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Podcast! How to get rid of liver spots
As people age, unsightly blemishes, which we commonly call liver spots, can appear on the face and on the back of the hands. These spots are harmless and painless, but they typically affect the cosmetic appearance. A number of options to get rid of these unsightly spots are discussed.
It had been one of those weeks….and on three occasions clients and friends asked me about liver spots…on their hands, face, décolletage. So, let’s see where liver spots come from, what causes them, what we can do about them if we have them, and most importantly, how we can prevent getting them.
The real short version is that liver spots, also sometimes called age spots, actually result from long-term exposure to sunlight, not liver disease. And here you were thinking that you had got away with all that sun tanning you did when you were younger! So called liver spots tend to increase in number with age. Liver spots, also known as senile lentigines (ouch!), are typically harmless patches of increased pigmentation. They range from “freckle-size” to as much as a few inches across. You would probably also have noticed that they are more prominent in fair-skinned people. They are probably called liver spots because they were once thought to be a sign of a malfunctioning liver – not quite sure how that connection was made - and they are often dark red or brown, the color of liver. Liver spots are extremely common after the age of around 50 and occur most commonly on the forehead and the backs of hands. It is also no coincidence that these are the areas most often exposed to sunlight (get the message?).
The spots are typically flat and always have sharply defined borders. These spots tend to be tan or light brown in color. Although some are oval shaped, they often appear in irregular shapes as well. So called liver spots typically do not darken in response to sunlight. Although it is rare for “liver spots” to become cancerous, if a spot changes in color, size, or shape, you should have it examined by your doctor.
The good news is that you don’t have to live with your “liver spots” any more. There are actually a number of ways to either lighten them, or even get rid of them completely. It is important to remember that the pigment (causing the appearance of the ‘liver spot”) is located at the base of the epidermis, which is the topmost layer of skin. So, any treatments meant to lighten the age spots will need to penetrate through this layer of skin.
In the next article, we will explore how you can get rid of these spots, and what you can do to prevent them.
Noel Halgreen
Sõna MedSpa
Topical anesthetics have been around for a long time. It is believed that the local anesthetic effect of coca was also known and used for medical purposes. The leaves of the coca plant were traditionally used as a stimulant in Peru. Cocaine was first isolated in 1860 and then later put into use as a local anesthetic around 1884. As can be imagined, the search for a less toxic and less addictive substitute had to continue. This led to the development of the aminoester local anesthetic procaine in 1904. Since commercialization of amionester as a local anesthetic, several synthetic local anesthetic drugs have been developed and put into clinical use, such as lidocaine in 1943, bupivacaine in 1957 and prilocaine in 1959.
Skin-numbing products, also known as topical anesthetics, are used most commonly for cosmetic procedures, such as laser hair removal, but we also know them from their use around the house to relieve burning and itching. These topical anesthetics contain anesthetic drugs such as lidocaine, tetracaine, benzocaine, and prilocaine in either a cream format, an ointment, or a gel. Some must be prescribed by a doctor; while others may be purchased without a prescription.
The effect of the anesthesia persists as long as there is a sufficient concentration of local anesthetic at the affected nerves.The effect is typically short lasting and is limited to the area of contact.
When used as directed, these topical anesthetics perform as intended. However, there have been some deaths connected to the application of local anesthetics. The FDA posted a notice in December 2006, warning of the risks associated with the use of compounded topical anesthetic creams. To allay your fears, lets compare lidocaine that is available without a prescription (typically used in the cosmetic industry) to these compounded anesthetics. OTC lidocaine is available at 4% concentration, whereas some of these compounded anesthetics contained up to 10% lidocaine, as well as other anesthetic drugs.
Many clients report that they do not need to use topical anesthetics. If a topical anesthetic is recommended for a procedure and you choose to use one, the FDA suggests you consider the following:
Noel Halgreen
Sõna MedSpa
Sōna Med Spa #8 - Preparing for a Chemical Peel
During your initial consultation, it is important that you discuss your expectations. Expect that the planned procedure will be discussed in detail, including its risks and benefits, the recovery period and the costs.
A “chemical peel” is a procedure that involves the chemical removal of the top, sun-damaged skin to expose more evenly textured, better colored, fresh skin. There is also the possibility that it would stimulate collagen production for an anti-aging effect. A chemical peel can restore a more youthful appearance to wrinkled, sun-damaged, unevenly pigmented, or blotchy skin. However, a peel cannot reverse the aging process or should not be considered for the removal of deep scars.
There are three basic categories of chemical peels. They all work differently, and all produce different results. Generally, the stronger the chemical solution, the deeper the skin peels, and the more impressive the results. Unfortunately, the deeper the peel, the more discomfort you are likely to experience and the longer the recovery time will be.
Light or so called “lunch hour” peels are the mildest of the range of chemical peels. These peels include glycolic, lactic, and fruit acid peels (Alphahydroxy acids, also known as AHAs) or Salicylic Acid (Betahydroxy acid, known as BHAs). These light peels only take off the outer layers of the skin to smooth out fine wrinkles or rough, dry skin, improve the texture of sun-damaged skin, balance out skin pigmentation, or diminish some types of acne scars. In order to achieve the desired results, these peels are often repeated.
A TCA solution (Trichloroacetic acid) is used for medium depth peels. Being a stronger peel than the Alphahydroxy and the Betahydroxy peels, this type of peel is generally used to treat skin with moderate sun damage, surface wrinkles, and uneven tone or pigment abnormalities.
The strongest chemical peel solution consists of a Phenol acid. Phenol peels are used to treat skin with coarse wrinkles and blotchiness.
When the procedure is being performed, most people feel a brief burning sensation. This is followed by a feeling of numbness or stinging. The level of discomfort will vary depending on the type of peel.
Noel Halgreen
Sõna MedSpa
