You are probably aware that blue light from digital devices has the potential to cause eye damage, but did you know that blue light from your computer and cell phone screens can also cause skin damage? Blue light is a high energy, short-wavelength light emitted by the computer screen, cell phone, other digital devices and the sun. In the age of the pandemic when we are all spending so much more time on our devices, blue light skin exposure and skin damage is on the rise.
How Blue Light Causes Skin Damage
Blue light stimulates the production of free radicals in the skin which accelerates the appearance of aging. The effects are cumulative and can lead to increased pigmentation, redness and swelling. In addition, your skin’s regenerative cycle can get thrown out of whack causing more skin damage over time.
How to Minimize the Damage
Reducing your time on the phone, computer or other electronic devices is unlikely to happen in this time of social distancing and need for alternate forms of communication. However, there are a few simple things you can do to lower your exposure. When possible, keep your phone a minimum of 12 inches away from your skin. Placing your calls on speaker, rather than hugging it to your cheek, is a practical measure you can implement. You can also reduce the brightness on your screen by 50% or enable the “Night Shift” setting to limit the blue light emitted.
Do Any Products Protect Skin Against Blue Light?
Skincare manufacturers are quickly getting on board with products that block high energy blue light in addition to UVA and UVB light. Colorescience®️ is ahead of the curve. They offer an array of skin protection products that guard against blue light as well as traditional UVA and UVB lights, pollution and infrared radiation. Colorescience®️ uses minerals and antioxidants to promote healthy skin by preventing damage and speeding up repair. Offering a wide variety of cosmetic-like products,Colorescience®️ can protect your skin with its transparent Sunforgettable®️ sunscreen, or its lightly pigmented All Calm®️ and Even Up®️ which double as a natural looking light base. Additionally, the popular Sunforgettable®️ Total Protection Brush is made for easy transportation in your purse or console for mess free touch ups throughout the day. Don’t forget, SPF protection only lasts about 2 hours so it is important to reapply throughout the day. Completing the line is the Colorescience®️ Lip Shine and Total Eye™️ 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy.
So, remember. Protect your skin as well as your eyes from damaging short-waves emitted by your devices. Make certain your sunscreen products protect you against blue light!
– Dr. Tara Wegryn
Dr. Tara Wegryn is a board-certified Neurologist and Electrophysiologist whose current area of concentration is Aesthetic Medicine. She has extensive training in the latest aesthetic medical techniques and is a member of the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine. Dr. Tara Wegryn is the sole owner and operator of Refresh Medispa, the only dedicated medical spa in Galveston, TX. Refresh Medispa offers a variety of services and products including Botox, fillers, PRP hair restoration, Kybella, skin resurfacing, hydrafacials, ZO Skin Health, and Colorscience.
We all know that a facial is a lovely way to pamper yourself and a great way to look and feel fresh. But are there any true health benefits to this pleasant procedure? The answer, of course, is yes.
Firstly, a facial can help relieve stress by activating your sympathetic nervous system, reducing anxiety and improving your mood. In addition, a HydraFacial provides a thorough cleansing of your face which reduces the total bacterial count, preventing break-outs, whiteheads and blackheads.
With a facial, skin rejuvenation is enhanced by its effect on improving circulation through massage and by opening up and cleaning out the pores. Your skin is continuously remaking itself by producing new skin cells daily. The old skin cells die and tend to pile up on the surface of your face, making your skin dry and rough. Exfoliation during a facial removes the build-up of dead cells leaving your skin smoother and softer and allowing for easier pore extraction. Gentle acids such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid aid in both the removal of dead cells and the cleaning of the pores.
A good HydraFacial will leave your skin healthier with reduced bacterial numbers, fewer layers of dead skin cells, and pores that are free of debris and exudates. Your fresh, healthy face will now be able to absorb nutrients and therapeutic agents. Antioxidants can be applied to help reverse the aging process. Hyaluronic acid and growth factors promote collagen formation and reduce wrinkles, and skin lighteners/brighteners reverse the synergistic effects of UV light on melanocytes which causes skin darkening and age spots.
Lastly, just the process of having your face touched and manipulated during your facial improves lymphatic drainage which allows your body to remove by-products and impurities while reducing swelling.
So, the next time you treat yourself or a loved one to a HydraFacial you can rest assured that, in addition to enjoying a relaxing, pleasant respite, you are truly doing something for your health by creating a cleaner, purer you.
– Dr. Tara Wegryn
Dr. Tara Wegryn is a board-certified Neurologist and Electrophysiologist whose current area of concentration is Aesthetic Medicine. She has extensive training in the latest aesthetic medical techniques and is a member of the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine. Dr. Tara Wegryn is the sole owner and operator of Refresh Medispa, the only dedicated medical spa in Galveston, TX. Refresh Medispa offers a variety of services and products including Botox, fillers, PRP hair restoration, Kybella, skin resurfacing, hydrafacials, ZO Skin Health, and Colorscience.
A common problem for many women as they age is the dreaded ‘turkey neck’, or loose, sagging skin under the chin and jawline. ‘Turkey neck’ can be caused by a number of factors including aging and weight change, while genetics also plays a big role. Until recently, the most common treatment for the sagging skin was a surgical lift or other painful procedures to remove or tighten the skin. Fortunately, advances in medicine and technology have brought us an exciting, non-invasive treatment for this condition, eMatrix Radio Frequency, which can be done in the office with minimal pain and downtime.
eMatrix delivers radio frequency energy precisely into the skin via a small grid. Perceived as an injury by the body, new collagen and elastin is deposited and remodeled. This healing process is accelerated by the healthy skin surrounding the grid pattern. This causes the dermis to contract and the skin to tighten, giving you a fresher, more youthful look. Radio frequency continues to cause skin tightening for up to 6 weeks after a single treatment, although a series of 3 to 4 is usually recommended. These can be performed at 3 to 6 week intervals.
The treatment itself takes less than 30 minutes but you will want to allow about an hour for your visit which will include time for the topical anesthetic to numb the area. You can expect your skin at the treatment site to be red for 1 to 2 days and for the area to feel warm, like a sunburn. Ice packs and Tylenol are all that is usually required in the first day or two. Many clients tell me they felt well enough to go out the same day or the next. The grid pattern may be visible for 3 to 4 days but is easily covered with Colorescience®️ or makeup.
eMatrix is also very effective in treating stretch marks, acne scars and skin laxity on the face and body, but that is a topic for another day.
You have probably taken the time and measures to ensure your face is aging gracefully. Now may be the time to get rid of the turkey neck and have your neck look as bright and fresh as your face! We hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Have a great day and I hope you continue to “Look Fresh and Feel Confident”.
– Dr. Tara Wegryn
Dr. Tara Wegryn is a board-certified Neurologist and Electrophysiologist whose current area of concentration is Aesthetic Medicine. She has extensive training in the latest aesthetic medical techniques and is a member of the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine. Dr. Tara Wegryn is the sole owner and operator of Refresh Medispa, the only dedicated medical spa in Galveston, TX. Refresh Medispa offers a variety of services and products including Botox, fillers, PRP hair restoration, Kybella, skin resurfacing, hydrafacials, ZO Skin Health, and Colorscience.
Many of you are now familiar with Hydrafacial’s patented approach to skin care which combines gentle suction, a rotary motion and a series of carefully formulated solutions to clean and refresh your face and decollete.
The Growth Factor serum minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to restore skin health and vitality. It pairs beautifully with ZO®️ Growth Factor serum which is applied daily in-between treatments. Alternatively, if uneven skin tones are a concern, a Brightalive Booster serum can be applied to the skin to lighten the skin, reduce color variation and block the production of pigment. Paired with a ZO®️ daily skin brightener, you will definitely see sustained results.
Dr. Tara Wegryn is a board certified Neurologist and Electrophysiologist whose current area of concentration is Aesthetic Medicine. She has extensive training in the latest aesthetic medical techniques and is a member of the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine. Dr. Tara Wegryn is the sole owner and operator of Refresh Medispa, the only dedicated medical spa in Galveston, TX. Refresh Medispa offers a variety of services and products including Botox, fillers, PRP hair restoration, Kybella, skin resurfacing, hydrafacials, ZO Skin Health, and Colorscience.
Many women tell me that they love being older. They love their families, their life’s experiences and the knowledge they have gained through the years. Many women embrace their age and few want to be or look like young women. Most older women (like me) just want to look as good as they can, without large expense and, preferably, without surgery.
So what are some of the ways the face changes with age? Structurally, fat redistributes in the face shifting the weight from the eyes, cheek bones and temples to the lower face. Secondly, wrinkles develop over time from contraction of facial muscles, and from degeneration of skin elements, made worse by sun exposure. Lastly, changes in cartilage and the tissues supporting them can lead to droopy earlobes.
While we all can continue to celebrate our age, below are a few things we can do, or have done, to give our face a more youthful appearance.
SUNPROTECTION. Protecting your face from the sun is the single best way to keep it youthful. Barrier, mineral based sunscreens that block both UVA and UVB rays will protect your skin best. Add a cute wide-brimmed hat for extra protection if you wish!
CREAMS AND LOTIONS. Moisturizers soothe dry skin. Exfoliating creams improve the appearance of aging skin by removing dead skin, and Vitamin A derivatives such as Retinol, Retin-A and Avita reduce wrinkles and brown spots by inducing collagen production and altering the pigment, melanin.
BOTULINUM TOXIN INJECTIONS. These injections partially immobilize the muscles that form expressive lines so the skin smooth’s out. Commonly injected areas include the forehead, between the brows, and around the eyes.
DERMAL FILLERS. Dermal fillers are used to treat lines and hollows created by loss of collagen or fat. The two most common lines treated are the nasolabial folds between the nose and the corners of the mouth and the marionette lines which extend from the corners of the mouth to the chin. The hollows that are often filled are the cheeks and the temples. The most common fillers currently in use are composed of Hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring complex sugar. They typically last 6-18 months, sometimes longer after repeat injections.
LASER TREATMENTS. Lasers are used to resurface skin to eliminate wrinkles, scars and pigmentation. Ablative lasers remove the uppermost layers of skin and require several weeks of recovery time. Non-ablative lasers (ex. Radiofrequency) pass the energy through the outer layer of the skin to work at a deeper level in the dermis which stimulates inflammation and collagen formation. Non-ablative treatments require minimal downtime and are usually performed in a series.
Keeping your skin healthy and youthful can be relatively easy and fun. You can age gracefully.
Have a great day and I hope you continue to “Look Fresh and Feel Confident”!
– Dr. Tara Wegryn
Dr. Tara Wegryn is a board certified Neurologist and Electrophysiologist whose current area of concentration is Aesthetic Medicine. She has extensive training in the latest aesthetic medical techniques and is a member of the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine. Dr. Tara Wegryn is the sole owner and operator of Refresh Medispa, the only dedicated medical spa in Galveston, TX. Refresh Medispa offers a variety of services and products including Botox, fillers, PRP hair restoration, Kybella, skin resurfacing, hydrafacials, ZO Skin Health, and Colorscience.
Bothered by fullness under your chin and a profile that makes you look older than you are? If only there was a way to permanently get rid of that fullness, without having surgery. Now, there is.
Kybella is the only FDA-approved injectable treatment that destroys fat cells in the area under the chin. Kybella is a synthetic deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring molecule in the body, that aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat. When injected into the fat beneath the chin, it destroys the fat cells which your body then removes. Once gone, your body can no longer store fat under your chin, even if you put on a few extra pounds!
The first step in having the profile you want is to come in for an evaluation to see if you are a candidate for Kybella. If your fullness is from fat, I will then recommend a series of Kybella treatments ranging from 2 to 5 treatments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. After numbing the area with a topical cream, the injections only take 10 to 15 minutes.
Most clients experience a mild to moderate burning sensation as the Kybella begins to destroy fat cells. Tylenol and cold packs help reduce this. It is also useful to remember that the feeling is an indication that the Kybella IS working! Bruising, swelling, redness, numbness and areas of hardness are the next most common side effects. In general, the side effects, particularly the swelling, become less pronounced with subsequent treatments.
You can opt to stop your treatments early if you have reached your aesthetic goal, or add an extra one or two. Most clients tell me that although they were very aware of the increase in swelling that occurred shortly after each treatment, their friends and family generally did NOT notice this change.
What if a client comes in for an evaluation and I determine that their fullness is do to excess or loose skin rather than fat? That can be treated non-surgically as well using a different technique, Sublative Radio frequency for skin tightening. This is also performed in a series of treatments, 4 to 6 weeks apart. There is minimal downtime with this procedure and your skin continues to tighten for weeks after each visit as new, tighter collagen is produced by your body.
The consultation is free. I would love to see you to discuss your aesthetic goals and to help you have the attractive profile you want!
-Dr. Tara Wegryn
Dr. Tara Wegryn is a board-certified Neurologist and Electrophysiologist whose current area of concentration is Aesthetic Medicine. She has extensive training in the latest aesthetic medical techniques and is a member of the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine. Dr. Tara Wegryn is the sole owner and operator of Refresh Medispa, the only dedicated medical spa in Galveston, TX. Refresh Medispa offers a variety of services and products including Botox, fillers, PRP hair restoration, Kybella, skin resurfacing, hydrafacials, ZO Skin Health, and Colorescience.
ZO®️ Skin Health is an innovative skin line that we carry at Refresh Medispa. The line was created by Dr. Obagi and is only sold to physicians who then make product recommendations that suit an individual patient’s skin type and therapeutic needs. Some of the ingredients and concentrations are higher than can be sold over-the-counter. The line provides both daily care products and therapeutic treatments to optimize patient’s skin health. Impressed with the quality of these products and the scientifically sound ingredients, I personally used the ZO® skin health line on a daily basis for over a month before I decided to carry it at Refresh. I found it to be extremely effective in improving the overall quality of my skin and, in my case, reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
After determining your skin’s characteristics, areas of concern, and your skin care goals, I will create a unique and personalized protocol for you. This will include product selection and may include other supportive services to optimize your skin’s health and appearance.
The ZO® program is a three step program.
Step One is simply “Getting Skin Ready” and includes daily care products; cleansers for oily to dry skin, exfoliating polishes that remove dead skin and toners to control oil or sooth dry skin.
Step Two in the program is to “Prevent and Correct”. Daily Power Defense promotes skin repair with powerful antioxidants delivered in a daily cream creating a more youthful look. If uneven skin tones are a concern, Brightalive®, a non-Retin-A skin brightener, can be used to lighten brown spots and soften color differences. It can be used daily and will not irritate your sun exposed skin like Retin-A can. If reducing fine lines and wrinkles is the goal this can be achieved with skin rejuvenating Growth Factor Serum. ZO® also has its own self-activating Vitamin C cream, Hydrafirm™️ Eye Brightening Repair Crème and Retinol Skin Brightener.
Step Three in the ZO® program is to “Protect”. Protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun with one of Dr. Obagi’s broad spectrum sunscreen products. Sun exposure can cause color changes, surface texture alterations, and thickening of the skin, which can deepen creases and wrinkles. We offer a variety of sunscreens with different features including water resistance, tint and finish.
Together, we will tailor a daily home care regimen that will optimize your skin’s health, improve texture and minimize flaws. We will create a program that fits your skin needs, your budget, and your life! Healthy skin IS achievable, and at any age!
Have a great day, and I hope you continue to “Look Fresh and Feel Confident”.
-Dr. Tara Wegryn
Dr. Tara Wegryn is a board certified Neurologist and Electrophysiologist whose current area of concentration is Aesthetic Medicine. She has extensive training in the latest aesthetic medical techniques and is a member of the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine. Dr. Tara Wegryn is the sole owner and operator of Refresh Medispa, the only dedicated medical spa in Galveston, TX. Refresh Medispa offers a variety of services and products including Botox, fillers, PRP hair restoration, Kybella, skin resurfacing, hydrafacials, ZO Skin Health, and Colorescience.
Thinning hair in men has long been recognized as an unwanted but frequent component of the aging process. However, many people don’t realize that 80% of women over the age of 60 experience significant hair loss as well. Thinning hair in women can cause a great deal of emotional stress. In addition, the techniques women use to cope with thinning hair like wigs, weaves, hats and frequent trips to the hair salon can be a financial strain. Thankfully, a new procedure is now available that can actually reverse the effects of hair loss. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a natural hair restoration procedure for women and men with mild to moderate hair loss. PRP uses the person’s own plasma to stimulate collagen and hair growth, which can result in a 39% increase in hair thickness. The procedure is done in the office and can be accomplished in as little as 45 minutes to an hour! You can return to work or your daily activities immediately after.
Patient’s progress after 3 PRP treatmentsFour stages of hair growth.
The three-step procedure is as follows:
Your blood is drawn. The blood is placed in a centrifuge and is spun down to separate the cells and the fluids.
The blood is then separated into three layers; platelet poor plasma, platelet rich plasma (PRP!) and cells.
The platelet rich plasma (PRP) is injected very superficially into the areas of the scalp where the hair is thinning.
That’s it!
Three treatments are performed initially at onemonth intervals. Typically, individuals experience a 19% increase in hair thickness during these first three months with maximum effect at 6 months. Hair growth can continue for over a year with most individuals requiring single maintenance sessions every 4-6 months. PRP is a minimally invasive, safe, effective procedure to restore hair volume with no down time, making it a great solution to hair loss for many women (and men)!
-Dr. Tara Wegryn
Dr. Tara Wegryn is a board certified Neurologist and Electrophysiologist whose current area of concentration is Aesthetic Medicine. She has extensive training in the latest aesthetic medical techniques and is a member of the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine. Dr. Tara Wegryn is the sole owner and operator of Refresh Medispa, the only dedicated medical spa in Galveston, TX. Refresh Medispa offers a variety of services and products including Botox, fillers, PRP hair restoration, Kybella, skin resurfacing, hydrafacials, ZO Skin Health, and Colorescience.
