Peeling Back the Layers

I've been having quite a problem with my skin since I went off of birth control in late September. I have been having major breakouts and my T-zone is annoyingly oily and I'm over it! I've tried adjusting my creams and lotions to see if that would help, but I've had no improvements. I went to my dermatologists office to get the scoop and they gave me some different creams to try and suggested a gylcolic peel to help speed up cell turnover and possibly decrease the oil productivity.

I love facials and peels and I'm willing to try anything, so I set up an appointment for yesterday. Glycolic acid peels are popular due to its high acidity which works as an exfoliating agent and its easy solubility. Glycolic acid goes under the damaged upper layers of skin and destroys the 'glue' which holds dead skin to the surface. As this dead skin is chemically burned off, the other ingredients carry the individual flakes away and a water rinse neutralizes the remaining acid. You end up with smoother skin and a more youthful appearance. After the acid is applied and sets, they wipe it off and my doctor put a pumpkin enzyme cream on my face that felt so luxurious. It smelled wonderful and calmed the skin right down and I really had minimal redness.

She suggested I switch day creams to one that is non-comedogenic, paraben free, fragrance free,etc,etc. The nice thing is that is has sunscreen included with 46SPF. That's better than the 30SPF I was currently using, and a medium bottle was only $26. I love the way the new day cream feels and it really sets well on the face. I think combined with the peel it has already made a difference in my skin. I'm experiencing light peeling around my nose, which is common and a good sign. I've already made a second appointment for another peel next month. I'm thinking I'll probably get a total of 3 treatments and hope my skin regulates by then. After it regulates, I'll do a peel every 3-4 months for maintenance.

Peels and facials are great methods to help your skin look refreshed and lesson sun spots, etc. However, please consider only getting a peel done at your dermatologists office and to not use over the counter products. This is an acid chemical and needs to be stored properly for best life expectancy and in case any problems arise, your doctor can fix it immediately. The peel I did cost $85, which is very reasonable and I highly recommend getting a consult to determine the best care for your individual skin needs.

Beauty Shopping

I've been contemplating by a Zeno device for well over a year now. It's a acne clearing device that uses heat to stop a pimple in its tracks. It works best when you first spot the signs of a pimple, and you hold the heated tip on your skin for 2 1/2 minutes. I've noticed my face has been breaking out more than usual since it's been so hot and now that I have bangs.

I broke down last night and purchased one for $89. My dermatologist had told me it works really well and they keep one in the office for their staff to use. I figure it's cheaper than monthly facials, so what the hell. I tried it out on two blossoming pimples and I have to say, the tip gets pretty hot. It doesn't burn or sting really so it's quite bearable. You don't have to put pressure on it either, just hold it right on the pimple until it beeps letting you know the treatment cycle is complete.

My skin stayed red for about 2 hours, but nothing crazy. I did notice this morning that the pimples I treated had reduced in size significantly. You can do up to 3 treatments in a 24 hour period on the same pimple.