Botox injections smooth out lines and wrinkles in your face by relaxing the muscles. Botox is actually a brand name for the botulinum toxin type A, which is produced from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. There are three other brands available alongside Botox, but our local dermatologists only use Botox due to the fact that it’s the most recognizable and well studied of the brands for this type of treatment. They all contain the same active ingredient and are FDA-approved to treat the same aesthetic concerns, but Botox is by far our top-choice.

If you’re thinking about having Botox injections, it is important to understand the procedure and decide whether cosmetic surgery is the right choice for you. If you are unsure, contact your dermatologist and make an appointment to discuss your concerns. If you decide to go ahead with Botox, make sure the person doing your injections is suitably qualified and experienced.

Here are a few other things to consider before you get Botox.

Five Important Things you Should Know Before Getting Botox

1. Botox doesn’t make your face look ‘frozen.’ Many people worry that having Botox will leave them with no expression on their face. However, Botox is only injected into discreet locations and does not affect the whole face. The effect will relax the muscles where it is injected, but that leaves lots of other facial muscles to allow your usual facial expressions to shine through. The key is moderation and working with your clinician to just target relevant problem areas.
2. Long-term Botox decreases wrinkles – but doesn’t get rid of all of them. Botox won’t magically get rid of every wrinkle. If you have wrinkles that are visible when your face is at rest and expressionless, Botox will not get rid of these. It works on wrinkles that are caused by expression. It improves the appearance by blocking the nerve signals to specific muscles causing them to relax.
3. It can feel strange at first. When you have Botox, the effect isn’t instant. It can take up to two weeks to see the results. Some people feel a tight feeling in their skin when it starts to take effect. It can take a while for your body to adjust to a neurotoxin being injected.
4. There are always risks to consider. Botox is considered a relatively safe treatment. However, it needs to be carried out by a qualified medical professional to ensure the right dosage is injected into the correct locations. If the procedure is not carried out properly, it can lead to frozen expressions, asymmetrical results, or muscle drooping. Other side effects also include skin thinning and mild discoloration of the skin – although an experienced professional can help avoid these problems.
5. Make a plan – it’s not a ‘one-time’ treatment. If you are saving all your money for that one round of Botox, then think about the future. Botox only lasts around 3 months, and maintenance injections are recommended every 3-6 months. So, if you want to see long-term, ongoing results, you need to be prepared to return every few months for further injections.

When carried out by a qualified professional, Botox is a safe procedure that can help your skin can look much smoother and reduce the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles.

If you are interested in Botox then come and visit us at Summit Dermatology. Our highly trained dermatologists offer Botox treatments in Colorado Springs and Monument, CO. To schedule a consultation with one of our Board Certified Dermatologists to see if this is the best treatment option for you, call us on 719 667 0888.

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With mask-wearing being the new normal, mascne is on the rise and a common problem many people face today. Although wearing a face mask is essential to stay healthy, it can be challenging to keep your skin clear. At Summit Dermatology, we want to share our tips on treating mascne and how to keep your skin healthy under your face mask.

What is Mascne?

‘Mascne’ is mask-acne. Red spots, bumps, blemishes, or break-outs generally appear on the nose, cheeks, and lower face areas due to wearing a face mask.

Wearing a face mask for extended periods can cause moisture and bacteria to become trapped in the pores of your skin. Bacteria just loves a warm and humid environment, so underneath a face mask is the perfect place for it to thrive. This buildup of bacteria then leads to blocked pores and break-outs.

There is also the added problem of friction from the mask. When a face mask rubs on your skin, it can break down the skin’s outer layer, making it easier for the pores to become clogged. This also contributes to the development of mascne.

However, the are several ways that you can help prevent mascne and keep your skin fresh and clear.

How to Prevent Mascne

1. Clean your mask or change your mask as often as possible (we recommend at least every day – multiple times if you are sweaty or exercising).
2. Pay attention to the type of moisturizer you are using. Certain types will cause more mascne. And, keeping your skin hydrated will strengthen your skin’s barrier.
3. Make sure you are using a proper facewash made to target acne. Look for acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, and benzoyl peroxide.
4. Use a facial toner to help remove dirt, excess oil, and to balance your skin.
5. Keep your mouth clean and breath fresh, with regular brushing, flossing, and mouth wash. This will help reduce the transfer of bacteria from your mouth to your skin.
6. Try not to touch your face, pick, or rub break-out areas. It will only make them worse.
7. Use a gentle detergent when washing your face masks. Harsh detergents could contribute to the development of mascne.
8. If you are struggling to keep mascne under control and over-the-counter treatments are not helping, then seek professional advice from a dermatologist.

Summit Dermatology in Colorado Springs and Monument, CO is here to support you if you are having problems with mascne. Our team of expert dermatologists can diagnose and treat all types of skin conditions, individualizing the treatment plan to your specific skin type. You can also contact us if you are interested in connecting with board-certified dermatologists about mascne.

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Recommendations for Sun Protection and Sunscreen

For children under 6 months of age it’s best to keep them in the shade and covered. Though no toxicity has been shown in infants and young children, the recommendation is to not use sunscreen in this age group if other options are available like protective clothing.

Children 6 months and older – Use a sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which is most appropriate for their sensitive skin. Even when using sunscreen, keep children in the shade and dress them in clothing that will protect their skin from the sun.

Adults – Broad spectrum sunscreen UVA/UVB of at least an SPF 30 (50 is recommended at our altitude and in the mountains). Sunscreen needs to be applied at least 15 minutes before exposure, and reapplied every two hours, to all exposed skin.

Some clothes are SPF rated. Two big manufacturers of sun protective clothes are Solumbra at www.sunprecautions.com and Coolibar at www.coolibar.com

Heliocare is an OTC anti-oxidant pill that increases the time it takes to burn UV exposed skin. Though this product cannot be given an SPF it compares to an SPF 3-5.  We recommend this once daily pill as an adjunct to be used in addition to sunscreens, not instead of them.

The latest recommended sunscreens by Consumer Reports in 2020 include the following:

Recommended Sunscreen Lotions

Coppertone Ultra Guard Lotion SPF 70

Solimo (Amazon) General Protection Lotion SPF 50

Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Ultra Radiance Lotion SPF 50

Blue Lizard Sport Mineral-Based Lotion SPF 30+

Recommended Spray Sunscreens (Uniform coverage is difficult)

Trader Joe’s Spray SPF 50+

Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun Protection Spray SPF 70 sunscreen

Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport Ultra Light Spray SPF 30

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Coconut Clear Spray SPF 50

Recommended Facial Sunscreen

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Lotion SPF 70

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless Face Lotion SPF 30

Recommended Lip Balm For Sun Protection

Aquaphor Lip Protectant + Sunscreen SPF 30

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Welcome to our practice! On behalf of everyone at Summit Dermatology, I’d like to thank you for allowing us to help care for you. Our goal is Superior Patient Care. We went into the healthcare field to help people, namely you and your family, and treasure the times when we make a difference that you appreciate.

Medicine has and will continue to change due to advances in technology and this will impact patient care. We evaluate these advances and adopt them as they improve our ability to provide you with excellent care.

Genetically engineered medicines have made a huge difference in psoriasis. Once treatment consisted of topical creams and medicines that worked in a broad manner and carried the potential for significant side effects. Now we have precise medicines that target specific chemicals responsible for this condition and are much safer. Summit Dermatology was the first in the Pikes Peak area to participate in clinical trials and advance the knowledge of these medicines. We are experts in the use of these medicines and using them to treat our patients.

We take digital pictures prior to biopsying suspicious lesions. Many times the biopsy site heals very well before a patient would come back for definitive treatment. If the biopsy showed a cancer, it’s important that we know exactly where the biopsy was taken. A digital picture helps us to precisely locate the spot biopsied so we can make sure we treat that cancer. Digital pictures are also helpful when we work with outside physicians so they too know the exact area to be treated. We’ve been using digital pictures since our first day, September 1, 2000.

EMRs, or electronic medical records, take a lot of time to complete and over the years have become more burdensome. Yet they’ve helped us in one important way, which is responding to your questions. Before, in the time of paper charts, a chart could be in any number of places or in piles in an office. If you called and had a question it could take minutes to hours to find the chart and get back to you. With EMRs we can access your chart in an instant and respond to your question much more quickly. Our providers are focused on you and your concerns. To help record the visit details in the EMRs we have trained MAs (medical assistants) and nurses who transcribe the visit work under the direction of the providers. Summit Dermatology was among the first of any medical providers in Colorado Springs to implement electronic medical records back in January 2005. We adopted EMRs years before either Memorial or Penrose hospitals.

Everyone, including providers, is frustrated with the increasing cost of medicines. Our staff is trained in working with insurance companies to obtain the medicines you need and coach you about more affordable options. This past year we started dispensing some medicines from our office to provide our patients a less expensive alternative. Many times these medicines cost less than a similar medicine you would pick up from your pharmacy. However if your pharmacy has a lower price we encourage you to buy it from them. Again, our mission at Summit Dermatology is to provide superior patient care, including cost effective care. If we can provide a medicine at a lower cost you are welcome, but not required, to buy it from us. We will continue to evaluate this benefit and expand the options as the opportunity arises.

To help care for our patients of the Colorado Springs/Monument area we recently opened a new office in Monument, Colorado, adjacent to the Monument YMCA and in the same building. We noticed that, whereas Colorado Springs has numerous dermatologists often down the street from each other, the Monument area was underserved in that there were no permanent dermatologists there. We are pleased to be able to provide more convenient care for our patients in Monument. As part of meeting the increased demand for our services, Dr. Andrew Johnson joined us in August 2017. We now have four providers, two female providers and two male providers to address your concerns. Three of our providers and many of our staff are Colorado natives and understand the environmental challenges of living in such a beautiful place. That said we have lived in numerous states and countries such as Japan, France, Germany and Macedonia. We have a world of experience, literally.

We’re committed to continually thinking outside of the box, and innovating with new and better options to provide you, our patients, with Superior Care.

We enjoy seeing you, visiting with you, talking about your recent trips or experiences, your families and of course your health. If you have any questions, we invite you to call or visit us. We look forward to taking care of you and your family.

Sincerely,

Kevin Whaley, MD

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