Monday, June 30, 2008

Please Make My Beauty Treatments Work!!

Are you in it for the long haul? Did you recently purchase an anti-aging serum, or new moisturizer, or acne lotion? You've used the treatment for a while now, but it isn't working. Or doesn't seem to be working. Help!!! Where do you go from here?

We're all anxious for the quick fix. We want results ASAP, or as soon as possible. That's why beauty treatments like Botox and Juvederm are so crazy popular around the globe. Poof! And wrinkles are flattened and smoothed away.

Make certain that you are applying the product exactly as the directions tell you to use the treatment. If it is used primarily for nighttime, as you sleep, then, that is the time to use the product.

And be certain your beauty treatment has been researched through clinical studies, and has some solid science behind it. In other words, do your homework.

What if we suggested to patiently wait for your beauty treatment to work. At least a few months. That's what the professionals tell us. Beauty treatments take time to work.

Please visit this website, http://www.smartskincare.com/. It is full of excellent research, beauty tips, product reviews, and so much more. Dr. German Todorov, a researcher with a lengthy background in biology and chemistry and keen interest in anti-aging science, has written all the articles at his website.

Here is an excerpt from Dr. Todorov's article What To Do If Nothing Seems To Improve Your Wrinkles:

"Another potential pitfall is a lack of patience. Skin changes do not happen rapidly. Keratinocytes, the cells of the epidermis, the skin's outer layer, are replaced about every four weeks. Changes in the dermis, the deeper layer where wrinkles originate, usually take longer. Even under the best of circumstances (i.e. proven treatment and responsive patient), changes are usually barely noticeable after one month. Most experts feel that 2-3 month is a reasonable trial period for anti-aging/anti-wrinkle products. Keep in mind that slow and gradual changes are hard to notice. Sometimes, a person may think that a product is not working even when it does. Unfortunately, objective measurements of treatment effects are hard to perform without a research lab. Some people resort to split face testing but that may be impractical over a span of 2-3 month. Another alternative is to take before and after photos. However, such photos are useful only if taken in reproducible, well-controlled lighting and camera conditions. This is doable but requires a substantial degree of diligence."

Another point, don't go out and buy a huge arsenal of beauty treatments. Settle on a few and stick to a beauty routine.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you for this post. I have worked in Dermatology for years and people are always looking for a quick fix. Acne medicines take time to work! And sometimes the acne will worsen as skin adjusts to new topicals. 8 weeks before you START to see results! Stick with the new routine and it will pay off in the end.

Anonymous said...

Nice to see you, Toma. This reminds me of weight loss plans, too. People get so frustrated, because the pounds aren't melting away in the first 2 weeks.

And you're right about acne meds. People freak out when the breakouts get even worse, before the medication can fully work its way into your skin.

We are an impatient society, myself, included.