Fillers are a minimally invasive cosmetic treatment used to add volume, alter the contours of the face and fill in wrinkles. Common areas to inject fillers are in the face, neck and hands, resulting in a fuller, smoother and more youthful appearance. Dermal fillers are among the most popular aesthetic procedures because they carry immediate results, with very few risks and little recovery time. When injected under the skin, a filler raises or puffs up that area. Most fillers require multiple injections. Different fillers last different lengths of time. Slowly, your body absorbs the filler and this makes the skin go back to its normal state.

It is not known what the effects of fillers are during pregnancy because not many studies have been done on this topic. While the risks may be minimal or nonexistent, they are still unknown.

Physicians tend to err on the side of caution when there’s little evidence in regards to safety of a drug and it is usually recommended to avoid elective procedures during pregnancy. It’s always best to minimize the risk to your baby and avoid unnecessary treatments.

Many expecting mothers in Phoenix may find that being pregnant is the only cosmetic procedure they need. Pregnancy often causes puffiness and water retention, meaning that some women will notice that wrinkles and previously sagging skin on their face are now fuller. Hormonal changes also improve the condition and appearance of skin and hair during pregnancy, giving a “glow” and removing the need for any cosmetic treatments until it’s completely safe.

For more information about fillers during pregnancy, contact The Center for Advanced Dermatology at 602-867-7546 or mddermsolutions.com.

Injectable fillers can give you a more youthful look for a fraction of what a traditional facelift costs. Most will fill in lines and wrinkles in less than 30 minutes with results that can last from 4 months to more than a year. Fillers can also be used as volumizers, plumping and lifting cheeks, jawlines and temples and filling out thin lips. If you are considering fillers, it is important to understand what to expect for aftercare.

• Temporary stinging, throbbing, burning sensation, redness, swelling, bruising and excess fullness
• Swelling and puffiness may last several weeks
• Redness and bruising may last about 48 hours
• You may feel a firmness in the treatment area for a few days – this may depend on the area of treatment and the product used but over time, it will soften and feel more natural
• Inspect daily for signs of infection
• Stay out of the sun until redness and bruising subsides (usually 48 hours)
• Always use a strong sunblock if sun exposure is unavoidable (SPF 30 or greater)
• Avoid alcohol consumption until bruising and swelling subsides
• Acetaminophen is appropriate for pain relief, avoid anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen
• One of the advantages of these procedures is that you may return to most of your normal activities shortly after treatment
• Avoid strenuous exercise for a day or two after treatment because this increases the heart rate and quickens blood-flow, which can prolong swelling
• Be realistic about your results: repeated treatments may be necessary and with regular follow-up treatments, you can easily maintain your new look

If you have any questions about fillers or the aftercare process in Phoenix, contact The Center for Advanced Dermatology at 602-867-7546 or mddermsolutions.com.

Wrinkles are caused by a combination of factors — some you can control, others you can’t. Eye wrinkles – such as so-called laugh lines or crow’s feet – are the bane of many aging adults. To be able to effectively get rid of wrinkles by your eyes, you need to know the causes of those wrinkles:

Natural Aging: The first and most common cause of eye wrinkles is aging. As people age it is normal to have wrinkles not just near your eyes but also on your neck, face and so on. As you get older, your skin naturally becomes less elastic and more fragile. Decreased production of natural oils dries your skin and makes it appear more wrinkled. Fat in the deeper layers of your skin diminishes. This causes loose, saggy skin and more pronounced lines and crevices.

Smoking: Smoking can accelerate the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles. Smoking generally increases wrinkles on the body since it generates free radicals in the body. The free radicals will reduce the amounts of elastin and collagen in the skin. This will also make the skin dry. Furthermore, as you smoke, you are likely to squint when the smoke reaches your eyes, this too will cause under eye wrinkles.

Repeated Facial Expressions: Facial movements and expressions, such as squinting or smiling, lead to fine lines and wrinkles. Each time you use a facial muscle, a groove forms beneath the surface of the skin. As skin ages, it loses its flexibility and is no longer able to spring back into place. These grooves then become permanent features on your face. As you laugh, squint or smile, your eyelid skin tends to get creases and with time, this will cause wrinkles by the eyes.

Sun Exposure: Ultraviolet radiation, which speeds the natural aging process, is a primary cause of early wrinkling. Exposure to UV light breaks down your skin’s connective tissue — collagen and elastin fibers which lie in the deeper layer of skin (dermis). Without this supportive connective tissue, your skin loses strength and flexibility. Skin then begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely.

Poor Skin Care: Your facial skin, especially the area around your eyes should be well hydrated and moisturized. If you fail to properly moisturize your skin and it becomes dry, eye wrinkles can form as you make facial movements and expressions.

Genetics: For some people the causes of wrinkles under their eyes are hereditary. People whose eye wrinkles are caused by genetic factors often start noticing them at a young age. Some of the genetic factors that contribute to under eye wrinkles include the amount of skin that someone has, natural oils, elastin and collagen quality, among many other factors.

If you have wrinkles by your eyes, there are many treatment options available. The first step is meeting with an experienced dermatologist. In Phoenix, Dr. Holy has years of experience in wrinkle treatment and prevention as well as other skin care needs. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Holy, contact The Center for Advanced Dermatology at 602-867-7546 or mddermsolutions.com.

As we grow older, certain signs of aging can begin to reveal that age is more than just a number. Characteristics like wrinkles, age spots and sagging skin develop over time. Skin rejuvenation provided by Dr. Holy in Phoenix can help you look more natural, younger and more beautiful than ever.

Skin rejuvenation procedures seek to achieve one or more of the following:

• Reduce or remove wrinkles
• Remove or lighten sun spots
• Tighten loose skin
• Improve skin tone and color
• Eliminate damaged, visible blood vessels

The variety of procedures available today provides you with choices when it comes to your treatment. Many treatments take only a few minutes to perform and require little to no recovery time. Other options may be slightly more invasive, but can deliver results that you can enjoy for months to years post-treatment.

The particular treatment you will need depends on a variety of factors, including your age, skin condition, desired recovery time and the concerns you wish to address. In some cases, a combination of treatments may be recommended to provide optimal results. This ability to customize an ideal treatment plan is another benefit of skin rejuvenation.

There are many ways in which skin rejuvenation treatments can put years back on your face. The Center for Advanced Dermatology offers skin rejuvenation treatments to help you look and feel your best. Our skin rejuvenation therapy is great for combating common signs of aging to restore a more youthful appearance.

Wrinkles: Many treatments target wrinkles. They take away the dead skin cells that crowd around the wrinkles on your skin. In addition, many of the treatments will put more collagen into your skin. Collagen is something we lose when we get older, but it is essential for plump, soft and younger looking skin.

Sun spots and age spots: Sun spots and age spots are just a part of life, but they can disappear with a quick skin resurfacing procedure. These spots are a buildup of discolored skin, but many treatments can break up these discolorations and reveal the beautiful, even-toned skin beneath.

Scars from acne and other incidents: If you have scars on your face or other areas of your skin, these can also be removed or diminished with some great skin rejuvenation treatments.

There are many reasons why our skin tends to look worse as we get older. You cannot avoid the wrinkles that come along with age, but you can make your skin look and feel much better with skin rejuvenation treatments. Contact The Center for Advanced Dermatology to learn more about our amazing skin procedures. Call 602-867-7546 or mddermsolutions.com to schedule your appointment.

Our face is one of the most distinguishing features on our entire body. However, as we grow older, fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and other signs of aging appear. Age, sun exposure, smoking and other factors can all contribute to this appearance. While there are those who choose to accept aging as a way of life, many people seek rejuvenating procedures to find a way to recapture their youthful appearance. There are several procedures that can help restore a youthful appearance to faces, as a group these are  called facial rejuvenation treatments. Improving your facial skin tone and repairing skin damaged by aging, sun damage or injury often involves skin rejuvenation. There’s a huge variety of cosmetic therapies available to restore and renew skin.

While some of these facial rejuvenation procedures involve surgery, like facelifts and dermabrasion, more and more minimally invasive procedures have emerged. These treatments cannot stop your face from aging, but they can take years off your appearance by reducing the number of wrinkles and other signs of aging. Benefits can vary depending on the type of treatment used.

Any person looking to enhance the appearance of their face would represent an ideal candidate for facial rejuvenation treatments. Although reasons vary from person to person, the more common include:

• Enhancing appearance and boosting self-confidence
• Becoming less self-conscious about appearance
• Achieving smoother looking skin
• Removing unsightly skin conditions (age spots, uneven pigmentation, spider veins, etc.)
• Regaining a more youthful look

The most common facial rejuvenation treatments are:

• Facelift
• Dermabrasion
• Microdermabrasion
• Chemical Peel
• Laser Skin Resurfacing
• Photo Rejuvenation
• Spider Vein Treatment (Sclerotherapy)
• Botox Injections
• Collagen Injections
• Fat Injections
• Thermage

These facial rejuvenation procedures are just some of the many ways to help enhance one’s appearance. To learn more about these facial rejuvenation procedures, please contact The Center for Advanced Dermatology in Phoenix at 602-867-7546 or mddermsolutions.com.

Aging skin problems develop as we get older. Wrinkles and sagging skin are usually the most noticeable aging skin problems but there are many others that may be present such as:

• Age Spots or Liver Spots
• Skin tags
• Hair loss
• Excess hair (Hirsutism)
• Skin Cancer
• Sun Damage
• Varicose Veins
• Spider Veins
• Dry Skin

Most aging skin problems can be avoided if proper skin care is taken from a young age. Since the skin is on the outside of the body and it ends up protecting the body in so many ways, the aging process can affect it in an obvious way. Here is a look at some of the problems that can occur to the skin, what causes aging and some information on prevention and treatment.

Causes of Aging Skin It’s important to understand that a variety of different things can cause problems with the skin. There are two types of causes for aging, which include intrinsic aging and extrinsic aging.

Intrinsic aging causes are basically natural. Usually the body begins to age once you are in your mid 20s, and some of the skin processes begin slowing a bit after you reach a certain age. Collagen production may slow down, dead skin cell shedding doesn’t occur as often and the body doesn’t produce skin cells as fast anymore. While it may take a long time for us to realize these issues are occurring, it will eventually begin showing up on the skin in the form of thinning, sagging, fine wrinkles and lines. Skin may become dry, it may lose some firmness and cheeks may appear more hollow as well.

Some aging causes occur due to external causes. These external causes may make the skin age prematurely. Gravity, sleeping on the side of your face or even repeating certain facial expressions may cause extrinsic aging to occur. Smoking and too much sun exposure can be extrinsic causes of aging as well.

Prevention

The best thing you can do is to be proactive in preventing aging skin problems from developing in the first place. Smart skin care can help you to prevent problems from occurring in the future or to slow the progression of current problems. Many things can be done to prevent the skin from aging as quickly. Eating foods that include antioxidants, avoiding the rays of the sun and using quality skin care products may be able to slow or prevent many aging skin problems.

Treatment Options

While you can do your best to prevent skin problems from occurring, you can’t always prevent the signs of aging. The good news is that there are great treatment solutions available today. In Phoenix, Dr. Holy has several treatment options available depending on your unique skin. If you would like to schedule a skin examination with Dr. Holy, contact The Center for Advanced Dermatology at 602-867-7546 or mddermsolutions.com today.

If you have moles, it is important to keep an eye on them for any significant changes which can be a sign of skin cancer. Most people have moles on their skin and moles can appear anywhere on your body. Although your pattern of moles is most likely determined by your genetics, sun exposure can cause you to have more moles, and can cause the ones you already have to get darker. New moles tend to appear and existing ones tend to get larger and darker during the teen years and during pregnancy.

Moles may change over time. They may get bigger, grow a hair, become more raised, get lighter in color, or fade away. Many people develop new moles until about age 40. Most of these are normal changes. But some changes in moles or skin growths are caused by skin cancer.

If you have a mole, you may be wondering if it’s harmless or if you should see your dermatologist about it. It is important to have a suspicious mole checked since it could be an early sign of melanoma, which is a potentially fatal form of skin cancer.

Examine your skin regularly to check for new moles or changes in existing ones. When you examine your moles, remember the following guidelines for potentially harmful moles:

Asymmetry: A mole in which one side does not match the other.

Border that is irregular: A mole with a scalloped or poorly defined border.

Color that is varied: A mole that consists of more than one color.

Diameter that is large: A mole that has a diameter larger than a pencil eraser.

Evolving: A mole that has gotten bigger over time, or has changed its shape or color.

If you are concerned about moles getting bigger or any other changes in your skin that you may have noticed, contact The Center for Advanced Dermatology in Phoenix at 602-867-7546 or mddermsolutions.com. Dr. Holy can provide you with a complete skin evaluation and address any issues that you may have.

Dermatology skin problems can range from mild irritations to quite serious diseases. In some cases, common conditions that affect the skin can be hazardous to your health or even life-threatening, if left untreated.

Acne is caused by oil trapped in ducts beneath your skin. On your face alone, 15,000-20,000 oil glands work to keep the skin elastic and soft. When the oil cannot rise to lubricate the surface of your skin, it builds up in the ducts, bacteria grow and inflammation occurs. Acne is most common among teenagers but it can start or continue into adulthood.

Psoriasis, (red, scaly patches on the skin) is a genetic disorder. The scalp, elbows and knees are commonly affected, although it can surface anywhere. Arthritis is associated with this rash in 40% of psoriasis patients. Topical creams and ointments are successful in controlling small areas of psoriasis. More severe cases can be treated with ultraviolet light or systemic medications.

Contact Dermatitis is caused by many substances in the environment which react with our skin. Some are found in plants, such as poison ivy. Chemicals found in clothing, jewelry, creams and perfumes may cause direct irritation or stimulate an allergic response. The affected skin becomes tender or itchy and, in extreme cases, blisters may appear. If the offending chemical is unknown, allergy testing may be able to identify the cause.

Eczema is a chronic condition in which the skin becomes itchy, reddened, cracked and dry. It affects both males and females as well as people from different ethnic backgrounds. This condition can affect children, teens and adults. Dr. Holy offers many treatment options for relieving eczema.

Warts are skin growths caused by a virus.  The virus causes the top layer of skin to grow rapidly, forming a wart. Warts can grow anywhere on the body and are most common in children and young adults.

Sun Damage. Overexposure to the sun can cause a variety of skin conditions, not just sunburns, wrinkles or skin cancer. You may also experience uneven pigmentation, lentigines (also referred to as age spots or liver spots), labial lentigo (a dark brown lesion that develops on lips) and solar elastosis (a breakdown of collagen and connective tissue which causes the skin to sag). Dr. Holy can effectively diagnose and treat existing sun damage and help you prevent future damage.

Atypical Moles most commonly appear on the back but may appear anywhere on the body, including below the waist, on the scalp or other areas. They may fade into surrounding skin and include a flat portion that is level with the skin surface. They may be smooth, slightly scaly or have a rough, irregular appearance. Atypical moles are usually not present at birth but develop some time later. Several types of atypical moles are known to develop before melanoma. Atypical moles are the most common precursor, but not all atypical moles develop into melanoma. It is important to have Dr. Holy  examine any mole that you feel is suspicious or is changing.

At The Center for Advanced Dermatology  in Phoenix, we offer treatment options for a wide variety of dermatology skin problems that may affect you. Contact us today at phone or website to schedule an exam.

What Causes Our Skin to Age?

Many things cause our skin to age. Some things we cannot do anything about and others we can influence.

One thing that we cannot change is the natural aging process. With time, we all get visible lines on our face. It is natural for our face to lose some of its youthful fullness. We notice our skin becoming thinner and drier. Our genes largely control when these changes occur. This type of aging is called intrinsic aging.

There is another type of aging that affects our skin called extrinsic aging. Our environment and lifestyle choices can cause our skin to age prematurely. By taking some preventive actions, we can slow the effects that this type of aging has on our skin.

Ways to Reduce Premature Skin Aging

To help our patients prevent premature skin aging, Dr. Holy in Phoenix offers the following tips:

1. Protect your skin from the sun every day. The sun plays a major role in prematurely aging our skin. Whether spending a day at the beach or just running errands, sun protection is essential. You can protect your skin by seeking shade, covering up with clothing, using sunscreen that is broad-spectrum, SPF 30 (or higher) and water-resistant. You should apply sunscreen every day to all skin that is not covered by clothing.
2. If you smoke, stop. Smoking greatly speeds up how quickly skin ages. It causes wrinkles and a dull complexion.
3. Avoid repetitive facial expressions. When you make a facial expression, you contract the underlying muscles. If you repeatedly contract the same muscles for many years, these lines become permanent. Wearing sunglasses can help reduce lines caused by squinting.
4. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables may help prevent damage that leads to premature skin aging.

5. Drink less alcohol. Alcohol is rough on the skin. It dehydrates the skin, and in time, damages it. This can make us look older.
6. Exercise. Moderate exercise can improve circulation and boost the immune system. This, in turn, may give the skin a more-youthful appearance.
7. Cleanse your skin gently. Scrubbing your skin clean can irritate it. Irritating your skin accelerates skin aging. Gentle washing helps to remove pollution, makeup and other substances without irritating your skin.
8. Wash your face daily and after sweating heavily. Perspiration, especially when wearing a hat or helmet, can irritate the skin, so wash your skin as soon as possible after sweating.
9. Apply a facial moisturizer every day. Moisturizers keep water in our skin, giving it a more youthful appearance.

It’s Never Too Late

Aging of the skin can be slowed down with lifestyle changes that promote good health and diligent skin care habits. Even people who already have signs of premature skin aging can benefit from making lifestyle changes. If aging skin concerns you, contact The Center for Advanced Dermatology in Phoenix at 602-867-7546 or mddermsolutions.com. New treatments and less-invasive procedures for smoothing wrinkles, tightening skin and improving one’s complexion are giving many people younger-looking skin.

RealSelf Q&A with Adriana K. Holy, MD