Glossary of Terms

Acne – A chronic inflammatory skin disorder of the skin, usually related to hormonal changes and overactive sebaceous glands during adolescence. Also known as acne vulgaris or acne simplex.

Acne appears in a variety of different types, ranging from noncontagious pimples to deep –seated skin conditions. The noninflammatory types of acne are open comedones. The inflammatory types are closed comedones, papules, pustules, cysts, nodules. Acne generally starts at age of puberty, however it afflicts adult men and women.

Also, acne is often due to heredity but the condition can be aggravated by emotional stress, a poor diet, environmental factors.

All types of acne have one thing in common, en enlarged hair follicle plugged with oil and bacteria.

Oily skin –  skin that is excessively oily due primarily to the over activity of the sebaceous glands. Oily skin requires more cleansing and exfoliating than other skin types do. It is prone to blemishes because the pores get clogged with oil and buildup of dead skin cells.

Acne scars/Scars are the result of the healing of an ulcer or a dermal wound. Scars may be in the epidermis as stretch marks, or in the dermis. They may result from any disorder that involves the dermis. For instance, acne scars .  There are three types of acne scars. These are called ice pick, acne pit, and raised scars.

Ice pick scars are large, visible, open pores.

Acne pit scars have a slightly sunken or depressed appearance.

Raised scars are a lumpy mass of raised tissue on the surface of the skin.

Age spots/Photodamage characterized by large amounts of pigment changes, hyperpigmentation is the most common effect of excess sun exposure and skin damage.

Alopecia – deficiency and loss of hair; baldness. Alopecia is a frequent result of pregnanvy or use of cytotoxic drugs such as in cancer chemotherapy. Many other conditions such as thyroid diseases and connective tissue diseases also can contribute to alopecia.

Anti-aging The common signs of aging  are laxity, wrinkles, loss of turgor, skin dullness, pigment changes. The practice of anti-aging involves the reversal or the correction of most of these signs on the skin.

Skin rejuvenation program can help to improve  or prevent certain skin conditions. Also, some essential supplements are necessary in the diet to enhance the result of different  treatments .

Arm fat reduction – after losing a lot of weight over a short period of time, it is common for your body to hold fat in some parts of your body like your arms, inner thighs, and waist. Reducing the fat in these areas, especially on the arm where it is most visible, is accomplished by using non-invasive techniques for quicker, less painful results.

Back acne is caused by the same factors that trigger facial acne, and it occurs when an excess of oil production (sebum) blocks your hair follicle.  Pimples form when extra sebum and dead skin cells build up. It can also be caused by your daily habits. Some common cause of back acne are: genetics, hormones, medications, stress , sweat, some food.

Broken capillaries– your body has an incredible amount of very small blood vessels under your skin. Some of these blood vessels may become enlarged or even break , causing small red areas or lines, also known as spider veins or telangiectasia. They are  usually  found in the face and the legs.

Brow ptosis as we all age, we have started noticing that our brows have started to droop. Aging  is the most common form and associated with increased laxity of the connective tissue , skin, and frontalis muscle lead to ptosis .An abnormal amount of sagging of the eyebrow is known as Brow Ptosis which can be uncomfortable and limit your field of view.

Eliminate fat in your abdomen, back, thighs – your abdomen, back, thighs, arms are the more common areas where your body stores excess fat. Eliminating the fat in these areas is accomplished by using non-invasive techniques for quicker, less painful results and can lead to a better quality of life.

Cellulite – most women will experience a random formation of lumps and dimples in their skin at a point in their lives, especially around the thigh and buttocks area. This is due to areas of fat herniating within fiber tissues. Cellulite is very common, harmless and treatable .

Deep wrinkles Lines and damage of skin from internal or external causes. As you age, the muscles throughout your body will begin to relax and stretch. Eventually, there comes a point where the skin in those areas begin to fold over itself creating wrinkles. If not tended to early on, these wrinkles may become more severe which can result in deep wrinkles.

Discoloration  Conditions may or may not be life threatening and may be caused by illnesses, injury, inflammatory issues, hormonal response, and sun exposure. The more common skin discoloration conditions include hyperpigmentation, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, solar lentigines, melisma, actinic keratosis, sunburn and  thermal burns, rosacea, dermatitis.

Double chin Having a double chin refers to the condition in which your body develops extra skin or stores extra fat in the areas beneath your chin. Usually,having either an excess of body fat or a generic history of hard to get rid of fat in specific areas, it is common to experience having a double chin. This condition can also occur to those who are skinny as well.

Dry skin does not produce enough oil. The follicules are usually small and the sebum is minimal. Dry skin is more sensitive because barrier function are not healthy due to the lack of lipids (oil).

Dehydrated skin lacks water. Oily skin also can be dehydrated and needs to be hydrated. Dehydrated skin can look thin or flaky and can feel tight and dry. Dehydrated skin can be caused by internal and external factors such as medications and products.

Dull skin lacks radiance or vibrant glow. There are some common causes as dehydration, buildup of dead skin cells, dryness, smoking, aging, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, lack of sleep.

Dry and cracked heels occur when you have a disruption of your skin barrier. Your body naturally produces oil but in the case where this does not happen. The most common causes of dry, cracked heels are medical conditions such as diabetes, eczema, hypothyroidism, obesity, infections such as athlete’s foot, or standing for a long period of time as well as who are physically active.

Skin laxity is demonstrated as eyebrow dropping, wrinkles, rebundancy of upper and lower eyelid skin, deepened nasolabial folds, redundant skin on the cheeks and jawline. Lax skin is characterized by a thinner epidermis and dermis.

Expression wrinkles You , like most of us, spend your entire life making facial expressions. After so much time, your skin will begin to develop thin lines and creases in parts of the face where the skin folds when making facial expressions. This occurs due to how your facial muscles are attached directly to your skin (unlike any other muscle in your body)

Extra folds Living with an excess of body fat or after losing a great amount of fat in a short period of time, you may experience extra fold in places where your skin has stretched more than usual. This is due to a thick layer of fat stretching your skin over time so much so that either the fat protrudes out over other layers of fat or the skin remains in the stretched position even after getting rid of the fat.

Fat volume reduction  Body fat can become difficult to get rid of in certain parts of your body. Fat volume reduction procedures come in many forms, from liposuction to other, more complex operations. Luckily, there exists a non-invasive procedure which makes losing body fat quicker and easier.

Fine lines and wrinkles  Signs of aging come in many ways and at any time. As we live our lives, we all reach a point where our muscles throughout our bodies will begin to relax and stretch. Fine lines and wrinkles then become visible, especially in areas around our face.

Fine lines and wrinkles on décolletage One of the most visible signs of aging is the formation of fine lines and wrinkles in the lower neck/upper cleavage area and can be treated similarly as other aging areas.

Firmness and elasticity Loss of skin elasticity and firmness are a natural part of the aging process. Skin elasticity and firmness are skin’s ability to stretch and snap back to its original shape. Young skin is usually characterized as being firm and elastic. As you get older, the body loses collagen naturally. Loss of skin elasticity is known as elastosis. Elastosis causes skin to look saggy, crinkled. You can experience lack of firmness and elasticity from weight loss, years of sun exposure as well.

Freckles  An overproduction of melanin, usually in parts of your body that are more exposed to the sun, can cause small dark spots on your skin called freckles (lentigo). This is actually your body attempting to protect itself from the harmful ultraviolet rays coming from the sun.

Glycation A process where your skin becomes attached to an excess amount of glucose, causing it to wrinkle and lose its firmness is called Glycation.

Hair loss Hair loss is the process in which your pores shed its hair follicles due to a number of conditions or illnesses. Causes can range from a result of heredity, to medical conditions, and is a normal sign of aging. Hair loss can happen on any part of your body and may be reversed or slowed.

Hair removal  There are two general categories of hair removal: temporary and permanent. Temporary hair removal involves repeat treatments as hair grows. With permanent hair removal, the papilla is destroyed, making regrowth impossible.

Method of “permanent” hair reduction include laser as well as photo light hair removal systems. Photoepilation uses intense light to destroy the growth cells of hair bulb. Both INTENSE PULSED LIGHT (IPL) and laser hair removal are used to REDUCE hair growth.

Hyperpigmentation Hyperpigmentation is a term given to areas or spots in the skin that appear darker than the rest of the body. These spots , or areas , are caused by an increase in melanin production which is a result from a number of conditions such as over exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun, inflammation due to an injury, and even during pregnancy. Hyperpigmentation appears in the following forms: Chloasma, Hyperpigmentation, Lentigo/Lentigenes, Melasma, tan, nevus, stain.

Knees Your knees do a lot of work and move your entire life. This can result in the skin surrounding that area also stretches and begins to loosen up and sag. This is common as you age and lose the healthy production of collagen and elastin.

Large pores The size of the pore is determined by the amount of sebum (oil) being produced. The more oil produced, the more the follicle and pore stretch to accommodate the quantity of sebum being secreted. Follicles that are clogged with keratinized cells and fatty materials will have larger pores due to the stretching of the follicle walls from the amount  of debris in the canal.

Loose labia minora and majora tissue As the rest of the body does as it ages, the skin located in the vaginal area also begins to stretch and lose its firmness. An excess of stretch is known as lose labia minora and majora.

Loose skin around eyes Loose skin around the eyes is one of the most common signs of aging. At a certain age, your muscles will begin to relax, stretching tour skin with it. With enough time, eventually amall lines and wrinkles begin to appear.

Melasma is a skin condition where patches of your skin begin to discolor and even darken. This condition mainly occurs in women who are pregnant or triggered by hormones , and often appears on the upper lip and around the eyes and cheeks.

Not enough volume in your lips –The size and shape of your lips are almost entirely the result of your genetic history or aging. Not having enough volume in your lips, or thin lips, does not have to be permanent and volume can be added with minimally ivasive or non invasive treatments.

Photodamage is a term given to any and all changes in the skin after being overly exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun. Symptoms may include sun spots, freckles, redness, and other signs of skin discoloration.

Photo-aging is a term given to the skin damage that resembles the sign of aging like small lines and wrinkles. This condition may be visible prematurely to the age at which aging is normally expected to be seen due to over exposure to the ultraviolet radiation.

Post-baby loose skin Experiencing childbirth takes a tall on the mothers body. One of the most common effects is the post-baby loose skin left behind after the stretching of the skin to accommodate the growth of the belly.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation PIH  is a dark pigment splotches that develop from inflammation to the skin such as a pimple, a scrape, minor injury.

Rosacea is an inflammation of the skin; chronic congestion primarily on the cheeks and nose. Characterized by redness, dilation of blood vessels, and in severe cases, the formation of papules and pustules.

Radiant skin is a perfect, healthy, hydrated, bright, well-rested skin are all characteristics of radiant skin. It is the skin condition that lacks imperfections and is free from sun damage, acne, or any skin concerns.

Redness of the skin is associated with many conditions and circumstances. Conditions including allergic reactions, physical injury, heat burns, dermatitis, rosacea, sunburn, skin infection, bites and stings, heat rash, psoriasis, shingles to list a few.

Reduce water retention your body responds to certain infections, injuries and even bad diets by retaining water. A few negative sensations like feeling bloated or noticing swelling are indicators of your body retaining water. Reducing the water your body retains can bring your energy back into your life.

Rough skin Bumpy, dry, uneven skin are all characteristics of rough skin. It can happen almost anywhere throughout your body and can be very uncomfortable. Showering with hot water for a long period of time or using very harsh soaps may result in your having rough skin. Your skin naturally renews itself, but as you age, this process slows down, also causing dead skin cells to accumulate, also leading to rough skin.

Sallow skin when having sallow skin, it will appear as if your skin has lost its natural complexion. Appearing more yellow or brown than usual, mainly on your face, your body is showing signs of something going on. Illnesses like anemia, deficiencies, and dehydration are usual causes of sallow skin.

Sensitive skin Having skin that is prone to damage very easily is known as having sensitive skin. Experiencing sensitive skin may be a result of other skin conditions like rosacea, eczema and other dermatitis conditions. These conditions cause your skin to have strong adverse effects to certain creams and fragrances.

Skin brightening is a process in which the skin is cleared using certain techniques to get rid of debris that causes your skin to look dull , dry. Usually brightening is achieved with ingredients such as alpha and beta hydroxyl acids, vitamins A, E and C that help the skin to naturally shed dead skin cells. It will accomplish the desired results.

Skin rejuvenation is the process taken to make skin look younger and vigorous again. Skin rejuvenation is a complete treatment plan with a combined approach of  procedures such as IPL, laser, Chemical peel, fillers, neurotoxins and treating skin with medical skin care products.

Skin tightening is the visible reduction fine wrinkles, neck laxity, in jowls, a loss of normal skin folds . There are several noninvasive skin tightening treatments. The most common is radio-frequency device that uses radio-frequency energy to heat  skin with the purpose of stimulating collagen and elastin production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and loose skin.

Skin tone and texture Skin tone refers to your natural skin complexion which is determined by the amount of melanin you have in your skin. The more melanin you have, the darker your skin tone is and vice versa. Skin texture on the other hand is the condition of the surface of your skin. From rough to smooth, your skin condition is determined by how you take care of your skin.

Stretch marks  are common among those who experience a rapid level of growth. Usually found around the belly of a pregnant woman and in areas on the body of those who gain mass quickly, the skin experiences small tears in the dermis region which leaves faint discolored lines in affected areas.

Thin skin is fragile skin. Skin becomes thinner with age, or as a result of sun damage, medication, or lifestyle factors. Having thin skin means your epidermis is not as thick as it should be. Being able to easily see your bones, veins or tendons are all signs of thin skin. While experiencing thin skin, causing bruising and lacerations become extremely easy.

Vascular lesions are marks that are formed on your body before you are born. Known as birthmarks, they are usually completely harmless and may be removed or treated safely.

Weight loss is the process of eliminating unwanted fat throughout your body. Losing weight poses many health benefits such as improved blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels.

Wrinkles around eyes as you age, the muscles and skin throughout your body will begin to relax and stretch. This stretching often leads to wrinkles, especially around the eyes.