why doesn’t PCA SKIN recommend using acetone to prep for a peel?

To maximize the penetration and benefits of a chemical peel, peel solutions must be applied by a physician or licensed professional onto clean, degreased skin. As a strong and biocompatible solvent, it would seem that acetone would be a good choice for this purpose.  Although this is the selected method for some, acetone used prior to chemical peeling removes not only the excess sebum that could impede peel penetration, but it also removes an unnecessary amount of the essential cholesterol and lipids from the skin. This tends to leave the skin over-stripped and dry post-procedure, and in the weeks following treatment. A more gentle, yet highly effective option is Smoothing Toner.

PCA SKIN recommends Smoothing Toner to our Certified Professionals, as it is an exceptional choice for preparing skin for the application of any of the PCA SKIN peel solutions. After cleansing with Facial Wash Oily/Problem, this lactic and citric acid-based astringent gently removes any remaining debris or sebum that could reduce the penetration of the selected solution. This method has not only delivered excellent results for over 20 years, but it is a much more pleasant experience for the patient. Acetone is not an unsafe choice, but the dramatic removal of lipids from the skin can be uncomfortable on the skin. With peels that can be performed as frequently as every two weeks (depending on skin condition), an enjoyable treatment experience is obviously preferable. Achieving healthy, beautiful skin depends not only on the daily care a patient uses and the professional treatments you apply, but also relies on the compliance of the patient to return for their scheduled appointments.  Making your treatments pleasant as well as effective will help you deliver for your clientele.

the truth about indoor tanning

There was a time when many thought that indoor tanning was actually a good thing. People would routinely tan indoors prior to vacations to avoid getting a sunburn from outdoor exposure.  The truth is that indoor tanning is a highly dangerous activity that increases skin cancer risks dramatically. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School collected data from over 73,000 female nurses from 1989-2009. The research indicated that not only are younger tanners at a higher risk, but even just ONE indoor tanning visit a year increased a woman’s likelihood of developing basal cell carcinoma by 10%. Six or more visits increased that chance by 82%.   Just four tanning sessions increased the chances of non-melanoma skin cancers by 15% and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 11%. Melanoma is projected to kill 8,790 Americans this year alone. Those are scary numbers.

In addition to the increased cancer risks, indoor tanning creates oxidative damage and increases the visible signs of aging.  The moral of this story is that any tanning is dangerous. To maintain healthy and beautiful skin, indoor tanning should be avoided and daily use of  broad-spectrum UV protection should become habit. Feel free to contact us at PCA SKIN with any questions you may have about protecting yourself from UV damage and skin cancer or to find the best sun protection product for your skin.

planning a successful event for your practice

One of the most fun ways to bring both current and new patients through the doors of your practice is to hold an open house event. Many successful practices hold their events at the same time each year, and as the time approaches, patients will begin to ask about it so they can keep that date open in their calendars.

Holding an open house also gets your name out into the community, and many people who find out about it are pleasantly surprised to know there is a skin care practice in their area.

There are many different things you can do to attract people, such as partnering with neighboring businesses, such as wine and beverage stores, catering companies, clothing stores, jewelry stores, etc. Many times these other businesses are happy to work with you to gain exposure for their businesses as well. Partnering with a charity is also a way to attract people to your event. Make it known that a certain percentage of the event’s proceeds will go to a specific charity, and people are more willing to purchase.

Another great way to bring people in is to have different representatives from the product/products that you carry set up a ‘demo’ in each of your treatment rooms. For example, you can have a microdermabrasion demonstration in the first room, in the second room a demonstration of a chemical peel on the hands, in the third room a massage, and at the end a make-up application. Your guests will appreciate having a snack and a drink while learning about and experiencing what your practice has to offer.

Be sure to hold a raffle or drawing. Many companies are more than willing to provide products or services for you to raffle off during your event, plus it adds an exciting element to the evening.

Regardless of the way you choose to plan for your event, get your invitations out early and as the date approaches, follow up with reminder phone calls or contact local media to get the word out.

Planning events can be fun for both the practice and the public…..  And what better way to promote your business than to have a party!

why more isn’t always better

In a world of instant gratification where waiting for anything seems unnecessary, we tend to assume that anything we want can be achieved instantaneously. When it comes to correcting skin challenges, this cannot be the assumption. It is common for professionals and consumers alike to seek out the strongest products and treatments available because they assume that the strongest, biggest, fastest MUST be the best. In fact, overly aggressive products and treatments not only do not correct skin challenges, but they are often their cause.

Skin functions as the largest organ of the human body. Its critical importance in leading a healthy life is often overlooked.  Causing unnecessary inflammation triggers defensive mechanisms in the skin that can lead to redness, swelling, rashes, oxidative damage and hyperpigmentation.  The best way to achieve healthy and beautiful skin is to take a low dose approach.  This means using products and treatments that contain the appropriate levels of actives necessary to instigate positive changes in the skin, not too strong, as that can lead to inflammation and irritation.  The days of ‘no pain, no gain’ are thankfully long gone.

All PCA SKIN products and treatments are formulated with this low dose philosophy. One might think that lower percentages of acids or actives means consenting to wait longer for results.  This is not the case.  Often when following the ‘more isn’t better’ approach, dramatic results are achieved even more quickly.

Feel free to contact us anytime at (877) 722.7546 with questions or to find out more about becoming a PCA SKIN Certified Professional. You can also visit us at pcaskin.com, on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @PCASKIN.