From our experience, toenail fungus can be very physically & emotionally frustrating. With Spring in full swing and the Summer months right around the corner, or as we here at Afterglow Medical Aesthetics & Skin Care like to call it, “Sandal Season,” now is good time to start considering treatment.

Toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, is a fungal infection that has developed on the toenails or fingernails. Most commonly found in toenails, affecting just one or all 20 nails, it results in the nail becoming more discolored, dense, and distorted. It is important to seek treatment as it can eventually result in the nail to chip and/or become so thick that it makes wearing shoes uncomfortable and even painful.

How do you know if you have toenail fungus? Here are some indicators…

• Brittleness
• Change in nail shape
• Crumbling of the outside edges of the nail
• Debris trapped under the nail
• Loosening or lifting up of the nail
• Thickening of the nail
• White or yellow streaks on the side of the nail
• Pus & redness is present around or underneath the nail

Whilst there are various treatments available from oral drugs, topical drugs and home remedies, Afterglow Skin Care is an advocate of laser therapy to treat toenail fungus. Laser therapy is a non-chemical method of treating nail fungus safely and effectively. Using the gold standard in toenail fungus laser therapy, Sciton ClearSense, we are able to safely target the area. The severity of the toenail fungus will determine the amount of treatments necessary.

Book a complimentary consultation with us today to get a diagnosis and to see if laser therapy is right for you!

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Since Botox was introduced for cosmetic use, almost 15 years ago, clinicians began to notice that patients who had the treatment seemed to feel better about themselves. The question has always been why does Botox make people feel happier? Scientific research demonstrate that this is due to an effect called “facial feedback”, suggesting that people tend to feel the way they perceive themselves as appearing to the outside world. People who look happier, feel happier and vice versa.

MRI exams of patients who had Botox infections showed a reduction in the signal to the part of the brain that reacts to angry or sad stimuli, explaining Botox users’ happier state of mind. While Botox does not itself travel to the brain, an injection into the isolated frown muscles induces a positive change in neural signaling, eliciting a feeling of happiness. Adding to this improvement in mood is the fact that when we cannot frown or appear angry, other people react more positively toward us.

In short, it’s a two-way street to better feelings all around!

Click on the article below to read the Globe and Mail article; “Feeling Depressed? Get thee to a Botox Bar”

The post Research Shows That Botox Makes People Look & Feel Happier appeared first on Afterglow Medical Aesthetics & Skin Care.

And some are too deep to ever reach.

Scarring, whether from surgery or the result of inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, burns or trauma is often associated with considerable emotional and psychological impact.

One of my greatest challenge and rewards come from treating patients with scars.

Definition of a Scar

Scars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal tissue after skin injury.

A scar is an integral part of the wound healing process and involves reepithellialisation, neocollagenasis, neovascularizatin, and pigment deposition. However a prolonged inflammatory phase of 4 weeks or more during wound healing may lead to abnormal scarring.

Classification of Scars

Scars are classified according to both color and texture.

Classification by color.

Red Scars.

These are generally due to the presence of dilated blood vessels in the dermis in response to injury.The dilated blood vessels provide oxygen and nutrients to the skin to recover from the injury.

Brown Scars.

Brown scars are due to the deposition of Melanin and hemosiderin from the red blood cells where the skin is injured.Dark skin individuals are more prone to develop brown scars and post inflammatory hyper pigmentation as their skin heals from injury.

White Scars.

These are due to the absence of melanin as the inflammation may partly destroy the melanin in the melanocytes.

Classification by Texture.

Elevated Scars.

These are the result of EXCESSIVE collagen deposition and fibrosis at the site of injury.

• These may be hypertropic or keloid.
• Hypertropic scars are raised but do not extend beyond the margins of the injured skin.
• Keloid scars are raised and always extend beyond the margins of the injured skin.
• Darker skin types are more genetically susceptible to the formation of hypertropic and keloid scars.

Depressed scars.

These can be ice pick, boxed or rolled.

• ice pick scars are less than 2 mm, superficial and at acute angles to the base.
• Boxed scars are larger, more than 2 mm and at right angles to the base.
• Rolled scars have rolled and non angled borders, are large and often the result of a deep acne cyst or nodule that has involuted.

Treatment of Scars

This depends upon several factors.

Age of the scar.

Current thinking is to treat scars earlier than later. Hypertropic scars take 4 weeks to form and may increase in size for 3-6 months.

Location.

Scars on the sternum, chest, shoulders and back are more prone to keloid.

Color.

Type of scar.

Keloid, hypertropic or Atropic.

Thickness of the scar.

Patient characteristics, skin type, comorbid medical conditions.

Treatment of RED SCAR.

Topical

• Vasoconstrictors such as oxymetazoline, epinephrine can be used to constrict blood vessels, decreasing scar redness.
• Silicone gels, e.g. Kelokote, have been shown to reduce the scar redness, if applied twice a day for 4 months
• Camouflage.
• BBL or broad band light and PDL or pulsed dye laser are non ablative lasers to treat the vascular component of the scar.

Treatment of BROWN SCARS

Topical.

• Lightening agents such as HQ, Azelaic and Kojic acid inhibit tyrosinase thereby preventing the conversion of dopa to melanin.
• Topical Retinoids.
• Tretinoin or Tazarac reduce brown pigmentation by inhibiting tyrosinase and formation of melanin.
• Side effects include redness, irritation, burning, itching, , contact dermatitis, dryness and scaling.

Treatment of Scar Texture and Thickness

Elevated Scars.

Strategies for prevention of hypertrophic and keloid scars during surgical procedures include minimizing tension and everting wound edges during closure, avoiding anatomic locations more prone to hypertrophic or keloid scars such as around joints, angle of jaw, shoulders, mid chest and upper back, placing incisions that follow along RSTL( relaxed skin tension lines) and achieving efficient hemostasis. Potent topical steroids such as dermovate or Ultravate may be used for minimally hypertrophic scars.

For thicker scars, intralesional kenalog 10-40mg/ml may help to decrease the elevation Of hypertrophic and keloid scars.

Steroids are immunosuppressants and diminish collagen synthesis. Adverse effects include Hypopigmentation, atrophy, telengiectasia, and delayed wound healing.

Topical imiquimod ( Aldara) stimulates interferon and nightly application of Aldara to keloid scars over an 8 week period has been shown to Improve the cosmetic appearance of these scars.

Silicone gels or sheets have been shown in clinical studies to prevent the development of keloid or hypertrophied scars and may be used as a first line prophylactic strategy.

Gels are preferable to sheets as they are better able to contour the flexural areas as optimal occlusion is achieved by close apposition of the product with the scar.

Depressed Scars.

Cosmetic camouflage using makeup creams and powders in patients normal skin tone will help fill and conceal dark shadows created by scar depressions.

Chemical peels exfoliate the skin surface, decreasing the depth of depresses scars.

Soft tissue fillers such as Juvederm, Radiesse, are good options to treat scars that are distensible.

Subcision, punch or surgical excision.

Total Ablative Laser resurfacing or fractional non ablative resurfacing is an excellent option for resurfacing depressed scars but involves considerable downtime and time off work.

Conclusion

All scars can be classified by their color and texture.

Many topical therapies are available to improve scar appearance. Failing this, a referral to a dermatologist for further management should be considered.

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It’s something all women have in common… our desire for smooth, silky, and hair-free skin – especially during the Summer months defined by sleeveless tops, leg exposing shorts & skirts and beachwear.

Unwanted body hair can be a serious problem for many women and, very often, conventional treatments work but only for a very short time. Laser hair removal continues to be ranked one of the top five minimally invasive cosmetic procedures in Canada. Laser Hair removal is a great option for people who want a permanent reduction of hair rather than having to do something again and again. It’s an effective procedure for all body areas including the arms, legs, face, bikini, back and neck. If you’re sensitive to waxing, shaving or depilating, it’s definitely worth looking into!

Using a breakthrough system, Afterglow Medical Aesthetics & Skin Care offers you virtually pain-free, safer, faster, more efficient hair removal treatments, typically achieving 80% clearance of hair within six treatment sessions. Sciton BBL laser treatment has achieved permanent hair reduction for thousands of patients worldwide, safely and successfully since it was cleared by the FDA in 2005.

If you would like more information on our hair removal treatments, or if you would like to schedule a consultation here at our practice, please contact us today!

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Cosmetic science has often taken inspiration from medical breakthroughs. We can use the example of Botox – its developmental origins in the treatment of facial spasms – as an example of a medical break-through turned cosmetic. Stem cells are “biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide (through mitosis) and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells”. Stem cells have the capacity to regenerate everything from organs to skin to nerves and these endlessly renewable cells might have the ability to cure medical conditions ranging from paralysis to blindness. In the medical cosmetic industry, stem cells appear to possess the ideal skill set to throw the switch on a veritable fountain of youth.

In an article by the accredited Dermatology Times called “Stem cells: For cosmeceutical creation, what’s extracted from stem cells is what counts”, writer Zoe Diana Draelos gives us some insightful answers to commonly asked questions. Click here to read the article.

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If you have any questions about donation, call Michelle Van Eck (our Marketing Coordinator) at michelle.b.vaneck@gmail.com or 6049253376 who can guide you through the steps!

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You’re Invited to our “Cool Night Out” Event

We are very excited to introduced our latest treatment into our facility; Coolsculpting™. As part of our new Weight Management division, CoolSculpting™ is a revolutionary new treatment that eliminates stubborn fat naturally, without surgery or downtime. It’s safe, FDA-cleared & effective.

We will be having our grand CoolSculpting™ event on the 31st of January called “Cool Night Out” which will be an opportunity for CoolSculpting™ experts and Doctors to provide information about the procedure and the science behind this effective fat-reduction treatment.

We have 3 time slots available where information sessions will be conducted and on-the-spot private consultations will be available.

4.30pm to 5.30pm
5.30pm to 6.30pm
6.30pm to 7.30pm

Kindly RSVP with our Ambleside Clinic to reserve a spot

Tel: 604-925-3376

You can also learn more about CoolSculpting™ here.

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This long-term condition is most frequent in adults from 30 to 50, affecting more women than men, and is thought to be hereditary.  People fair skinned people, who blush easily and have family roots originating from Northwestern Europe seem to be the most common suffers of rosacea.

Symptoms range from a burning feeling around the affected areas, eye irritation, or appearance of small red veins around the face and small cysts or bumps resembling acne.

If untreated, rosacea can get worse, however there is no known cure.

Triggers can be a skin disorder, sunburn, overheating, or stress, anxiety and anger.  People with rosacea find they often have outbreaks with the consumption of alcohol or spicy food.

Afterglow offers treatments to alleviate the discomforts of rosacea and the reduction of red skin flare-ups.  These treatments include:  IPL – photo rejuvenation, Cutera Genesis laser treatments and Photodynamic therapy such as Blu U and Levulan.  Dr. Ebrahim also prescribes cosmeceuticals and topical prescriptions.

Don’t suffer any longer if you have a ‘permanent blush’.  Call Afterglow at

(604)980-3993 for your complimentary consultation.

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The number of men visiting medical aesthetic clinics has doubled in the last 10 years.  Of these men, 1 in 5 start to undergo procedures in their late 30′s.  Men are becoming more aware of the treatments available and their benefits.  According to The Chronicle of Cosmetic Medicine and Surgery, men tend to focus on their nose, specific wrinkles or sunspots.  Women focus more on their eye area and lips.

Also, men generally don’t take good care of their skin.  They are likely to maintain their car and sports equipment better than their skin.  Aging affects men differently as well.  For example, they are more likely to have sunken cheeks and deflated chins.

Whether it’s a more youthful appearance you are interested in or you want a fresher look, call Afterglow for your complimentary consultation with one of our trained physicians.

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THREE community members have recently gone to great heights in support of a variety of causes close to their hearts.

Craig Cantlie, vice-principal of Ridgeview elementary, stands on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, proudly flying the 95 Flags of Hope that people wrote messages on for him to carry.

Ridgeview elementary vice-principal Craig Cantlie is one of the intrepid adventurers and recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, to raise funds for the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation. Cantlie was a participant in Summits of Hope, which supports research, helps improve the quality of life of sick children, and educates and cares for children in need at the hospital.

Cantlie has long been interested in participating in a Summits of Hope climb, having first heard of the program through a couple of his friends who helped found it in 1999. Furthering his interest was his one-year-old-son Owen, who has received care at B.C. Children’s Hospital on a few different occasions. While each issue was minor – “new parent emergencies,” says Cantlie – he was impressed by staff’s expertise and the importance of the institution to the wider community. His mother was also diagnosed with cancer last year. “It was kind of the two together,” he says.

Cantlie, who lives in Vancouver, was away from Oct. 8 to 23.

“It was amazing,” he says. “We were really fortunate, we lucked out with beautiful weather and so we were able to see the mountain through most of our trek and I pinched myself all the time: ‘I’m in Africa and it’s October.’ It was beautiful.”

Adding to the experience was that he was joined by three of his long-term friends.

The 2012 Kilimanjaro Summits of Hope team celebrate their ascent. Seated in the middle of the front row is Ridgeview elementary vice-principal Craig Cantlie and in the back row, second from right, is North Vancouver resident Jason Lawson.

“That made it a really enriching experience for all of us, just to be able to do it together,” he says.

Cantlie is incredibly grateful for the support he received through the Ridgeview school community.

“We really involved the kids in terms of trying to inspire them and getting the kids to do some of the making a difference,” he says.

He made school-wide presentations and students participated in fundraising, either at school or on their own time; for example some decided to hold a weekend lemonade stand, weed neighbours gardens, or sell magnets, Popsicles or God’s Eyes. Others made donations of their personal savings.

“It was really cool because all these kids, without me really talking about it, were like, ‘We want to raise money for you Mr. Cantlie and this is what we’ve done and here’s our donation,’” he says.

During the climb, Cantlie made phone calls via satellite phone which were broadcast throughout Ridgeview. Some parents would stop in to hear his reports, in addition to organizing their own fundraisers.

West Vancouver School District staff are also showing their support, including offering the proceeds from a volleyball tournament as well as plan to make donations to the foundation at their upcoming holiday party.

Shehla Ebrahim meets with children at a school in Pakistan that she supports through her Afterglow Medical Aesthetics Clinic in North Vancouver. She recently visited the school as part of a humanitarian fundraising climb to K2′s basecamp.

While in Tanzania, the Summits of Hope team delivered toys, school supplies and clothes to an area orphanage through a

partnership with ECONEF, an organization located in Jua kali, outside of Arusha in northern Tanzania. Run by Caroline Nicholas, the non-profit works to improve the standard of living for orphans in the area, many of whom lost their parents to HIV/AIDS.

While Cantlie’s funds are still rolling in, he expects to have collected more than $10,000 for the foundation by the end of the year.

North Vancouver resident Jason Lawson was also part of the Kilimanjaro 2012 team, marking his second time joining a Summits of Hope expedition – he previously journeyed to Mount Everest’s basecamp in 2010. Lawson was inspired to get involved in light of his son Beckett’s 2007 diagnosis with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age three. After 40 months of chemotherapy, Beckett is now considered to be in remission.

Shehla Ebrahim recently trekked to the base-camp of K2 in Pakistan in an effort to support two initiatives: Opportunity International, a non-profit organization that assists people in Third World countries with micro-financing; and a private fund that assists in building schools for girls in Pakistan.

North Shore doctor Shehla Ebrahim (at right) raises the Canadian flag with a fellow hiker at the K2 basecamp earlier this fall.

The West Vancouver physician and entrepreneur, owner of Ambleside Dermedics clinic and Afterglow Medical Aesthetics Clinic, embarked on the journey at the beginning of September. She made the ascent with three other hikers. It took her team, guided by 30 porters, three weeks to cover the glacier on foot, travelling 170 kilometres to reach the basecamp.

This trip marks her third humanitarian climb, having travelled to Mount Everest’s basecamp as well as Mount Kilimanjaro in previous years.

Ebrahim raised $2,500 to be split between the two charities and in addition, donated $1,000 to her porters, noticing how little climbing gear they owned, outfitting them with warm gear and tents.

Summits of Hope is accepting applications for those interested in joining the 2013 Kilimanjaro and Ecuador teams. Info: summitsofhope.com.

article by Erin McPhee, North Shore News © Copyright (c) North Shore News – original article

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