The history of skin care is varied and fascinating. From crocodile dung to radium, over the years almost every ingredient — plant, animal or otherwise — has been applied to the face and body in hopes of generating smoother, more youthful-looking skin. So just how do ancient skin care treatments stack up against more modern techniques?
Ancient Egyptian Skin Care
The Ancient Egyptians were well-known for taking care of their skin through regular rituals. The milk baths of ancient Egypt are legendary, as Cleopatra herself was known to indulge in them regularly. Milk was used to exfoliate the skin (the active ingredient being the lactic acid found in milk) as well as moisturize it. To this day, milk-based skin care products are used for the same effect.
Ancient Egyptian women were also known to slather raw honey on their faces for its antiseptic and moisturizing benefits. And they used rose water to remove dirt and oil from the skin and to tighten pores.
Ancient Skin Treatments from Around the World
Having smooth, glowing and wrinkle-free skin is and always has been important to people on various continents, a fact proven by the number of ancient skin treatments used around the ancient world. The Ancient Greeks used snail mucus in their skin treatments, due to its moisturizing and firming effects. The Ancient Romans used swans’ fat to rid their faces of wrinkles. In 19th century England, women would eat arsenic to give themselves glowing skin — and significantly reduce their lifespan. And Ancient Indians would apply cow dung and urine to their faces to help their acne.
Advanced Skin Care for the Modern Day
The advanced skin treatments of today were created to have more significant and long-lasting results. At his practice, Dr. Loewenstein offers skin treatments that include Botox® and skin resurfacing, treatments designed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, acne scars, age spots and sun damage on the skin. How do they work?
Botox®. Designed to smooth out the fine lines and wrinkles on the face — including forehead creases, crow’s feet and the “11” lines between the eyebrows — a Botox® injection relaxes the muscles that contract to create these lines. A Botox® treatment is quick (about 15 minutes) and has little recovery time (patients can go back to work or other normal activities almost immediately). Plus, the smoothing effect of one treatment can be seen right away and can last up to three months!
Skin resurfacing. This treatment is designed to improve the appearance of unsightly skin problems like wrinkles, acne scars, age spots and damage caused by the sun. In treating these issues, various techniques can be used, whether alone or in combination. Chemical peels of varying strengths can be used to fit the patient’s particular needs. Laser resurfacing, using the pulsating beam of a laser to remove thin top layers of skin, is a safe and painless technique used to remove old, damaged skin cells so that the new, fresh top layer remains.
Ready for a Modern-Day Glow?
Do you want a younger, fresher-looking face, rid of the telltale signs of aging and sun damage? Find out more about the skin care treatments offered by Dr. Loewenstein by calling his practice at (800) 614-5097.
