Vancouver Skin Care Practice Compares Professional vs. DIY Treatments

NORTH VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwire - Feb 14, 2013) - Dr. Shehla Ebrahim, a skin care specialist in Vancouver, has noticed an increase in the use of home-based devices and home care products. She says more and more people are taking a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach to skin care, using at-home devices that remove hair or rejuvenate the skin. Afterglow Medical Aesthetics & Skin Care, Dr. Ebrahim's practice, offers professional skin care and dermatology products as a safer, more effective alternative.

According to Dr. Ebrahim, "While some DIY devices are safe for home use, they are not as efficient or effective. DIY devices operate on limited energy output and have a restricted depth of penetration due to FDA and Canadian health requirements. In addition to being expensive and requiring multiple treatments, these devices can also cause serious damage in the hands of inexperienced users."

In regards to the treatment of particular areas of one's body, Dr. Ebrahim says, "It is my personal belief that the face should be left in the hands of a licensed medical professional who can use his or her expertise to create an aesthetically pleasing outcome." She adds that she has seen and treated burns and injuries from the use of DIY devices, and though they may initially appear to be a good deal or an easy fix, in the long run these devices are unable to provide long-lasting results. "They are simply not as powerful as the devices available to a professional."

Cosmetic companies spend billions of dollars in packaging and marketing to make their products look, feel, and smell good, but they are not as effective as cosmeceuticals (the products sold through qualified physicians), says the Vancouver skin care specialist. She notes that cosmeceuticals have active ingredients and act at a cellular level, in turn revealing profound effects on the skin.

For example, she says, "Retinoic acid has been shown to be the most powerful antioxidant and anti-aging product in the world; however, cosmetic companies are only allowed to sell retinol -- a weaker version of retinoic acid. Although retinol is gentler on the skin, it does not have the effectiveness of retinoic acid. Retinol is not strong enough to work at a cellular level to improve the texture and tone of skin while also reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles."

Dr. Ebrahim highlights that the same is true for Vitamin C: "Vitamin C is an unstable, heat-sensitive molecule. There are many companies that make topical Vitamin C, but because it is unstable and therefore impossible to know how much the skin is absorbing, these over-the-counter topical vitamins must be produced with a weaker concentration. However, the Vitamin C available from a licensed medical practitioner has a higher concentration and a guaranteed shelf life of at least 6 months."

In the end, Dr. Ebrahim says patients interested in skin care should always consider visiting a qualified and licensed professional for treatment of any type, from BOTOX® Injections to dermal fillers. She adds that qualified professionals have the knowledge, skill, and technology to achieve the most effective results possible.

About Shehla Ebrahim, MD

Dr. Shehla Ebrahim is a Certificant of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP) and a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (FCFP). She is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and she received her diploma in practical dermatology through the University of Cardiff in Wales. She is available for interview upon request.