Dr. Yves Hébert :: December '08

Star treatments this month: photorejuvenation, rejuvenation with HydraFacial and fractional resurfacing

For younger-looking skin

As time passes, the skin undergoes many changes caused by a variety of factors that are not always within our control:

Heredity
Climatic conditions, especially exposure to the sun
Diet
Hydration
Exposure to free radicals
Air pollution
First- and second-hand smoke
Improper skin care
Certain skin disorders

Signs of aging skin may appear early or later in life. They are generally more visible on the face and hands because they are more directly exposed to the sun and air. Signs of aging include:

Wrinkles and fine lines
Flaccidity
Age spots (or solar lentigo)
Red patches (or rosacea)
Dull, lacklustre skin

Below are some proven treatments that can help you beat the effects the weather has on
your body…

Photorejuvenation with BBL™ technology from Sciton
http://www.dryveshebert.com/en/photorejuvenation.php

Rejuvenation with HydraFacial
http://www.dryveshebert.com/en/hydrafacial.php

Fractional resurfacing
http://www.dryveshebert.com/en/fractional-resurfacing.php

Make an appointment for any one of these star treatments in December and get a
10% discount.

December... the shopping marathon begins

As we all know, the Holiday period is a very busy time for everyone. We dash around buying presents, putting up decorations, attending parties, etc. Why not set aside some “me” time? Treat yourself to an exfoliation session using X-Fol products from the Medique Skincare range. Medique is a line of products that do not irritate the skin; they rejuvenate it, improve the look of wrinkles and fine lines and control acne problems. A few weeks of twice-weekly exfoliation sessions in our clinic will help get rid of the drab top layers of the skin. Make an appointment today and put that glow back into your complexion in time to ring in the New Year!

January and its resolutions

January marks the beginning of a new year. This as the ideal time to make good resolutions. Here are a few inexpensive resolutions that will help improve your appearance: look after your skin with anti-aging products; exercise more to improve oxygenation of the body’s tissue; drink more water to improve the health of your skin; and stop smoking to slow down skin aging.

Acne problems?
By Dr. Yves Hébert,
Cosmetic Physician and General Practitioner

Although acne predominantly affects teenagers –90% of that segment of the population is affected – it can continue into adulthood. Although it is not a serious condition, it can be upsetting for those who experience it and can cause psychosocial problems. Acne can also leave serious and permanent scarring.

The skin condition is an inflammation of the skin that is characterized by blackheads, whiteheads and red spots. Although it more frequently affects the face, the lesions can appear on the chest, back and upper arm. It is caused by overactive sebaceous glands, which produce excessive quantities of sebum that block the follicles and all bacteria to develop. Hormone activity can cause an outbreak of acne or increase the number of lesions. The hormones active during puberty also play a significant role in triggering the production of sebum by the sebaceous glands.

Androgens, the male hormone, have the greatest effect on the sebaceous glands. Both men and women have androgens, but men have more. In women, these hormones can trigger acne during the menstrual cycle; that’s why women find acne continues into adulthood.

Here are a few basic tips that can help prevent and
treat acne:

Never squeeze, pop or pick the lesions.
Wash your face twice a day with a mild, unscented soap; pat the skin lightly to dry.
Never scrub or wash vigorously with a soap that is too rough or strong.
Do not use antibacterial soaps; they do not prevent acne.
Change your washcloth every day.
Use non-comedogenic beauty products, in other words, products that do not trigger acne.
Wash your hair at least twice a week.
If necessary, use a dandruff shampoo.
Wash sweat and sebum off the skin as quickly as possible.
Blackheads should only be removed by a doctor.

Treatment
Most of the skin cleansers that claim to cure acne are useless and may even worsen the condition. Physicians rather recommend products such as creams and lotions containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or sulphur that are widely available without prescription. The contraceptive pill can also help some women regulate the hormonal activity that triggers acne outbreaks.

In the most severe cases, an antibiotic lotion or retinoic acid (derived from vitamin A) are generally effective. Deep acne is sometimes treated with antibiotic pills. Prescription medications, such as isotretinoin, are effective in treating deep acne. Women, however, must use these medications with caution. It is therefore important to discuss the risks and benefits of the medications with your doctor.

A new method
Photodynamic therapy is a relatively new method that helps bring about significant improvements in mild to moderate cases of acne. The procedure involves simply exposing the face or affected area to a special light source called “blue light” for a few minutes once or twice a week. The patient will require a total of 10 treatments.
Cost: $75 per session.

In the most severe cases or to speed up the healing process, aminolevulinic acid (Levulan), a photosensitizing agent that significantly increases the effect of blue light on the acne lesions, is applied to the skin 30 to 60 minutes before exposure. It is very important to follow your doctor’s recommendations after using Levulan and blue light. You must stay out of the light for 24 hours, as the skin is highly sensitive to light during this period. This is the reason why winter is the best time to have this treatment. In the days following the treatment, the skin becomes red, as if it were sunburnt, and then peels. A week later, everything returns to normal. Two to three treatments at one-month intervals lead to a marked improvement in the skin and often result in a very long remission.
Cost: $350 per session.

To decrease wrinkles…

When buying a face cream, look for those that contain argiriline. The polypeptide has a scientifically recognized anti-aging action that mimics that of Botox. It is therefore a perfect complement to injections. These creams are particularly effective if you start using them before the signs of aging become too obvious. They play an important role in prevention. Talk to your cosmetic physician about it during your next visit!

Our website is chock-full of information on cosmetic procedures. Check it out at
www.drYvesHebert.com

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please get in touch. We’ll be happy to answer all your questions.

Phone: (514) 935-6616
Toll free: 1 800 935-6616
info@drYvesHebert.com

The entire team at Clinique de Médecine Esthétique Dr. Yves Hébert would like to wish you wonderful Holidays and a new year that brings everything you wish for!