The Wellness Center and Dr. Tiffany Binder are happy to welcome Lindsey Reep and the Laskin Medical Skin Systems to The Wellness Center.
Most first-time clients will start with a skin consultation to determine their needs and goals, followed by a dermaplaning treatment and the Essential Skin Preparation (ESP).
Dermaplaning is a new technique that uses a surgical scalpel to remove a fine layer of dead skin and hair with no downtime (meaning, you will not leave with a bright red, flaky face)!  It is performed before any other treatment as it removes the ‘barrier’ layer of skin that may prevent product from penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin. Naturally, some people will be nervous hearing that a surgical scalpel will be used on their face but this technique (when done by a trained professional) will cause no damage to the skin and feels like the rough tongue of a cat licking the skin. Once this dead barrier layer has been removed, the skin is ready to receive treatment.
Most clients will also need the Essential Skin Preparation, which involves a gel mask being applied with a fan brush, giving a cool, tingly sensation. Lindsey massages the product into the face, which adheres to the remaining dead and damaged skin cells and sloughs them away as she massages. Depending on skin type, the gel will be applied between one to six times, preparing the skin for the appropriate treatment. When the ESP is complete, the client begins to participate in their own skin care, washing off the remaining solution and applying the Laskin products. Lindsey also gives samples of each of the products she has prescribed, and the client takes notes on the steps to their customized routine.  This prevents confusion when it’s time to do it at home.  For follow-up clients with suitable skin types or conditions, the ESP solution can be left on to continue working for up to 12 hours.
One step deeper than the ESP is the Detoxifying Deep Pore Treatment, which is great for acne patients, or those with blackheads and/ or breakouts. After the first visit with Lindsey, she may recommend the Exfoliating Treatment, which involves a layer of solution containing 20% salicylic acid and another layer of combination solution. For someone who has never had a ‘peel’ before, this is a great introduction.  The Exfoliating Treatment is also effective for sensitive or ethnic skin types as Laskin’s PH level in their peels is lower than most medical-grade lines. Lindsey also performs Deep Hydrating Treatments (Spectra Peels), which work on a broad range of conditions from corrective work to cosmetic, for dehydrated skin, pigment disorders, sun-damaged skin or acne. These treatments penetrate very deep into the skin and, unlike the dermaplaning, will give you an actual visible ‘peeling’ and ‘flaking’.  You will leave the office with a light yellow solution on your skin as it needs to be left on for 12 hours.
The Laskin line, while a medical skin care system, can really be used by anyone from those with corrective needs to those who just want to start taking great care of their skin. Laskin is also paraben and sulfate free.
The partnership between Laskin and The Wellness Center is a great match!  Laskin endorses natural health and promotes that the skin is an expression of what’s happening internally. By recognizing that the skin is 80% internal and 20% what we apply topically, the partnership with our naturopath, Dr. Binder, is very effective. For example, some skin issues can be caused by a food allergy, a hormonal imbalance or a digestive issue. Since the skin is the body’s largest organ, whatever is causing an upset inside the body will be expressed by the skin. Even if the client is doing a purposeful detoxification with Dr. Binder, they can see Lindsey to manage the cosmetic aspect of the skin during that process, as Laskin can also help with basic issues like fine lines and wrinkles. Laskin uses a high form Retin A called Tretinoin, which is the only FDA approved anti-aging product on the market.
FAQ
Q:  How is dermaplaning different than microdermabrasion, and why haven’t I heard of it?
A:  Dermaplaning is a surface exfoliation, like microdermabrasion. However, like the name suggests, microdermabrasion is very abrasive to the skin. Whether crystals or diamond tips are being used, the skin is buffed in an unhealthy way, as it is being micro-torn over and over (this can be seen under the microscope). This causes the skin to go into ‘repair mode’, repairing those tears and thickening. This can also happen with your at-home exfoliant, whether it’s made from sugar, salt or crushed nutshells, it is actually shredding the skin, making it calloused and harder for your product (moisturizer, etc) to be absorbed. This is the opposite of dermaplaning, which causes no damage and makes the skin soft and supple. The added bonus of dermaplaning is that it removes unwanted hair from the face. Dermaplaning is a fairly new technique, developed to provide an effective exfoliation without damage. Laskin Medical is one of the few systems using dermaplaning in Northern Colorado and should only be done by a trained esthetician.
Q:  Won’t that cause my hair to grow back thicker?
A:  No – the hair on the face is called Vellous hair and is different than hair on the legs or eyebrows (Terminal hair). When cut or removed, Vellous hair grows back in the same structure, so it does not become thick or course. If there is existing Terminal hair on the face, for example on men, dermaplaning would not be appropriate in those areas.
Q:  Can you do dermaplaning on areas other than the face?
A:  No – on areas such as the chest, arms and back, the peels would be used instead.  The Laskin product will still penetrate to the deeper layers of the skin.
Q:  What is unique about Laskin Medical Skin Systems?
A:  Although there are a million-and-one skin care lines available, Laskin is one of only two totally prescription lines on the market. There are ‘prescription-grade’ lines out there, which means one or two of their ingredients is prescription strength, but Laskin’s entire line is prescription strength. Whenever you need to see a physical change to the skin, from acne, pigmentation, oiliness, dryness, etc.,  you need a product that can penetrate past the Epidermis (the surface layer of the skin) to the Dermis (the deep layer of skin). Fresh skin cells, collagen and elastin are all stored in the Dermis, so Laskin pushes the dead and damaged skin up and out, so the new, undamaged skin cells can come to the surface. This is especially true when working with pigment disorders or scarring.
Q:  Where is Laskin from?
A:  Laskin was started by a Coloradan, Janet Kendall, who is based out of Greeley. She had trained with Dr. Obagi for 15 years and spent five years in development for her own products.  Janet recognized that the journey of correcting the skin can be tough on the client and wanted to change some of the methodology to make the process easier and more manageable. Laskin does not offer their product online, as it is medical grade and someone untrained can really cause damage just by using the wrong combination, order of use or placement of the product. To ensure superior customer service and eliminate questions/concerns, Lindsey offers her cell phone to clients.  She wants to be hands-on and available, so the client has the best experience possible with the products.