LED Infrared Light Therapy for Wrinkles and Healing

This winter I've been focusing on using Retin-A as my chemical peel agent of choice, primarily because my responsibilities at work have prevented me from doing as many TCA peels as I've wanted due to the downtime.

I've finally increased my .1% tretinoin cream to nightly use, but I hadn't been able to use it more than 2 or 3 times a week due to redness and irritation....until I combined it with my LED Infrared Light Therapy, which speeds healing.

As a bonus, this light therapy is also shown in studies to improve wrinkles!  I've been loving this new approach because I have absolutely NO downtime, and my skin looks great.

Here's my routine:

AM - no cleansing, just splash filtered water, moisturize, sunscreen, and powder
PM - cleanse gently with a homemade hyaluronic acid cleanser, rinse, and apply shea butter, then use my LED light for 17 minutes while I listen to a book on my ipad.

Those of you who've read most of my blog know that I've had the LED DPL light for over a year now. I used it initially for healing after peels and didn't use it daily, but I'm glad I started using it daily with retin-a! I think the results are rivaling my TCA peels!

Scientists find bacteria that may protect against acne

Published yesterday in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology by Sorel Fitz-Gibbon, PhD, from the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, scientists reveal bacterial strain that may protect people from acne.

The bacterial strain was found by comparing acne-ridden skin with clear human skin. Propionibacterium acnes (P acne) is a dominant skin organism that colonizes pilosebaceous units, in which certain strains are believed to stimulate development of acne. The population sizes of the bacteria are similar among individuals, but the proportions of different strains vary between people prone to acne and people with clear skin. Similar to Staphylococcus aureus, only certain strains of the bacteria are able to cause acne.

After acquiring samples from both the acne group and the clear group, the next step for the researcher was genome sequencing. Two strains were discovered in 1 of 5 volunteers with acne, but rarely in clear-skinned people. Conversely, a third bacterial strain appeared to be common in healthy skin, yet was rare in skin with acne, suggesting a protective role.

The findings may have practical applications, the authors write, such as the development of a probiotic topical preparation to favor the protective bacterial strain or drugs to selectively target acne-related bacteria. A simple skin test might predict whether a person has an increased risk of developing aggressive acne.

For now, many of us may want benefit from a good probiotic. When I searched the internet for probiotics for acne, many results appeared, so this approach certainly isn't new to people who suffer from acne.


There are many probiotics out there, but the best one, according to reviews is Garden of Life Primal Defense.  I use Sustenex Chews, and I still get occasional flare ups of acne, so I may try a different brand.

TCA Spot Treatment

Last year I started doing TCA spot treatments where I target very small problem areas only. This was not my brainchild, but the credit belongs to a fellow peeler.

The technique is great because I can't afford any downtime right now, and using a very small applicator and pinpointing only those spots allows me to work on those areas without sacrificing time. These very small areas will not be noticeable to anyone except me, and they'll heal much faster because my body is dealing with such a small area of trauma.

These are areas I typically spot treat (click the image to enlarge):

Using 50% TCA and a thin plastic applicator, I apply the TCA solution only in a few fine lines and small scars. I don't recommend anyone use 50% TCA without much experience or professional advice, and I am NOT a professional.

If you can't find anything plastic that is small enough, I cut a thin strip off the edge of an old credit card I never used and peeled it apart. I dip the applicator into the solution and make sure there are no large droplets on it before I apply. I also have to use 15X makeup mirror to apply it because it's hard for me to see some of those scars (eyes are getting old).

I don't use alcohol on any of the areas since the TCA % is so high. The tiny dots and thin lines frost immediately, and I don't wash them off, but before bed I apply my CU3 post laser copper peptide lotion.

I'll have a few tiny brown spots and thin lines, but they'll be so small no one will notice. And it's a technique that I can use more frequently since it's not a large area...the tiny areas will heal much faster, and I can treat those problem areas more frequently and more aggressively.

After the frosting goes away, I can barely see a few pink dots and lines: nothing a little concealer can't handle!

Scientists Discover why Fair Skin Accelerates Aging

If you have fair skin, freckles, or red/light hair, listen up! Scientists have just discovered that our cells are actually contributing to skin damage through a process generated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), unstable oxygen-containing molecules that can damage cells.

Doing chemical peels will help, but knowing why our skin ages faster will help us identify other changes we can make to slow down this accelerated aging process.

If you have fair skin, freckles, or red hair, you already know that you burn easily in the sun compared to others without these features. Until recently, scientists assumed that this was attributed to a lack of melanin in the skin cells, which typically protects us somewhat from UV damage.

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), suspecting that the pigment-associated risk might be chemically related to the generation of (ROS) - unstable oxygen-containing molecules that can damage cells - examined skin samples and discovered elevated levels of a type of DNA damage typically produced by ROS, supporting their theory of oxidative damage.

What does this mean for those of us who are fair skinned? It means that not only are we more susceptible to UV damage, but also that our cells, in particular, may be causing further damage to our skin.

What can we do? The first step is to protect our skin from UV damage, but that’s nothing new.

Next, we must consume antioxidants to neutralize ROS, and the best form of antioxidants is food. 

Here’s a site where you can check the oxidative level of foods you eat.

Look at the difference between eating corn and olives: corn causes inflammation or oxidative damage, but olive act as antioxidants:

David Fisher, MD, PhD, chief of the MGH Department of Dermatology is the author of the article, published in Dermatology, Nov 2012, if you would like to read the article.

Chemical Peel or Laser?

I saw an exchange recently on one of the forums I frequent, and someone asked if she should have a chemical peel or laser ablation.

Professional Opinions

This plastic surgeon says that chemical peels are better. See his video that addresses this question:http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/video/chemical
In addition, this clinical study that shows "Collagen type I was markedly increased after the [chemical] peel. Characteristic ultrastructural features of skin after peeling include markedly decreased epidermal intracytoplasmic vacuoles, decreased elastic fibers, and increased activated fibroblasts."
There are lots of variables that I considered before deciding to do at-home chemical peels, and some people just aren't good candidates.   Who's a good candidate for a chemical peel? Generally, fair-skinned and light-haired patients are better candidates for chemical peels.  If I had darker skin, I may also have good results, depending upon the type of problem being treated, but I may have been more likely to have uneven skin tone after an at-home chemical peel. People with darker skin may be better candidates for other cosmetic procedures.  Also, if I couldn't wear sunscreen, I probably would not be doing chemical peels because it's important to protect skin after peels.   In addition, some medications or disease may affect how well someone heals after a chemical peel, so those with diseases, such as diabetes, or those taking medications should always consult their medical care partner(s) before doing chemical peels. In reality, everyone should talk with a professional healthcare provided, whether a dermatologist or a general practitioner before doing chemical peels.   What to expect from a chemical peel Don't expect a miracle--they don't exist in this arena, but with consistent and conservative treatment, I've seen improvement in fine lines, skin tone, acne, age spots, melasma or dark patches, and improved texture.  What NOT to expect from a chemical peel   At-home chemical peels generally do not "fix" deep wrinkles, sagging skin, or bulges in the skin, although underlying collagen may increase to make them less noticeable. Lasers may be more appropriate for these problems--or other cosmetic procedures.