Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

By now, you know I like to pass along “natural” treatments for things people might be dealing with. So, I have found yet another natural treatment I thought perhaps someone reading this might benefit from.

We all know acne is an unsightly skin disorder which is generally most prevalent on the face and neck. Sometimes the back can be very affected but at least that part of the body can be covered up most of the time if one chooses. Typically acne is found in people between the ages of 12 to 24 years old and can be highly embarrassing for the sufferer. However, this doesn’t always hold true as I recently did an article on adult acne. But, whatever the age, we know that there are millions of acne sufferers all over the world.

There are ways in which you can reduce the visible scarring and redness associated with acne. We have talked about several things one can do. Obviously a good start would be to improve the diet so that you are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Also, eat foods containing anti-oxidants and omega 3, as well as foods high in vitamin E. Vitamin E is considered to be excellent for removing acne scars while improving the skin’s overall appearance.

You should also drink lots of water and make sure you get plenty of exercise. All of these thing help your body to remove toxins which can build up in the skin and cause acne. You should consider a cleanse product such as Isagenix if you are serious about removing impurities and toxins from your body. (see our “products page” for more info).

Here is another way to effectively help with acne. Aloe Vera. Aloe vera has powerful healing qualities. The extract from the aloe vera plant has long been used to treat cuts, wounds and burns and is considered to be equally effective at treating acne.

Aloe vera nourishes the skin while healing the skin and often the scars and redness associated with acne. It is in effect, both a moisturizer and an anti-inflammatory agent.

There are gels, creams and lotions containing aloe, or you can ingest aloe vera through juices and pills. You may want do a combination of both topical and internal for even greater results.

As with anything natural, consistency and patience are important. If you will commit to using aloe vera on a daily basis, perhaps it can help you lead a happier and more confident life!

You may not be aware that we do Microdermabrasion at Fantasia. In fact, we have been doing it for several years, almost since the technology was first introduced. If you are looking old and tired, you may be thrilled with microdermabrasion. What we do here in the salon is much more sophisticated than the exfoliating which you can do in the privacy of your own home. Yes, you can improve your skin somewhat from the in-home treatments. But, with microdermabrasion, you can actually “turn back the clock” where your face is concerned!

The way microdermabrasion works is like “sandblasting” the face. Obviously it’s not that harsh but that’s the concept. A fine mist of microscopic crystals applied with a small vacuum massage gently removes the outer layer of skin on the face. As a result, new elastin and collagen formation is encouraged. The younger, softer skin moves to the surface effecting significant textural and color changes. You will notice an immediate improvement in your skin and the effects increase over the course of treatments. You will actually get more predicable results with microdermabrasion than you will with chemical peels.

Why would you want to do microdermabrasion? If you have wrinkles, sun damaged and aging skin, enlarged pores, acne prone skin, acne scars, blackheads, or whiteheads. If you feel you are looking older and more tired than you should for your age, this could be the answer.

Is microdermabrasion a one-time thing? No, for optimum results, we recommend at least six treatments. Periodic maintenance such as one treatment per month plus a good skin care product regimen is recommended for best results.

With microdermabrasion there is typically no downtime. The expected result is smoothing of your skin, general overall improvement and wonderful feeling skin. One word of caution, stay out of the sun for a couple of days after you have had a treatment. A couple of years ago, I was going through my series of treatments, one which was on a Friday in July. I knew I had an outdoor wedding the next day but didn’t think to much about it. When I got to the wedding at 2:00 in the the afternoon in July, outside, I found that there was no way for me to get out of the sun and my face felt like it was on fire! Had I have known I’d be sitting in the sun I would have brought a wide brimmed hat or something. I will never forget that wedding because of how miserable I was!

I was with a gathering of ladies last weekend and the topic of microdermabrasion came up. One of the gals mentioned she had a friend she had not seen in over a year and when they got together, she was astonished at how wonderful and young her friend looked. Turns out she had been having microdermabrasion treatments.

Are there side effects? Very rarely swelling and or blistering can occur. Or perhaps the skin will be pink, flaky but usually any of these issues are resolved within a week. Microdermabrasion is a great non-surgical, affordable solution younger looking skin.

Call Fantasia and talk to our Esthetician. She will discuss different packages and prices with you. If you are looking to recapture some of your youth before a special upcoming event, this could be just the ticket for you!