Vanising Varicose Veins

By Dr. Katie Rodan

As temperatures rise so do our hemlines, so it’s no surprise that each spring I suddenly see a lot of patients eager to make their varicose veins vanish instantly. If you too find yourself wishing away those pesky veins, you are not alone … an estimated 80 percent of women have them.

Unfortunately, treatment options are few and far between (and not to mention costly). In my office I treat spider veins with special injections designed to make veins collapse and disappear. These can be quite effective over time, but it takes multiple visits to achieve results.

While there’s no current at-home therapy available, you can camouflage the appearance of your varicose veins with a sunless tanner. Sunless tanners can do wonders for hiding veins, bruises and even cellulite, and nothing says “hello spring” like a healthy, faux glow.
Achieving that perfectly bronzed, streak-free look isn’t as easy as it sounds. But after a few years of trial and error, here are my tricks of the trade:

1. Start with a foaming formula that builds color gradually to create a more even, natural-looking glow.
2. Before applying the product, exfoliate skin to remove dead skin cells. If you shave your legs, do so before applying your sunless tanner; shaving afterwards will reduce the life of your glow.
3. Apply lotion to your knees, elbows, toes, toenails, heels and ankles to prevent your sunless tan from concentrating in those areas where skin is thickest. To avoid orange palms, wear protective gloves or wash hands with soap and water immediately after applying.
4. If you do make a mistake, use acetone or nail polish remover to remove any unintended color. Let skin dry at least 15 minutes before getting dressed and avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing for the next three to four hours to allow color to develop evenly.

Put these tips to work for you and you’ll be ready for the fashions of summer in no time.

Order Rodan+Fields Foaming Sunless Tan to keep your legs (and all your body parts) glowing year round. 

Better Skin CAN Start Today

While “slow and steady wins the race” when it comes to improving the look and feel of your skin, it is possible to get better skin tomorrow. Whether you have months, days or hours, here’s how to make the most of the time you have:

2-4 months: Develop or tweak your daily skincare regimen to target your unique skin concerns. Whether you’re concerned about wrinkles, dullness, brown spots, sensitivity or blemishes, intelligent daily skincare adds up over time to make a major impact on the appearance of your skin. Complement your daily routine with once-weekly macro-exfoliation to sweep away dead skin cells and reveal a younger-looking, more radiant complexion.

24 days: If you haven’t already, incorporate macro-exfoliation for five minutes once a week to sweep away dead skin cells and allow a smoother complexion to shine through. Unlike an in-office microdermabrasion treatment, macro-exfoliation can be done at home and requires no downtime to heal. Even one use will go a long way to improving the look of your skin.

24 hours: Procrastinators rejoice –you can improve the look of your skin in one day. Use a mineral peptide product to perfect your complexion and diffuse any facial redness, and an eye cream with optical filters to brighten the eye area. Boost your complexion from the neck down by applying sunless tanner at least four hours before your event. Even a subtle faux glow is a known red-carpet secret for masking imperfections (redness, bruising, varicose veins), disguising cellulite and helping you look slimmer and more toned. These are quick, but effective, fixes. Post-event, start on a daily skincare routine so that you’re not scrambling before your next event.

Start with a full regimen or start small.  We have something for every skin concern and every skin type.  Get more info and order at www.agelessrose.com

Source:  Rodan+Fields Derm RF

Why Microdermabrasion is Your Solution

Microdermabrasion uses tiny exfoliating crystals that are sprayed on the skin. It works best on problems such as dull skin, brown spots, and age spots.   Because it is non-invasive and does not use aggressive chemicals like peels, microdermabrasion is best used for surface skin rejuvenation.   

The technique also helps to thicken your collagen, which results in a younger looking complexion. Collagen is a protein in your skin that's abundant when you're a child and makes skin appear taut and smooth. Collagen production declines as we age, resulting in looser, uneven skin.

Putting Your Best Face Forward

The latest Skinpact by Dr. Kathy Fields has some great advice on looking your best:

Social media is making it easier to be found and harder to hide from connections and social commitments. When connecting with Facebook online brings you “face to face” with old friends offline, don’t shy away from being seen. It can be intimidating to reunite with someone you haven’t seen in a few years, but instead of stressing, remember that you have control over your skin’s future.

First, give your skin a healthy head start by selecting a regimen designed to target your top skin concerns such as aging or acne, and then use it daily and as directed. It’s incredible what a noticeable difference over-the-counter daily skincare can make in your skin’s appearance.

Alpha-Hydroxys and Anti-Aging Skincare

While you can’t control all the elements and how they impact your skin, there are things you can do to postpone the effects of aging and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.  If you simply moisturize and use sun protection, some wrinkles will naturally soften or disappear.  The next step is to look to cosmetics and cosmetic procedures to reduce wrinkles.  At the top of the ingredient list are products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), Retinoids (including Retin A), and Peptides.  This post focuses on Alpha-hydroxy acids. 

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) – AHAs are typically derived from food products including glycolic acid (from sugar cane), lactic acid (from sour milk), malic acid (from apples), citric acid (from citrus fruits) and tartaric acid (from grape wine).  Products made from glycolic acid may be more effective as this AHA does a better job of penetrating the skin. 

Summertime - Get Control of Oily Skin

Here is a recent post from the Rodan+Fields DermRF page that you may find helpful -especially if you are looking for ways to get control of oily skin in the summer time: 

As we spring into warmer weather, you might notice that your skin is producing more oil than normal. It’s not uncommon—hot weather triggers an increase in natural oil production. This change is welcome for some, but if you already struggle with oiliness or acne, it’s not exactly the glow you’re going for.

The good news is that you can impact your skin’s oil production with the right skincare. For acne-prone skin, switch from a heavy cream to a light lotion as the temperatures rise. If your skin is oily, switch to an oil-control lotion. And for best results, anticipate your skin’s needs and start the transition early, before your skin has a chance to respond. Now is the time to start preparing for the warm days of summer. - Rodan and Fields DermRF

For a light lotion that works well for any skin type, try Essentials Daily Body Moisturizer.
If you need an oil-control lotion in the summertime, I recommend our Unblemish Oil Control Lotion.
Feel free to browse our site for more information and Rodan+Fields Skincare Solutions.

Get a Great Sunless Tan

We all know too much sun is not good for us.  And, I know that sunless tanning can be a real pain, a real mess, and its real hard to get natural looking results.  This is especially true for fair skinned people (like me) where even the 'light' shade is about 4 shades darker than my natural skin color.  Don't worry and don't put yourself at risk getting ready for summer.  You can significantly improve your self- tanning experience and outcome with a few tips.

 

1.       Get some sun first whether it’s natural light or a short stint in a tanning bed. Some will be mad at me for recommending this but if it helps you start a nice color for the summer so that you’ll use more sun protection all year, then I’ve just lowered your overall exposure and your risk. 

2.       Exfoliate before doing any indoor tanning.

3.       Get a spray tan before you use self-tanner at home. I love the Mystic tan. If you are light skinned, stay with the light. 

4.       Touch up at home with a self-tanning lotion or foam daily.

5.       Moisturize on a daily basis.  This will help your skin to look vibrant and will help your tan last longer.

6.       REPEAT steps 2-5 every 10-14 days.

Enjoy your sun-kissed tan and your much improved skin health!!!

Check out my full article on Sunless Tanning and give our sunless tanning products a try.  

Great Skin - Choose Low Impact Exercise

Good news for all your exercise avoiders out there. You know that working out regularly is good for your body, good for your mind, and good for your skin. Keep up the good work!!!  A regular exercise routine will improve your stress level, your energy level, and your overall health.  But...if you are over 40, you might want to rethink that high impact aerobics routine.  The constant jarring of high impact cardio isn't the best choice for your face. As you age, the collagen production decreases and your skins texture and elasticity lessens as well. The jumping movements with high impact cardio can cause increased loosening and sagging of your face.  Instead, choose walking, the elliptical, and other low impact exercises such as Pilates, strength training, and yoga.  Your skin will thank you! 

Purchase the skincare regimen that is right for you today. For more great skin care tips, sign up for the Ageless Rose newsletter.

How to Use the Macro Exfoliator

Many of you are sending me questions on how to use the Macro Exfoliator so I thought another post on this topic was warrented. I also posted something similar on our webiste (www.agelessrose.com).  The product is fairly simple to use but it helps to have a video tutorial instead of me writing you a bunch of instructions. Fortunatly, the corporate office posted this YouTube video for me to share.  As always, feel free to send me any questions you have and I'd love to see before and after pictures if you are willing!!!  We are looking sooo amazing!  I love my job!

Oh...if you haven't ordered your Macro Exfoliator already you purchase off my corporate site.

The Skincare Basics

As with healthy eating, exercise and just about anything else, sticking with the basics first is important.  Honoring the basics first allows you to keep it simple and get into a routine that will stick.  Of course, eventually we will customize your routien to your skin type and problem areas.  No worries.  There are several effective product ingredients out there that can tackle that acne, fine lines, sun damage, and the overall look and feel of your skin.  It is best, however, if you start with the basic skin care regimen and then add in the right product mix for your skin issues.

The basics of skin care are not complicated. We've heard them time and time again. However, with all the products, information, and opinion out there, it can get convoluted. And, I thought we should all have the basics down before I start posting information on specific ingredients and products for your skin concerns.

1. Wash your face

2.  Exfoliate

3.  Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize

4.  Protect from the sun

When you have the basics down, then add over the counter or dermatologist grade products to address your specific skin care issues. 

See the full article on Skincare Basics.

Heather Rose, of Ageless Rose, is a successful business owner and independent distributor for Rodan and Fields. For more information on skincare tips, products, and business opportunities, visit the Ageless Rose website or our Rodan + Fields on line store.  

Love those Lips

Only second to your eyes, your lips are the window to your age, your beauty, and your personality.  Personally, my lips have gotten thinner now that I’m over 40 and the winter wind and gas heat does a number on them.  When I joined Rodan + Fields, I knew it was a good business move, but I really had no idea how much I would be gaining from the skincare advice and products.  It’s the extra bonus!!  Whether you are looking for a solid business venture or just want better lips, you’ve come to the right place!!

Lose that Winter Dry Skin

If you live in a northern state, look forward to the changing seasons, and are a certifiable snow lover, then winter can be a wonderful time filled with snowball fights, tubing, skiing, warm fires and hot chocolate. But, as you turn up your furnace – especially with gas heat, the dry air inside and outside can make for constant dry skin. You may notice dry hands, feet, and elbows within the first couple of weeks of winter. It’s also important to remember that the rest of the body needs special attention in the winter months as well.

The best solutions to dry skin respond to the real causes of dry skin in the winter. It’s obvious that the drier air adds to the problem in the winter months. This is because the humidity level in the air outside drops significantly in winter months, even in the more southern states. This is exasperated by indoor heating which strips even more moisture from the air and your skin. Most other causes of dry skin, which are more apparent in the winter months, occur in the shower. Harsh soaps, loofas and other “scrubby” shower accessories, and steamy showers all pull more moisture from your skin. Keeping your skin moisturized and health in the winter is easy if you follow a few simple tricks.

1. Keep your shower lukewarm instead of hot and limit to about 5 minutes. This will prevent the shower from washing away important nutrients in your skin.

2. Exfoliate about every 3-4 weeks to remove dead skin cells and open the pores to receive moisture.

3. Use soft cloths and moisturizing body wash in the shower.

4. Pat dry with a towel instead of rubbing. Rubbing irritates the skin and removes the moisture products you just used in the shower.

5. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize – not just your face, hands and feet.

6. Drink lots and lots of water. Enjoy the winter months and get into a regular skincare regimen.

You’ll look better and feel better now and in the future. For more information on skincare tips, products, and business opportunities, visit the Ageless Rose. Changing lives and Changing skin with Rodan and Fields Dermatologists.