DERMASTAMP

Hi Everyone,

I finally did it, and I took pictures to document it. As I have been posting, today marked the end of my 302 Vacation. I took a vacation to prepare my skin for my first session of using my Dermastamp. I used a 1.5mm stamp from www.owndoc.com to stamp 3 raised scars, the slight lines between my eyebrows and on my forehead, but let's start for the beginning.





This was my breakfast. I know it sounds a little much for some of you, but they actually taste really good. In light of the fact the dermastamping or rolling does create a healing response, your body needs good energy and healthy blood to react as best as possible. Chlorophyll in green smoothies amongst numerous other health and digestive benefits, helps give your body a healthy supply of blood to nourish your skin. This particular one was Kale, Banana and Mango. Mmm. So I drank that bad larry before showering and and shaving (I used 302 Face and Body Bar as shaving cream, works great) so that the heat of showering could soften my skin and so I wouldn't have any facial hair to blur the pictures.





This is a picture of the "Triple Threat Combo" and the Dermastamp in it's sealed tube. After the rolling procedure I mixed the following 3 302 Actives together (which normally is a No-no, but is beneficial when Rolling or Stamping)

A-Boost - a .75% Retinol with 6% Retinyl Palmitate suspended in a mixture of plant lipids and jojoba oil. (http://www.302skincare.com/products_hc-aboost.html)

C-Boost - an 8% Tetrahexyldecylascorbate solution, suspended in plant lipids and jojoba oil. THDCA is an alkaline form of Vitamin C that doesn't have the rapid degradation or skin irritation as often occurs with pure ascorbic acid when applied topically. (http://www.302skincare.com/products_hc-cboost.html)

302 High Potency Drops - Which are no longer available, so I am saving what little I have left for treatments like this. This is a higher potency concentrate of the 302 (Avogen) Molecule, in it's pharmaceutical strength. When I resume using actives, I will be using 302 Drops again.

The skin needs vitamins A & C for the repair process after Dermarolling, so that's what I gave it. With some 302, because I really wanted to work the actives into the skin together right after the Stamp had been used on the scars.





Here is the dermastamp outside of the tube, in its sterile sealed bag.





Here is just a before picture, and you can see the two dots near my cheek and chin that are two of the raised scars I am going to stamp. The other one is similar on the other side. Skin doesn't look to bad for not using any products for two weeks. The picture is a little out of focus which was a bummer, I think probably from the steam of the shower. But you can noticeably see the scars in the pictures after the actual stamping treatment.




This is the picture taken immediately after the stamping. I started on the biggest scar, and gently pressed the stamp into the scar. It didn't hurt, but I could feel it, and I heard at a few points a faint crackling noise, which I assume is scar tissue being punctured. So exciting! I stamped the three scars, 15 times each. The area between my eyebrows and the line on my forehead I stamped 15 times per area the size of the stamp. The fore head was the most tender, but it still didn't bother me at all. Do you like my head piece? Haha.




Here you can see the area stamped and the scar on the left side of my cheek. You can see it's a little red from the stamping.




And here is the after treatment shot for the two scars on the right side of my face, and you can see the redness on the forehead aswell. I actually was surprised that the bigger scar bled as much as it did, it was only pin-pricks of blood, but It still accumulated. I was surprised it seemed so painless to me.


And that was my first adventure with the Dermastamp. I will definitely post a picture in 4 weeks time to see how much progress on the visibility of the scars and then evaluate if I will do another Dermastamping treatment in the future. I'm only going to be applying 302 Recovery Minerals tomorrow, and not resume regular use of actives until the redness subsides. I'll keep you posted on any peeling or anything like that. I'm also going to document the 6 week series of Ultrasound treatments I will be doing after I am all healed from the Dermastamping (probably starting next week) as to allow heat from the Ultrasound to help speed up the smoothing of the scars, and help push collagen production even further. I'll probably use 302 Drops or A-Boost during these treatments.

Anyway, thanks for checking in on my first Dermastamping. I'll post something else good soon :)

Wishing you all great skin,
Danny Vanity

Crossposted from School Forum...

Hi everyone,

I was posting about a supplement assignment on my school's Online Education Forum, and realized my supplementing has changed since the last time I've posted it here, just as a result of my needs changing and a lot because I've done much more research into supplements I should be taking. Just wanted to post it here to, for all to read.

Hi again everyone!

I'm big on supplementing, either in the pill form or making sure I am eating/drinking certain things routinely to get the supplemental benefits. Currently:

First thing in the morning (with my green tea) I take:
New Chapter: Probiotics Colon Formula
MSM (Just finished the Jarrow Brand, and picked up a 365 Everyday Whole Foods brand)
Solaray Nattokinase and Serrapeptase (this is a newer supplement for me, recommended by a colleague based on research that the enzymes from these ingredients help with scar tissue. I have some very minor acne scars that I'm treating in my own skincare practice, so it seemed worth a shot. For more information on this here is some reading: http://www.healthiertalk.com/enzymes-fibrosis-scars-keloids-lung-disease-and-cancer-2118)

After noon, I take my second round. Which consists of:
New Chapter: Every Man's Once a Day
more MSM


And at dinner time, I take:
Another New Chapter: Priobiotic Colon (it's recommeneded to take 1 pill in the morning and 1 at night)
more MSM

And after/during Dinner I take
New Chapter: Wholemega - EFA, Omega 3's
New Chapter: Bone Support - I don't eat dairy so I am concerned about Calcium, and I have tooth issues (suspected from my Gluten allergy before I figured out this allergy, as it supposedly causes tooth damage as a result of inflammation)

I also recently started brewing my own Kombucha again, for the digestive enzymes and acids that help clean your body. I learned how to brew it really easy from www.getkombucha.com

I also take Enzymedica - Digest with lunch and dinner, to help with digestion. I have fresh fruit and a Green Smoothie for breakfast, so I don't take digestive enzymes in the morning. They're expensive so I save them for when I need them more. smile

It sounds like a lot, but I like to spread out dosages, and if something is 2 pills once a day I don't like to take them in once sitting. Also, with MSM the idea is to work yourself up from 1000mg a day up to as much as 10,000mg a day, and I currently take about 5000mg, as I am not interested with many more pills than I already take. Haha.

I tend to be a little forgetful about the Wholemega, but I also make a point to have Salmon once a week or so, so I know I'm getting a decent supply of Omega 3s and such. I don't eat a whole lot of meat otherwise.

I really like the New Chapter brand because everything is cold processed (Raw) and the ingredients seem really high quality and I can even take the Multi on an empty stomache without any discomfort. The ingredients are all cultured from Whole food sources, and the probiotics are formulated to withstand the intestinal tract so the happy bacteria survives and makes it to where it needs to go. A friend of mine is the regional for the East Coast of New Chapter (he actually went to IIN, and highly recommended the program) and was more than happy to explain to me why the New Chapter supplements are worth the money and I agree.

I'd love to hear what kinds of supplements everyone else is taking. Anyone experimenting with home ferments as supplements?

-Dan

Also, TODAY IS THE BIG DAY!

After two weeks of no 302 Topicals, waiting patiently, it's time to shower, shave, take some before pictures, and Document my first ever Skin stamping!!

-nervous heartbeat- Stay tuned!

Wishing you all great skin,
Danny Vanity

Ultrasound for Collagen Production

Hi Again,

I feel like I've been posting and posting and posting this week, but this is a short one.

The following link was sent to me (by guess who?! Boski!) about how the heat generated from Ultrasound (or even lasers) helps with Collagen production.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101021141000.htm

I found it interesting that the focus was on the generated heat, and not necessarily the actual light generated from the laser. Now I'm not big into lasers, but My skin spatula surely generates that heat, amongst the other benefits.

Thought it was worth sharing!

Wishing you great skin,
Danny Vanity

302 Travel Sizes now available!

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to share the exciting news that 302 Travel Sizes are Now Available!

The Cleansers, Moisturizers, Mists, SPF’s, Self Tanners, and Rx Products are now available in 2 ounce bottles for convenience and value.

**edited to add: Since all the treatment/topical products are already 1oz concentrates, they are not available in different sizes.

Great for vacations, or just the convenience of being able to keep a little Calming Mist in your purse for that mid-day refresher. (or if you're me, you pretty much spray yourself all day long) Also, it's a good opportunity to try things, because sometimes the samples are just too small to tell.

I'm going to New Orleans in March, and I'm excited to get myself travel sizes of Sensitive Cleanser, Calming Mist, SPF-30, Self Tanner, and Body Treatment: Intensive! It'll save so much room in my luggage, and I'll have everything I need.

If anyone wants to order travel sizes, or any 302 Products, as always you can contact me directly at Danmakeup@gmail.com :)

Wishing you great skin!
Danny Vanity

P.S. I'm one week into my 302 Vacation, using just Cleansers, Mists and Rx: Ointment, and my skin actually looks great! I think it needed a rest from topicals, and I'm getting increasingly excited as I get closer to my Dermastamping session!

What is a Dermaroller...

So I did promise that I would get back to you with some information on Dermarolling and Dermastamping, also known as 'Skin Needling' or 'microneedling'

This process involves either a single needle, roller, or stamp-like apparatus that has dozens of very tiny needles. Any generic needle will not work, as the needles designed for this procedure are tapered to a certain size specification. As I have mentioned before, the needles are generally as small as .25mm in width, and anywhere from .1-2.5mm in length. Before I go any further at all, I would like to remind everyone that I am a licensed Skincare professional, and I am not recommending that you all go out and buy a Dermaroller to have nice skin - these things have their place and purpose, and misuse of them will make for a very nasty situation.

The concept of Rolling/Needling is that these tiny needles create small pathways in the skin, to help penetrate skin care ingredients into the skin, and if the needles are deep enough, to encourage collagen production, soften lines and wrinkles, and help to break up Acne Scars. The appropriate length of needle for any of these to happen properly is at least 1.0, but usually starts at 1.5mm. I would also tread carefully and make sure you are committed to this treatment before doing any longer of a needle than that.

Some people will use a shallow roller, of .25-.5mm, weekly to help encourage anti-aging benefits and stimulate collagen, when in reality those needles are not deep enough to actually reach the dermis and do so. Boski (my friend from EDS) pointed out that continually poking the skin with needles would create a constant wound/healing response that would definitely be counter productive, as the constant inflammation caused from this will age the skin (Inflammation is generally the enemy of anyone seeking an anti-aging lifestyle or skincare regime). Ultrasound is a much better alternative (in my opinion) when looking for something to consistently use in your regimen as an anti-aging or preventative measure. However we're talking about a more isolated needling treatment here, and specifically for scars in my scenario.

The reason I was drawn to the idea, is for the manual breaking up of scar tissue. The needles are so fine that they help to break through the hardened scar tissues, such as the raised scars I described in the earlier post (this would work well on any acne scars, besides keloids, as far as I currently know). This will allow my topicals to penetrate the scar tissue more effectively and to help my skin heal and produce fresh collagen and elastin, resulting in reduction of the scar tissue.


The following images where borrowed from http://www.owndoc.com which is a great resource for Dermarolling, and they do sell to professionals and consumers alike. Many of the rollers sold elsewhere are only available to Doctors and professionals (see http://www.dermarollerus.com/), and you really cant trust the ones floating around eBay. If you are going to stick your skin with needles, don't risk a cheap 10 dollar roller you found on eBay. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for.




This is what a Dermaroller looks like, this one is 1.0mm




This is the Dermastamp I purchased, which is 1.5mm in length and contains 35 needles. The head of the stamp is roughly the diameter of a dime. The lighting in this picture makes the needles look terrible aggressive, and it person they look soooo tiny. When I open mine from it's sterilized package I will be sure to take a better up close shot of the needles.



I intend to use the Dermastamp, as it is easier for isolated scars and wrinkles. Like I said before, I have about 4 scars that are slightly raised that I intend to stamp after my 302 vacation is complete. A stamping treatment usually is about 15-20 stamps on the area. While I'm at it, I am going to spot-stamp that little line before my brows to test the Anti-wrinkle capabilities of needling, as the stamp needle length is appropriate for this as well. At this point, I may decide whether or not to do the baby lines on my forehead, however since I am opting out of a numbing cream to avoid unnecessary chemicals, if I have reached my irritation limit after the scars I will stop there and leave the Ultrasound to do the rest.

I am not going to keep elaborating on planning my treatment, especially considering as I have promised to do before and after photos and to document the whole experience for you all. I would however like to jump around a little and share a cool chart I found comparing different types of retinoids:



This a chart, also provided by www.owndoc.com, comparing the efficacy and personal toleration of different retinoid formulas. You will notice that Retinyl Acetate was circled as the most desired form of Vitamin A, which is the active ingredient in 302 Skincare's Clarity. Clarity contains a pretty potent 10% Retinyl Acetate in a base of ECGC from green tea. I know this stuff works, but I got excited to see the chart comparing them all and wanted to share.

Have a great night everyone!


Wishing you great Skin,
Danny Vanity

Sorry for my neglegence, and here is what's to come!

Hi everyone!

I know I haven't posted in awhile, but I keep getting emails from people saying they've read the things I've posted prior and they'd like to hear more, and I am happy to oblige!

So, as many of you know, and some may not, after you've been using 302 Skincare for a significant length of time it is advised you take a '302 Vacation' - The reason for this is to prevent skin receptor fatigue, so that your products keep giving you the same great results. It's like when you have a glass of wine everyday for a significant length of time, eventually it takes more than one glass to catch a buzz (sorry for the bad analogy, but this has been the best way I've explained it to most clients thus far!) so you end up drinking two or three glasses of wine to get the same effect. But, if you abstain for it for awhile, one glass of wine will do the trick again. This is exactly how a 302 Vacation works, take away the actives for a few weeks and when they are reintroduced, you will generally notice a significant increase in desired results, because the skin was given a chance to rest. When started up with Actives again after my last vacation I definitely noticed an improvement in the coloration of my bigger scar within about 2 weeks. It's pretty awesome!

Recently, I was talking via Email to a dear friend of mine (boski from the EDS forum for those of you that are lucky enough to know her!) and we were discussing how amazing 302 is in that it continuously provides results when used correctly.

We got ourselves on the topic of Dermarolling, and the Dermastamp. For those of you who don't know, Dermarolling/stamping is a procedure that uses tiny needles (generally .25mm in width, and anywhere from .1-2.0mm in length) to induce collage production, break up scar tissue, and increase circulation and product penetration, amongst other things. I will go onto more depth about this very soon.

After 2.5 years (or so) my breakouts are still non-existent, besides the occasional clogged pore, my scars are lighter and significantly smoother, but progress on the scar diminishing has seemed to halt a little bit.

So what does this mean? 302 VACATION AND DERMASTAMPING, BABY!

My plans are to take a 2 week vacation from any and all 302 Actives, which means just rotating cleansers as is normal, and Calming Mist and Ointment. After this two week period I am going to create an elaborate documentation of the Dermastamp process with pictures for us all to look at. I'm very excited.

I intend at this time, after my 2 week vacation is up, to take pictures of the Dermastamp (which I will explain more about) and before pictures up close of the remaining 3 scars I have, and a slight line between my brows created from squinting and migraines. I then intend to stamp them with a 1.5mm stamp about 15-20 times per area. The Dermastamp is nice because you don't have to treat the whole face, just isolated areas. Then I will reintroduce 302 Actives for the first time, which will really get the scar repair process into high gear. And we will have documented pictures. I will probably do a series of Ultrasound treatment afters the initial Dermastamp procedure has healed properly, but I will document it all so you won't miss a beat!

One month after that I will re-post after pictures, so we can all comment and gauge the effectiveness of Dermastamping RAISED scars, as my scars are not typical ice pick or box acne scars. At this time I will also decide if another treatment with the dermastamp will be necessary.

I know this post was kind of brief, but I just wanted to let you know what my skin was up to and to give you a taste of what is to come. I promise very soon (within the next few days) I will do a more in-depth post on the Dermarolling and Dermastamp before I embark on this new journey.