Radiant Skin and the Skincare Tools That Help You Achieve it

By By Rafik A. Nasr, M.D, FABFP, DABMA

Radiance is a term with connotations of happiness, health and vitality. The look of radiance can be attrib- uted to a variety of elements. Radiant skin is evenly pigmented, its texture is dewy and smooth, and the pores are so tiny that they might as well be invisible. The color of the skin is also alive and bright. Put it all together and the end result is the kind of skin that looks beautiful, without a drop of make up.

In young radiant skin there is an abundance of collagen and elastin with a rapid cell turnover. As the skin ages, even in the thirties, the skin does not replenish itself as quickly as it did a few years before, resulting in the accumulation of dead skin cells that contribute to how the skin reflects light. Now, there are a multitude of cosmetic resurfacing procedures that help undo most, if not all, of this damage and ultimately reward you with a smooth glowing complexion.

Chemical peels; Help improve many skin conditions such as acne, melasma, uneven skin texture, brown spots, Hyperpigmentation, and wrinkling. Types of peels are typically ranked from superficial, medium and deep; once the clinician has assessed the condition of the skin, it is decided which of these depths of peeling would be most helpful. Ingredients vary with the different peels from glycolic acid to trichloroacetic acid to phenol peel with variable concentrations.

Intense pulse light (IPL); Uses multitudes of wavelengths of light, depend- ing on the results desired. IPL is ideal for the treatment of hyperpigmentation, freckles, ruddiness, broken blood vessels, early sun spots, large pores, fine lines and lax skin. Treatment is done by emitting high intensity pulses of light (not lasers) they penetrate the skin and rid you of various complaints. There are different machines for different levels or types of penetration. It is also known as IPL Photorejuvenation.

Microdermabrasion; is a mechanical exfoliation that improves skin texture, unblocks pores, removes excess oil, and helps reduce wrinkles. Microdermabrasion machines bombard the skin with thousands of sterilized sodium bicarbonates or aluminum oxide crystals. A vacuum suction removes these particles along with the dislodged skin. Microdermabrasion can be useful and safe if done by a properly trained clinician and is advised that it is done no more than twenty times a year.

Laser works by aiming a beam of amplified light at the skin. When the beam hits the skin, it is attracted to certain components, from pigment to red blood cells to water. Lasers are used to correct superficial brown spots, lines and wrinkles, scars and stretch marks, broken blood vessels, hair removal, port wine stains and birth marks. There are many types of lasers; each laser is used differently to correct the skin.

Skin resurfacing; eliminates a mottled complexion and replaces it with a much improved version. One of the most popular anti-aging remedies is laser skin resurfacing, which improves the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles, scars and hyperpigmentation (discolored areas of the skin), primarily around the eyes and mouth.

The latest generation of lasers from Sciton®, is the ProFractionalTM for achieving excellent resurfacing results with minimal downtime. ProFractionalTM ablates narrow diameter channels into the skin initiating the body‘s wound healing response, which stimulates fibroblasts to produce new collagen and elastin, while leaving the surrounding tissue intact for rapid healing.

ProFractionalTM laser treatments eliminate sun and age spots, improve uneven pigmentation and melasma, and improve wrinkles, stretch marks, and acne scars with minimal downtime. We treat men and women of all ages. MicroLaserPeel®; known as “the weekend peel” gives you healthier more vibrant skin, with immediate changes in skin texture and tightness. It is performed using the Sciton® laser, recognized as the preferred method of skin resurfacing because it provides the advantages of multiple laser procedures while greatly reducing the risks and down time. The MicroLaserPeelTM is a minimal to full epidermal peel (15-60 microns or more).

We at Heaven & Earth Medi Spa strive to meet your needs. We have a wide variety of Laser treatments readily available to treat your aging skin. At this time, there are no other lasers in Southern Maryland that are able to perform comparably to the Sciton® Laser. Equally important, at Heaven and Earth Medi Spa, our major concerns are your satisfaction, your comfort, your privacy, and your safety. All treatments are supervised or performed by a board-certified physician with many years of successful experience in cosmetic procedures. We have many treatment modalities available and can recommend the appropriate treatment to reach your aesthetic needs.

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About By Rafik A. Nasr, M.D, FABFP, DABMA

Dr. Rafik Nasr is a family practice and anti-aging physician. He has been a Board Cer- tified Primary Care Physician in Calvert County for 20 years. He is also Board Certified in Acupuncture with training in Chinese and French energetic styles of Acupunc- ture. Currently, Dr. Nasr is pursuing a Masters Degree in Anti-Aging Medicine and Masters Degree in Cosmetic Medicine. He has obtained certification from the Inter- national Society of Mesotherapy and the American Society of Aesthetic Mesother- apy. He has attended training and workshops for Aesthetic Laser safety operation, Botox, Restylane, Perlane, Radiesse, Bio-Identical Hormones, Chronic Diseases and Lifestyle Modification. Dr. Nasr envisions blending an approach of health and well- ness with traditional and conventional medicine. Five years ago Dr. Nasr opened Heaven & Earth MediSpa, offering a wide variety of services, including cosmetic laser treatments, Botox, filler injections, anti-aging medicine, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and bio-identical hormone therapy. Dr. Nasr and his knowledgeable staff offer a complete comprehensive approach to health healing.

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