Oh the perks of youth…remember the hours and hours of hyper play in the summer sun? Oh, those were the days. Then something happens when we get older. We not only reminisce of those long summer days where perfect moments seemed to drag out like glorious dreamy memories; we also long for that energy we once had. That hyper excitement that would ignite with the simplest adventure was always available in full supply. Be it a new bike trail with your best friend Shelly or walking down by the murky river with your other best friend Becky; the average Tuesday afternoon would never disappoint. What else never disappointed?

That energy.

That enthusiasm.

That hyper, ready and willing anticipation for all things play.

Notice how I keep repeating the word Hyper. Not only do we miss the energy of our childhoods, but also somehow that gift of boundless hyper energy got traded in for hyper-pigmentation.

And here begins our post:

What is hyper pigmentation you might ask? This is Wikipedia’s definition:

“In dermatology, hyper pigmentation is the darkening of an area of skin or nails caused by increased melanin.

Hyper pigmentation may be caused by sun damage, inflammation, or other skin injuries, including those related to acne vulgaris.[1] People with darker Asian, Mediterranean, or African skin tones are also more prone to hyper pigmentation, especially if they have excess sun exposure.”

{Photo courtesy of http://www.catherinehinds.edu}

Ok, in layman’s terms hyper pigmentation is more popularly called melasma (pregnancy mask), or liver/age/sun spots, and even “discoloration” from acne scars can contribute. These examples are only a few names for discoloration yet the list goes on and on. And to us…it is simply the highly annoying, splotchy, uncoverable, every-time-we-look-in-the-mirror-this-is-all-we-see BS that has us feeling less than amazing. This is hyper pigmentation.

So, it seems to be one of the many cruel jokes Mother Nature plays on us as we go from the spry vigor of youth to the seemingly forever-fracturing de-perfectioning process of aging.

But not all hope is lost. There are options, ladies. There are options.

And lucky for you, you are reading this post NOW. For this is the season of the peel.

PEELS are nature’s little way of offering us a little help where needed. A few benefits of having a peel can be brightening, improving skin texture, wrinkle reduction, and many other juicy nuggets of wonderment.

Enter option 1. THE ACID PEEL. (Aka my trusty “3 mask-eteers” I like to call them)- The Alpha Hydroxy Acids or AHA’s for short.

These are my most commonly used agents that I enlist in my protocol.

1-Glycolic acid-derived from sugarcane

2-Lactic acid-derived from milk (watch out if you are lactose intolerant)

3-Kojic acid-derived from mushrooms

Being Native American, Asian, and Eastern European I have a mixture of skin tones that benefit GREATLY from glycolic peels. Being olive or darker than average in color it lands me at a IV rating on the Fitzpatrick scale*. This means that I do tend to easily be a victim of hyper pigmentation. Cuts tend to want to scar more easily, and I could be more prone to acne scarring as well. So, glycolic on me is MAGIC! The molecule in glycolic is the smallest out of this acid family so it penetrates the deepest. Word UP! It’s awesome and I love it on my skin. Glycolic works on fairer tones as well. Most of my clients that are in the business of wanting a peel also dig the time-tested glycolic.

Lactic acid has the same benefits that glycolic has and is also less irritating and more hydrating. But if you are allergic to milk STEER CLEAR of this treatment and opt for another AHA option. So if you feel your skin is more sensitive (and you’re ok with milk products) talk to your esthetician about Lactic acid being your option.

Then there’s Kojic acid.

Kojic is a stellar skin lightening agent. Kojic acid literally stops melanin production therefore slowing and stopping the darkening of your skin. If you’re on hydroquinone, drop that crap like a bad knock-off Prada bag and talk to your esthetician about investing in Kojic acid treatments instead. Kojic is great for people with sensitive skin and the benefits over using hydroquinone are too much to list here.

It is always great to start a series of peels in the winter months, as we tend to be out in the sun less therefore reducing the risk of excessive sun-exposure. You never want to commit to peels in the summer as you are going to the beach, going on vacation, or still mastering (after all these years) the art of laying out on your roof. SUN SUN SUN…the enemy to peels. So, ALWAYS opt for winter sessions… AND ALWAYS ALWAYS WEAR SUN PROTECTION as your skin will be more sensitive to the sun and you could potentially make worse the very issue you are trying to correct.

 Talk to your professional about your allergies, risks, and the basic pros and cons of starting these treatments. And research for yourself which options would be best for you.

As for before, when I was hating on Mother Nature…I do it in pure fun. My true belief system is that we are constantly in a miraculous state of rejuvenation and repair. Our bodies, organs, and systems are so mind-bendingly intelligent that that self-correcting intelligence is within every function of our trillions and trillions of cells. So, I encourage you to err on the side of gratitude and acknowledgment for your beautiful skin, your intelligent internal system function, and your own ability to self heal. Our cells are always begging to thrive, not the other way around. If you find yourself a little unhappy with a condition you may be facing when looking in the mirror perhaps with loving thoughts and a little direction your cells will realign and recalibrate for the most optimal reflection possible. Your cells are programmed by the very thoughts you feed them. Feed them healthy thoughts. There is enough junk food in the world.

And if you are still a little gun-shy in the peel department, stay tuned for option 2 and 3 in the very near future.

You shine brighter than you think you do. Thank you for the light you share in this world.

 *Google Fitzpatrick scale to determine your own rating.

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From CBS’s SURVIVOR to skincare, Natalie Bolton has landed at Tamara Dahill Salon in Los Angeles. Having the opportunity to fulfill her desire to bring beauty, healing and a sense of well being to men and women alike, Natalie has found her calling. As a state-board licensed aesthetician and certified Epicuren specialist, Natalie enhances the appearance and condition of her clients’ skin and their sense of self. Her specialties include rejuvenation and anti-aging. Natalie is also an expert in the areas of acne and problematic skin.

In Natalie’s own words she shares her personal philosophy, “The mandate for my life is not only bringing beauty to people by external means with new technologies, and cutting-edge technique, my goal is to also refresh the spirit. I pray every morning to bring beauty to the spirit of everyone I touch-so they leave feeling more beautiful and at peace after they leave me. I want to live my life like that as well. I want to leave the world more beautiful than when I found it.”

http://nataliebolton.com

For questions or inquiries: Tamara Dahill Salon (818) 752-6567 http://tdsalon.com or natalieboltonskinscience@gmail.com 

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