Blog | Cosmetic Dermatology Articles

Knowledge is power, and the more you understand about skincare products, the more effective your decisions will be. (Not to mention the money you'll no longer waste on pretty jars that are mostly just pretty jars.) Not knowing where to start or what the true core skin care needs are leaves most people guessing and at the mercy of the...

Safe Actives for Sensitive Skin

Active ingredients can be a broad and confusing term in Skincare. What most professionals mean by “Actives” is a reference to products and ingredients that exfoliate and speed up cell turnover such as Retinoids, AHA/BHA, or Manual exfoliating scrubs. These sometimes strong ingredients can be used together in a weekly skincare routine, but for those with already “Sensitive Skin” this...

Halo and Broadband Light Before and After

Halo and Broadband Light Combination procedures can make a remarkable difference in achieving the results you want. A particularly beneficial combination is Halo Laser and BBL (IPL with customizable filters). BBL is a light source. Discolorations of red and/or brown are easily minimized with broad band light alone. You may be more familiar with the terms IPL, Intense pulsed light...

Summer Skin SOS

Fight low humidity with a humidifier. A/C removes moisture from the air in your car, office, and home. Spritz - keep a small container of Evian or Avene thermal water, or your fine mister with bottled water, in your car, purse, night table, or work desk. If you tend to flush or experience persistent redness and want to use...

Antioxidant Power Players

Don't miss our Once-a-Year Promotions Vitamin C has long been THE star of the antioxidant family. With newer formulations, nearly every skin, even the sensitive, can benefit from the serious actions of Vitamin C. Major topical antioxidants and their benefits: Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid): Helps brighten skin tone, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, protects against...

The Stay-All-Day Foundation Dilemma

"I wear makeup most days and I struggle getting it all off. Why is my regular cleanser not working?" One of the best things about today's foundation is that it stays! One of the worst things about today's foundation is that it stays! Between primers, stay-all-day makeup, concealers, and setting sprays, your cleanser might very well be losing the battle....

Angie’s Skin Care Favorites

Your skin needs help, but how do you decide exactly what? Our Nurse Practitioner Angela Sarff has a short list of top favorites. Acne-prone and/or oily skin begging for a balancing product? SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF - A great antioxidant (Vitamin C) for Acne-prone skin. Silymarin helps balance lipid/sebum in overactive oily skin. It also has brightening effects. Easily irritated...

Skin Recovery When You’ve Overdone It

"I've wrecked my skin!! Now my face is red, stinging, crazy sensitive, with little peeling patches. I thought an expensive glycolic serum (from a major shop no less) would be a great way to improve roughness and dark spots. Wrong! Now I'm worried I'll look even worse when, and if, my skin recovers. What should I do?" No one...

Appearance Matters – How Looks are Linked to Work Value

“I’m older than many of my colleagues and not retiring anytime soon. I know appearance matters but I don’t want to do anything drastic. How can I project a more energetic image and not stand out because I'm the obvious 'senior' in the office?” More people can relate to you than you can imagine. Baby boomers are aging but working...

Why Choose Thermage Skin Tightening?

As we age, sagging skin and loss of firmness become inevitable. While surgical options were once the only choice for improving skin tightness, non-surgical alternatives have revolutionized the field of aesthetics. Thermage skin tightening offers a non-invasive, no-downtime solution to improve skin firmness and contours for the face, eyes, and body. If you desire a more youthful appearance without undergoing...

When is the Best Age to Start Getting Injectable Treatments?

Injectables are an effective way to turn back the clock and reverse the signs of aging. In fact, injectable treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers have become some of the most sought-after facial rejuvenation solutions in recent years. One of the most common questions Dr. Fitzgerald receives from patients interested in these treatments involves the right time to...

What to Ask Your Dermatologist About Your Skin

When you go to the dermatologist, it’s important to have questions ready to ask about your skin and any problems you may have noticed since your last visit. For example, moles continue to appear throughout your life and may need to be removed periodically and tested for skin cancer. Additionally, many men and women struggle with acne in silence and don’t ask...

Your Guide to Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are an effective way to restore a more youthful facial appearance. These treatments can have a dramatic impact by restoring lost facial volume and smoothing wrinkles. If you’re looking for a nonsurgical facial rejuvenation solution, dermal fillers may be an excellent option to address your goals. Are Dermal Fillers Right for Me? Dermal fillers are an injectable treatment...

Your Guide to Beautiful Skin

Maintaining beautiful, healthy skin requires diligent effort on your part. The actions you take daily will play a major role in the condition of your skin. Your skin can be beautiful no matter what age you are if you take the time. Remove makeup every day. If you use long-lasting makeup, do a double cleanse with a cleanser to break...

A New World of Wrinkle Busters?

A new world of wrinkle busters? Botox has never had any true non-toxin or non-injection competition, but there are new wrinkle-busters out there. Here are some pretty interesting technologies that are/were designed to compete with today’s neurotoxins like Botox, Daxxify, Dysport, and Xeomin. (By the way, this is only FYI information – none of these procedures are used in our...

What’s in my Wrinkle Filler?

If you wonder what’s in the syringe that’s used to fill in a wrinkle or a fold, restore facial volume and plump up lips, you’ll be glad to know most of it is pretty simple stuff! Here’s a component list and what each means • Hyaluronic Acids (Juvederm, Restylane, and Prevelle) are made from sugar molecules. These molecules are chemically “cross...

What is Micro-Coring? Meet Ellacor®

Ellacor® is a new, non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment that utilizes micro-coring for optimal skin tightening. Precisely what it sounds like, micro-coring uses hollow needles to safely remove microscopic plugs of skin from the treatment area. Once these micro-cores are removed, the body’s natural healing response kicks in, causing the skin to realign while reducing the appearance of fine lines, deep...

What Causes Rosacea And How Can I Treat It?

One common issue, Rosacea, affects millions of Americans by showing up as redness, or even red bumps or pimples, most frequently on the cheeks and nose. Depending on the severity of the Rosacea, it may also show up as red, dry or irritated, and swollen eyes. Despite how common Rosacea is, scientists and doctors alike have still been unable to...

What is Cosmetic Dermatology?

Cosmetic dermatologists are physicians who have chosen to specialize in dermatology services that are aesthetic in nature. This doctor will have completed a dermatology residency after med school. At that point, any dermatologist could choose to describe themselves as a cosmetic specialist, but the true specialists undergo additional training specific to cosmetic treatments. A cosmetic dermatologist will focus her or...

What Causes Rosacea?

If you have visible blood vessels or rough, red skin, you may have a common skin condition known as rosacea. Commonly mistaken for acne or a naturally ruddy complexion, rosacea’s exact cause is unknown. However, there are several environmental and hereditary factors that can trigger symptoms. Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald can help you determine the source of these flare-ups and create...