This week’s topic is inspired by the recent daylight savings change and the seemingly ‘sudden’ shift into winter with shorter and darker days. It’s almost reflexive to reject the change however through observation and a bit of adaptation, I believe we set ourselves up for better health. This week I point out three observations from nature and how we can live in accordance during this season. The week’s topic is inspired by my formal Chinese medicine training where it is believed that by harmonizing oneself with the seasons, you can stay healthier and prevent disease. 

New service alert!  I am proud to introduce the Mini Lip Fill treatment, the perfect service for first-timers, or someone who just wants a little.  The Mini Lip Fill is customized to each client’s goals and we can upgrade to the full syringe if you decide you want more within one month of your original treatment.  While the lips are sensitive, worry not, because I make sure you are comfortably numb before injections begin.  

Collagen and elastin are essential protein fibers in the skin that give support and elasticity. As we mature, these fibers break down and can cause wrinkles. Regenerating the skin’s collagen and elastin helps give you a more youthful appearance. Collagen also plays a role in scaring, like happens from acne. Skin remodeling can have an important role in the improved appearance of scarring. 

Over the past three years, I have performed hundreds of dermal filling services and as of this writing, I average about 10 fill treatments a week.  The most popular areas to treat with filler include: lips, cheeks, chin, nasolabial folds, jawline, and under eye area. 

On average, I perform about 20 neuromodulator treatments per week, with three years of injecting experience and I use Botox Cosmetic 99% of the time (Dysport 1%).

Back in the day when I first started practice, my dear friend Dr. Kasten and I held a B12 Happy Hour once a week.  This quickly became a sought-after event, and while COVID shut the happy hour down, B12 injection remains a service I offer.  This week I discuss what vitamin B12 is, who is most susceptible to deficiency, and its benefits.

As you may know, I am formally trained in Chinese Medicine. During a neuromodulator treatment (ie Botox or Dysport), we needle common acupuncture points. This week we learn about acupuncture, common points treated with Botox, and why we use these points. 

We have learned that what we put in our body can be reflected through skin health. Adhering to a clean diet abundant in fresh foods and vegetables for fiber, clean proteins, and minimal sugar supports the body’s natural detoxification process and elimination of toxins. Minimizing our sugar intake is super important here because our body becomes less efficient and detoxification and elimination (1).  

The status of our nutrition can be seen through the skin. In fact, nutritional deficiencies often first appear on our skin. Nutritional deficiencies can stem from both vitamin and mineral deficiencies (micronutrient) as well as carbohydrate, fat, and protein (macronutrient). You are more likely to have a nutritional deficiency if you adhere to a restrictive or inadequate diet, drink alcohol excessively, or have digestive issues.

Fall is around the corner and the season for resurfacing treatments like peels and microneedling are here!  I am proud to have invested in the Skinpen, the world’s first FDA-cleared microneedling device. Integrating microneedling treatments into your self-care regimen will rejuvenate your skin, address uneven skin tone, and facial acne scarring .

There are two ways to assess food’s impact on blood sugar: the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL). GI measures the impact of a carbohydrate-containing food on blood glucose levels. Ideally, we eat low GI foods so that only small fluctuations in blood glucose are produced. Examples of low GI foods include: legumes (ie soy, kidney, beans, lentils, chickpeas), nuts (ie almonds, walnuts), seeds (ie pumpkin, flax, sesame, most intact grains (oat, barley, spelt), and most vegetables and fruits (ie peaches and berries). 

Our lifestyle choices impact the quality of our skin. Past writings have taught us that inflammation, microbiome imbalance,  and oxidative damage can set the stage for unwanted outcomes like acne, dermatitis, skin cancers, and accelerated aging. This week we learn how blood sugar issues also impact the health of our skin. The information is inspired by Dr. Trevor Cates, author of Clean Skin From Within: The Spa Doctor’s 2-Week Program to Glowing, Naturally Youthful Skin. 

The garden is going off; I have a jungle of sunflowers, a dehydrator full of asian pears, and every day we’re eating tomatoes, cucumbers, and/or beans. I come from gardeners (we pretty much all do). I remember snacking on cherry tomatoes in my grandma’s garden, eggplant from Auntie Linnea’s, and that time Auntie Val planted a strawberry garden in our backyard. My mama’s got a vegetable-producing touch that I only aspire to and my Auntie Val homesteads her way into winter. Watching a garden grow and flower and fruit makes me happy. I believe that having a garden, even if it’s only a pot of herbs, sets the stage for healthy, clear, and youthful skin. This week I show how having a garden supports optimal skin. 

Long, thick, and dark eyelashes are sought after characteristics with potential to elevate our confidence and self perception. We’ve all used mascara, the most accessible and traditional way to highlight and thicken the lashes. Artificial lashes are all the rage and with dramatic outcomes. Then there’s Latisse, or bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03%, which is an FDA-approved treatment to grow eyelashes for those lacking (1). 

Last week we learned about oxidative damage and its negative impact on the skin. In short, exposure to things like UV radiation from the sun and other toxins, like from smoking, causes free radicals in the skin and when production exceeds our natural antioxidant defenses, damage occurs. The skin is on the forefront of our defense and comes in more contact with the outside world than any other organ; the skin therefore, is where the first signs of aging occur.  

Last week we learned that healthy skin comes from a healthy body and that inflammation and microbiome disturbance are two possible root causes for bad skin. This week we learn about oxidative damage and how this, too, contributes to accelerated aging and other skin conditions. The content below is inspired from the book Clean Skin From Within By Dr. Trevor Cates.

The state of our skin may represent the state of our inner health.  Skin is our LARGEST organ and when our digestion, hormones, blood sugar, immunity, and other body systems are imbalanced, this can manifest through the skin.  We often treat the skin without considering the possible underlying issues.  This week I discuss two possible causes behind symptomatic skin, adapted from the book Clean Skin From Within by Dr. Trevor Cates. 

Well hello there. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve put a blog out as I’ve leaned into the summer vibes and new freedoms. I have been back and forth to Chicago a couple times, seeing my beloved family, to the coast for the 4th, and a road trip to Port Angeles visiting dear friends. I hope that you too, are adventuring and reconnecting.