This transcript was exported on November 21, 2023 -view latest version here.
Skincare can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether it’s finding the right products, ingredients, or treatments, there’s a lot out there, but not always for people of African, Hispanic, Middle-Eastern, and Eastern South Asian descent. That’s why I set out to educate myself and others so that we can all feel beautiful in our skin. Hello and welcome back to The Skin Report. I’m Dr. Simran Sethi, an internal medicine doctor, mom of three, and CEO and founder of Renew MD Medical Spas and Skin by Dr. Sethi.
This episode will cover skincare procedures and which ones you should consider this holiday season. With the holidays coming up fast, I thought it would be a perfect time to drop an episode on the top skin procedures of 2023 and what you can do now to get holiday ready. Whether you’re thinking about gifting a luxurious skin treatment to a loved one or you’d like a renewing procedure to revamp your own look before seeing family and friends at seasonal gatherings, this episode will teach you about some of my favorite options to consider in the holiday months.
To begin, I want to go over why someone may choose certain types of skin procedures at this time of the year. First, let’s address the most obvious one: to prepare for seasonal events. We all want to look our best when we gather with our loved ones, especially the ones we don’t often see. Because of this, it’s important to consider when our events are to ensure that we can schedule procedures far enough in advance for us to heal fully and hopefully attain the full intended effect of these treatments. Another thing to consider when it comes to holiday skincare treatments is the weather. In some areas of the United States, for example, the holiday months fall in the winter season. Winter’s cold weather and dry air can make skin more prone to dryness and breakage of your skin barrier.
Remember, skin barrier breakage leads to an uneven skin tone, and makes skin texture look more rough, and makes it more prone to fine lines and wrinkles. That means that for this episode, I’ll be discussing skin treatments that target skin hydration, skin brightness, and also fine lines. Additionally, I’ll be sharing how much time you should give your skin to heal and renew from these procedures before your next big event and give you approximate pricing on all the procedures to help you pick what is right for you no matter what your holiday budget, and, finally, make sure you stay tuned until the end of this episode to hear about SKINVIVE, one of the newest skin treatments that you’ll want to check out this holiday season.
To kick off the episode, let’s chat about a treatment that’s at a more accessible price point, can be done by anyone in any age group, and delivers a hydrated glow: the DiamondGlow facial. I’m naming the exact type of facial because it’s available throughout the US, and if it is not available in your immediate area, you can always refer to its primary components to see if a trusted esthetician near you can do something similar. DiamondGlow is a type of facial that relies primarily on mechanical exfoliation to clean and resurface the skin. The process involves the use of a patented hydradermabrasion tool with a recessed diamond tip that is administered to effectively but gently remove the stratum corneum, AKA dead skin cell layer of the skin, to reveal fresh, renewed skin.
Throughout the process, the DiamondGlow tool also infuses the skin with any combination of the infusion serums. The serums used are chosen by the patient’s provider according to their skin type and needs with components that can address concerns like brightening dull skin, improving acne-prone skin, or delivering a patented anti-aging skin cell renewal serum. After all is said and done, this deep-cleansing exfoliation treatment can provide skin that appears clearer and brighter with a smoother texture. While generally one treatment each month is recommended to maintain the effects of this procedure, each patient is unique, so patients should speak to their providers to form a treatment plan that is personalized to their needs. If you’re new to this kind of facial, consider a series of three, one facial every two weeks, to pack in a good dose of hydration and brightening, and, finally, don’t be shy to add in a light to moderate chemical peel at the same time. I have a full episode on Chemical Peels to help guide you through what would be safe yet effective for your skin type and tone.
The reason I chose the DiamondGlow Facial as one of my recommended winter skin treatments is because it is non-invasive and requires very little downtime. That means that if you decide to try a DiamondGlow treatment, you won’t have to worry about needing to heal in time for your holiday plans. All in all, the DiamondGlow facial can be a great way to revamp your skin in time for your holiday festivities, or it can be a generous gift for a loved one who deserves extra pampering this winter season. The approximate cost of a DiamondGlow facial varies from $200 to $250, depending on where you’re located and what kind of serums will b eused during the facial.
Next, we’ll discuss one of my personal favorites: the skin-brightening, core-tightening, and texture-erasing effects of the PicoSure laser. This isn’t my first time discussing the PicoSure laser on the podcast and it won’t be my last. PicoSure is a laser resurfacing treatment that I use in my office, and I often recommend this treatment to patients who want skin that is smoother, more evenly-pigmented, and need pore tightening. I favor PicoSure compared to some of the other laser resurfacing devices because it is one of the most effective and safe treatments to use on all skin types and tones. This is thanks to the fact that it’s a non-ablative laser. I discussed different types of laser resurfacing in greater depth on season one, episode seven of the podcast if you would like to learn more about the difference between lasers that are ablative and non-ablative.
But, to put simply, ablative lasers work by burning off the top layers of skin and only reach the most superficial skin layer, the epidermis. This method can, unfortunately, cause even more hyperpigmentation in darker skin tones that have a pigment ridge epidermis to start with. On the other hand, non-ablative lasers like the PicoSure laser work by delivering vibrational energy to the dermis of the skin to create a controlled injury which will stimulate new collagen development. I mostly appreciate this laser treatment over others because it doesn’t involve heat. PicoSure works by sending pulses of energy into the skin, which can then target damaged tissue as well as any pigment that has resulted from skin damage. The process effectively tackles skin discoloration without harming the surrounding skin, making it a safe option for all skin tones.
Finally, it does not sacrifice efficacy because it has minimal thermal effect. It is by far one of the strongest laser resurfacing technologies available to us today. A PicoSure treatment is also another great option for the holiday season since it requires absolutely no downtime. At most, you may experience slightly flushed skin directly following the treatment; that should return back to normal within 30 minutes. PicoSure can treat hyperpigmentation, acne scars, large pores, wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots in time for you to enjoy the holidays. It’s also great if you’re experiencing cold weather in your area, as it doesn’t irritate or impact the skin’s surface. So long as you keep up a nurturing skincare routine to support your new collagen growth and enough hydrating elements to keep your skin moisturized, your skin should be happy, healthy, and renewed all winter long.
The cost of one PicoSure laser treatment ranges from $750 to $1,000 based on your location, and I urge you to go to picosure.com to verify that the clinic you’re going to has the actual PicoSure laser and not an alternate technology that is calling itself the PicoSure. Believe me, it pays to do your research, because there are some knockoff devices that can actually create a lot of harm on your skin, and you need to be wary of places which are advertising very low prices for this treatment. Last but not least, I couldn’t put out this episode without sharing my take on the use of injectables for the winter season. I’ve shared several episodes detailing how different types of injectables, like Botox and fillers, can work to soften the look of wrinkles and provide volume to the facial structure. I’ll include links to this episode in the show notes for anyone interested in checking them out.
So why do I recommend injectables asa winter treatment? Well, injectables are administered deep within the skin. Dermal fillers, like hyaluronic acid, are injected into the subdermal skin layer and supraperiosteal region to restore lost volume or provide extra fullness, whereas, treatments like Botox and Dysport inject the botulinum toxin past the skin and into the facial muscles to minimize their movement and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Because injectables are administered past the superficial layers of the skin, they do not damage these outer layers. This makes them safe for winter months, as they won’t cause skin surface damage that can be further impacted by cold or dry air. Dermal-filled injectables and botulinum toxin injectables both require minimal downtime, so even if you decide to freshen up your look with Botox or fillers just days before your big holiday event, you won’t have to worry about missing any winter festivities.
Now, to end this episode, I want to tell you about a fun but much-needed novel injectable that is not a filler or a muscle relaxer. It’s called SKINVIVE, and is a hyaluronic acid that is injected in tiny micro injections into the skin to help the skin hold onto moisture, which results in the skin looking dewy and plump for six months, I was excited to start offering SKINVEVE in my practice because it addresses a much-neglected aspect of skin health and aging: transepidermal water loss. Transepidermal water loss is an important skin health metric that is commonly used in dermatology to assess skin health and age. It is a measure of how much water your skin is able to hold onto, as water is required to protect the skin barrier and keep skin from breakage, hyperpigmentation, and aging.
All the skin procedures that I typically talk about are collagen stimulators, but SKINVEVE is a first-in-class skin procedure that reduces transepidermal water loss. Think of it as a hydrating facial that keeps your skin dewy and glowing for six months. It’s delivered in little injections that are one centimeter apart on the cheeks or around the mouth, and creates minimal bruising. It takes up to four weeks to see the effects, but lasts for six months. I actually just got my first SKINVEVE treatment, and I’m excited to see how my skin will look over the next few weeks.One SKINVEVE treatment can cost anywhere from $600 to $800, and this usually will cover areas like both cheeks. I hope you’ve enjoyed this episode of The Skin Report Podcast, and that it can help you feel more confident about choosing skincare procedures this holiday season that fit your schedule and your budget. Until next time, love your skin, love yourself, and celebrate your beauty.
If you would like to learn more about science facts, skincare, or medical aesthetic treatments, please subscribe to and turn on notifications for The Skin Report, so you always know when a new episode is up. We have a newsletter that you can sign up for on skinbydrsethi.com so that you can stay up-to-date on all our latest products and more. Additionally, if you have a skincare question or want to make an episode topic recommendation, please message me at theskinreportbydrsethi.com, which is linked in my show notes, and I’ll be sure to answer your question in an episode soon.
Transcript by Rev.com
