Elina Fedotova is a cosmetic chemist trained in Sweden and Russia in herbal and homeopathic skin care. She operates the Elina Herbal Skin Clinic on South Westnedge in Kalamazoo and suggests that consumers carefully read the labels on products like moisturizers and make-up. “So many products claim to be 'natural' when they actually contain a toxic chemical base or include harsh chemical solvents and stabilizers,” Fedotova stresses. “We emulsify our products with 100% soybean phospholipids.”
Skin eruptions like acne, eczema or psoriasis indicate not only problems with the skin but a need to detoxify your body, according to Fedotova. Regular cleaning of the pores, especially on the face, is a vital part of keeping skin healthy. “You change the oil and filter on your car and wash it regularly, but how often to you practice proper maintenance of your skin?” Fedotova asks.
“We mix custom formulations for each client, based on their skin care needs and even the season of the year. They are transdermal to nourish and moisturize the cells of the epidermis and dermis, to make a deep impact into the skin. You would never receive the same facial here twice,” she says. In addition, the Elina clinic has lymph drainage treatments, deep tissue massage and detoxifying herbal body wraps listed among its many skin care offerings. You may visit the website www.ElinaSkinCare.com for more information or call 269-384-9080.
Another option available in the skin care field is permanent hair removal or treatment of scarring and other skin blemishes through Skin Tones Plus in Allegan. Linda Wadsworth, RN, MSN says most of their skin restoration uses a pro-light treatment. “It is a pulsed fluorescent light therapy, also known as a non-ablative laser, which targets the melanin in a skin lesion, hair follicle or a small blood vessel. The light heats it up and destroys it, using a special filter that will not injure skin,” she explains.
For permanent hair removal, the light therapy actually heats up the hair shaft, which takes the heat down to the hair follicle and strips it of protein while destroying microscopic blood vessels in the follicle to prevent regrowth. “It only works on dark hair that has melanin in it,” Wadsworth stresses. “It does not work on white, blonde or gray hair.” The process does take multiple treatments because hair grows in cycles.
Skin Tones Plus clients include women who request removal of dark mustache or chin hair, “age spots” or blemishes and tiny blood vessels which may show up on the nose due to hormonal changes. “Rosacea, spider veins on the face, skin color changes after pregnancy, sun damage and acne scars can all be reduced using a different light filter,” Wadsworth notes. “Clients feel better because they are less conscientious, can wear less make-up and the emotional boost helps their overall sense of well-being. Men also can use the light therapy to reduce facial scarring or spider veins and to eliminate unwanted back hair.” To learn more about these cosmetic procedures, visit the web site www.skintonesplus.com or call 1-866-440-3223.
