10% OFF ALL SERVICES

Phase 1: Remove (weeks 1-6) Products begin working to hep promote skin cell turnover. The top layer of the skin is exfoliated, removing dull, old skin cells to help promote new skin cells. Expect mild to moderate skin dryness and redness. You may notice a more even skin tone. Phase 2: Restart (weeks 7-12) New skin cells are produced and pigment cells are distributing melanin more evenly. You may notice smoother, softer skin and skin is becoming more even toned. Phase 3: Refresh (weeks 13-18) Skin cells are turning over. Your skin is becoming clearer, firmer, naturally hydrated and move even toned. Phase 4: Restore (maintenance) Healthy looking skin is maintained. Your skin looks restored, skin tone is even, resilient looking, and more radiant. Phase 5: Retain (maintenance) Continue using your Obagi system for healthy skin!

We all know we are supposed to apply sunscreen when we are outside, but what is it really protecting us from? UVA, UVB, UVC, and IR rays are all damaging to our skin. When you're not wearing sunscreen on a daily basis to help protect your skin's health, UVA and UVB rays can cause skin reddening, brown spots, accelerated skin aging, and increase your risk of skin cancer.   UVA - stands for Ultraviolet A or " UV Aging Rays". These rays cause long term skin damage and photo-aging.   UVB - stands for Ultraviolet B or "UV Burning Rays". These rays are the cause of a sunburn. UVB rays are the common cause of most skin cancers.   UVC - stands for Ultraviolet C. It is the strongest and most deadly of solar rays, however the ozone layer stops these from reaching the Earth.   IR or Infrared Rays- these rays penetrate the deepest into the skin causing the skin to lose elasticity.   Here are a few things to remember when protecting yourself.

• Look at your sunscreen ingredients and make sure you see titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning beds.
• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily with an SPF of 30 or higher.
• Apply 2 tbs of sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside; reapply every 80 minutes or after swimming or sweating.
• Sun Protection Factor (SPF) measures a sunscreen's effectiveness in preventing a sunburn in relation to the length if time spent in the sun.
• Schedule a yearly visit with your dermatologist for a complete skin exam.

You go to great lengths to keep your skin looking its best by using serums, creams and receiving skin treatments, all of which play an important part in managing healthy-looking skin. However, it’s also important to understand what’s happening underneath your skin to affect its pigmentation, or color. So, lets dive into what pigmentation is and how it can be treated. What is pigmentation? Pigmentation is the color of a person’s skin. There are also two types of pigmentation, hyperpigmentation (darker) and hypopigmentation (lighter). What causes changes in pigmentation? Most of what we perceive as aging is caused by factors that you can control, the main one being the amount of time your skin spends exposed to the sun. Excessive sun exposure may be responsible for structural changes in the skin that will not be seen for years and can also cause drastic changes to your skin’s pigmentation. The sun’s rays speed up how active your skin cells, or melanocytes, are. Melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its color, so more exposure to the sun means more pigment in your skin. Pigmentation changes may also take place in those who have darker skin, as dark skin tends to have more melanin, which makes one more susceptible to a condition known as melasma. Also known as “pregnancy mask,” melasma is characterized by brown or tan patches on the face and is caused by a change in hormone levels. Additionally, changes in pigmentation may also be attributed to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). PIH, which is caused by trauma to the skin such as acne, these are dark spots that remain long after the initial inflammation has healed. Treatment and prevention The good news is that you can manage pigmentation changes to your skin by limiting your exposure to the sun and avoiding unnecessary trauma to your skin. Some easy-to-follow recommendations include wearing an SPF 30 or higher every day, bringing a hat or umbrella for further protection from the sun, and always wearing sunglasses. Hydroquinone is considered by many to be the gold standard for treating pigmentation issues and is a key ingredient in the Obagi Nu Derm System which is ideal for treating age spots, dark spots, and melasma. We offer our clients a free Visia Skin Analysis to determine the best treatment option for maximum results.