignin peroxidate arbutin soy Uva Ursi      3.  Medications Retinoids promote cell turn over thus help decrease pigmentation.  Hydroquinone has been studied the most for melasma.  It works by preventing melanin production, the deposits that turn the skin dark.  Combination cream including hydroquinone, steroid, and retinoid is available in the US, though the irritation risk is high with this formula not to mention it's very costly.  Oral Treatments & Lasers Oral treatments include tranexamic acid, and natural ones such as glutathione and Polypodium leucotomos (tropical fern) act by removing oxidative stress.  Laser therapies such as IPL, YAG and CO2 are reserved for more persistent and severe cases, with varying success.  New studies on microneedling with topical lightening agents rucinol and sophora-alpha showed significant improvement in depigmentation.  Be cautious with over-the-counter bleaching agents or skin-lightening creams. Companies use hyperpigmentation as an opportunity to sell their skin products with ingredients that pose great risk of skin damage and bad health outcomes. (Click here to read our article about the risk of skin-lightening creams).  While melasma has several treatment modalities, the most frustrating and psychologically disturbing part about it is that many don’t work well at all.  Expensive laser treatments require many steps and financially not feasible for many, and although newer generation lasers have given our patients more hope, many have caused untoward reactions like hypopigmentation changes (light spots).  The toxic drug effects of retinoids, steroids and hydroquinone limit their potential for cure, and for the most part, the best we can promise patients is that their spots “lighten” but don’t go away completely.     For these reasons, I emphasize the aspect of reducing environmental pollutants and exposure to prolonged UV rays with natural, nontoxic skin care products to protect vulnerable skin and enhance its resilience against sun damage and oxidative stress.  Seaside's line of nontoxic cosmeceuticals offers a simple 4-step plan to reduce inflammation and heal the skin from inside out.  If you’re on the go, Cytotone Waterless Cleanser is just what you need to detoxify your skin after a long day at work, or at the beach.  It’s an alcohol-free revitalizer made from anti-inflammatory agents like astaxanthin and kojic acid.  The Kaolin Clay and Charcoal-based Scrub and Mask has fine granules to gently exfoliate dead skin debris and improve the skin's shine.  Seaside's Antioxidant Concentrate Face and Body Cream is packed with vitamins E and C to help scavenge those oxidative radicals that promote the pigmentation changes of melasma.  Moisturize with this elixir to keep the skin’s barrier hydrated, and protect against dry vulnerable patches.     The sensitive areas that is most prone to melasma are the upper cheeks, nose and forehead.  Apply Brightening Energy Eye Serum every day and night to these areas; the high concentration of niacinamide, caffeine, zinc oxide, and Uva Ursi extract in this potent serum will instantly and dramatically brighten the skin and reduce pigmentation.    Melasma can be mysterious, and very challenging to treat.  Perhaps the patches don’t go away for good, but we can continue to take better care of our skin and our bodies to prevent them from worsening or new lesions from developing.  Until we have a proven, effective, and safe therapy, a nontoxic approach to healing melasma may prove to be our safest bet.  Links: https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/unmasking-the-causes-and-treatments-of-melasma   Melasma: an Up-to-Date Comprehensive Review

Seaside Medical Technologies would like to send positive energy to all our clients, and wish them a safe and sound journey through the COVID-19 Pandemic.  It is of no wonder, the timing of this devastating virus, who's all consumed us into a cocoon of madness.  Togetherness at times like this, delivers a sense of solemn and gratitude.  I am thankful to God for the health of all those dear to us and our communities.  I am thankful to our nurses for defense in the frontlines.  What martyrs they've been, including the doctors, therapists, doctors, admin 24 hours a day at our trusted state-of-the-art hospitals.  Within the trauma surrounding us, therein lies acts of kindness by random strangers and long ago friends - shining bright like a diamond in the ruff.  We are here for you if you want to or need to reach out, discuss your pains, rashes from face masks, coronavirus self-care, or anything about the virus.    

Did you know that Arnica Montana, a natural pain reliever we have come to associate with muscle pain relief, can help with other types of pain too?  

Fact is that alcohol can potentially do more harm than good. Alcohol delays wound healing by damaging surrounding healthy tissue; and denatures proteins, damages membranes, leads to super-organisms and strips natural H2O from the surface of the skin.

Avoid use of topical antibiotics such as Neosporin to treat fungal infections as they also kill the helpful microbiome that protect the body’s over all immune system.

As of 2019, one in eight women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer sometime during her life, and the majority have no family history of it. While genetics and hormonal factors are largely not modifiable, our environment is something we can change to help reduce our risk of breast cancer.

...Skin lightening products made overseas normally contain calomel or mercury, thereby the onus is on the consumer to educate themselves about the safety of products purchased overseas or even on sites such as Amazon or Ebay.