Skin Care & Laser Dermatology Clinic | Dr. Derek Jones : Los Angeles, Beverly Hills

Skin Care and Laser Dermatology Clinic, led by Dr. Derek Jones, offers a wide array of services in general and cosmetic dermatology. Contact our dermatologists in Los Angeles and book a consultation today!

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August is Psoriasis Awareness Month

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While some skin issues are purely cosmetic—such as wrinkles—others have a medical component. Psoriasis is a disease that frequently manifests as red, scaly patches that can appear anywhere on the body. They may be raised. They may itch or sting. And unfortunately, there is no cure. There is, however, hope. For psoriasis patients in the Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and Hollywood area, the dermatology specialists at Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills are marking August as Psoriasis Awareness Month along with the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Despite the fact that psoriasis, at this point, is a chronic and lifelong problem for those who have it, the symptoms can be managed. Available treatments can temporarily clear the patches, giving patients a break from dealing with the visible—and possibly uncomfortable—patches.

Psoriasis is a genetic condition that can be triggered by any number of factors, including stress, injury, infection, and some medications. Specifically, it causes skin cells to grow very quickly, leading to particularly thick patches found most commonly on the scalp, knees, elbows, and lower back. The symptoms can range from whitish-looking scales made up of layers of dead skin cells to red spots resembling a rash to smooth and shiny red skin. Severe forms can cause pustules, or even skin sloughing off in sheets.

Find out more about treatment for psoriasis and other medical conditions in Beverly Hills. Contact the Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills team, made up of dermatologists Dr. Derek Jones, Dr. Naissan Wesley, and Dr. Jeanette Black. Visit the practice’s Contact Us page or call 310-246-0495 for more information or to arrange a consultation.

The Medical Side of Skin Care

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For many women and men in the Beverly Hills area, dermatology likely calls to mind images of wrinkles fading away after injections of BOTOX® Cosmetic or dermal fillers—and for good reason. Modern treatments for sun damage, signs of aging, and other cosmetic problems are readily available, and seem to be expanding in scope, efficacy, and safety every day.

There is another side to dermatology, too, which the Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills team touched on in a previous blog post about what a dermatologist does: medical skin care.

Not surprisingly in this sunny Southern California climate, a significant amount of medical dermatology focuses on skin cancer, from its prevention and annual screenings to its diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Naissan Wesley is specially trained in Mohs surgery, which is a highly effective technique for both removing malignant cells in the skin and preserving the maximum amount of healthy tissue.

Another common medical reason people seek the services of a dermatologist is to help deal with acne. The condition can impact virtually anyone at any age, with an intensity ranging from barely noticeable to annoying to so significant it impacts daily life.

Patients also frequently want help with managing the symptoms of rosacea (which manifest as a sometimes-uncomfortable rash-like redness) and psoriasis (which creates itchy plaques on the skin). Neither condition as a cure, but the symptoms can be managed with proper help and care.

Of course, many medical skin conditions often have a cosmetic impact as well. The Skin Care & Laser Physicians team is committed to putting health first, but there’s no reason to not also consider a way to preserve or restore beautiful skin as possible during treatment.

For more information about medical dermatology in the Beverly Hills area, call (310) 246-0495 or visit skincareandlaser.com.

Brush Up on Your Juvederm® Vocabulary

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There’s a growing number of Juvederm® fillers for Beverly Hills-area patients seeking a smooth, easy, and trusted way to temporarily add volume to where it’s needed on the face. With the increasing roster of injectables available, Dr. Derek Jones—who has served as an investigator during Juvederm® product trials and trains doctors around the country in proper injection techniques—understands that patients may have questions about what the various names of products mean:

Ultra®: Used to smooth out wrinkles around the mouth and give a volumizing boost to lips, this has been a reliable injectable from Allergan for years. Patients enjoy results that can last up to a year under ideal conditions.

Ultra Plus®: Thicker than Ultra®, this injectable is used for folds that are deeper than fine lines and wrinkles, and so require a more dramatic solution.

Voluma®: Made with Vycross® technology that cross-links hyaluronic acid molecules for a particularly smooth and stable gel, Voluma® is intended for restoring lost volume in the cheeks for a change that can last up to two years.

Vollure®: Also made with Vycross®, Vollure® provides results similar to Juvederm Ultra®, but with results than can last up to a year and a half.

One more thing to watch for: If you see an “XC” after a Juvederm® product name, that indicates the injectable contains lidocaine. The anesthetic is included in very small amounts, but is significant enough to help minimize discomfort during the injection process.

For more information about Juvederm fillers, contact Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills. Call (310) 246-0495 or visit skincareandlaser.com.

Get Advice from a Dermatologist on Being Smart About Summer Sun

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Any dermatologist seeing West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, or greater Los Angeles area patients knows that Southern Californians love their sun. With that in mind, the Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills team makes a point of reminding everyone—patient or not—to take proper precautions when enjoying day after day or skin exposed to that big, bright ball in the sky.

Ultraviolet radiation is one of the biggest threats to skin health and beauty. Sunlight hastens the breakdown of collagen and hyaluronic acid, leading to the development of, among other cosmetic problems, static wrinkles. Squinting—for those of you who don’t wear sunglasses—also contributes to dynamic wrinkles, which appear as muscles make the same contracting action over and over again. Juvederm® XC, BOTOX®, and other injectables can certainly help to smooth skin again, but a little prevention goes a long way.

On the medical side, prolonged and repeated exposure to ultraviolet radiation is also a major risk factor for the development of skin cancer. With that in mind, Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills recommends that everyone:

  • wear a physical barrier against the sun, such as a hat, to keep your skin in the shade.
  • apply a quality sunscreen at least 20 minutes to half an hour before going outside, and re-apply it frequently throughout the day—especially if you’re participating in any water activities.
  • schedule an annual skin check with a dermatologist, who can look you over from head to toe to find suspicious moles, patches, and other lesions that warrant a closer look. Early detection is key to maximizing a good outcome when it comes to skin cancer.
  • know the ABCDE’s of skin cancer. Have a dermatologist give particular attention to any moles you have noticed that A) are asymmetrical, B) have an undefined or scalloped border, C) appear as more than one color, D) have a diameter larger than a pencil eraser, or E) are evolving and changing over time.

For more information, call 310-246-0495.

It’s Never Too Late for CoolSculpting®

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A CoolSculpting® treatment at the Los Angeles area’s Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills gives Southern Californians a nonsurgical option for getting rid of stubborn fat from their double chin to their stubborn belly. Unlike liposuction, there are no incisions or surgery-related risks to consider, but also unlike liposuction, results are not immediate. A two-hour session kicks off a process of fat cells that die off over the next two to four months.

The results are consistent and reliable, and patients who choose CoolSculpting® should do so with the total treatment timeline in mind. That said, it’s never too late to begin the process—even for someone looking ahead to summer sun from a starting point in late spring.

There are a few points to consider:

This is L.A., where swimsuits and summer wear are practically year-round attire, but shorts and bikinis aren’t the only outfits that can show off sleeker contours. Clothing for any season can reveal unwanted bumps and bulges—or the absence of them.

In other words, though many media outlets make a big deal over whether people are getting ready for swimsuit season, nonsurgical fat reduction has benefits in summer, fall, winter, and spring.

Also remember that each fat cell that is physically destroyed is a fat cell that can’t grow larger in the future. If summer sun is truly the main motivator for a nonsurgical slim-down, starting now creates benefits that will pay off for the rest of 2017’s sunny weather and well into the future. With proper care, the results will be around for next summer, and the summer after that, and …

For more information about nonsurgical fat reduction, contact Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills. Call (310) 246-0495 or visit skincareandlaser.com.

The View From Los Angeles: BOTOX® Continues to Satisfy

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Last year, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery released data compiled from a Consumer Survey on Dermatologic Procedures. While the online survey ran from mid April to the start of May, its results captured what men and women were focusing on in terms of skin care for 2016, from New York to Los Angeles. BOTOX® and other injectable wrinkle relaxers topped the list of the highest-rated treatments in terms of patient satisfaction, sharing a rating of 95 percent and above with laser and light treatments (specifically used to reduce redness, treat scars, and improve tone), laser tattoo removal, microdermabrasion, skin-tightening treatments (based in ultrasound, lasers, light, or radiofrequency), and vein treatments.

Interestingly, BOTOX® was not among the top four procedures consumers admitted to considering in 2016. Those were, in descending order of popularity: ultrasound/laser/light/radiofrequency treatments for tightening skin or smoothing wrinkles; laser and light treatments to address redness, scars, and skin tone; body sculpting; and laser hair removal.

Overall, almost 60 percent of the more than 7,300 people surveyed said they are considering a cosmetic procedure—BOTOX® or otherwise—which is double the percentage from 2013. Prospective patients cited a dermatologist as the most prominent influencing factor in that decision, followed by friends and primary care physicians.

BOTOX® is best known for its ability to smooth out dynamic wrinkles and lines on the forehead and between the eyebrows—skin problems that “somewhat to extremely” bothered 63 and 60 percent of the population, respectively. The largest percentage of respondents (83 percent) admitted to being bothered by excess weight on any part of the body, followed by lines and wrinkles around and under the eyes (73 percent), excess fat under the chin and neck (also 73 percent), skin discolorations or problems with texture (71 percent); and perioral wrinkles and lines, as well as mid-face folds and lines (67 percent).

Survey respondents voiced their preference for getting services from a dermatologist in eight of 10 categories, including injectable wrinkle relaxers like BOTOX®, chemical peels, body sculpting, soft-tissue fillers like Juvderm®, and more.

Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills, serving the Los Angeles area, is a physician-only practice featuring a trio of board-certified dermatologists who handle everything from BOTOX® injections to laser treatments, as well as medical services. For more information, call 310-246-0495.

Restorsea™ Exfoliates Without Harsh Side Effects

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As dermatologists serving Los Angeles and its many neighboring areas filled with image-savvy people, the team at Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills has seen plenty of beauty and skin care fads and trends come and go. Choosing what to offer in terms of skin care products at the physician-only practice is a serious business, since the doctors have exceedingly high standards—and the patients do, too.

Adding anything to the available lineup, then, is a significant event, which is why the doctors are now announcing the availability of Restorsea™ products.

Designed as a natural alternative to harsh exfoliants, Restorsea™ is made from an enzyme released by baby salmon as they hatch. The enzyme packs a one-two punch, first tagging a specific area with a protein, then sending exfoliants to that protein-marked area to dissolve it. Once the job is done, the activity stops.

For salmon, this allows them to break free from the egg that confined and protected them as they developed. For humans, this allows them to lose the dead outermost layer of skin without subjecting living skin cells to attack. The fish-derived formula reduces redness, swelling, and sensitivity while providing a fresh look for anyone who wants it. The cosmetic benefits include a reduction in spots and fine lines, as well as improved texture and tone.

There are two more things you should know about this product: Only licensed physicians are able to stock and offer Restorsea™, and the active ingredient is taken directly from the water where baby salmon have hatched. It’s collected by filtration, so no fish are harmed.

With Restorsea™, you can feel good about your skin and the Earth. Learn more about this product available from our dermatologists at the Los Angeles area’s Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills. Call (310) 246-0495 or visit skincareandlaser.com.

Can BOTOX® Lift Your Spirits?

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Earlier this year, TIME magazine published a cover story exploring the many uses of BOTOX® injectable. Los Angeles-area women and men have certainly seen it used for years to smooth out frown lines and crow’s feet, and Dr. Derek Jones alone has performed more than 100,000 procedures. Its ability to treat everything from gummy smiles to hyperhidrosis to migraines is becoming increasingly well known. That said, the TIME article highlighted another use that is currently under investigation: improving the symptoms of people with depression.

Admitting that the “how” is still unclear, researchers working with BOTOX® manufacturer Allergan are currently exploring via clinical trials whether the injectable is suitable for treating depression. The leading theory is that a face free of frown lines simply looks happier, and that has an impact on mood. Whether a person “feels” different based on they look or feels more positivity thanks to people responding to pleasant facial expressions with positivity of their own remains to be determined.

What is known, however, is that a small study conducted in 2014 revealed that just more than half of 74 people suffering from major depressive disorder reported an improvement in their symptoms six weeks after receiving BOTOX®. The 52 percent was a marked difference from the 15 percent of study participants who reported similar improvements after receiving a placebo.

No matter the ultimate result of the clinical trial, the evidence is clear: BOTOX® is an effective tool for making people feel better—even if it’s just due to the knowledge that they look younger and less stressed. At Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills, Dr. Derek Jones, Dr. Naissan Wesley, and Dr. Jeanette Black use the muscle-relaxer for cosmetic reasons, and they can all report that they’ve seen patients leave happier than they arrived.

Learn more about BOTOX® from the Los Angeles area’s Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills. Call (310) 246-0495 or get info by visiting skincareandlaser.com.

The Benefit of Using Cannulas Over Needles for Dermal Fillers

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Dermal fillers are often referred to as “injectables” for good reason, since they need to get under the skin somehow. While needles are the go-to method for some doctors who offer Juvederm®, Restylane®, and Radiesse® inections, the Los Angeles area’s Dr. Derek Jones, Dr. Naissan Wesley, and Dr. Jeanette Black use tools called “cannulas” in an approach that safely and effectively accomplishes the treatment while eliminating some of the drawbacks associated with sharp punctures.

Unlike a pointed needle, a cannula has a blunt tip. It still enters the skin easily, but its shape prevents it from puncturing blood vessels. Instead, it moves vessels to the side, sliding past them in the areas where filler is injected. This reduces discomfort, post-treatment swelling, and particularly bruising, blood that stays in the vessels doesn’t pool under the skin.

Cannulas are also generally flexible and easily manipulated, giving the injector greater control. When working with dermal fillers, precision is key. A little bit of hyaluronic acid-based gel can go a long way to making a patient look years younger, especially if it is administered in just the right amount in just the right place.

Of course, a patient’s choice of the person controlling the cannula is important, too. Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills is—as the name implies—staffed by physicians, each of whom has extensive training and experience in the range of fillers and injection techniques available. Dr. Jones, in fact, trains other physicians around the country in proper injection techniques to maximize patient safety and satisfaction. He has written textbooks on the subject and developed the Dr. Derek Jones Facial Harmonics Approach for emphasizing aesthetic balance when administering treatments.

Learn more about how cannulas are used with Juvederm®, Restylane®, and Radiesse® at the Los Angeles area’s Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills. Call (310) 246-0495 or visit skincareandlaser.com to contact the practice.

Get to Know the New Vollure™ XC from Juvederm®

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When it comes to Juvederm® treatments, Los Angeles-area dermatologist Dr. Derek Jones is a nationally recognized name for his work on investigative trials and his experience with the various members in the family of injectables—and the new Vollure™ XC is no different. Dr. Jones will be joining investigator Joely Kaufman, MD, to handle the initial training for physicians across the United States in the proper and most effective application of the new filler, approved in March 2017 for smoothing out nasolabial folds and other moderate to severe facial lines.

Vollure™ XC, available to the public as of April, is similar to other recent Juvederm® products, in that it’s made with Vycross® technology that cross-links hyaluronic acid molecules to create a versatile gel that flows smoothly, provides necessary volume in the skin, retains water for adding moisture, can be molded to provide a natural-looking shape, and stays in place for a significant duration. Trials revealed that the skin-smoothing results lasted for 18 months under ideal conditions, which include receiving treatments from a properly trained injector.

The long-lasting nature of Vollure™ XC sets it apart from Juvederm® XC, a filler used for correcting facial folds and wrinkles with a one-year duration. The new filler represents another addition to the next-generation lineup of injectables from Allergan.

In the pivotal clinical trial for the U.S. FDA approval, 82 percent of the patients treated say they were very satisfied with their results after six months, and that number stayed high, with 68 percent saying the same at 18 months.

Dr. Jones’ previous work with Juvederm® manufacturer Allergan includes serving as lead investigator for the Voluma® trials, which led to that product’s FDA approval.

Learn more about Vollure™ XC and other injectables in the Juvederm® line at the Los Angeles area’s Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills, a physician-only practice. Dr. Derek Jones, Dr. Naissan Wesley, and Dr. Jeanette Black personally handle all of the consultations and treatments. Call (310) 246-0495 or visit skincareandlaser.com.