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July 20, 2019 Dr. RoyNews482

Growth hormone is a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland in the brain and is found with platelets in the blood plasma. It has many functions one of which is to fuel childhood growth. It also helps maintain tissues and organs throughout life. There are many factors that can decrease the production of growth hormone such as:

  1. Increased blood glucose-diabetes
  2. Increased blood free fatty acids- high cholesterol
  3. Ageing (by age 20-40 we have 50% less growth hormone being secreted and by age >40 we will have 25% less growth hormone secreted in comparison to age <20)
  4. Obesity
  5. Excessive protein diets

Growth hormone is also secreted at specific times as shown in the following figure.

With this in mind lets think about why platelet rich plasma (PRP) from our own blood may not give us the best result. As we age there is less growth hormone secreted and depending on the time of day your blood is drawn for PRP it could be even less (unless your blood gets drawn right after strenuous exercise or at midnight). That is why at Niyan Medspa we use a product which has 99% growth hormone combined with human platelet lysate (HPL) which signals cues for cell growth that is unparalleled in the aesthetics industry.

What does growth hormone do? Growth hormone promotes growth, but for the purpose of aesthetics it stimulates collagen production. Collagen is a protein that over time decreases causing the signs of ageing i.e. those dreaded wrinkles. What are ways to increase collagen?

  1. Trauma can cause increase in collagen production. Let’s think about boxers such as Evander Holyfield or Muhammad Ali. Now I’m not saying to pick up boxing to prevent wrinkles, but these guys didn’t have those crows feet we worry about, because of trauma. With any kind of controlled trauma i.e. microneedling or with heat using BBL your body stimulates wound healing. A byproduct of wound healing is collagen formation. Think of collagen as the scaffolding your skin is supported by. Increase your scaffolding and smooth out those fine lines and wrinkles.
  2. Diet high in glycine and proline 2 of the building blocks of collagen will also help with collagen production. Glycine and proline are found in meats, fish, dairy, legumes like white beans, pumpkin seeds and eggs.

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July 20, 2019 Dr. RoyNews1

As we age our skin loses the support of collagen. Collagen is what makes our skin firm and smooth. Microneedling (aka collagen induction therapy) can help stimulate collagen production.

Microneedling is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that uses a device (such as Bellus SkinPen- the only FDA cleared device on the market to help treat acne scars) featuring many tiny needles to penetrate the superficial layers of your skin, creating tiny columns of controlled “damage” in the tissue. This controlled damage stimulates your natural healing responses producing new, healthy tissue to replace old tissue smoothing out scars and wrinkles improving overall skin texture.

Microneedling can also be useful in enabling skin care products to penetrate deeper layers of skin, deeply moisturizing your skin. Microneedling can be used with Platelet rich plasma (prp) which has high concentrations of growth factor allowing for faster healing. PRP gives the skin a youthful “glow from within” look. The technique can be used on any area of your face or body to treat acne scars, and other types of scars as well as wrinkles, fine lines, and textural abnormalities such as stretch marks, it helps tighten skin, reduce pore size and even skin tone.

The procedure can take 30-45 minutes including time needed to numb the area. Most patients report very little or no discomfort during their treatment sessions. After treatment, your skin may appear slightly reddened, similar to the effects of a mild sunburn, but the redness will resolve soon afterward.

While a single microneedling session can provide some benefits, most patients achieve maximum effects with a series of four to six treatments spaced out over several weeks.

There is always a risk of bleeding and infection with any treatment that breaks the skin barrier. To achieve the best results and to avoid infections, pain, and skin damage, microneedling should always be performed by a skilled professional with experience in applying the technique to treat different issues and different skin types. Microneedling should not be used on patients that are being treated with blood thinners. Certain medications such as retinoids should be stopped prior to treatment. If you are pregnant or nursing, have a history of psoriasis, eczema, keloids or recent radiation therapy you may not be an ideal candidate for microneedling.

There are now derma rollers on the market for people to buy for home use. Derma rollers do not penetrate as deep and can actually damage the skin. A derma roller device have teeth that are in the shape of a triangle. When it is rolled on the skin it makes a linear incision as opposed to a column made by skinpen. The derma roller also harbors bacteria which can be introduced into the skin while rolling.

Post treatment your skin will be sensitive to certain products and the sun. Please ask your healthcare provider to assist with post treatment product selection. Dr. Roy uses Bellus SkinPen as it is the only microneedling device that is FDA cleared for the treatment of acne scars and she has an option to use growth factor post procedure.


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July 20, 2019 Dr. RoyNews40

BBL vs. IPL

 

There are so many “new and innovative” procedures out there on the non-invasive anti-aging arena. Where does one begin? This month let’s start with IPL (intense pulse light) vs. BBL (broad band light) treatments. They are essentially the same they both work by directing light energy into the skin which is then converted to heat as it reaches its target. The target can be pigment in the skin or hair, redness in blood vessels and even bacteria causing acne. Once the heat reaches the target it then damages that particular tissue. Healing then begins, which causes collagen and elastin (plumps and supports the skin) production.

What is the difference? Even though they are similar the technology of BBL sets it apart from IPL

BBL is the latest and most advanced technology in light therapy that has set new standards for antiaging and treating acne.  Extensive studies and research have proven that regular BBL treatments not only prevent cellular aging, but also turn back the clock, causing the DNA expression of skin cells to reverse back to a youthful and healthy state.

Unfortunately, the majority of IPL machines out there can be unreliable and potentially dangerous, and give light therapy a bad reputation. The saying “you get what you pay for” would apply here. All IPL machines out there are NOT the same. A high-quality IPL machine can deliver fantastic results, however due to range of technology on the market and lack of regulation, the patient doesn’t know what they are getting.  The most common adverse reaction reported for IPL include hypo/hyperpigmentation, permanent scarring or lack of clinical results. This may occur when patients are treated with incorrect parameters or poor technique

Which is better? BBL is a highly advanced version of IPL. BBL is more accurate and specific treatment method when compared to IPL. In addition, the superior safety and efficacy of BBL technology in treating patients with darker skin types sets it apart from any other pulsed light therapy currently on the market. There is much lower risk of complications and down time with BBL. Also, the number of treatments to achieve the results you are looking for are less. Although the BBL machine is far superior, the clinical skill of the operator is as important as any machine they use. Hence, it is critical to choose your service provider carefully and not just go for the best deal.