Blog: Skin Care Advice and Treatment Options

Acne

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:54:00 -0500

Q: I am having on-going active acne breakouts. What can I do to better control my acne?

A: In our office, we take a multifaceted approach to the treatment of acne. Our approach is designed to bring existing active acne under control, prevent future flare-ups of acne, treat acne scars, and leave our patients with healthy glowing skin. Depending on each patient™s unique needs, these four goals are accomplished by using a combination of medications, lights, lasers, facials, and peels. These treatments work best when they are used in combination. Treatment plans are always customized and are developed based on what each individual patient needs to most effectively treat their particular case of acne. Severe acne is treated more aggressively than mild acne.

Potential treatments for acne include topical medications which are applied to the skin, mild lasers and lights, photodynamic acne treatment, skin peels, facials, and occasionally oral medications.

Various lights and lasers are effective for acne. Blue light treats acne by reducing the number of bacteria living within the sebaceous glands. Red light enhances the blue light treatment by minimizing the redness and inflammation associated with active acne. Treatment with the Vbeam Perfecta laser reduces both active acne and the redness associated with acne. At times, we will combine either the blue light or Vbeam Perfecta laser with levulan. This procedure, which is called photodynamic acne treatment, treats active acne more intensely. Photodynamic acne treatment is indicated when more conservative treatments have not worked.

We also use facials and light skin peels as a component of our acne care programs. An acne facial will clean the pores and lighten dark blemishes. An acne skin peel will help clear acne blemishes, lighten the brown spots that can result from acne, smooth the skin, and brighten the skin. Acne facials and peels are part of an excellent acne care program and they help us give our patients healthy glowing skin!

Today, dermatologists have many options available to treat acne. No one should have to suffer from uncontrolled acne. We welcome all patients to our office who wish to have their acne better controlled.

Acne Scarring

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:53:00 -0500

Q: When I was younger I had serious acne, which caused acne scars on my face. What can I do to improve my acne scars?

A: We recommend two lasers to our acne scarring patients. The first option is the Fraxel Restore laser. The Fraxel Restore treats the acne scars by stimulating new collagen production. Optimum results are generally achieved by a series of 4 or 5 treatment sessions spaced three to four weeks apart. There is no downtime following the laser procedures and patients can resume all of their normal activities immediately after leaving the office. After completing a series of treatments with the Fraxel Restore laser, patients can reliably expect their acne scarring to be significantly improved and their skin to be much smoother.

The second laser that we recommend for acne scarring is called the Fraxel Repair laser. This laser also improves acne scarring by stimulating new collagen production. The Fraxel Repair laser has the advantage that it improves the acne scarring in only one treatment session. Because the Fraxel Repair laser is more intense than the Fraxel Restore, there is approximately five days of downtime after a Fraxel Repair laser treatment during which time the skin heals.

The Fraxel Restore and the Fraxel Repair lasers give similar improvement in acne scarring. Patients can choose which of the two lasers they prefer based on what suits their lifestyles better. The improvement in acne scarring that occurs after treatment with either of the two Fraxel lasers should last for years.

Our office has been performing Fraxel laser skin resurfacing since 2004, when the Fraxel laser was first introduced. As a result, we have extensive experience with Fraxel laser skin treatment. Dr. Anterasian has performed nearly 2000 Fraxel laser procedures with consistently excellent results. We personally welcome all patients to our office who wish to improve their acne scarring. Today, no one should have to live with acne scars.

Brown spots, brown pigment, and sun damaged skin

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:53:14 -0500

Q: I have a lot of brown spots, brown pigment, and sun damage in my skin. Which treatment would be best for me?

A:We recommend the Fraxel Restore Dual laser to our patients who want to improve their brown spots and abnormal brown pigment in their skin. Treatments with the Fraxel Restore Dual result in the rapid clearance of abnormal brown pigment from the skin, including the pigment found in brown spots, brown patches, and sun spots. In addition, skin color following the treatment is much more uniform and much less blotchy.

The Fraxel Restore Dual laser works by delivering laser energy into the top layers of the skin where the abnormal brown pigment is located. This results in rapid clearance of the pigment from the skin. As a result, significant reduction in abnormal brown pigment can be achieved in only one or two treatments sessions.

Fraxel Restore Dual laser treatments are very well tolerated and are performed using only numbing cream. There is no sedation or other anesthesia required. Following the laser treatment, there will be a mild flaking-off of the treated skin, which will be replaced with fresh new skin. There is no pain or recovery downtime following Fraxel Restore Dual laser treatments, and normal activities may be resumed immediately following the treatment. Skin care after the laser treatment consists of only the use of a sunscreen and moisturizer.

Our office has been performing Fraxel laser skin resurfacing since 2004, when the Fraxel laser was first introduced for skin rejuvenation. As a result, we have extensive experience with Fraxel laser skin treatment. Dr. Anterasian has performed nearly 2000 Fraxel laser procedures with consistently excellent results.

We personally welcome all patients to our office who wish to look younger without surgery, and who might be considering a skin rejuvenation procedure.

Harmless and Dangerous Moles

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:32:31 -0500

Q: I recently noticed a new mole on my arm. I have had it for about two weeks now. What should I do?

A:Not all changes in the skin are dangerous, but you should see a dermatologist if you notice changes in your skin that last longer than two weeks.

Moles are very common. The average Caucasian has about 20 moles on his or her body. Most moles are harmless, but it is important to know when a mole exhibits signs that suggest it may be a dangerous mole.

A normal mole has a sharp margin, a uniform color, a symmetrical shape, and a smooth outline or contour. Usually, they are less than ¼ inch in size and of a single uniform color.

The ABCD warning signs can often identify dangerous moles.

A: Asymmetry, where one half does not match the other half. (Normally, each half should be a mirror image of the other half.)

B: Border irregularity, where the edges are ragged or blurred, and not sharp

C: Color, in which the pigmentation and color are not uniform throughout

D: Diameter, where the width of the mole is greater than ¼ inch

There is also the ugly duckling sign, in which the mole in question looks or acts differently than all of the other moles on the body. This would include moles that ulcerate, bleed, change shape, change color, or itch.

Other warning signs include any of the following:

A new growth not previously present on the skin
Scaliness, oozing, or bleeding from a bump or nodule in the skin
An area of skin that stays irritated, red, or itchy
An area of skin that keeps cracking or bleeding
A colored or dark spot that is getting larger

Skin cancer is almost always curable when found early, but can be deadly if the diagnosis is delayed. Both doctors and patients play important roles in discovering skin cancers early in their course.

Santa Monica Laser and Skin Care Center Announces Treatment with Fraxel Restore Dual Laser Now Available in the Los Angeles Area

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:43:03 -0600

Dr. Mary Lee Amerian and Dr. George Anterasian are proud to announce that we have now obtained our new Fraxel Restore Dual Laser! The treatments are performed in our Santa Monica office, a location conveniently located to much of the greater Los Angeles area. We are among the very first offices in the Los Angeles area to obtain the Fraxel Restore Dual Laser and to make it available to our skin rejuvenation patients.

The Fraxel Dual laser system is literally two lasers in one. It starts with the original Erbium based Fraxel Restore laser and adds to it an innovative Thulium laser. The Thulium laser is used to accelerate the clearance of abnormal brown pigment from the skin, including the pigment found in brown spots, brown patches, and sun spots. The Thulium laser works by delivering laser energy into the top layers of the skin where the abnormal brown pigment is located. This results in more rapid clearance of the pigment from the skin. As a result, significant reduction in abnormal brown pigment can be achieved in a single treatment!

Continue reading "Santa Monica Laser and Skin Care Center Announces Treatment with Fraxel Restore Dual Laser Now Available in the Los Angeles Area"

Excessive Sweating Has A Scientific Term

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:14:00 -0500

Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating. Many people suffer from excessive sweating. These individuals can sweat even when the temperature is cool and they are at rest. Although sweating normally occurs in response to heat, physical exertion, and tense emotional situations, excessive sweating occurs without these triggers. The uncontrollable sweating can lead to significant physical and emotional discomfort.

In some cases a medical disorder, such as an overactive thyroid, certain types of infections, and some hormonal conditions, can cause excessive sweating. For this reason, the first step in the treatment of excessive sweating should be a visit to your doctor for a complete medical evaluation to rule out a medical condition that may be causing profuse sweating. However, in most cases, no particular cause of excessive sweating is found. Excessive sweating without apparent cause is called primary hyperhidrosis, and approximately 2%-3% of the U.S. population has this condition (around 6-8 million people).

The treatment of excessive armpit sweating includes antiperspirants, medications such as anticholinergic drugs, surgery, and Botox. Generally, the first treatment tried for excessive armpit sweating is an antiperspirant. Antiperspirants reduce excessive armpit sweating by plugging the ducts of the sweat glands in the armpits. These products generally contain 10%-15% aluminum chloride and are available over-the-counter. Prescription antiperspirant products are also available containing higher concentrations of aluminum chloride. Antiperspirants can decrease the flow of underarm sweat by about 50%. Antiperspirants should be distinguished from deodorants, which do not prevent sweating, but which are helpful in reducing body odor when it is present. Generally, patients will use an aluminum chloride antiperspirant three to seven times a week. If the antiperspirant controls the sweating, the improvement can usually be maintained by ongoing use of the antiperspirant only once every one to three weeks.

When antiperspirants are not effective in controlling excessive armpit sweating, medications such as anticholinergic drugs can be tried. However, they may have side effects such as dry mouth, dizziness, and problems with urination.

In severe cases of sweating, a surgical procedure called sympathectomy can be performed. With this procedure, the nerve associated with the overactive sweat glands is cut. However, the procedure requires general anesthesia and a short hospitalization, and some patients may develop compensatory sweating at other sites on the body following surgical treatment. For these reasons, we do not recommend surgery to treat excessive sweating.

In our office, when excessive underarm sweating is not controlled by antiperspirants, we recommend the use of Botox. The FDA approved Botox in 2004 for the treatment of severe underarm sweating. Botox controls the excessive sweating for up to six months. In the clinical trials that led to the FDA's approval, 86% of treated patients showed a significant reduction in armpit sweating. When injected into the armpits, Botox acts by blocking the release of sweat by the sweat glands, resulting in a significant reduction in sweating within three to seven days. Our patients have been amazed by the reduction in armpit sweating they have had following the use of Botox.

Body Thermage

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:45:00 -0500

(Image Courtesy: Photobucket)

The Body Thermage procedure is a new method to tighten, lift, and smooth the skin of the body. The FDA approved the Body Thermage procedure in January of 2006. In our office, we are using the Body Thermage procedure to tighten and lift the skin of the abdomen (which is commonly loose after pregnancy) and the skin of the upper arms. Anyone with loose skin in these areas is a good candidate for Body Thermage.

During the Body Thermage procedure, the treatment tip simultaneously heats and cools the skin. The tip emits radio frequency energy to heat the collagen in the deeper layers of the skin, while protecting the top layers with a cooling spray. The heating action causes the collagen in the deeper layers of the skin to tighten immediately. Over the next few months, the procedure also stimulates the production of new collagen, further enhancing the result. The Body Thermage procedure does not use invasive surgery, chemicals, needles, or lasers.

The combined action of the immediate tightening of collagen and the production of new collagen results in a tighter smoother skin and a more youthful appearance. In addition, the results are longer lasting because the improvement from the Body Thermage procedure is due to the tightening of the patient's own collagen and the production of the patient's own new collagen. The optimum result is generally achieved approximately four to six months following the procedure. At that time, if a patient wishes, the procedure can be repeated in order to gain additional improvement. There is no significant recovery downtime following the Body Thermage procedure, and patients can resume their normal activities immediately after leaving the office.

Any of our patients who would like to tighten their abdominal or upper arm skin without surgery are invited to call our office to schedule a consultation.

Disclaimer: The image above does not reflect our the procedure itself. It is intended strictly for aesthetic purposes.

What You Should Know About Antioxidants

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:25:00 -0500

(Image courtesy: Picapp)

Although it may seem obvious, an antioxidant is a chemical that prevents other chemicals from becoming "oxidized" and undergoing a chemical change. In the body, highly reactive substances called free radicals are constantly being produced. Free radicals can readily damage the body's own cells. In living tissues, antioxidants remove free radicals before they can damage normal tissues.

Although more research needs to be done, free radicals damage healthy cells by injuring DNA, proteins, and other structures within the cells. It is believed that this speeds up the aging process, weakens the immune system, and may contribute to the development of cataracts, heart disease, and various forms of cancer. For these reasons, it is important that everyone consume enough antioxidants. The best sources of dietary antioxidants, such as vitamins A and C, are vegetables and fruits. Carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, peaches, green peppers, strawberries, citrus fruits, and tomatoes are excellent sources of dietary antioxidants. In addition, wheat germ, nuts, and whole grains are good sources of Vitamin E, which is also an antioxidant.

From the dermatology perspective, exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun will result in the production of free radicals. Several studies have suggested that antioxidants help protect the skin from the damaging effects of the free radicals that result from sun exposure. For this reason, Dr. Amerian recommends that her patients use a topical antioxidant preparation as part of their daily skin-care program.

Disclaimer: The image above is intended to serve an aesthetic purpose only and is not meant to reflect the practice of our office in any way

Different Ways To Remove Unwanted Hair

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:20:00 -0500

(Image courtesy: Photobucket)

There are literally a myriad of reasons why many men and women choose to remove unwanted body hair. It might be a cosmetic, social, or cultural reason, or possibly a medical reason. Unwanted pigmented hair is an extremely common problem for both men and women. Many methods are available for temporary or permanent hair removal, and each method has advantages and disadvantages. In this month’s newsletter, we will review the various methods of treating and removing body hair.

Although excessive hair growth commonly occurs in the normal healthy population of individuals, at times it can be a manifestation of an underlying hormonal disturbance. For this reason, every patient who desires hair removal should first have a complete medical history and physical examination. If the doctor suspects that a hormonal problem may be contributing to or causing the excessive hair growth, a referral to an endocrinologist or a gynecologist is warranted.

Shaving:
Removal of body hair with a razor blade on wet skin using shaving cream or another lubricant is one of the most common methods of removing unwanted hair. The main advantage of hair removal by shaving is that it is fast, easy, and inexpensive. However, as every man knows, the results are temporary, lasting at most three days and often only one day. Because shaving removes hair at the skin surface, it is the most temporary method of hair removal.

Plucking, Waxing, Sugaring, and Epilation:
Epilation means the removal of the entire hair shaft. It is the most effective method for temporarily removing a hair. Epilation includes waxing and plucking, as well as some other methods that can be used for removal of the hair shaft. It is not known whether repetitive epilation results in permanent changes in the hair being removed. Epilation lasts longer than shaving because the hair is removed from below the surface of the skin.

Manual plucking is an easy way to remove single hairs and is useful for removing small amounts of unwanted hair. When the area of skin to be treated is too large for plucking, waxing techniques are more useful. Waxing involves the application of warmed wax to areas of hair bearing skin followed by removal of the wax and the associated embedded hairs.

Sugaring is similar to waxing and is an alternative to waxing for people who are sensitive to wax. A syrupy sugar mixture is prepared by heating lemon juice, water, and sugar. The syrup is then applied to the skin, after which it is quickly stripped away, removing the unwanted hair in the process.

Depilation:
Chemical depilatories remove part of the hair shaft, and are easy and painless. Depilatories work by breaking down the protein in the hair shaft, causing the hair to break in half, and allowing the hair to separate from the skin. They work best on the legs, bikini line, face and underarms. For a good result, the hair should be neither too long nor too short. Since some people are allergic to the chemicals found in a depilatory, a small spot should be tested prior to use to determine whether the product is safe to use in that person.

Eflornithine (Vaniqa):
This drug is used in a topical cream available only by prescription. It was recently approved by the FDA for the reduction of unwanted facial hair in women. The drug works by reducing the rate of hair growth. It can be used in conjuction with other methods of hair removal to prolong their efficacy. Eflornithine is generally used twice a day for six months. Unfortunately, once the drug is stopped, facial hair growth returns to pretreatment levels within 2 months.

Electrolysis:
Electrolysis involves the insertion of a thin needle into the hair follicle, after which a pulse of electric current is passed through the needle to damage and eventually destroy the hair follicle. Generally, multiple treatment sessions are required. During electrolysis it is important to insert the needle accurately into the follicle, and to choose an appropriate intensity and duration of the electric current.

Only hairs that are actively growing should be treated with electrolysis. This can be determined by shaving the area to be treated, then treating a few days later only those hairs that are visible on the skin surface. With electrolysis, each hair must be treated individually and the process is slow.

Laser Hair Removal:
Laser hair removal first became available in 1996, and since that time many advances have occurred in the technology. Lasers can treat large areas of skin at one time, making laser hair removal a cost-effective and efficient method of hair removal. Commonly treated areas include the legs, armpits, upper lip, chin, and bikini line. The effects of laser hair removal can last for several months to several years. Laser hair removal works by using laser energy to destroy the hair follicle, thereby inhibiting future hair growth from the follicle.

For the hair removal laser to be effective, the hair pigment should be darker than the surrounding skin pigment, so that the hair absorbs more of the laser light. If the skin is darker than the hair, the skin will absorb more of the laser light, potentially leading to adverse tissue reactions following the procedure. For this reason, it is important that patients undergoing laser hair removal not come to the office with a tan.

Over the last several years, laser hair removal has become very popular because the results are superior to hair removal using more conventional treatments such as waxing, shaving, and electrolysis. Approximately 80% of all patients respond well to laser hair removal. Patients may expect approximately a 30% decrease in hair with each treatment. For this reason, multiple treatments are generally necessary to achieve the desired reduction in hair in a given body area. In general three or more treatments are required at each site to achieve permanent hair growth reduction. Typically, treatments are spaced 1-3 months apart.

In our office, Karen Ballantyne performs the laser hair removal treatments. Karen is a registered nurse for fifteen years, and she has extensive experience in laser hair removal. Any of our patients who would like to undergo laser hair removal are invited to call the office and make an appointment with Karen.

Disclaimer: The image above is intended to serve an aesthetic purpose only and is not meant to reflect the practice of our office in any way

Tightening and Rejuvenating Eyelids Without Surgery

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:27:00 -0500

During the past four years, there have been dramatic and revolutionary advances in laser technology. By applying these new technologies to the eyelids, it has become possible to rejuvenate and tighten the eyelid skin in nearly all patients without surgery. Today, surgery only needs to be done on the most severely aged eyelids.

In order to match the correct eyelid rejuvenation procedure to the right patient, we divide the eyelid skin into three degrees of laxity: mild, moderate, and severe. Patients who only have mild eyelid laxity are best treated with the eyelid Thermage procedure. Eyelid Thermage is a procedure that smoothes the texture of the eyelid skin and deceases eyelid hooding and wrinkling. Patients benefit from a single treatment that has no downtime. Patients who have had eyelid Thermage, which is also known as the “Eyes by Thermage” procedure, report that their eyelid sagging is improved and both the upper and lower eyelids are tighter. The eyes look brighter and appear more open. In addition, the improved smoothness of the skin makes it easier to apply eye make-up.

Eyelid Fraxel is intended for patients who have developed moderate laxity and crepiness of the skin of the upper and lower eyelids. The procedure reduces skin crepiness, softens lines and wrinkles, tightens the skin, and produces an overall skin rejuvenation effect. The eyelid Fraxel procedure utilizes Fractional Resurfacing Technology. The laser delivers a series of closely spaced laser spots to the skin while preserving normal healthy skin between the laser spots. This preservation of normal untreated skin between the laser spots results in rapid healing after the treatment. Traditional Fraxel laser resurfacing is generally done as a series of four or five treatments given at monthly intervals. The eyelid treatment is generally done in conjunction with Fraxel laser treatment of the face. The procedure has minimal or no downtime. After completing their treatments, patients can reliably expect the skin to look more youthful and rejuvenated.

Patients with more severe laxity are best treated with the Fraxel Repair laser. With the Fraxel Repair, patients obtain significant tightening of their eyelid tissues in a single procedure, which is a welcome advance. Fraxel Repair eyelid treatment can be done by itself or it may be combined with treatment of the face. Patients who undergo Fraxel Repair treatment should be prepared for three to five days of healing following the procedure.

Eyelid Thermage, eyelid Fraxel, and Fraxel Repair all stimulate the production of new collagen in the eyelid skin and promote tissue tightening. This new collagen is living tissue, and for this reason, the improvement in the eyelids following any of these treatments is long lasting and should persist for years.

Regardless of which technology is used to treat the eyelids, the rejuvenation may be further enhanced with Botox and dermal fillers. Botox is used to soften the lines around the eyes (crow’s feet lines). Dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane are used to soften the depressions and folds that form below the eye (known as the tear trough). By combining Thermage or either of the Fraxel lasers with Botox and dermal fillers, nearly all of our patients can achieve very natural eyelid tightening and rejuvenation without undergoing a surgical procedure.

We invite any of our patients who may be interested in non-surgical eyelid rejuvenation to contact our office and make an appointment with either Dr. Amerian or Dr. Anterasian.

Disclaimer: The image above is intended to serve an aesthetic purpose only and is not meant to reflect the practice of our office in any way.

Introducing LATISSE - The New Way of Growing Longer, Thicker, and Darker Eyelashes

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:11:00 -0500

The Santa Monica Laser and Skincare Center is proud to make available to our patients Latisse, a new prescription treatment for growing longer, thicker, and darker eyelashes. Latisse is the first and only FDA approved treatment for people with inadequate or insufficient eyelashes. Its use has been clinically demonstrated to result in longer and more luxurious eyelashes.

Latisse is believed to work by extending the length of time that eyelash hairs stay in the growth phase and by increasing the number of eyelash hairs that are in the growth phase. This means that as your existing eyelash hairs are replaced with new eyelash hairs, the new hairs will be thicker, darker, and longer. However, Latisse will not affect the appearance of your existing eyelash hairs. (You may continue to use mascara in addition to Latisse solution until your new thicker and more luxurious eyelashes grow out.)

Visible improvement in the appearance of the eyelashes will occur gradually. In the clinical trial leading to FDA approval, the majority of Latisse users saw a significant improvement within two months, with the optimum improvement occurring after four months of use.

Using Latisse is quite easy. Each night, after removing make-up, taking out any contact lenses, and washing your face, simply place one drop of Latisse solution on the enclosed sterile applicator. Then draw the applicator carefully across the skin of the upper eyelid where the eyelashes meet the skin. Pass the applicator from the inner part of your lash line to the outer part, then blot any excess solution beyond the eyelid margin. Repeat for the opposite side. Use one sterile applicator for each eye. Each Latisse kit includes 60 sterile applicators, enough to last for one month. Latisse should not be applied to the lower eyelid or to the eye itself.

The Latisse website (www.latisse.com) has additional information about Latisse, including before and after photographs and a demonstration of the technique of applying Latisse.

Any of our patients who would like to try Latisse in order to grow more luxurious eyelashes are invited to call 310-829-9396 for an appointment. Because we are so excited about this new treatment we are happy to make available to our patients the following special offer.

Latisse Special Offer

Because we would like as many of our patients as possible to benefit from Latisse, we are offering our patients who purchase two Latisse kits either a free oxygen facial or a credit of $125 toward any of Jonee’s aesthetic services.

By now, nearly all of our patients have met Jonee, our wonderful aesthetician. Jonee has been doing facials and other aesthetic work in our office for twenty years. She has excellent technique and is a wonderful person. After one of Jonee’s facials, the skin of your face will glow.

The MLA Skincare Product Line

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:52:00 -0500

"Mary Lee Amerian's new skin care line is fabulous. Recently, I finished three weeks of filming a show and found my skin to be tired and dull looking. After two days of using MLA Skincare products, I felt the glow return. The products made my skin feel clean and firm. Now, Dr. Amerian can reach out to others with her new skin care line, which I highly recommend!"
-Tracey Ullman

Dr. Mary Lee Amerian is proud to announce that her complete MLA Skincare line is now available. The MLA Skincare line consists of a rich assortment of products that are designed to work together to provide your skin with exceptional rejuvenation, protection, and prevention. Formulated for use on all skin types, the products are lightweight, rapidly absorbed, and layerable.

MLA Skincare has developed unique products designed to treat specific changes that occur in the skin, including fine lines, wrinkles, redness, brown spots, eyelid puffiness, and dark under-eye circles. This allows the formulations to be optimized for maximum benefit. In addition, products can be selected for use based on each person's individual needs.

Dr. Amerian says, "My goal was to create a skin care line that effectively improves the appearance of aging skin and keeps younger skin looking healthy and beautiful. In addition, I wanted the products to be gentle enough for use on all skin types, even the most sensitive." Dr. Amerian calls this synthesis "Powerful Yet Gentle™" and she incorporates it into the design of every MLA Skincare product.

MLA Skincare products are formulated with the most outstanding skin care ingredients available today. Every ingredient selected for use is carefully chosen based upon scientific evidence of unsurpassed effectiveness, safety, and purity. In addition, ingredients that have even a remote potential for toxicity or are unusually harsh, such as glycolic acid and hydroquinone, are specifically excluded from the formulations. In their place, multiple active ingredients are combined in order to enhance the effectiveness of each of the products! As a result, the MLA Skincare line is not only unmatched in its quality but is also gentle on the skin.

The Perfect 9 Complex

At the heart of every MLA Skincare product is the Perfect 9 Complex™, a proprietary formulation of 9 highly effective ingredients, including peptides, ceramides, and antioxidants, plus botanicals, vitamins, and conditioners. These ingredients were carefully chosen for their anti-aging and soothing effects.

The anti-aging ingredients in Perfect 9 Complex reduce the appearance of fine lines, even skin tone, support the skin barrier function, and help preserve the collagen and elastin in the skin. At the same time, the soothing ingredients moisturize the skin and provide antioxidants and anti-irritants to protect and calm the skin. Together, these 9 unique ingredients help the skin look more youthful, refreshed, and rejuvenated.

Every MLA product combines the anti-aging and soothing ingredients in the Perfect 9 Complex with a unique blend of additional ingredients carefully selected to target specific needs. Thus, an especially large number of active ingredients are used in each of the formulations! This results in MLA Skincare products being highly effective in improving the health and beauty of your skin.

Power Cream

Power Cream is the signature product of MLA Skincare. It is the most potent defense against the signs of aging skin. Lightweight and rapidly absorbed, it delivers the greatest concentration of active ingredients to hydrate, protect, and prevent further damage from sun and exposure. MLA Power Cream combines the Perfect 9 Complex with additional anti-aging and soothing ingredients including plant extracts, vitamins, antioxidants, peptides, and moisturizers.

Benefits

Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Evens skin tone and color
Moisturizes the skin
Reveals radiant new skin cells without harshness or irritation
Helps skin look and feel rejuvenated

Multivitamin Serum

MLA Multivitamin Serum provides for the care and nourishment of your skin. Rapidly absorbed, your skin receives exceptional antioxidant protection to guard against the damage from free radicals that contribute to the visible signs of aging. Formulated with highly effective concentrations of Vitamins A, B, C, E, and Coenzyme Q10, the serum also reduces the appearance of fine lines, redness, and brown spots while supporting the collagen matrix, and improving skin tone and color.

Benefits

Provides exceptional antioxidant protection
Reduces the appearance of fine lines, redness, and brown spots
Contributes to the health of your complexion, creating a younger more radiant look

Brightening Serum

MLA Brightening Serum combines the newest generation of natural skin brightening and renewing ingredients with the Perfect 9 Complex. Plant extracts Bearberry, Mulberry, and Tyrostat™ are added to Lumiskin™, an antioxidant from Chilean tree bark, to reduce the formation of unwanted pigment and control melanin. Equally important, potentially irritating hydroquinone and AHAs are not used in this unique formula.

Benefits

Evens skin tone, color, and texture
Reduces sun spots, brown spots, and brown patches
Lessens blotchiness
Leaves your skin looking more radiant, youthful, and refreshed

Soothing Serum

MLA Soothing Serum is designed for the needs of sensitive and easily irritated skin. It has been specially formulated to prevent and reduce the appearance of redness and to immediately relieve mild skin irritation. Soothing Serum is a combination of naturally calming extracts from chamomile oil, ginger root, and sea algae, plus a selection of multiple other therapeutic and soothing ingredients, including Green Tea and Willowherb extracts, and an anti-irritant based upon the soothing properties of oats.

Benefits

Redness and irritation will be lessened
Skin tone will become more uniform
Color will become more even

Eye Serum

MLA Eye Serum is gentle and lightweight, making it perfect for the especially sensitive areas around the eyes. The advanced formula combines Perfect 9 Complex with light diffusing microspheres and moisture-rich hyaluronic acid filling spheres to improve crow's feet lines and skin texture. In addition, Arnica Extract, Haloxyl™, and multiple soothing ingredients combine to reduce dark circles and puffiness under the eyes.

Benefits

Reduces the appearance of fine lines in the eye area
Reduces under-eye circles and puffiness
Smoothes the skin
Calms irritation

MLA Skincare Product Evaluation

MLA Skincare products were tested for anti-aging efficacy by an independent testing laboratory in a twelve-week single blind randomized controlled clinical study involving sixty-eight patients*. 87% of the users of the products reported improvement in skin texture, tone, dryness, and under-eye circles. There was also statistically significant improvement in fine lines, skin elasticity, skin color, redness, age spots, and under eye puffiness. The visible signs of aging skin were significantly improved after the use of MLA Skincare products.

In summary, the study demonstrated the following benefits of MLA Skincare products:

Improvement in fine lines and wrinkles
Reduced dryness and improved hydration
Improved skin texture, color, and tone
Reduced under-eye dark circles and under-eye puffiness
Improved age spots and freckles
Reduced redness

Results from the Clinical Study

*All data on file at MLA Skincare

"I hope that you will take my skin care products into your home and see for yourself what these products can do for you. As you use the products, please let me know your thoughts. I would love to hear from you."
-Mary Lee Amerian, MD

Using Light to Soften and Smooth the Skin

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:08:00 -0500

Photorejuvenation with LEDs (light emitting diodes) is a non-invasive method of rejuvenating the skin. The LEDs emit light that stimulates skin cell activity without causing damage to the skin's dermis or epidermis. LED treatments have no downtime, no side effects, and can be used on any skin type.

With aging and sun exposure, there is a diminishing amount of collagen in the skin. The LED lights act by stimulating skin cells to produce new collagen.

There are two different lights that are utilized in LED photorejuvenation. First, red light from the Omnilux "Revive" LED is absorbed by the fibroblasts in the skin, which are the collagen producing cells. This stimulates the fibroblasts and results in increased collagen production. Then, the near-infrared light from the Omnilux "Plus" LED is delivered to the skin and is absorbed by cells called fibromyocytes. The stimulation of the fibromyocytes results in increased tone and improved alignment of the newly produced collagen. The two lights, when combined in this manner, work synergistically and provide optimum LED photorejuvenation.

In clinical trials of LED photorejuvenation, more than 70% of patients reported an excellent result and over 80% reported softening of wrinkles. Skin roughness was also significantly improved.

In our office we are using LED photorejuvenation to enhance the results we are achieving with Fraxel laser resurfacing. By doing this, our patients gain additional smoothing and wrinkle reduction. They receive the benefits of two skin rejuvenation procedures, not just one. We perform the LED photorejuvenation on a complementary basis for our Fraxel patients, allowing them to gain this additional improvement at no charge. Photorejuvenation with LEDs can also be done by itself as a series of LED treatments. For patients not undergoing Fraxel laser resurfacing, the charge is $125 per LED treatment.

The FDA has approved LED Photorejuvenation with the Omnilux "Revive" and Omnilux "Plus" for the treatment of wrinkles around the eyes. Anyone who would like to improve his or her fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots, age spots, or skin texture is invited to call our office for an appointment.

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Announcing Power Cream -- The New Anti-Aging Formulation by MLA Skincare!

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:11:00 -0500

After four years of development, Dr. Amerian is very proud to announce that her Power Cream Anti-Aging Formula is now available.

Power Cream is the signature product of MLA Skincare™. It is the most potent defense against the signs of aging skin. Its lightweight and rapidly absorbed formula contains the greatest concentration of active ingredients to hydrate, protect, and prevent further damage from the sun and exposure. With regular use, Power Cream reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, evens skin tone, and reveals radiant new skin cells without harshness or irritation. The skin will look and feel more youthful, refreshed, and rejuvenated.

Dr. Amerian says,"My goal was to create a skin care line that effectively improves the appearance of aging skin, is suitable for all skin types, and gentle enough to be used on even the most sensitive skin."

To accomplish this goal, all potentially irritating ingredients such as hydroquinone, AHAs, and propylene glycol were carefully excluded from the formulations. In their place, multiple active ingredients were combined in order to enhance the effectiveness of each of the products. Dr. Amerian calls this philosophy "Powerful Yet Gentle™," and she utilizes it in the design of every MLA Skincare product.

Every product in the MLA line contains Perfect 9 Complex™ at its core. Perfect 9 Complex is Dr. Amerian's proprietary formulation of 9 highly effective ingredients, including anti-aging peptides, ceramides, and anti-oxidants, plus botanicals, vitamins, and conditioners. These ingredients were carefully chosen for their anti-aging and soothing effects. The anti-aging ingredients reduce the appearance of fine lines, even skin tone, support the skin barrier function, and help prevent the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin. At the same time, the soothing complex moisturizes the skin, and contains anti-oxidants and anti-irritants to soothe and calm the skin.

In addition to the Perfect 9 Complex, every MLA Skincare product also contains its own unique array of other ingredients to target a specific need. Power Cream is boosted with Dermox™ SRC to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, Perfection Peptide™ to gently smooth the skin and give a more even skin tone and color, Hyaluronic Acid Filling Spheres to moisturize the skin and also reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and All-Q™ Plus to provide additional anti-oxidant protection.

For our patients who would like to stop by the office or who have appointments, MLA Power Cream is available for purchase for $125. Alternatively, Power Cream can be ordered over the phone by calling 310-829-9396. We are including free samples of the MLA Eye Serum with every Power Cream purchase.

Removing Sun Spots, Brown Spots Freckles and Patchy Areas

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0500

We are very pleased to announce that we are now using our new Q-switched alexandrite laser for skin rejuvenation in our office. This laser is used to remove a wide variety of pigmented skin lesions. Sun spots, brown spots, freckles, and patchy areas on the face and body can all be removed with the "Q-switched Alex." The laser is extremely safe and highly effective. It is so easy to tolerate that the procedure does not require any numbing cream. Generally, only one or two sessions are needed to remove these skin lesions.

Because this is a non-ablative laser, no special skin care is needed after the treatment. Patients only need to take reasonable sun precautions, apply an ointment to the treated spots, and use sunscreen. There is absolutely no recovery downtime with the Q-switched alexandrite laser.

Any of our patients who have pigmented spots on their face or body that they would like to remove are invited to call our office and make an appointment with either Dr. Amerian or Dr. Anterasian.

(image courtesy of Picapp.com)

Disclaimer: This image serves an aesthetic purpose only and does not reflect the practice of our office in any way.