Center for Excellence in Dermatology

November Specials

2009-11-02T14:56:00.000-08:00

IPL FotoFacial: Buy One, Get One Half Off
30-day supply of Dermalogica (up to $40 value) free with any extraction treatment.
Purchase a series of 3 or more laser treatments and receive a Clinique Medical 5-product Optimizing Regimen kit, a $235 value, for free.

Offers expire 11/30/09

Coming soon: PCA SKIN® professional chemical peels and daily care products

2009-11-02T14:41:00.000-08:00

Starting approximately mid-November, we will be introducing a new line of skin care products by PCA SKIN® and using their products for medical grade chemical peel cosmetic treatments.

Since 1990, PCA SKIN has partnered with renowned physicians and scientists to help create innovative formulations that are available exclusively through doctors and licensed skin care professionals. PCA SKIN was the first to provide scientifically researched daily care products and professional treatments that are both gentle and effective to the medical and clinical aesthetics markets.

Progressive, not aggressive, peels

PCA SKIN professional treatments are scientifically formulated to gently stimulate, firm and tighten skin. Advanced ingredients are carefully blended and work synergistically to remove dull, damaged surface layers without the downtime often associated with chemical peels. The purpose of peels is not only to exfoliate but more importantly to increase the penetration and absorption of the active ingredients in both the professional treatments and daily care products to target and treat troublesome skin conditions at the cellular level.

Skin conditions addressed by peels include:

Hyperpigmentation/sun damage
acne
chronic dryness
sensitive skin
rosacea
aging skin

Here's an example of an acne patient treated with both a peel and daily care products:

For more examples of before and after photos, go to: http://pcaskin.com/before_after.aspx

Helping hand available

2009-10-28T15:59:00.000-07:00

We've been trying to figure out the best way to meet the needs of our patients who have mobility issues, especially when the ice and snow of winter get here and the sidewalk from our handicapped parking area gets slippery. This can seem like an impossible and treacherous trek if you walk with a cane or a walker or need help in and out of a wheelchair.

So, today we have a new employee, Rich Hoinacki. He will be on hand 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday - Thursday, to give anyone a helping hand who needs it from the parking lot to the waiting room and back again. So if you or someone you are dropping off needs a hand, please park in one of our handicapped spots or as near to them as you can get, call his cell phone at (509) 551-2320 and ask him to come to you. If you don't have a cell phone with you, call before you leave your house and tell him how long it'll take you to get here. And even if you don't need a helping hand, but would like someone to bring you out an umbrella when it's raining, or blanket when you've forgotten your heavy coat, feel free to call. And if you need more than an arm to hold onto, we do have a wheelchair available.

Should you get treatment for your acne scars?

2009-10-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

This is a personal decision that only you can make. Some people feel that acne scars diminish their quality of life. Others can see the same type of scarring as not so bad.

Dermatologists generally recommend making an appointment to talk about treatment if you experience any of the following:

You frequently wish that you could just get rid of your acne scars

You feel that the scars limit your opportunities to date, to get a job or a promotion, or to do well at school

You feel more depressed or less self-confident than before you had acne and acne scarring

You get together with people less often because you feel so self-conscious about the scars

In deciding whether to treat acne scars, it is important to know a few facts about scar treatment. Probably the most important fact is that medical insurance generally does not cover treatment for acne scarring. You will have to pay for the treatment. Be sure to get an estimate for the total cost before starting treatment.

You also should know that scar treatment may require several treatment sessions and some downtime.

Having realistic expectations about the results also is important. While treatment can improve the appearance of your skin, restoring it to the way it looked before you had acne scarring may not be possible. A dermatologist can tell you what you can expect.

For best results, if you still have acne, your dermatologist will probably want to get it under control before addressing your scars. And if you don't have scars, but do have acne, the sooner you get it treated and under control, the less likely you'll be to develop scars.

For more information about treatments dermatologist use for treating acne scars, go to the following American Academy of Dermatology links:

And call us at (509) 735-1100 to make an appointment to discuss your options if you'd like to treat your acne scars. If you have severe scarring you probably want to make your appointment with one of our medical providers. If your acne scarring is less severe, one of our licensed estheticians or laser technicians can give you a free Visia consultation and let you know about the skincare products, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and/or Fraxel laser treatments that can improve your scarring.

October Specials

2009-09-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

Get a free Dermalogica® Skin Brightening System kit with the purchase of 3 ChromaWhite TRx™ facial treatments. Powerful exfoliants and botanical extracts help treat and prevent cellular discoloration for unsurpassed brightening and tonal balance. The ChromaWhite TRx™ Brightening Regimen kit, a $188 value, contains 6 products for brighter, more luminous skin.
Save 20% on all Clinique Medical Skincare products. These clinically proven products are specifically designed to prepare patients for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, minimize unintended effects following a procedure and support the healing process. Available exclusively through physician offices, Clinique Medical's lineup includes pre and post procedure formulas, as well as daily use products.
Purchase 4 Fraxel® treatments and get the 5th one free. Treatments with our Fraxel re:store® laser remove years from your appearance, promoting smoother, fresher looking skin, reducing fine lines around the eyes, as well as improving the appearance of acne scars and surgical scars.
$125 for 6 Blu-U acne treatments. (That's one free.) These blue light treatments kill the bacteria that cause acne, so it's perfect for those with sensitive skin and can be used in conjunction with topical therapies.

September Specials

2009-08-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

Good through Sept. 30, 2009

Celebrate Jane Iredale’s Sweet 15 with a Limited Edition Sweet 15 Kit with $172 in savings.
This is a comprehensive palette with shades for the eyes, cheeks and lips. This makes a great gift or a travel make-up kit.
- Includes 15 shadow shades, three blush shades and three lip shades
- Packaged in a dual compartment palette
- Features a large mirror for easy application
- Perfect for all skin tones
- Wonderful gift idea
A $236 value for only $78, and if you buy this kit before Sept. 30, 2009, you'll also get a free crease brush worth $14.
Get rid of unwanted hair for good with laser hair removal.
Purchase a package of 6 laser hair removal treatments before Sept. 30, 2009, and in addition to the usual 20% discount you'll get the 7th treatment free.
Get your acne under control and look cool for school.
Pre-pay for 3 extraction treatments and get a free Dermalogica Clean Start skincare kit (a $35 value). During an extraction treatment, deep-pore cleansing begins with the Dermalogica double cleanse. A fluid designed to dilate the follicles and soften the impacted sebum (oil and dead skin cells that form the pimple) is then applied. After thorough steaming, manual extractions are performed. Direct high frequency current may be applied to reduce redness and inflammation. Post-extraction solution is applied to further purify the affected areas. Oil-free moisturizer and sunblock complete the treatment. Then take home the Clean Start kit which includes a cleanser, toner, pore-refining scrub, overnight acne treatment and a lightweight moisturizer with sunscreen.

Which colors should you wear?

2009-08-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

According to an article on Yahoo, there are some colors that work well for everyone's skin and hair tones. Not surprisingly, Jane Iredale has make-up colors to match these outfits.

Call (509) 735-1100 today to schedule your free personalized makeup session to try out these colors in person. During the 30-minute lesson using Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, you'll have a chance to test out different colors to flatter your skin and hair and get more beauty tips.

Visit our website to check out all our current specials.

Rooting out hair loss in women

2009-08-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

More hair in the shower drain, a widening part or a smaller ponytail may be the first signs a woman is losing her hair. Hair loss in women is a common, but distressing problem.

Causes

There are several different reasons women may experience thinning hair including:

Hair treatments: Including bleaching, permanent waving and certain hairstyles
Stress: Such as childbirth, illness, surgery, grief, dramatic weight loss or gastric bypass surgery, cancer treatments
Trichotillomania (hair pulling): Twisting or pulling as a bad habit or result of psychological condition
Medical conditions: Including lupus, thyroid disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, starting or stopping oral contraceptives, iron or protein deficiency, chronic thyroid diseases, tinea capitis (scalp ringworm) fungal infection, alopecia areata (a rare autoimmune disorder where the body’s white blood cells attack the hair follicles) or inflammation of the hair follicles (cicatricial alopecia)
Heredity (androgenetic alopecia): Like men, women can inherit thinning hair from either side of their family tree. Unlike men who typically have a bald patch or a receding hairline, women with hereditary hair loss, have hair that thins all over the crown, usually leaving the hairline intact.

Treatments

The earlier the cause of your hair loss is discovered and treated, the better the chances that you will be able to re-grow your lost hair.

If hair loss is caused by stress; no treatment is usually needed since it will grow back on its own once the trigger is gone.
Treatment of underlying medical causes may re-grow hair.
Over-the-counter 2% minoxidil solution for women stimulates re-growth in about 60% of women with hereditary hair loss. The 5% minoxidil solution is not FDA approved for women, but can also be used successfully to re-grow hair.
Medications such as finasteride (FDA-approved for male hair loss but used off-label for women) and anti-androgens spironolactone and flutamide are sometimes prescribed. These medications carry the risk of birth defects so oral contraceptives must be used in conjunction with them if the woman is able to get pregnant.
Cortisone medication either applied to the skin or injected helps some women re-grow hair.
Hair transplanting can be used to move hair from denser areas to thinning areas, and used in conjunction with topical or oral medications.

Why you need to see a dermatologist:

Dermatologists will do some detective work to get an accurate diagnosis that will give someone the best chance of re-growing their hair. They will take a complete medical history and visually inspect hair and scalp during the visit. They may ask what hair products and treatments are being used. They may also tug at a person's hair to determine the roots' health, look at hair on other parts of the body, take a scalp biopsy, do bloodwork or other testing in order to figure out the cause of the problem. And the sooner you get to the root of your hair loss problem, the more likely you'll be able to regrow your hair.

If you think your hair is thinning, call us at (509) 735-1100 to make an appointment today.

For more information, go to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Flash exfoliation

2009-08-10T13:27:00.000-07:00

Get smoother skin in a flash with Flash Exfoliation. Recommended for sun-damaged or prematurely-aging skin, this professional strength exfoliation treatment will help stimulate cell renewal and cell turnover rates while smoothing skin and improving texture. The cost is $75 per treatment or $65 each if you prepay for a package of 6 treatments. Now through Sept. 21, 2009, you can also get a free $25 hand treatment with any exfoliation. Call (509) 735-1100 to make your appointment today.

Alternative uses for Jane Iredale cosmetics

2009-08-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a list of new and unusual ways Jane Iredale make-up can be used. These strange-but-true alternative uses were gathered from blogs, Twitter, etc. Have some of your own? Don't be shy, post them here!

Truly Pure, Jane Iredale's makeup brush shampoo, makes an amazing sulphate free shampoo for your hair!
Disappear takes the itch out of mosquito bites.
The zap (clear) side of Zap&Hide smooths severely dry, flaky lips.
Botanical Brush Cleaner makes a great DEET-free and pleasant smelling bug repellent especially if you don't like the smell of Citronella.
D20 tames frizzy hair!
Pommisst can be used like Fabreeze, spray it on bedding and clothes for a sweet smell. D20 also keeps sweaters fresh when you pack them away for winter.
Balance can be used in a pinch as a substitute for deodorant; perhaps it is the Tea Tree Oil in it.
One person wrote that when she had a skin rash, her doctor suggested she use something with Titanium Dioxide in it. She dusted herself with Powder-Me SPF and her skin felt better and it also helped camouflage the spots.
One esthetician uses shades from our Super Shape Me Brow Kit to cover up her clients' roots between hair colorings.
Lip Drink conditions and tames unruly brows. This is great for busy-morning makeup!

Call (509) 735-1100 today to schedule your free personalized makeup session. During the 30-minute lesson using Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, you'll have a chance to test out the products mentioned here if you'd like and get more beauty tips.

And check out all our current specials on our website.

August Specials

2009-07-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

We've got three specials good until August 31, 2009 :

Free Lipstick with $100 Purchase: Get a free Jane Iredale PureMoist™ LipColour of your choice (a $19 value) with the purchase of $100 or more of Jane Iredale cosmetics. With 32 fashion shades to choose from, ranging from matte to shimmer, you're sure to find your perfect color. It's also SPF 18 so it will protect your lips from the summer sun while it moisturizes.
Free Dermalogica® AGE smart™ starter kit (a $50 value) with the purchase of a package of six AGE smart™ facial treatments. As always, by prepaying for a series of 6 AGE smart™ facial treatments, you will also get the 7th treatment for free.
Free FotoFacial™: Buy a 3-treatment package of IPL FotoFacial™ treatments for skin discoloration and get the 4th one free (a $380 value). As always, by prepaying for 3 IPL FotoFacial™ treatments, you will also get 10% the regular price.

These offers cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts.

Don't neglect your neck

2009-07-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

Necks can often give away a person's age easier than their faces. Part of this is because the skin on your neck is thinner than everywhere else on your body and has fewer oil glands. Some of it is just that we take better care of our faces until we notice that time has taken its toll on our necks.

"Most of us don't think about our neck until, well, let's say...a little later," says Dawn Risk, a licensed esthetician at the Center for Excellence in Dermatology.

However, it's never too late to start pampering your neck. We carry the complete line of Dermalogica® products. Of those, Dawn suggests a few for taking care of your neck:

daily microfoliant® ($50): There's a reason this is Dermalogica®'s most popular product. Use this exfoliant after cleansing and before toning to instantly leave skin noticeably smoother and brighter.
super rich repair ($75): Use this super-concentrated, heavyweight moisturizer at night. An active soy isoflavonoid helps stimulate collagen and Hyaluronic Acid production.
extra rich faceblock spf30 ($48): Use this moisturizer/sunblock combination to protect your neck from sun-induced wrinkles and brown spots.

If you usually use a lighter moisturizer, Risk says, "Heavier moisturizer on the neck is usually tolerated well except for acneic or very oily skin types."

If you'd like to learn more about Dermalogica®'s products, call (509) 735-1100 today to book an Introductory Facial ($80). This hour-long treatment and lesson are perfect for anyone wanting a change in their skin or home skincare regimen. It includes a free 30-day supply of Dermalogica® products that are right for your skin.

If the right skincare products alone aren't enough to cure your neck problems, call (509) 735-1100 today to schedule a free consultation with one of our laser technicians. They will be able to tell you if one of our laser packages can help reverse the premature aging of your neck.

*Prices subject to change without notice.

Shine without looking shiny

2009-07-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

Even if you don't have oily skin, chances are good that your face will have some extra shine to it in the summer. There are some Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics that we carry to help keep down the shine when the temperatures rise:

Absence® Oil Control Primer ($35.50): Apply this under your foundation with a Foundation Brush ($35.80).
PureMatte™ Finish Powder ($36) or Brush-Me Matte ($46) can go over or under your mineral foundation. They are also great for touch-ups during the day after using Facial Blotting Papers ($11 with compact, $4.50 for refills) to remove the excess oil.

*Prices subject to change without notice.

Indoor Tanning is Out

2009-07-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

The American Academy of Dermatology obviously knows that jingles will jiggle in your brain long after you've forgotten the same thing when someone just tells it to you. That's why they've come up with a song as part of their Indoor Tanning is Out campaign. We won't waste our time telling you about the campaign, just listen to the song:

If you can't see the video above, you can watch it at YouTube. Or you can download the MP3 from from the AAD.

Treating acne with light

2009-07-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

There's an interesting clinical study that came out recently in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology that examined the effects of three different phototherapies on moderate to severe acne. The effects of of pulsed dye laser (PDL), intense pulsed light (IPL) and blue-red combination light-emitting diode (LED) treatments were reported in the "Phototherapy in the treatment of acne vulgaris" article. Here are some highlights from the paper:

One advantage phototherapies have over standard topical and oral acne treatments is that patients don't have to do anything in between treatments, like remembering to take their pills or apply their lotions.
PDL took fewer treatments to work. It took an average of 4 PDL, 6 IPL or10 LED treatments to clear up the faces of the test subjects. (They counted a person's face as clear if they had 90% fewer zits than when they started.)
After one month of treatments, PDL had cleared the most zits at 73.75% reduction compared to 41.68% for IPL and 35.64% for LED. (PDL and IPL treatments were given once a week and LED treatments were give twice a week. So on average those gettting PDL treatments had clear faces in 4 weeks, LED in 5 weeks and IPL in 6 weeks of treatments.)
All phototherapies tested in the study were easy to deliver, well tolerated, pain-free and side-effect free and gave a satisfyingly high clearance rate in patients with inflammatory acne.

So, PDL looks like the choice if speed and the fewest number of treatments are essential. The LED treatments take the most treatments but are also the most economical. (At our office we have two blue light machines, ClearLight® and BLU-U® which are similar in treatment effects to the red-blue LED light that was in the study. Twenty-minute acne treatments with these cost only $25 each.)

If topical or oral treatments aren't working for you, you have options. And we have those options available here. Call 509-735-1100 today to schedule your PDL, IPL or blue light treatment today.

For more information about using laser and light treatments for acne, take a look at this article from the American Academy of Dermatology.

And check out all our current specials on our website.

Prevent Skin Cancer Today

2009-06-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

The Today Show recently ran a good segment on sunscreen and how to help prevent skin cancer. If you can't view the video below, you can go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/31506339#31506339

Best Acne Fighter Sold Here

2009-06-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

Readers of AOL Health named Dermalogica’s MediBac Clearing® as the Best Acne Fighter for those in their 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond!

The average reader rating of Dermalogica MediBac Clearing® was 9.5 out of ten. “Why: Readers ‘love Dermalogica,’ and particularly praise this product for ‘working harder on adult oil and congestion.’

‘My skin started to clear up without drying effects,’ says one reader.

‘I use the (Clearing Skin Wash) cleanser…(Sebum Clearing Masque) masque…and my skin has transformed,” says another.

Read the complete article at AOL Health, and stop by our office. We carry the complete line of Dermalogica MediBac Clearing® products.

First Person: Botox

2009-06-22T14:32:00.000-07:00

Well, they say a picture's worth a thousand words. And the before and after photos from my Botox treatment below certainly say a lot. (By the way, try to ignore the red dots on the before photos. We forgot to take pictures until after the marks indicating where the injections were to go were made.)

I was skeptical about the results before getting Botox. I knew that people got Botox to get rid of the vertical lines between their eyebrows. And I did have the so-called "11s" if I was frowning, but not all the time. What really convinced me to get it done was that some people who get tension headaches stop getting them after Botox. And sure enough the headaches I use to get from frowning or squinting too much are now gone. I'm going through much less Advil now which is a good thing.

I also let Stacey Lemire, the physician's assistant in charge of injecting Botox at our office, talk me into getting Botox to relax the horizontal lines across my forehead whenever I raise my eyebrows, and the crow's feet I get when I smile. In fact, if she had to only pick one area, she said the crow's feet was the one for me. Looking at the results, I'm hooked. The fact that even when my face is at rest that some of the lines under my eyes are gone is great.

The fact that I almost instantly looked less wrinkled is what will keep me coming back for more.

Check out more information about cosmetic Botox here. And give us a call at 509-735-1100 to schedule your Botox appointment.

Before & After

Frown

Notice that even when I'm trying, I can no longer create the vertical lines between my brows:

Surprise

There's no more horizontal forehead furrows:

Smile

Not only are most of the crow's feet gone when I smile, but my eyes look less squinty and more open too:

Relax

Even when I'm not making any faces at the camera, you can tell that the lines under my eyes are diminished:

Written by Jackie Johnston, the marketing coordinator for the Center for Excellence in Dermatology.

Laser Hair Removal

2009-06-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

Our Cutera CoolGlide Laser for laser hair removal recently broke down. Instead of getting it repaired, we've just ordered a new and improved machine, the Cynosure's Elite Aesthetic Workstation. Its larger spot size means a shorter treatment time for you. It's also more powerful and more effective at targeting lighter hairs than the old one. We'll have the new machine delivered, up and running in about 2 weeks, so call (509) 735-1100 now to book your appointment.

Check out our June specials here.

Cigna Expiring

2009-06-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

Just an FYI: We've decided not to renew our contract with Cigna insurance when it expires on Aug. 9, 2009. We apologize for any inconvenience.

First person: Sun Damage, Part 1

2009-06-04T16:21:00.000-07:00

Click here to watch the video clip on YouTube.

Whether you want to call them sunspots, age spots, photodamage, hyperpigmentation or just ugly brown patches, I've got them. (Chalk it up to growing up in California during the disco era back when tanning contests were all the rage and you slathered on coconut-scented oil before going outside in order to help you bake faster instead of sunscreen!)

Anyway, the brown spots I hate the most are on my face, just because they're more noticeable. I've tried various topical treatments to try to get rid of them. Products with hydroquinone worked fairly well, but I stopped using them when I read about hydroquinone causing cancer in rats. (Who knows if the same is true for humans or not, but I didn't feel like taking any chances.) And I've been making some visible progress with the hydroquinone-free ChromaWhite system by Dermalogica that we sell at work, but I'm just not a very patient person. I want those spots gone now!

So today I had my first of six treatments that are part of our Sun Damage Package, which is made up of three IPL and three Fraxel treatments. Today was the IPL, short for Intense Pulsed Light. If you've ever heard of Photo Rejuvenation or FotoFacial Light Therapy, this is the same thing. We generally call it a laser treatment, but IPL is not really a laser. The machine generates short bursts of very bright light which are absorbed by the darker pigment in brown patches of skin. The body then gets rid of these damaged cells as part of the natural healing process, leaving even-toned skin behind. IPL machines are also used to treat rosacea, telangiectasia, vascular lesions, and other pigmented lesions.

OK, so much for the technical stuff. What's it really like? Well, I showed up for my appointment and Jennifer, one of our laser technicians, first wanted to get some of the infamous before pictures so I removed my makeup so she could get good look at the brown spots. (Hint: Next time, I'll save some time and come without make-up.) The camera for this is attached to a contraption that keeps your head, the camera and the lights in some pre-defined positions so that when I go back for the after photos, they'll be easier to compare.

Next I was given a little jar of numbing cream and directions how to put it on using a mirror in our medical spa's waiting room. I was told to put it on nice and thick. I remember she said it was lidocaine mixed with some sort of petroleum jelly. It made my face look really shiny, and started to turn my skin splotchy. Then came a half hour wait. There are plenty of magazines and even some snacks and drinks in the waiting room, but I was anxious to get started. The numbing cream did as advertised and my face started feeling alien to my body, complete with tingly lips, in no time.

Finally Jennifer led me to one of the treatment rooms. She told me about the IPL machine and showed me the icy tip of the device that keeps your skin comfortable during the treatment. I was also given a little wand that blows cold air and told how to direct it during the treatment. After taking off the numbing gel and applying some cooling gel, she then put on these very small high-tech-looking black-out goggles. They're fairly tight and I couldn't see anything through them. (Hint: Next time, I'll make sure to take off my eye make-up. It was really a mess after the treatment.)

OK, so I'm laying down all nice and comfy on the treatment table and Jennifer puts the cold IPL handpiece on my skin, which I could barely feel on my numbed face. Then she warns me that there will be a bright light. ("Yeah, right," I'm thinking. "I can't see a thing with these goggles on.") Then: Pop! There was a little zap feeling to my skin which was noticeable but not painful with this weirdly bright light that I could see even through the opaque goggles. I was so surprised I must have flinched halfway across the table. Jennifer, very patiently asked if I was OK, and reassured me that the light pulse was perfectly safe because of the goggles and wasn't going to blind me even though I was still seeing a red blur of afterimage from the pulse.

Long story, short: The freaky light pulses were what I noticed most about the treatment. There was no pain. I could feel a little zap to my skin — which I've heard described as a rubber band snap — but that's all. I didn't even really need the cold air wand thingy. Jennifer continued to zap little sections of skin all around my face. She scraped off gel as she went, and went back over a few areas on a different setting after the first pass.

The session itself took maybe 15 minutes. When she was done, Jennifer took the goggles off. And after my eyes adjusted, thankfully, I could see again! Then I got what we joked was a little mini-facial: Jennifer cleaned the remnants of the numbing gel off my face and applied some Dermalogica Soothing Protection Spray and some Z-Silc Plus sunscreen. I took a look in the mirror afterwards and wished I had brought my makeup with me. My face was a bit blotchy from the numbing gel and the treatment still. In fact, it took my face a few more hours to get rid of the numb feeling completely. But I was able to go back to work with no problems, no downtime. As feeling returned to my face it was a little warm and a little tight, sort of like a slight sunburn.

By the end of the day, my face looked and felt normal except that the freckles on my face were much darker, a sure sign that they'll soon be gone. I can't wait!

Written by Jackie Johnston, the marketing coordinator for the Center for Excellence in Dermatology.

Psoriasis linked to diabetes, high blood pressure

2009-05-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

A study that tracked over 1800 women with psoriasis since 1991 found that they are more likely to develop diabetes and high blood pressure than those who didn't have psoriasis. Because inflammation is a factor in psoriasis, hypertension and pre-diabetic insulin resistance, it's possible that this underlying link is the reason behind the findings.

Read the complete story at MSNBC.

Read more about psoriasis and its treatment on our website.

Tadpoles help with skin cancer drug development

2009-05-15T15:09:00.000-07:00

When melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, goes untreated, the mutant pigment cells that are normally responsible for the color of your skin, the melanocytes, start to spread to other parts of the body and form tumors. That's when it becomes almost impossible to stop the disease, and that's why scientists like Grant Wheeler of Britain are looking for a drug that would prevent skin cancer from spreading.

To test out potential drugs, Wheeler has been using tadpoles. Fertilized frog eggs are exposed to the compound being tested and if the tadpoles that grow from the eggs don't develop their normal pattern of color markings it means that the drug has prevented their pigment cells from spreading.

Wheeler has found a compound that does just that, and hopes that it means that it could be used in the future to prevent malignant pigment cells from spreading in humans. Until then, the best way to prevent skin cancer from spreading is early detection. So contact us and make your appointment for a full body skin exam today.

Read the full story on MSNBC.

Read more about skin cancer, melanoma and full-body skin exams on our website.

Clinique Medical

2009-05-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

We are now carrying Clinique Medical, a line of clinically proven products specifically designed to prepare patients for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, minimize unintended effects following a procedure and support the healing process. Available exclusively through physician offices, Clinique Medical's lineup includes pre and post procedure formulas, as well as daily use products.

Optimizing Regimen

The 5-product Optimizing Regimen is specifically formulated to help complement the benefits of non-surgical cosmetic procedures, including chemical peels, microdermabrasions, and IPL and fractionated laser treatments. Clinically proven to help both significantly reduce the unintended effects following a procedure and complement its outcomes, this regimen is designed to be an at-home extension of in-office procedures.

$230 for 5-product Optimizing Regimen Kit

Dry Spot Balm

This ultra-hydrating formula helps to relieve discomfort, especially on or around the lips, eyes, nose and other facial areas experiencing extreme dryness that is often associated with certain prescription medications.

All formulas are:

Allergy tested
100% fragrance free
No preservatives
Non-acnegenic
Physician tested and clinically proven

Check out our website for all the specials we're running in May.

FYI: The date of Stacey Lemire's skin cancer talk has been changed to Thursday, June 25.

Gift Basket Raffle

2009-04-30T16:39:00.000-07:00

The staff at the Center for Excellence in Dermatology will be participating in this year's Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society's signature fund-raiser. The Relay for Life raises much-needed funds to fight cancer and raise awareness of cancer prevention and treatment.

Each year 3.5 million people nationwide are brought together for local Relay for Life events to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost to the disease and fight to put an end to the disease.

And this year, we have a fun way you can help our team raise money: Stop by and get a $1 raffle ticket for your chance to win one of nine different gift baskets we've put together (most of which are worth over a hundred dollars each):

Movie Time Basket: Everything for the movie lover: Popcorn, hot air popper, soda, candy, lap blanket, 5 DVDs and 4 movie passes from Fairchild Cinemas.
Fisherman's Haul: This basket is full of all kinds of different hooks, lures and bait, a Bass Master magazine, lure box, bait box, and even a small first aid kit.
Wake-up Time Basket: Two pounds of Starbucks coffee, one from Columbia, one from Brazil, two kinds of Tazo tea, and some milk chocolate and dark chocolate covered coffee beans.
Animal Lover: This pet bed “basket” includes lots of great stuff for your cat and dog: Food, treats, toys, grooming brush, food bowl, and more.
Bath Time: Basket includes warm vanilla sugar scented products from Bath & Body Works including lotion, bath gel, hand sanitizer, sanitizing hand soap, shampoo and conditioner.
Stress Relief Basket: Dermalogica’s skincare kit for normal/dry skin, stress relief oil, mineral salts, candle, and Ti-Silc sheer SPF 45 sunblock.
Fun for Kids Basket: Lots of toys, games and puzzles to keep your child entertained for hours.
Gourmet Food from Washington State: Cake, cookies, tea, salmon, soup, candied corn, jam and coffee, all in a tote bag.
Sachi Lunch Tote: Bean soup, crackers, cherries and nuts all in a handy thermal-lined lunch bag from Sachi

We will be holding the raffle on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, so your last day to purchase raffle tickets is Monday, June 1, 2009.

Check out our website for all the specials we're running in May.