laser hair removal mn Archives

June 20, 2023January 18, 2024

3 Ways to Reduce the Appearance of Acne Scars

Acne is the most common skin condition in the world, but that doesn’t mean its effects don’t hurt. Stubborn acne can leave physical and emotional scars that don’t just go away with time, no matter how stringent your skincare routine.

Healing from acne is more than just getting rid of red bumps, and our staff at ENVY Skin Clinic have a number of solutions to alleviate acne scarring with a collection of innovative and deeply penetrating treatments available at our location. With deliberate care and a skin-friendly lifestyle, you’ll go from dreading what’s in the mirror to loving it.

What acne does

Acne is a long-running skin infection that usually starts as a person is experiencing puberty. Pores on your face, neck, shoulders and back fill with bacteria, oil, dirt, and dead skin. When this happens, the pore enlarges, sometimes becoming painful or often developing white caps or black points on your skin.

Pimples, acne’s signature symptom, can vary depending on the person, their environment, their lifestyle, and other factors. Whiteheads and blackheads are what most people imagine when they think of pimples, but the papules, nodules, and cysts of severe acne can cause years of pain and embarrassment for people with acne.

Many, if not most, often treat pimples by popping them. Though the satisfaction is enough for many acne sufferers, the consequences of popping pimples include the return of the pimple and an exacerbated infection.

Acne tends to affect people with oily skin, though people with normal to dry skin can be affected by acne, too. A family history of acne is a huge determining factor, though there is a long list of things that can exacerbate acne, including:

Stress
Low-quality sleep
A diet featuring lots of sugar and fried food
Conditions that cause hormonal imbalance, including pregnancy
Certain medications
Oil-heavy skincare products

Even though doctors can’t solidly agree on the whole list of acne causes, there is no doubt that acne scars are a problem and that treating them effectively can enhance your mood and augment your self-esteem.

3 ways to reduce the appearance of acne scars

Reducing acne scars is possible with surgical procedures, but there is no need to go under the knife. Instead, we offer solutions that get you real results without putting you under general anesthesia.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are liquid exfoliators applied directly to the skin to treat a number of acne and aging skin concerns. Chemical peels are available over-the-counter, but store-bought peels don’t have the power or effectiveness of our signature in-office services.

Chemical peels start with a thorough cleaning for your skin. Afterward, the peeling solution is applied to your skin. The type of peel that’s best for your acne scars depends on what your provider recommends after you have a full consultation. After your peel, use an SPF of at least 30, and stay out of direct sunlight.

Microneedling

Collagen induction therapy, or microneedling, helps your skin to heal from the inside out by creating controlled, tiny tears in the skin, triggering the production of collagen and elastin to create soft, supple new skin.

Like chemical peels, microneedling starts with a thorough cleansing, after which a topical numbing agent is applied. Your provider treats your acne scars with a handheld device containing sterile needles that are safely disposed of after a single use.

Fillers

The bump-and-crater nature of severe acne scarring can be easily treated with topical treatments, but some may prefer a solution with instant and long-lasting results. ENVY Skin Clinic offers a number of different types of fillers, all of which can visibly improve the texture of your skin on the day of your treatment.

When you’re ready for a change

The decision to treat your acne scarring might be difficult, particularly if you aren’t sure of where to start. We suggest taking a long look in the mirror, figuring out what, if anything, is bothering you, and then giving us a call.

June 3, 2023January 18, 2024

Yes, You Can Remove Hair There

If you’re tired of the time, hassle, and irritation of continually shaving, plucking, or waxing your unwanted hair, don’t despair! Laser hair removal (LHR) can handle the job with no muss and no fuss.

At ENVY Skin Clinic, our certified laser specialist relies on the latest technology to remove unwanted hair from just about any place on your body, including the full bikini area and the buttocks. If you’re concerned about hair “down there,” we have the solution for you whenever you’re ready to start.

Why laser hair removal?

Plucking, waxing, and shaving only remove part of the hairs in each follicle, so they can easily regenerate. Lasers, on the other hand, destroy the follicles themselves, preventing hair from coming back.

Lasers produce a focused beam of light at a specific wavelength. When used for hair removal, the laser light is absorbed by the melanin pigment in the hairs. There, the light energy is converted into heat energy, which damages the hair follicles. That prevents, or severely delays, new hair growth.

LHR only targets hairs in the active growth phase (anagen), which is about 20% of the total amount of hair. That means you’ll need several sessions, spaced a few weeks apart, for each treatment area to ensure all the active follicles have been inactivated.

LHR can be used successfully on all skin types, but it’s most effective for people with light skin and dark hair. Dark hair is usually best because it contains the most melanin; light skin contains less melanin, so the treatment doesn’t damage the skin around the follicles.

Unlike other hair removal methods, which need to tackle one hair shaft/follicle at a time and can be extremely time-consuming, lasers treat many hairs at once. In fact, the laser can treat a quarter-sized area every second. Small areas like the upper lip take less than a minute to treat, while large areas, such as the back or legs, may take up to an hour.

Where can you remove hair with lasers?

The most sought-after areas for hair removal include:

Legs
Armpits
Upper lip
Chin
Shoulders
Chest
Back

And, yes, you can remove hair “down there.” The bikini area and the buttocks are also popular areas to treat.

All told, you can remove unwanted hair from almost any place on the body, except for the eyelids and the surrounding area, where the skin is extremely delicate.

If you have unwanted hair and are tired of the constant shaving or plucking, laser hair removal may be the right option for you.

May 7, 2023January 18, 2024

Why Botox Is the Best Cosmetic Tool for Long-Term Wrinkle Reduction

Are the effects of aging making you feel self-conscious about your appearance? You might want to consider Botox®. It’s a popular cosmetic treatment that reduces wrinkles and fine lines around your eyes. With continued use, the effects of Botox can last long-term and help you feel more confident.

Botox has been around the longest

Botox has been FDA-approved for cosmetic purposes since 2002. As a result, there are nearly two decades of tried-and-true results.

Botox is considered safe for anyone over the age of 18. Whether you want to get rid of crow’s feet or prevent them from forming in the first place, chances are, Botox is right for you.

Over the years, our team has helped hundreds of patients look and feel their best. We trust Botox and have the experience and training to give you natural-looking results.

Botox treatments are quick and effective

On average, your Botox appointments last between 15-20 minutes. That said, it takes a day or two to see results. Depending on your needs, age, and other variables, the effects of Botox injections usually last between three and six months. This means you may only need to get the treatment two to four times a year.

If you use Botox regularly, the effects will last longer and you won’t need as many appointments. This makes paying for Botox, as well as scheduling your treatments, much easier than a cosmetic tool that requires monthly upkeep.

Botox injections aren’t painful — you don’t need anesthesia, which makes it much safer than other options. You can stop receiving injections at any time without abnormal sagging or wrinkling.

Botox treatments slow down the aging process

Keep in mind, you’ll still need consistent treatments to maintain the youthful appearance Botox provides. That said, regular use of Botox can drastically slow down the aging process. For example, people who receive Botox injections long-term experience a change in their muscles that causes them to make less “aggressive” expressions. As your facial muscles stay relaxed, the skin covering them also releases any folds or wrinkles.

Some studies show that patients who have Botox for more than 10 years look visibly younger than those without. Botox can also prevent new wrinkles from forming, which makes it a popular therapy with young adults who don’t want wrinkles to form in the first place.

Should you consider Botox?

Botox is a great option for preventing wrinkles and other signs of aging. If you’re interested in Botox injections, call us or request an appointment online today at ENVY Skin Clinic We’ll help you look and feel incredible.