Dermatology, Cosmetic Surgery, Mohs Micrographic Skin Cancer Surgery & Laser Surgery

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Category: Acne

Busy Tonight With Dr. Pimple Popper

2 min read

Dr. Sandra Lee (aka Dr. Pimple Popper) on the E! Busy Tonight set with Susan Kelechi Watson and Busy Philipps.Board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Sandra Lee, aka Dr. Pimple Popper, has become an international social media and television sensation with an incredibly large following behind her pimple popping videos and skincare techniques.

She appeared on E! Busy Tonight, a show hosted by Busy Philipps, and is also the star of the hit TLC program called Dr. Pimple Popper that aired its second season this year.

Dr. Lee has 5 million YouTube subscribers, 3.3 million Instagram followers, and 2.6 million Facebook followers.

Her underlying goal of providing entertaining videos to her followers is to educate and improve their daily skincare habits.

Talking Pimples With Philipps

Dr. Lee shared her expertise with Busy Philipps on the E! Network late-night show “Busy Tonight” in January.

Philipps starred on hit TV shows such as “Freaks and Geeks,” “Dawson’s Creek,” and “Cougartown.”

In the appearance, Dr. Lee showed Philipps the proper way to pop a pimple, which included wearing gloves and applying even pressure on all sides.

“You have to know when to pop and when to stop.”

– Dr. Sandra Lee

Dr. Lee also talked about her quick rise to fame by simply posting a video of her popping a blackhead on her Instagram.

Through education and empowerment, Dr. Lee hopes to inspire others on how to take care of their skin and achieve a healthy and youthful complexion.

Put Your Best Face Forward

The internet’s favorite dermatologist and Youtube sensation, tells all in her book Put Your Best Face Forward: The Ultimate Guide to Skincare from Acne to Anti-Aging.

Dr. Lee offers essential information on skincare, including acne treatments, anti-aging advice, step-by-step tutorials, quizzes, prevention, and tips.

You can purchase your book from the following available formats listed here:

Want to Learn More?

Dr. Sandra Lee is a board-certified dermatologist in Southern California.

For more information on how Dr. Lee can help you with your skin concerns, please contact our office by calling (909) 981-8929 or by filling out our online contact form.

Which Chemical Peel Do I Need?

Having clear, smooth skin is important to most people. The entire health and condition of the skin can affect a person’s overall appearance. Many people have age spots, acne, acne scars, and sun-damaged skin, and they cannot reverse facial flaws even with a healthy skin care regimen and at-home treatments. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery’s annual survey unveils a rising trend in facial surgery. A commonly requested cosmetic option is a chemical peel. Chemical peels can help someone target acne, poor pigmentation, dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. These peels are an ideal solution for improving the face by targeting damaged and aged skin.

Relaxing Spa Treatment Model

Benefits of Chemical Peels:

  • Safe
  • Fast-acting
  • Minimal recovery
  • Affordable
  • Lasting results
  • Non-surgical

Types of Chemical Peels

Since there are several different options of combinations and enzymes, chemical peels are individualized to the patient, and each treatment is based on the severity of correction needed. So, which chemical peel do you need? Here are some of the available options:

    • beta lift™: This salicylic acid peel can be used on all skin types. The beta lift™ peel can remove dead skin cells, promote new skin growth, and even out the skin tone. It works by self-neutralizing the skin for a smoother look to reduce skin oils and to treat active acne, with results produced within 24 hours.

 

  • beta lift™ can target:

 

        • Acne
        • Poor skin pigmentation
    • Vitalize Peel®: This salicylic and lactic acid peel addresses mild to moderate imperfections and is approved for use on all skin types. Patients will notice a significant reduction in wrinkles, fine lines, and roughness after one treatment, and full results are achieved after three to six peels.

 

  • Vitalize Peel® can target:

 

        • Dark spots
        • Freckles
        • Fine lines
        • Acne scars
    • Jessner Peel: The Jessner Peel is a combination of resorcinol, lactic acid, and salicylic acid used to penetrate and exfoliate the outer layers of the skin. It can be used on most skin types. Typically, this is the best option for patients with oily, sun-damaged skin. Patients can use one to three layers for a light/medium peel or four to six layers for a medium/deep peel.

 

  • Jessner Peel can target:

 

      • Acne
      • Wrinkles
      • Sun damage

Your Chemical Peel Treatment

Every patient will receive a personalized treatment plan based on their goals and individual needs. You will have a consultation with a skin care professional to discuss the best type of chemical peel for your skin and to determine how many treatments you will need. Recovery is minimal, and there may be some minor redness that typically subsides in a few days. With proper skin care and avoiding unhealthy habits, such as smoking and excessive alcohol use, most patients can maintain their results for many years.

 

To learn more about chemical peels and which one is right for you, schedule your consultation at Skin Physicians & Surgeons today! We can help you achieve beautiful, smoother facial skin. Call us at (909) 981-8929 or contact us online.

Treat Your Acne Scars With Lasers

Acne, whether you’re a teen or an adult, is one of the most frustrating issues we have with our bodies. Not only is acne unsightly, but it can also be a painful, chronic problem that just won’t go away. Men and women with chronic nodular or cystic acne can find that their skin woes don’t end after a flare-up. Acne that occurs deep in the tissue can lead long lasting and even permanent scarring that is an unwanted reminder of an embarrassing period in your life.

Before and After Acne Laser TreatmentWhy Do We Get Acne Scars?

Acne scars form much like scars caused from cuts or burns. It’s not the acne itself causing your scars to develop but, rather, the immune response designed to help treat your acne. Cells sent to fight your acne infection can break down the surrounding tissue. Additionally, there can be an excess or scarcity of collagen fiber that helps restore tissue, which causes poor skin texture.

Types of Acne Scarring

Just like there are various forms of acne, there are various types of acne scars. Acne commonly causes atrophic, depressed scars because there is a loss of tissue during the healing process. Ice pick and boxcar scars are two typical types of atrophic scars.

Hyperpigmentation

Some people will develop post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation following an acne flare, which can create the appearance of scarring. This hyperpigmentation can be short-lived or can last a while. The length of hyperpigmentation ultimately depends on your skin type.

Laser Treatments for Acne Scars

Laser treatments are gaining popularity for treating various forms of acne because of their success at killing acne-causing bacteria. Lasers are also ideal for treating new or old acne scarring that is marring your complexion. Since acne scars tend to be more superficial, laser treatments are ideal because they work just below the surface of your skin.

Lasers work by burning away the damaged skin, allowing for a more controlled healing of the area. New collagen production around the treatment areas smooths out surface irregularities. Patients with hyperpigmentation also notice a significant improvement in the quality of their skin tone.

Benefits of Laser Treatments

  • Performed in-office and don’t require anesthesia
  • Work below the surface of your skin, unlike some over-the-counter creams
  • Can target various areas, including the face, neck, chest, and back
  • Improve skin tone and texture
  • Restore confidence by creating beautiful skin

If acne scarring is affecting your satisfaction with your skin’s appearance, schedule a consultation today at Skin Physicians & Surgeons. Call us at 909-981-8929 or contact us online.  

Gorgeous Skin at Any Age

Part 1: 20s and 30s

A woman with beautiful skin submerged in water to her shoulders with a green nature backgroundThe term ‘aging’ tends to conjure up images of wrinkled skin with uneven pigmentation, but this doesn’t always have to be so. Starting at the end of puberty, the cell turnover process slows down, which means that dead skin cells remain on top of the skin, and new, healthy cells take longer to reach the surface and replace them. Taking proper care of your skin can help maintain a youthful complexion, and it is essential to begin a healthy skincare regimen early on so that your skin will look younger for longer.

Here are some essential skincare tips to follow in your 20s and 30s to help achieve and maintain gorgeous skin.

In Your 20s: Prevent and Protect

Apply Sunscreen Daily

Wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 every day is the best way to protect the skin and prevent dark spots, visible blood vessels, wrinkles, and other signs of aging from developing. Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect you from harmful UVA and UVB rays, which can cause premature skin aging and skin cancers as well as suppress the immune system.

Our broad-spectrum SkinPS antioxidant facial sunscreens are great for preventing future sun damage while also reversing existing damage starting in your 20s, and it is important to continue using sunscreen to protect your skin no matter what your age.

Start Using Retinoids

Retinoids are vitamin A products that unclog pores, boost collagen production, and accelerate the cell turnover process. These products even out discoloration and improve fine lines and wrinkles to produce brighter and smoother skin. Retinoids are proven to prevent acne, which also prevents acne scarring that can appear as colored spots or indentations in the skin long after a blemish has healed. In addition, clinical studies show that retinoid products prevent wrinkles and even treat precancers and help prevent future skin cancers. People in their 20s should begin incorporating a retinoid in their skin care regimen and continue using it to maintain their skin’s health.

Our Topical Tretinoin (Obagi) products are prescription forms of vitamin A that have superior anti-aging properties compared to over-the-counter retinol products and are the gold standard in topical treatment for radiant, youthful skin.

In Your 30s: Treat and Moisturize

Treat With Antioxidants

Products that contain antioxidants, such as vitamins and polyphenols, help improve the color and texture of the skin by lightening hyperpigmentation and increasing collagen beneath the skin’s surface. They also protect your skin from future free radical damage.

Check out our highly beneficial C Emollient Gel and CEGA Eye Cream to stimulate the production of your skin’s collagen and reveal a brighter, more even skin tone and texture.

Moisturize

Moisturizing to hydrate your skin is almost as important as wearing sunscreen when it comes to preventing wrinkles. Moisturizers fight dryness, balance skin tone, and improve texture, and hydrated skin is able to retain its elasticity and ward off wrinkles and fine lines more easily.    

Our SkinPS Calming Cream provides enhanced moisturization with a lightweight, soothing feel to repair and soften the skin.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this blog on how to have gorgeous skin in your 40s and beyond.

For more information on the products we offer to keep your skin healthy and vibrant, please visit our online skin care product store. You may also call us at (909) 981-8929 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your consultation with one of our board-certified dermatologists to learn about the ideal products or treatments for your individual skin type and condition.

A Glass of Wine a Day to Keep the Doctor Away?

Grapes and a glass and bottle of red wine on a white backgroundThe aging process and environmental factors can cause the skin to lose its radiance, and wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots develop. Unfortunately, our skin doesn’t age like a fine wine, but studies show that drinking wine in moderation may help improve skin appearance and provide other health benefits.

 

Skin Health

Research has suggested that certain compounds, such as resveratrol and procyanidin, found in red wine may slow the aging of the skin and improve the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots. One study evaluated the effects of a dietary supplement containing resveratrol and procyanidin and found that the participants’ skin moisturization and elasticity had improved, while the appearance of roughness, wrinkles, and age spots had diminished.

Heart Health

Moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to have many Two glasses splashing red wine into a heart shape on a white backgroundbenefits for the heart and circulatory system, including:

  • Lowering “bad” LDL cholesterol

  • Raising “good” HDL cholesterol

  • Reducing the formation of blood clots

  • Preventing artery damage

*Although red wine is believed to have these health benefits, drinking more than one glass (women) or two (men) per day has been shown to have detrimental health effects. Consult with your general physician before consuming alcohol on a regular basis.  

How the Doctors at Skin Physicians & Surgeons Can Help

Here at Skin Physicians & Surgeons, we offer nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, such as fractional CO2 laser treatment and chemical peels, to effectively improve wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars, and other signs of skin aging and damage. We also carry carefully chosen cosmeceuticals that treat a variety of skin problems for all skin types.

To schedule your consultation with Skin Physicians & Surgeons, please call (909) 981-8929 or fill out our online contact form. We look forward to helping you achieve beautiful, healthy skin.

How to Get a Great Sunless Tan

A woman's tan legs on a white backgroundPopular culture has labeled tan skin as desirable, and many women go to great lengths to achieve a sun-kissed glow. However, those who achieve bronze skin from indoor tanning beds and the sun’s natural rays are putting themselves at a high risk for developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The ultraviolet radiation from sunshine and tanning beds causes DNA damage to skin cells, which can lead to genetic defects that develop into cancerous tumors. Not only is tanning detrimental to your health, it also leads to significant signs of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and sun spots.

Fortunately, a natural-looking tan can be achieved safely with sunless tanning products. Follow these simple tips to get a great sunless tan.

Choose the Right Product

When it comes to self-tanning products, all sunless tanners are not created equally.

Daily moisturizers, such as Jergens Natural Glow, are great for beginning self-tanners. Even if a moisturizer is not applied perfectly, any blotchiness or streaking will be subtle and even out more quickly than with more intense sunless tanning products. These moisturizers have less of the active tanning ingredient so that they gradually create a natural-looking tan, and they are great for taking the place of your daily moisturizer to hydrate your skin.A woman applying sunless tanning lotion with her hair up in a towel

Lotions and creams are fitting for people just starting a self-tanning regimen as well as for more experienced self-tanners. These formulas show a hint of shading when they are first applied so that you can see any uneven areas, and they easily blend into the skin without drying too quickly.

Mousses and gels are ideal for people who are more experienced with self-tanning products because these lightweight formulas dry faster than moisturizers and creams. Sunless tanning mousses and gels can be layered to create more intense tans and custom contouring.

Cleanse and Exfoliate

Before applying your sunless tanning product, be sure to prepare your skin by showering and thoroughly exfoliating your skin each time. This will remove dead skin cells so that healthy skin will absorb the tanning formula more evenly and last longer. Be sure you are completely dry before you begin applying your sunless tanning product.

Apply Evenly With Gloves

Use disposable, powder-free gloves when applying tanning products to avoid staining your hands, and the smooth surface of the gloves will help you apply the product more evenly. Be sure to spread the product over your skin evenly in a circular motion, using it sparingly around your ankles, knees, and elbows.

Buff Uneven Areas

If you notice areas that are blotchy or have too much color the next day, take a damp washcloth and buff the area to even out the color. For spots or streaks that are difficult to remove, create a paste from water and baking soda and use a washcloth to gently buff these areas with the paste.

Moisturize

Once you have achieved the faux glow you desire, be sure to apply lotion to moisturize your skin after every shower to help the tan last.

At Skin Physicians & Surgeons, we offer a variety of cosmeceuticals to protect and heal the skin from sun damage. These include face and body sunscreens like MelaShade™ Antioxidant Facial Sunscreen SPF 30, as well as the TNS Recovery Complex, the Skin Medica Lytera, and topical tretinoins to improve dyspigmentation, wrinkles, and skin firmness. Our medspa also provides chemical peels and microdermabrasion to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and acne, and we have a variety of nonsurgical cosmetic procedures to improve signs of aging.

If you have signs of aging, whether from sun damage or the natural aging process, Skin Physicians & Surgeons in Upland, CA can help you achieve a more youthful appearance. Please call (909) 981-8929 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your consultation and discover the best treatment options for your individual needs.

What Is a Physician Assistant?

In honor of National PA week I thought I’d take a moment to explain exactly what a PA is and does.

A physician assistant is a licensed and highly skilled health care professional, trained to provide patient evaluation, education, and health care services. A PA works with a physician to provide medical care and guidance to patients. A PA must attend a specialized medical training program associated with a medical school, which includes classroom studies and clinical experience. I personally have a bachelors degree in biology and also received my masters degree in physician assistant studies from the University of Southern California. I have been formally trained in dermatology by Dr. Rebish and Dr. Lee. Each PA must be supervised by a physician, and the supervising physician must always be available to the PA should the need arise.

A PA performs many diagnostic, preventative, and health maintenance services. As a physician assistant in dermatology, here are some services I provide:

  • Perform full body exams for skin cancer screening
  • Diagnose skin conditions, such as acne, psoriasis, skin cancer, rashes, etc.
  • Instruct and counsel patients on their medical conditions
  • Perform laser treatments, such as laser hair removal, VBeam laser for blood vessel removal, and sun spot removal with the MiXto laser
  • Perform minor surgical procedures
  • Write prescriptions
  • Act as first or second assistant during surgery
  • Perform cosmetic procedures, such as Botox, Dysport, Radiesse, Juvederm, and Restylane injections.

Frequently Asked Questions about Physician Assistants:

1. Are you a doctor? No, I am what is referred to as a mid-level practitioner, similar to a nurse practitioner. I am able to see patients, write prescriptions, and order tests.

2. Will you become a doctor? No, I have completed my formal training and passed national certification boards for physician assistants. I am not an intern or studying to be a doctor.

4. Are you a nurse or medical assistant? No, I have a bachelors degree in biology and have completed post-graduate training in a physician assistant program. I am board certified as a physician assistant.

5. What is the difference between a physician and a physician assistant?
The main difference between a physician and physician assistant is the amount of time spent in training. Physicians spend more time in school and also have to go through internships and residencies. Physicians can practice independently while PAs work with physicians and are ultimately under the physician’s supervision.

6. Do I have to see the PA? No. It is completely your choice on which provider you would like to see. 

7. What does PA-C mean? It means physician assistant-certified. It means the person has graduated from an accredited program and has passed testing by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

8. Can you prescribe medications? Yes. I am able to recommend medications and write prescriptions.

9. How long have PAs been around? Since the 1960s physician assistants have helped expand the delivery of quality medical care.

erin small head shot

I absolutely love my job and could not imagine doing anything else.

I love being to work as a team with the physicians and other PA in our office to provide the best possible care for all of our patients.

Erin Jensen PA-C

 

If you are interested in any procedure or would like more information, feel free to schedule a consultation with our physicians or physician assistant by calling (909) 981-8929 or filling out our online contact form.

Happy Hour Lecture Series

Introducing our New Happy Hour Lecture Series!

Learn more about different skin conditions and treatments while enjoying happy hour refreshments and special gifts for all attendants

Join us for our first Happy Hour Lecture:

Have you thought about treatment with Botox or Dermal Fillers and just don’t know where to start? Come learn more about the basics of these cosmetic treatments at our Botox and Filler 101 course. This beginner’s guide offers straight talk on the lighter side of cosmetic treatments. Learn about Botox, Dermal Filler and wrinkle erasers to find out which may be right for you and what you should know about them.

Thursday, August 16th 2012

 Presentation by Erin Jensen PA-C

Register for event here: http://botoxandfiller101.eventbrite.com/ or call (909) 981-8929

Happy Hour refreshments will be served.

Attendants will receive discounts on future treatments with Erin Jensen PA-C

Future Happy Hour Lectures

September 20th, 6pm- ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ACNE

October 18th, 6pm- SAFE SKIN CARE IN PREGNANCY*

*pregnancy friendly mocktails for all moms-to-be!

The Doctor’s Show: Most Recent Episodes

Check out my most recent episodes on The Doctor’s Show. Learn more about removing a “fanny pack” with Tickle Lipo, treating age spots, treating an aggressive form of acne and The Scar Treatment Trifecta.

Removing the “fanny pack” with Tickle Lipo

Age Spot Treatments

Treating Aggressive Acne

The Scar Treatment Trifecta

Laser that hair away… at home?

Do at home lasers really work? Watch the following video to find out.

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