Most readers are unaware that medical doctors receive less than 1% of their total training in medical school learning about nutrition and the impact of food on the gut. Integrative medicine, the practice that merges Western and functional medicine, is on the rise. Medical doctors are increasingly frustrated over Western medicine not having all the answers for their patients. Patients are weary of being told their autoimmune concerns or other conditions cannot be treated.

 However, the tide is turning in the understanding of health and how it can be improved. There are several known factors that affect well-being, like nourishing foods, mindfulness and meditation, adequate sleep, stress reduction, healthy relationships, drinking water, exercise, and ongoing learning and stimulation of the mind.

Colette Brown has been a licensed clinical aesthetician since 2001. She is the director of education at Columbia Skincare where she leads the professional products division. In her role, she oversees education and treatment protocol training and supports research and development with new product development. Brown possesses a deep passion and understanding of the healing benefits of topical probiotics and how they contribute to the overall health and wellness of the skin’s microbiome. Based in Beverly Hills, California, Brown has a Bachelor of Art in education, is a certified holistic practitioner through the Kresser Institute, a licensed phlebotomist, and has certifications in advanced skin care procedures.

In a bout of curiosity, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek discovered the polyamines spermidine and spermine under the lens of his microscope in 1678. Over 300 years later, science is finally discovering the enormous impact his find will have.

The massive amount of recent research investigating spermidine, a natural polyamine that induces autophagy, is producing valuable information about how the level of spermidine in the body is related to health, longevity, and aging. The crux of the recent breakthrough around spermidine is its ability to seemingly slow and, in some cases, reverse the signs of aging by way of inhibiting five of the nine hallmarks of aging.¹

This capability has been noted before, namely in another compound called rapamycin. Unfortunately, while rapamycin was shown to inhibit six of the nine hallmarks of aging, dosing protocols still remain somewhat uncertain. It can have potential side effects, and it requires a doctor’s prescription and supervision. Spermidine currently stands alone as a supplemental polyamine capable of reversing signs of aging, slowing the overall impacts of aging, and extending our health span.

Elizabeth Yurth, MD is co-founder and medical director of Boulder Longevity Institute, where she has been providing tomorrow’s medicine today to her clients since 2006. Along with her 25-plus years as a practicing orthopedist specializing in sports and spine medicine, Dr. Yurth has made it her mission to learn and share the latest scientific research on how to truly heal the body at the cellular level. She is fellowship-trained in antiaging and regenerative medicine and has completed 500 and more hours of continuing medical education training focused on longevity, nutrition, epigenetics, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, regenerative peptide treatments, and regenerative orthopedic procedures.

In the age of instant gratification, the pressure to deliver treatments that are fast and efficient can feel overbearing. Short and one-time treatments can deliver improvement in skin complexion, but it is short-lived.

René Serbon is an international skin expert. She started her education focusing on business studies (marketing) and then moved to aesthetics. Serbon’s mission as an industry consultant and educator is to teach other industry professionals to empower the public to obtain healthy skin at any age without the need for intensive and harsh treatments. She does this by demystifying the beauty world for her clients, helping them grow their businesses, and proving that managing a strong business in this industry is possible and beauty is not a sacrifice for science; they truly co-exist. She began studying in New Zealand and completed training in beauty therapy (called aesthetics in Canada and the United States), as well as electrolysis through the New Zealand Institute of Electrolysis and Beauty Therapy. Serbon sat for international exams and is a diplomat of both CIBTAC and CIDESCO. She completed post-graduate training in laser, intense pulsed light, and the Pastiche Method of Advanced Skin Analysis, for which Serbon was later an honoree as a Pastiche recognized educator. She also serves on the board of education for the International Association for Applied Corneotherapy. reneserbon.com 

Currently, the world seems to be injectable-obsessed; they are in movies, television, advertisements, and even at optometrist and dentists’ offices. As a spa practitioner, you may feel the pressure to “medical director up” and start offering them, too. Here is some food for thought while staying within the aesthetic scope of practice.

Melissa Allen has lived many lives as a dance teacher, biologist, and marketing director before becoming a successful aesthetician and spa owner All of these former positions help to color her opinions, actions, and style. Allen’s career in aesthetics has also been far-reaching; she has been an aesthetician in the back of a salon, a solo aesthetician, a spa owner with several employees, and a global brand consultant. Allen has experienced many of the paths of aesthetics and is open, honest, and willing to share her adventures. As her time in the treatment room comes to an end, she is focusing on mentoring and guiding the next generation of thinking skin care professionals and spa owners.

This last year and a half brought on a boom of aesthetic procedures aimed at reversing aging subtly, safely, and without going under the knife. These minor changes are referred to as “tweakments,” which are small, subtle, natural enhancements that can reshape the face with little to no recovery. It is a great option for individuals who want more natural, delicate facial improvements that have long-term antiaging benefits. This past year’s top treatments, projected to gain even more popularity in 2022, have been injectables. Whether a client is looking to get a jump start on tackling wrinkles with injectables neurotoxins, create volume with dermal fillers, or enhance their lips, these tweakment trends will continue to be the most sought-after types of treatments for clients.

Emily Rockwell graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in nursing in 2010, and she received a Master of Science in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania in 2015, graduating as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner. In 2017, Rockwell opened the Emily Rockwell Skin Clinic in Wilmington, Delaware. The clinic specializes in high-quality skin treatments from Botox, fillers, and customized medical skin care regimens to medical Hydrafacials and peels. She is one of the Top 100 Aesthetic Injectors in the country, has been a top five volume producer for ZO Skin Health for the past three years, and is a sought-after source for the media.

Recovering from cosmetic surgery can be a lengthy, difficult process which requires support. For loyal clients, they may turn to their trusted dual-licensed provider or aesthetician for a recommendation for further support. One great tool for this process is lymphatic massage, which can be an integral part of making a treatment successful and has finally picked up as a trend. However, lymphatic massage is not the only important massage, and several massage techniques are necessary for ideal healing and maximum results after cosmetic surgery procedures.

Nicole Psomas is a coveted internationally recognized celebrity physical therapist and certified lymphedema therapist. While working side-by-side with famed New York City surgeons, Psomas pioneered her preparation and recovery method for cosmetic plastic surgery. She is the author of “After the Cut: How to Prepare for and Recovery from Cosmetic Plastic Surgery,” a how-to guide that teaches the Psomas Method. To learn more, please visit instagram.com/afterthecutbook/.

Cellulite is one of the most prevalent conditions affecting the majority of women worldwide, and unfortunately, it is also one of the most medically challenging to treat and provide long-term improvement. Cellulite affects young, old, healthy, and slim individuals Many clients report that they have tried topical creams, massages, and exercises, yet have noticed little or no difference. Some people with cellulite might have given up wearing shorts or bikinis. Or perhaps, they have gotten used to spending most of their time by the pool worrying about covering up instead of enjoying themselves. Aesthetic practitioners often get complaints from clients about how much they resent this. They wish they could just make their cellulite disappear, so they do not have to think about it anymore. Now, scientists have finally found a way to dissolve the bands deep in skin which cause cellulite.

Dr. Winnie Moses established Parfaire Medical Aesthetics in 2015 to deliver world-class quality cosmetic treatments synonymous with Beverly Hills, California to the San Gabriel Valley and Southern California at affordable prices. Prior to entering the beauty world, she earned a master’s degree in biochemistry from the Colorado School of Mines, where she graduated second in her class with honors. Dr. Moses received her medical degree and completed her residency training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She graduated with honors and was awarded the prestigious Janet M. Glasgow Award for being the top student in her class and was recognized as an outstanding woman at the threshold of her medical career. Dr. Moses served as an American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) physician in one of the nation’s top hospitals for more than a decade.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an emerging trend within the medical aesthetics industry and is derived from a client’s own blood. Once blood is drawn, it is spun in a centrifuge. Special tubes with chemicals separate the blood into components, allowing the provider to pull the platelets and use them as an adjunct in certain treatments. Most systems produce platelet-rich plasma that have a platelet concentration approximately six times that of unspun blood.

Lisa Jenks, M.D. began her medical career in emergency medicine. In 2007, she transitioned into aesthetic medicine, opening Genesis MedSpa. Since then, she has grown Genesis into a 10-treatment room facility, with a staff of 22. Under her direction, Genesis has won many “Best of” awards, as well as the BBB’s Excellence in Customer Service Award four times. Dr. Jenks serves on the advisory board for Skin, Inc. and consults with physicians across the United States who are interested in a career in aesthetic medicine.

In the skin care industry, it is a professional’s job to help clients feel confident and beautiful in their skin. To get a step closer to accomplishing this mission and recognizing their important role, they should be aware of the prevention, causes, symptoms, and treatments for eczema and psoriasis to support the health of their clients’ skin. Additionally, it is essential that professionals can both identify the similarities and differences of the two skin conditions and how to treat each.

Lina Kennedy is the president and CEO of Alexandria Professional, a worldwide leader in body sugaring epilation and skin conditioning. Kennedy is the pioneer of professional body sugaring and master trainer of professionals and distributors in more than 30 countries. As a beauty industry innovator, Kennedy has developed a full line of all-natural, vegan, and cruelty-free skin care products and treatments that are safe and effective for all hair and skin types. Kennedy is dedicated to ensuring that each professional trained in body sugaring learns and understands the exceptional results they and their clients can achieve through the Kennedy Theory. She is a motivational speaker, the author of numerous articles in beauty magazines, and a multi-patent holder.

Hives can be rather mystifying and confusing. Many skin conditions are easy to identify but hives are sometimes red, sometimes not, sometimes show up as little bumps, and sometimes as raised swollen patches or welts. They can result from various triggers and can last for differing lengths of time. This type of rash may be resolved within minutes, two weeks, or longer. The more skin care professionals know about identifying and understanding the triggers and which ingredients resolve this skin condition, the better.

Google is the go-to for many people to search anything and everything. The plethora of information that can be found on any topic is mind boggling. However, professionals must sift through much information trying to decipher what is accurate, a paid ad, or false claims. It is not easy. Therefore, when it comes to serious health concerns, spas should recommend clients to visit their doctor. Aestheticians are trained in the care of skin and are knowledgeable in many skin conditions and their solutions, but for hives, a visit to a dermatologist, primary care doctor, or allergist may be needed. This is especially true if the condition is chronic or the hives are accompanied by dizziness, swelling of the throat or face, or difficult breathing; immediate medical attention will be needed.

Since graduating from Pivot Point in 1989, Cali VanAelst has paved her way as one of the industry’s best. After years in the aesthetic field focusing on skin care, ingredients, spa management, and the full range of aesthetics, waxing is her passion. VanAelst grew a strong and successful waxing business through her Brazilian and eyebrow services – waxing more than 400 Brazilians a month. As a licensed cosmetologist and aesthetician, VanAelst has become an expert in the waxing field, has been named the “Best Waxer,” and has been featured in many articles. Currently the national training director for Perron Rigot, Inc., VanAelst’s passion for waxing is fueled by her hands-on education and coaching fellow aestheticians. As a contributing writer to many industry magazines and an educator, she continues to inspire fresh new ideas in the waxing genre.