Clear + Brilliant Laser

I am always on the look out for the latest technology to fight the signs of aging & improve the quality of my skin. Why? Because I'm vain- there I said it.  I also always joke that I've given up below the neck, so I put a lot of effort into maintaining from the neck up! Having our Diva of Dermatology, Dr. Noelle Sherber treating patients at La Papillon has its perks. She's just as obsessed with the latest & greatest advances as I am! We recently brought in the Clear + Brilliant Laser for an event.  The high tech/ low downtime laser is all the buzz amongst celebrities.

So of course, I wanted to experience it & give you Beauties a behinds the scenes peek! I started off by applying a topical numbing ointment on my face for 20 minutes prior to the treatment to minimize any discomfort. Don't I look gorgeous?

Don't be fooled by the cute, MAC like appearance of the Clear + Brilliant Laser- it packs a lot of punch.  Made by the manufacturers of the Fraxel Laser, the Clear + Brilliant Laser was created for us impatient gals & guys who want results with little to no downtime. The laser helps reduce the appearance of fine lines & pore size, while evening out skin tone & stimulating collagen!

After removing the numbing, Dr. Sherber passed the laser over my entire face (avoiding my eyes) a few times. The first pass felt fine- almost like those micro needle rollers, but charged with a little static electricity. Unlike IPL treatments which pulse, this is more of a continuous motion across the face.  Not painful, I would say it was more annoying.  Dr. Sherber then did a few more passes on problem areas, such as where I have excessive pigmentation on my upper cheeks.

Initially following the treatment, my face was incredibly flushed & warm.  I immediately applied my favorite anti-inflammatory serum, Skin Ceutical's Phyto Corrective Gel, then topped it with ice packs.  For the next few hours, I wasn't uncomfortable- but did feel like I could fry an egg on my face it was so warm.  Be sure to check back for the next post in the series to see how my skin progresses!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M
The event was such a success, we're bringing in the laser to La Papillon May 23rd for a whole month! I will be getting treated a few more times during the Clear + Brilliant 30 Day Challenge, since for optimal results they recommend a series of 3 sessions.  Of course, I'll be taking you girls along with me for the journey!

Behinds the Scenes with IPL

Spots really on look cute on a Dalmatian! Though hyperpigmentation or sun/age spots are a common frustration with most women- I know they are for me. My freckles were cute & I dealt with them until I hit 25. But who doesn't want a more luminous & even skintone? Yes please! Research shows that people equate pigmentation with age & you know this girl is allergic to aging! There are several topical approaches to lightening the skin- vitamin C, Kojic Acid; as well as prescription methods such as Hydroquinone. Our Skin Medica chemical peels are a very popular treatment at the spa for evening out pigmentation concerns; while also improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles. The next step we suggest {& often we suggest pairing it with a chemical peel) for stubborn spots is IPL.

Untitled from Madeleine Homes on Vimeo.

So I wanted to take you behinds the scenes & show you what a treatment with Dr. Noelle Sherber with Intense Pulsed Light entails. Take a peek! IPL is often most successful when performed on skin that isn't tan- which is why our last laser event until the fall will be on June 21st! The laser can feel like little rubber bands snapping on the skin, but is very tolerable. For the next few days following the treatment, your spots will actually get a little darker before they flake off. The result? An amazing overall improvement in the brightness & evenness of your skin! Feel free to leave wither myself or Dr. Sherber a question in the comments section if you have one!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Palomar Laser & Injectable Event

I love our Dermatology Events, because the impatient girl in me loves the amazingly effective results we can offer patients in such a short period of time. Besides offering injectables such as Botox, Juvederm & Radiesse, today we will also have the Palomar Laser on site. If left alone with that machine for 24 hours, I could be a new woman!
We focus a lot on patients with hyperpigmentation & redness issues in their skin. Though the Palomar Laser can be used for a wide range of concerns including non ablative (not breaking the skin) resurfacing & treating miner spider veins. I struggle with brown spots, so I had the Intense Pulsed Light Treatment for hyperpigmentation. In under 10 minutes my skin was treated, which felt like little rubber band snaps on my face. My skin felt a little chapped in the days following & had a 'peppering' effect, where my hyperpigmentation was darker for a few days before those spots sloughed off.

Voila! In this follow up picture (with mineral foundation & bronzer applied) you can see how much the laser evened out my skin tone. It's a fabulously results oriented treatment, if you're not seeing results with topical products & want to see improvement. Can't make it in today to La Papillon? Make sure you check out our website for our next Dermatology Event with Dr. Noelle Sherber. We'll get you gorgeous in no time!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Treating Hyperpigmentation with BBL

Today is the first day of our 2 day Injectable & Laser event at La Papillon! I'm so excited since this is our very first laser event with dermatologist Dr. Noelle Sherber! I of course will be having the BBL(broad band light) performed in my never ending quest to squelch my hyperpigmentation! In preparation I have had (2 mild) Illuminize peels by Skin Medica to prep my skin for optimal results. As Dr. Sherber explained in her post, a "coffee grind" like effect will occur post treatment where my hyperpigmentation will seem darker & then it will flake off. I - being your guinea pig beauties, will be taking before, during & after shots to give you all a behind the scenes peek as to what to expect!

Peace. Love. Lipgloss. M

Spotted- Addressing Hyperpigmentation

Feeling a little spotted after enjoying the summer sun my beauties? La Papillon's resident expert, dermatologist Dr. Noelle Sherber is here to help!

Leopard print accessories are everywhere in this fall's fashion magazines, but it is definitely not a good look for your most important accessory, your skin! Summer sun often leaves brown spots on sun-exposed skin. Spots that fade fully when your skin gets a break from the sun are freckles (ephiledes), but spots that stick around are true sun spots (solar lentigines). Sun spots can be treated in several different ways, and evening out your skin tone is one of the best things you can do to make your skin look more youthful. Hydroquinone is a commonly used ingredient to fade hyperpigmentation (dark areas) in over-the-counter and prescription products, but you should use this under the care of a dermatologist since in some people it can cause unwanted darkening of pigmentation (called ochronosis) rather than the desired lightening - your dermatologist can make sure to catch this early if it happens for you. The spot treatment in Kate Somerville's new Complexion Correction Kit contains hydroquinone. Kojic acid is another ingredient that lightens unwanted pigmentation without causing as much irritation as prescription-strength hydroquinone can. SkinCeuticals Pigment Regulator is a good kojic acid good product to try. Additionally, professional-strength chemical peels can help to lighten sunspots, such as the SkinMedica ReJuvenize peels need to be performed every few weeks in conjuntion with a good at-home regimen for an optimal result. Of course it's important to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen while using these brightening treatments so that UVA and UVB light don't continue to stimulate those pigment-producing cells that you're trying to treat! If you've tried topical treatments for 2-3 months without sufficient improvement in stubborn spots, or if you just want to get a more instant-gratification immediate result, laser treatments or intense pulsed light can work wonders. Intense pulsed light (IPL) {I use the Sciton BBL system in my practice} is the first laser or light-based therapy that I typically recommend to my patients because there's no significant discomfort or downtime. IPL feels warm but not painful, and you can wear makeup immediately afterwards. Some people get flushed from the treatment, but that's more common when I'm treating redness with the IPL than when I'm treating brown spots. Over the several days following treatment you'll see your brown spots start to break up and look like coffee grounds. The coffee grounds should be gone in about a week, and your spots should fade over the next few weeks. Depending on how dark your spots are and how long you've had them, several treatments may be needed, but most of my patients have dramatic improvement after one session. Fall and winter are the best times for IPL treatment because I don't perform these treatments on people who have a tan - I've had patients come in with burns who were treated with IPL elsewhere despite having a tan... Be sure to have these treatments performed by a board-certified dermatologist because determining the correct energy settings for your skin is the key to a beautiful result. Madeleine and I are planning a very exciting first for La Papillon in November - a whole day of in-spa IPL on Friday the 5th! If you have brown spots or red areas that you'd like gone before the holidays this will be the perfect pick-me-up for your skin to give you a great holiday glow! See you then...

Xo, your Diva of Dermatology
Noelle Sherber, M.D., F.A.A.D.