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coloradoskin1
February 15, 2022
Rosacea – The Inflammatory Skin Condition We Can Help With!
You want your skin to maintain a healthy glow. But what if the skin on your cheeks, nose, and forehead regularly becomes red, bumpy, and irritated? You may have an inflammatory skin condition known as rosacea. While there is no cure for this dermatological condition, personalized rosacea treatment can help minimize its appearance and side effects. Before discussing a treatment plan with your doctor, you may want to learn more about rosacea causes. Who Tends to Experience Rosacea? Anyone (including children and teenagers) can struggle with rosacea. However, rosacea tends to be more common in women with lighter skin tones. Additionally, it may be passed down genetically from parent to child. It may also result from years of sun damage or be an allergic reaction to naturally-occurring skin mites. Whatever the cause of a person’s rosacea, it leads to inflammation and irritation of the skin. This is why the skin takes on a reddish hue. If you have rosacea, you may end up with small bumps that look a little like blemishes. Many times, rosacea sufferers assume they have acne before finding out the true cause of their uneven skin and apparent breakouts. Rosacea may come and go. Even so, people with this condition are advised to take it seriously and explore their treatment choices. How Is Rosacea Treated? Rosacea can be effectively treated in numerous ways. At Colorado Skin & Vein, we offer two advanced methods to treat rosacea skin: a pulsed dye laser and CO2 fractional skin resurfacing. The pulsed dye laser procedure leverages the safe, gentle power of laser energy to treat the veins at the site of the rosacea. The laser disrupts the blood vessels causing the body to react and reduce those vessels’ appearance. Typically, rosacea patients require five pulsed dye laser sessions to see major results. The CO2 fractional skin resurfacing rosacea treatment also uses a laser. The laser can target small spots of rosacea with exceptional precision. After several appointments, the skin takes on a more natural, even appearance. In addition to undergoing our world-class rosacea skin treatment, people with rosacea may find relief from taking oral antibiotics and applying topical medications to their inflamed, irritated skin. The exact combination of treatments will depend upon each person’s rosacea. Tips for At-Home Rosacea Care It’s prudent to work with a reputable doctor who can help you develop a customized treatment plan. At the same time, you can take some at-home steps to keep your rosacea under control. Here are some ways to best care for your rosacea skin: Wear sunscreen every day. Rosacea can flare up after exposure to harmful sunlight. Wearing a hypoallergenic sunscreen that your skin tolerates can reduce the intensity of rosacea. Plus, sunscreen is just a good way to take care of the skin on your face and your body as a whole. Use a gentle skin cleanser. Does your skin cleanser hurt your skin or make your rosacea feel and look worse? Switch to a gentler alternative that you can tolerate twice daily. Avoid picking at your bumps. Rosacea bumps are not acne blemishes. Nevertheless, avoid picking at them as if they were. Treat your skin with care when your rosacea shows up. Eat a nutrient-rich diet. When you deal with rosacea, you deal with a condition related to systemic inflammation. Therefore, try to add anti-inflammatory and nutritious foods to your diet. Think leafy green vegetables, nuts, berries, and fatty fish. Test makeup in a small spot. Do you notice that your rosacea worsens when you wear makeup? You may be using the wrong kind of cosmetics. Experiment with a range of makeup developed for people with sensitive skin or rosacea. Living With Rosacea Is Easier with the Right Rosacea Treatment Plan Rosacea can be a frustration, but it doesn’t have to take over your life. With help, you can find the best methods to deal with your rosacea for the long haul. Let our expert team at Colorado Skin & Vein help you find a rosacea treatment that works. Get in touch today to get started.
January 26, 2022
Will CO2 Laser Treatment Damage My Skin?
You want to rejuvenate the skin on your face. Maybe you’re dealing with discoloration from years of sun exposure. Or perhaps you’re frustrated by small lines and wrinkles around your eyes and mouth. One method to revitalize your appearance is through CO2 laser treatment. CO2 laser treatment has been available for a number of years. It’s one of the most reliable skin tightening procedures that produce permanent results. However, many people worry that this type of laser skin resurfacing process will damage their skin. If you’ve been wondering about unwanted side effects, read on to learn more about how CO2 laser treatment works and how you can optimize your outcomes. CO2 Laser Treatment: A Basic Overview A medically trained professional can use a traditional CO2 laser to remove the upper layer of facial skin. This causes new layers of skin to develop over a period of weeks. The new skin surface will be smoother and more youthful-looking. It should also be free from blotchiness. Many laser skin resurfacing before and after pictures show dramatic results. Because the CO2 laser treatment takes away the epidermis, or top level of skin, it leaves the remaining affected skin tender and red. Patients who undergo CO2 laser treatments typically spend up to three weeks recovering. After this initial period, they may still need to wait for months until their skin looks completely natural and healthy. In other words, CO2 laser treatment is a very big commitment. You can expect to need at least a local anesthetic, if not general anesthesia, to get through each session. However, CO2 lasers are very predictable in terms of what they can do. If you’re not interested in or able to set aside several weeks to recover from CO2 laser treatment, you may prefer to undergo CO2 fractional laser resurfacing instead. How Does CO2 Fractional Laser Resurfacing Work? Fractional CO2 lasers remove the top layer of skin just like their more powerful CO2 laser counterparts. The difference, though, is that the laser’s microbeams only remove some columns of skin. This means that a large percentage of your skin remains untouched. As such, you can expect a far faster downtime than you would with regular CO2 lasers. Though fractional CO2 lasers do not penetrate as wide an area as regular CO2 lasers, they do an excellent job. Many patients are thrilled to have fewer sun damage marks, improved skin textures, and minimized pockets of wrinkles and fine lines. Additionally, patients like being able to get back to their regular routines quickly. Can Anyone Get CO2 Fractional Laser Resurfacing? All types of CO2 laser treatment can be done on any skin type, including dark-toned skin. With that being said, not everyone is an immediate candidate. Even if you find a great provider by Googling “laser skin resurfacing near me,” you may be introduced to a different type of skin rejuvenated method better suited for your situation. For instance, CO2 laser treatment may not be for you if you take certain kinds of medication or are dealing with serious health problems that compromise your immunity. The use of tobacco may interfere with your body’s ability to heal after this or any related type of procedure, too. The best way to find out if CO2 laser treatment is the best option for you is to talk with a medical professional. That way, you can get a personalized opinion based on your history and goals. So Will CO2 Laser Treatment Leave Lasting Damage? The good news is that most patients recover from all types of CO2 laser treatment without experiencing any damage to their skin. You can take measures to ensure that you reduce your chance of negative side effects by: Following pre-procedure and post-procedure guidelines. Contacting your doctor about any concerns immediately. Avoiding the sun after your procedure. Wearing sunscreen and moisturizers. Keeping your face cleansed. If you would like to get more information about fractional CO2 laser treatment or other popular skin rejuvenating solutions like pulsed dye lasers and microdermabrasion, please contact Colorado Skin & Vein by submitting an online form today. Our team can help improve your skin’s appearance by using the right mix of world-class techniques for your individual needs.
January 13, 2022
What Is A Chemical Peel?
Like many trends from the ’90s, the chemical face peel is making a big comeback right now after taking a backseat to newer exfoliating treatments like microdermabrasion and dermaplaning. But unlike many trends that are resurfacing, chemical peels are something that we’re glad to see rising in popularity once more. You’ve probably heard of a chemical peel, but are you familiar with what it actually is? Below, we’ll go over what a chemical peel is, the different kinds of chemical peels, and their benefits. Face peeling at the beautician. Facial treatments. Chemical and salicylic peels. What is a Chemical Face Peel? A chemical face peel is a powerful chemical solution that can be applied to the face, neck, and hands to remove the topmost layer of skin. This removal of the epidermis, and sometimes dermis, stimulates your skin’s process of regeneration, which reveals brighter, clearer, and younger-looking skin. With most peels, your skin will flake and peel, so they do require some downtime. Chemical peels are a popular treatment because they help with many skincare concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, scarring, melasma, acne, sun damage, pore size, and sunspots. Are All Chemical Peels the Same? Not all chemical peels are the same, making them a great treatment option for most people. There are three different types of chemical face peels: 1) A Light Chemical Peel A light chemical peel is a great place to start if you’ve never had a chemical peel done before or have sensitive skin and aren’t sure how you’ll react to a peel. A light chemical face peel only removes the very surface layer of the epidermis and the dead skin cells and other microscopic debris that accumulate on our faces. Light chemical peels are great for fine lines, acne and scarring, and hypo and hyperpigmentation. The most common acids used for light chemical peels are glycolic acid, lactic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and salicylic acid. There is little downtime in a light chemical face peel, and your skin should be fully healed within one to seven days. 2) A Medium Chemical Peel Medium chemical peels are a fine choice if you have more skincare concerns and want to get a deeper peel without the intensity and downtime of a deep chemical peel. Medium chemical peels penetrate the epidermis and go into the papillary dermis for exfoliation. They’re great for acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, improving skin elasticity, and sun damage. The most common acids used in medium chemical face peels are TCA, glycolic acid, and Jessner’s Peel, which is made up of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and resorcinol. The downtime for a medium chemical face peel is one to two weeks. 3) A Deep Chemical Peel As the name implies, a deep chemical face peel penetrates the deepest and produces the most dramatic results. Deep chemical peels penetrate the epidermis, papillary dermis, and reticular dermis. A deep chemical peel is best for someone who is looking for significant results and doesn’t mind substantial downtime — deep chemical peels take two to three weeks to heal from, but the visible results are well worth it. Your chemical peel before and after photos will be noticeably different. This option can treat wrinkles, melasma, acne scars, sun damage, and skin elasticity, and it can even treat pre-cancerous growths. The most common acid used in a deep chemical face peel is a higher concentration of TCA. Every MedSpa will have their choice brand of chemicals that they work with. We use SkinCeuticals in all our peels because their line is backed by science and produces the best results. How to Prepare for a Chemical Face Peel Before you get a chemical peel, regardless of the level, you should: Stop exfoliating Stop using Retinoids Stop using bleaching products that may contain hydroquinone Avoid the sun Stay hydrated What to Do After a Chemical Face Peel Your skin will be sensitive for a few days to weeks after your peel. To protect it, you should: Wear sunscreen Avoid picking or pulling on the flakes Wear hydrating moisturizer Do not exfoliate or use harsh washcloths or scrubbing brushes There are so many benefits from getting a chemical face peel, and with the different levels available, you can find the perfect treatment to fit your needs. There’s no need to Google “best chemical peel near me”; contact us today at Colorado Skin & Vein to schedule your free consultation and find out first-hand what all the chemical peel hype is about!
June 24, 2021
How Much Does Sclerotherapy Cost?
Spider veins usually occur on the lower extremities when deeper vessels have valve damage. The valves direct blood flow to the heart, and when they become dysfunctional, back flow or pooling creates small, branch-like veins close to the skin’s surface. Dr. David Verebelyi has dedicated his career to the advancement of venous health, and is one of the nation’s experts in vascular treatments. How Does Sclerotherapy Work? Often, the best treatment for spider veins over half a millimeter is sclerotherapy, an injection-based treatment with a medication called a sclerosing agent. The FDA-approved solution reacts with the vein walls leading to them collapsing. The body absorbs these damaged vessels and redirects blood flow to deeper, healthier veins. With newer FDA-approved solutions, such as Polidocanol, patients experience fewer side effects with virtually no discomfort. Spider veins typically aren’t painful, and now, neither is their treatment. Spider veins may also form in areas that receive significant UV exposure, like the face. While not painful, it’s always wise to have them checked by a vascular specialists like Dr. Verebelyi and his staff to ensure they aren’t signs of deeper underlying concerns. How Much Does Sclerotherapy Cost? Spider veins are largely a cosmetic issue, and as such, are not covered by insurance unless their treatment is deemed medically necessary as part of a larger treatment plan for vascular disease. According to the 2019 statistics held by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, sclerotherapy’s average cost is $343 per leg. However, Colorado Skin & Vein’s above average volume allows us to offer this service below the average cost of our competitors. Factors such as your geographic location, size of area treated and your physician’s expertise may also play a role in the total price of having sclerotherapy. Financing options are available as well. Double-board certified in Family Medicine and Venous and Lymphatic Medicine, Dr. Verebelyi personally performs patient vascular treatments at Colorado Skin & Vein. His ability to help patients understand complex venous conditions with easily understood concepts has resulted in a loyal following of patients in the greater Denver area, making Colorado Skin & Vein one of the premier vascular clinics in the region. REQUEST A CONSULTATION Simply fill out the form on this page, and one of our highly trained staff members at Colorado Skin & Vein will reach out to your promptly to schedule your appointment. REQUEST A CONSULTATION Am I a Good Candidate for Sclerotherapy? If you are concerned about the appearance of spider veins in your lower extremities sclerotherapy may be the treatment you need. Dr. Verebelyi will discuss your options during a comprehensive consultation so all your questions are answered. What is Sclerotherapy Like? Your sclerotherapy treatment may begin with an ultrasound, which gives Dr. Verebelyi an unimpeded view of your spider veins and surrounding vessels. This ensures any underlying vein disease can be monitored and treated with the appropriate procedures. What Results Can I Expect After Sclerotherapy? It will take the body time to absorb collapsed vessels, so while there may be some improvement immediately in the appearance of your spider veins, it’s not uncommon for them to require several weeks to be completely diminished. Compression stockings are necessary for 2-3 weeks following treatment, with an additional 2-3 weeks of wearing them at night. Sclerotherapy is an effective treatment for existing spider veins, but it does not prevent the formation of new dysfunctional veins. Treated veins should not return, and you’re left with healthy blood flow and smoother skin. “I am so incredibly thrilled with the care and treatment I received at Colorado Skin and Vein. As a younger woman seeking treatment for varicose and spider veins, I was nervous about not being taken seriously or being upsold, and I was so impressed by the professionalism and integrity that I experienced at Colorado Skin and Vein. I saw both Dr. Verebelyi for diagnosis and Abbey Jones for treatment, and was impressed with them both. Abbey is an especially rare gem of a human. She is both so skilled and so caring, and she made sclerotherapy feel like actual therapy. I wish I had before and after pictures of my legs, because the results from just two treatments are truly night and day, and Abbey’s bedside manner is the absolute best of the best. Not only was this the best money I’ve ever spent, but I am SO glad that I spent it here specifically. You all are wonderful at what you do, and I’m very grateful for you.” MK Take the Next Step To request information on sclerotherapy or to schedule a consultation with us, please call (303) 683-3235 or fill out our online contact form today. Colorado Skin & Vein serves Englewood and the greater Denver, CO area.
November 16, 2009
Denver Acne Scar Treatment
Many of our patients have come to us very frustrated with the previous information or acne scar treatments they have received. Many of our patients have come to us very frustrated with the previous information or acne scar treatments they have received. There are many acne scar treatments being promoted, a few of which can be effective and many that are not. Today I am going to talk a little about the physiology of acne scarring and which treatments are most likely to be effective. Acne scarring results when the healing process after an acne infection goes array. After the skin is inflamed by the acne lesion, fibrosis can occur. This is made worse when patients repeatedly pick or squeeze their lesions. Picking causes repeated trauma and increased inflammation while squeezing can drive infectious material deep into the wound again causing more inflammation. Fibrotic repair of the lesions leads to the textural changes associated with acne scarring. About Acne Scarring The main thing to understand is that acne scarring lesions tend to be very deep in the skin. To give an idea of scale, most human hairs are about 100-200 microns thick. Acne lesions normally extend between 800-2000 microns (.8mm-2mm) into the skin. This fact alone explains why most acne scar treatments are minimally effective. *Individual Results May Vary. Acne Scarring Solutions The most obvious solution to acne scarring is prevention. Scarring develops during the inflammatory and healing stages of the lesion so there are a couple of ways to prevent it. First is to keep acne, especially cystic acne under control. This involves a visit to the doctor and normally some type of education and prescription topical or oral medication. TV infomercials are not a replacement for a visit to your physician. There are many patients whose acne goes from very controllable to fairly severe because they try months or years of over the counter treatment options that never quite work. The second part is simply not to pick or squeeze acne lesions. Picking and squeezing are both inflammatory and make lesions worse. Acne and Acne Scar Treatments Tretinoin (Retin-A) is one of the very few topicals that has been shown to improve the appearance of acne scarring in peer-reviewed clinical trials. Patients should be very suspicious of any product claims that do not compare their product to either a placebo or Tretinoin. *Individual Results May Vary. Microdermabrasion and Superficial Chemical Peels for Acne Scars Mild fruit acid peels such as Glycolic, Lactic, Salicylic, and microdermabrasion are often offered up as treatments for acne scarring. Most of these treatments penetrate from 10-30 microns into the skin, remember acne scarring normally goes from about 800-2000 micros into the skin. That means even at their best, these treatments only affect the top 5% of the scar. With multiple repeated treatments, this can be slightly increased but even after 10-20 treatments with these modalities, there are only modest results at best. Deep Chemical Peels for Acne Scars TCA, multiple layer Jessner‘s Solution can penetrate through the epidermis over 100 micros into the skin. These products use a chemical reaction to literally burn a thin layer of skin off. The deeper the lesion caused by the peel, the longer the downtime will be. Peels that do deep enough to completely remove the epidermis will normally take about 7-10 days to recover from but still will only treat about the top 10-20% of an acne scar. Phenol peels are very deep peels which although they can get moderate results are not used very often anymore do to their potential for scarring. About Non-abrasive Lasers for Acne Scars This a large category that includes any light-based technology that heats the skin to stimulate collagen synthesis which helps fill in depressions in the skin. The heat also helps rearrange the abnormal architecture of collagen fibrils that are already present. Light sources such as Cutera’s Laser Genesis and the Fraxil Re:store fall into this category. With all of the light sources, the energy of the laser is absorbed by water in the tissue and turned into heat. These procedures require multiple treatments but can provide moderate results with little to no downtime. Simply fill out the form on this page, and one of our highly trained staff members at Colorado Skin & Vein will reach out to your promptly to schedule your appointment. REQUEST A CONSULTATION About Shallow Ablative Lasers for Acne Scars An ablative laser actually vaporizes (destroys) an area of tissue. The shallow lasers are normally Erbium devices such the Cutera Pearl and Sciton Contour or Profractional. These lasers come in versions that treat the entirety of the skin and in fractional versions which only treat a small portion of the skin (like aerating a lawn). The advantage of the fractional devices is that they tend to go deeper which treats deeper pathology and significantly decreases both healing time and side effects. Erbium lasers will tend to produce about 30-150 microns of ablations in the full forms and about 600-800 microns in their fractional forms. The fractional version of these lasers can provide nice improvement in acne scarring but have two drawbacks. The first is that even the fractional versions of Erbium lasers do not get to the base of most acne scars and the second is these lasers do not provide as much heat to tissue as a CO2. This heat is necessary to induce remodeling of the tissue that is not ablated and is a major factor in the final outcome that a patient sees in the mirror. About Deep Ablative Treatments for Acne Scars Almost all of the lasers currently in this category are CO2 lasers. This is the gold standard in revising acne scarring. The newest devices are fractionated like their more shallow counterparts. There are many devices in this category including, Pixel, Affirm, Dot, Fraxil Re:pair, and Lumenis Active FX and Deep FX. Unfortunately, most of them are grossly underpowered. Underpowered lasers need to use very long laser pulses to
August 4, 2009
Treatment For Bruising And Swelling
We often get questions about what patients can do to decrease the amount of bruising or swelling after a procedure. Patients want to know what are the most effective ways to make bruising and swelling go away. The good news is that there are effective steps that can both decrease the likelihood of bruising or swelling and decrease healing time. Avoid: Before any invasive procedure or other treatments that may alter the integrity of the skin such as Botox or Fillers make sure you should avoid certain vitamins and supplements. Stop taking all of the following for at least one week: A special note about aspirin: It would need to be stopped for 10-14 days before a procedure but check with you prescribing physician first to see if it is ok to stop this medication. Most minor bruising lasts a couple days to a couple weeks so be patients. Keep firm pressure on any area that is obviously swelling for at least 5 minutes. Place cool packs over the area immediately after treatment and for the first 24 hours (no hot packs). Keep the area elevated for the first few days, especially at night. Supplements: There are two main supplements that have been proven to reduce the healing time of bruising and swelling. In some studies healing times have been decreased by as much as 40%. Make-up Tips Remember that green tinted make-ups will help decrease redness and yellow make-up will help absorb bluish discoloration.
February 17, 2009
Can I Get Imported Botox Cosmetic For A Lower Cost?
Unfortunately the answer is very much no. Your friend’s doctor is doing something both unethical and illegal. The DEA makes it illegal to import Botox or any other injectable from another country because they cannot monitor the product. The other issue is that of counterfeiting, which has become big business around the globe. This is especially true of Botox coming from Canada, Mexico, and France. The only way to assure yourself that you are getting the real thing is to copy down the lot number and call Allergan (the manufacturer of Botox) to double check that that particular lot number was delivered that the doctor who injected it. Another tip, make sure that your provider is willing to mix the Botox in front of you (it comes as a dry powder) that way you are assured they are not over-diluting their product.
February 17, 2009
Should I Buy Botox By The CC Or By Units
A vial of Botox cost all physicians about the same and contains 100 units of Botox. The vial comes as a dry power which is reconstituted with sterile saline. Different providers use different amounts of saline. A vial of Botox cost all physicians about the same and contains 100 units of Botox. The vial comes as a dry power which is reconstituted with sterile saline. Different providers use different amounts of saline. This is usually anywhere from 1-4ccs. This means you could be getting anywhere from 25 to 100 units of Botox per cc if you paying buy the cc. Studies suggest that the higher potencies (i.e. less dilute) of either 1-2ccs tend to work the best. Botox should normally cost between $10 – $18 per unit, depending on the injector. Any less and the Botox is most likely from outside the country which is both illegal (The FDA cannot monitor it) and highly suspect for counterfeit. If you buy it by the unit, you understand exactly how much your provider is using over which areas and make sure you get a fair price.