My Cart
Search
Advanced Search

Category: Myth Busters

Posted on

Myth: Air Quality Doesn’t Impact Skin Health

Although it may not be top of mind, the environment and air quality influence skin health and skin aging tremendously. If you live in a city with a significant level of air pollution, it could be contributing to premature skin aging, age spots, fine lines and wrinkles! Solar Ultra Radiation, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and cigarette smoke are some of the air pollutants that can have a significant effect on the complexion. Smog particles in particular settle onto the skin, increasing inflammation and triggering skin pigmentation, acne and allergic skin conditions like dermatitis and eczema. It can also cause dehydration in our skin and is known for breaking down collagen and elastic, causing skin to lose elasticity.

To help restore and protect the skin from environmental damage, it’s recommended to use these Lancer favorites:

  • The Method: Polish & Cleanse – This dynamic duo removes environmental toxins accumulated during the day. Polish is a daily exfoliator that contains Quartz Crystals and Pumpkin and Pomegranate enzymes, effectively removing surface debris and dull skin cells, leaving a renewed, healthy-looking complexion. After exfoliating, use Cleanse to gently remove any remaining impurities, keeping skin fresh, healthy and hydrated.
    The Method: Polish – https://www.lancerskincare.com/polish
    The Method: Cleanse – https://www.lancerskincare.com/cleanse
  • Active Rejuvenation Serum – The ultimate anti-aging serum with triple dermal complex. This serum revitalizes the skin as it provides anti-aging benefits and the hydration skin yearns for. It minimizes the appearance of fine lines and pores, leaving skin looking more radiant, soft and youthful.
    Active Rejuvenation Serum – https://www.lancerskincare.com/active-rejuvenation-serum
  • Sheer Fluid Sun Shield – This weightless, non-greasy Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen is a daily essential for sun protection. It not only protects your skin from harmful UV rays, but also provides key anti-aging ingredients that helps skin look and feel young.
    Sheer Fluid Sun Shield – https://www.lancerskincare.com/sheer-fluid-sun-shield-spf-30
Posted on

Myth: The More Products in Your Skincare Routine, the Better

Most of us have a variety of products we use on our skin. We use them, thinking the more we apply, the better our skin will look. Dr. Lancer says that’s not always true, as we should be specifically thinking about what skincare concerns we would like to address, and target those concerns. If it’s reducing pore size, treating acne or evening skin tone, it only matters that the right combination of skincare products are being used, not necessarily that more products are used.

At the foundation of any skincare regimen, it is important to exfoliate, cleanse, and moisturize the skin. The Lancer Method of Polish, Cleanse and Nourish is that essential regimen, and the key to healthier and more youthful looking skin. This regimen accelerates cell turnover, removes oil, dirt and debris, and delivers essential hydration, moisture and nutrients, leaving skin looking fresh and renewed. Dr. Lancer developed three versions of The Lancer Method depending on skin type: Normal-Combination, Sensitive-Dehydrated, and Oily-Congested.

After sticking to this program for about a month, reevaluate skincare concerns, and add Advanced Treatment products as needed. Whether looking to address skin texture, pore size, acne, or lines and wrinkles, Lancer Skincare has several targeted products to address various concerns. Remember, it is not about the number of products you use. It’s about using quality products and finding the right skincare regimen for your specific concerns.

Posted on

Myth: You Only Need SPF During Bright, Sunny Weather

Sunscreen is typically associated with a relaxing day at the beach. You might be laying on a beach chair with your favorite hat, a good book and you’ve applied the goods. However, sunscreen should be used daily during sunny or overcast weather and no matter the location. Going out to your favorite coffee shop and doing some shopping? You need sunscreen then too. Dr. Lancer always tells patients that if there’s light, even from the lighting of a photo shoot, you need to protect your skin…and from head to toe.

For spring and summer tips, Dr. Lancer recommends that you apply Sheer Fluid Sun Shield Broad Spectrum SPF30 Sunscreen four times daily on all exposed skin. Very few sunscreens provide protection past 2-3 hours, so it’s important to reapply! Dr. Lancer’s sunscreen not only protects your skin from harmful UV rays, but also provides key anti-aging ingredients to keep skin looking and feeling youthful.

  • Sheer Fluid Sun Shield Broad Spectrum SPF30 Sunscreen – The weightless fluid sunscreen contains Gamay Grape Stem Cells, Sunflower Sprout Extracts and Chamomile Extract. Gamay Grape Stem Cells reduce the appearance of UV damage and fight the appearance of photo-aging, while Sunflower Sprout Extracts help improve skin radiance and a healthy glow. Chamomile Extract is also of importance as it helps calm and soothe the skin.
    https://www.lancerskincare.com/sheer-fluid-sun-shield-spf-30
Posted on

Myth: Breakouts Only Occur in Your Teens

When you think of acne, you might think of someone in their teen years. However, blemishes on the skin can occur at any age. Breakouts have been seen on newborns, teens and adults, and on all parts of the body – even those hidden areas we don’t think of!

Some causes of acne include hormonal changes, stress, poor diet, environmental changes, humid climates and even genetics. While acne is not dangerous, it can leave scars if not taken care of early on. To help patients keep their skin looking blemish free, Dr. Lancer developed The Method: Oily-Congested Skin. This 3-step system includes Polish, Cleanse and Nourish, which work together to keep skin looking clear and healthy by gently exfoliating the skin’s surface, effectively cleansing, and feeding the skin essential nutrients.

https://www.lancerskincare.com/the-method-oily-congested-skin-regiment-set-oily-congested-set

  • The Method: Polish Oily-Congested Skin is step 1 out of 3. Polish contains Quartz Crystals, Pumpkin Enzymes, Pomegranate Enzymes and Salicylic Acid, which are key ingredients to exfoliating congested skin. While all ingredients are of importance, the Pomegranate Enzymes contain powerful antioxidants to promote skin hydration while exfoliating dull surface cells.
  • The Method: Cleanse Oily-Congested Skin is the next step in the routine. Cleanse includes Jojoba beads, Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil and Lilac Stem Cell Compound. The Jojoba beads sweep away any remaining skin impurities without stripping essential moisture, while Tea Tree Oil provides anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, helping to counteract oiliness.
  • The Method: Nourish Oily-Congested Skin is the last step in the system. Nourish is a lightweight moisturizer containing Hyaluronic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil and Lilac Stem Cell Compound. Hyaluronic Acid helps keep skin hydrated throughout the day while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and Lilac Stem Cell Compound is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

Additionally, Dr. Lancer developed the Clarifying Detox Mask to clear up any breakouts quickly. This OTC acne treatment includes Green Tea, Green Clay and 3% Sulfur. The 3% Sulfur helps clear up and decongest skin while Green Tea and Green Clay help reduce the appearance redness and absorb excess sebum. The mask will clear up your skin in no time while also giving you some fun – it goes on totally green!

https://www.lancerskincare.com/clarifying-detox-mask

Posted on

The Real Scoop on Frown Line Fixes

unnamed (1)

That moment when you notice a new expression line forming on your face is one of the most frustrating things about getting older. You may still feel (and act!) like an energetic 20 year-old, but your face is letting you down, giving away your actual age with every passing hour. What’s more, there are so many products and treatments out there that promise a quick fix, it’s hard to sort the wheat from the chaff. So we took the guesswork out of frown line fixes. Here’s the real scoop on what works, what doesn’t, and what you don’t want to overdo.

1. Patches such as Frownies or Furless. Although these ‘miracle patches’ may be tempting, there is absolutely no evidence they make a difference over time. You are much better off investing in high quality pillowcases and learning to sleep on your back to keep your face from getting creased at night. (Over time, those creases can become frown lines.)

2. Botox and Dysport. A popular option for freezing up the facial muscles to stop the formation of expression lines, neurotoxins are highly effective for preventing deep lines and wrinkles, but need to be administered every few months to keep results looking fresh. There is also a risk of “loss of expression” if the doctor administering the injectable is too heavy handed. If you decide to explore neurotoxins further, make sure you trust your doctor and take a light approach.

3. Juvederm and Restylane. Another popular option for deep expression lines, fillers do just what the name implies – fill in deep lines, wrinkles and facial folds. Fillers like Juvaderm are great for deep lines that are already prevalent, but won’t prevent further development of wrinkles. Again, these should be administered by a light-handed professional.

4. Dermatude. One of the newest and most innovative machines in our office, Dermatude is quickly becoming a favorite option for patients looking to reverse expression lines without the follow up appointments or risk of expression loss. The machine pairs micro rolling with radio frequency, triggering the body’s own healing action in the deep layers of the skin, boosting collagen and elastin production and nearly erasing expression lines. This treatment is especially popular with men.

5. Youth Serum. The newest addition to the Lancer Skincare collection, our Younger: Pure Youth Serum is an amazing blend of vitamin A esters and biomimetic retinol compounds that actually speed up the skin’s cellular cycle without the irritation that accompanies the use of traditional retinol. Youth Serum is a smart addition to your regimen if you’re looking to prevent expression lines or correct existing ones.

6. Facial Massage. Facial massage has long been the secret weapon for makeup artists and facialists, giving their clients an immediately lifted and beautifully contoured face.  The gentle stroking can relax facial muscles and connective tissue, thereby softening expression lines, in addition to aiding lymphatic drainage which depuffs the skin.  We love to use our Microcurrent Power Boost as a massage tool, which not only softens expression lines and lifts the skin, but also neutralizes free radicals.

Get social with us!
Facebook // Instagram // Twitter

Posted on

The Good, The Bad & The Sunburned

lancer_sunprotection3

As you all know, sun protection is uber-important in the fight against aging. We get so many questions about various new sun protection tools and technologies that we thought we’d help separate myth from fact by breaking down what works and what doesn’t. Here’s what Dr. Lancer has to say about 5 alternative methods of sun protection:

UV-blocking clothing. Wearing UV-blocking clothing is a great way to protect your skin when you’re in the sun for extended periods of time playing sports, walking, hiking, driving or doing anything active. UV protection is woven into the fabric and provides full spectrum protection without the worry of mis-applying or forgetting to reapply sunscreen. These items are a smart option for kids or people with sensitive skin.

Drinkable sunscreen. It may sound crazy, but there is a product that claims to be drinkable sun protection called Harmonized H20 UV Neutralizer. But whether it actually works is highly questionable. There is no ingredient information provided by the company, making it impossible to accurately judge the efficacy. Additionally, there is no current scientific or medical evidence that would indicate the possibility of an internal sunscreen protecting the skin externally. Experimenting with sun protection is a dangerous gamble and not worth the potential ill-effects. Stick with externally applied sunscreen and you will be safe.

UV monitoring wristbands. UV monitoring wristbands and patches are a great tool to help monitor how much sun you have had, especially on days when it may be hard to tell, like when it’s overcast, or you’ve been in and out of the shade. The patches or wristbands change color in accordance with the amount of UV light they have been exposed to, letting you know when you’ve had a safe amount of sun exposure and when it’s time to get out of the sun completely.

Super high SPF. Understanding the risks and benefits of a sunscreeen with a super high SPF (think 50 and above) means understanding what Sun Protection Factor truly means. Many people today believe Sun Protection Factor translates to the number of minutes you can spend in the sun and remain protected, when in fact it refers to the level of UV light the sunscreen protects your skin against (it has little to do with time and more to do with the strength of the sun). Much of the concern over high-SPF sunscreens comes from the incorrect consumer belief that they can stay in the sun for 100 minutes without reapplication – leading to overexposure, sunburns and skin damage. For example, an SPF of 50 protects skin from 98 percent of UVA and UVB rays, while an SPF of 100 protects skin from 99 percent of rays. Though the number doubles, the amount of protection does not. So while there isn’t anything necessarily wrong with a super high SPF, do be aware of what you are putting on your skin and how well you are being protected.

Astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is a supplement that is said to help protect skin from damaging UV rays in sunlight. The company that produces it claims that it’s an antioxidant more powerful than beta-carotene, lycopene, and alpha-tocopherants, and that the supplement works wonders against free-radicals and helps with cell protection, including the damage that occurs from UV rays. Even though this supplement may help your body protect and repair itself from free radical damage, the effects of astaxanthin are not strong enough to use in lieu of a true sunscreen.

Have you tried any of these alternative sun protection methods? We’d love to hear about your experiences with them!

Get social with us!
Facebook // Instagram // Twitter

This website belongs to Lancer Skincare LLC, which sells a line of cosmetic products developed by Dr. Harold A. Lancer. Dr. Lancer’s Dermatology Clinic is owned by Forefront Dermatology – Pacific, P.C. (“Forefront”), and current or prospective patients seeking to schedule a clinical dermatology appointment will be redirected to Forefront’s website. Lancer Skincare LLC and Forefront are separate legal entities and are not under common ownership or control.

© lancerskincare. All rights reserved.