Laser Spa News

The Best Sunblock for Your Skin

Posted on August 11, 2015

Skin damage is no joke. Sunblock is the only answer. Especially when it is caused by the sun. UVA and UVB rays can be detrimental to the way your skin ages. Exposed areas like our hands, face and chest often take the brunt of the damage. Over years of sun exposure, you may start to see changes to your skin like sunspots, wrinkles or discoloration. These changes can be dangerous!

What is a sun spot?

Sun spots aren’t necessarily dangerous but they’re not attractive. Unlike freckles, sun spots can occur on any type of skin that is exposed to UV rays. Sun spots are more like age spots, where they come in over time and are typically found on the hands and face rather than the rest of the body.

At LaserSpa of Tampa Bay, we use professional lasers that can only be used by qualified personnel. Depending on your initial consultation, we may recommend an anti-aging skin treatment with lasers, or a combination of many of our skin treatments.

Most of our treatments require sun avoidance, which is why we recommend what we carry at our location. For the best sunblock, try SkinCeuticals UV Defense SPF 30 on your face and hands.

7 celebs who had name tattoos removed

Posted on August 7, 2015

Many people have broken the “first commandment of getting inked,” which is to say never ever ever get someone’s name permanently inked anywhere on your body. It’s often a big mistake, leading to breakups and sometimes even laser tattoo removal.

You don’t have to be famous to make mistakes like name tattoos. Avoid the taboo and tattoo or you just may end up regretting your choice of ink.

1. Angelina Jolie replaced Billy Bob Thornton with coordinates where her children were born.

angelina jolie tattoo — wikipedia commons

2. Melanie Griffith erased Antonio (Banderas) from her heart.

melanie griffith tattoo — wikipedia commons

3. Johnny Depp and Winona Forever or not.

johnny depp winona ryder tattoo — wikipedia commons

4. Heidi Klum washed Seal right off her right forearm.

5. Marc Anthony chose to cover up his tattoo for Jennifer Lopez.

6. Denise Richards said “Goodbye Charlie” Sheen.

denise richards charlie sheen tattoo — wikipedia commons

7. Kat Von D got a portrait of Jesse James as a child and then immediately thought otherwise.

Who’s your favorite celeb from this list? What are some of your favorite name tattoos? Tell us in the comments.

The Two-Week Tattoo?

Posted on August 7, 2015

Have you heard the buzz about this new ink technique that lasts only two weeks? It’s called inkbox. Invented by two brothers, this kit gives us a mock tattoo until the stain disappears.

That’s right, it’s a stain and it’s made from fruit so it’s organic (bonus). The Canadian brothers, Braden and Tyler Handley are onto something. Temporary tattoos have been around for ages in henna form and even Cleopatra dabbled in permanent makeup. Suffice to say this isn’t a new invention, but it is something that’s turning heads.

While ordinary tattoos actually stain the second layer of skin or Dermis, an inkbox tattoo only stains the first layer of skin or Epidermis. So, after several showers the tattoo naturally fades through the exfoliation process. You can literally have an arrow pattern one day and a star tattoo the next.

It comes in black only so options are a bit limited. Formula 2 is currently being funded, but once in production the kit is extremely affordable at roughly $20 a design.

For those who are a bit gun shy – and we don’t blame you, we’re in the business of removing bad tattoos this may be an option to satisfy your ink cravings.

What is it like to have a chemical peel?

Posted on June 10, 2015

I had hormonal discoloration along my jaw line. It seriously looked like I didn’t know how to blend concealer. After a 4-day beach vacation, I noticed that the “mask” had darkened no thanks to all the time spent in the sun. My skin was a mess of patchy dark spots.

I went to LaserSpa of Tampa Bay for my usual laser hair removal and Meredee DeLuca, medical aesthetician, convinced me that something had to be done about my face. We had talked briefly about a chemical peel before, but the recent sun damage needed attention and quick.

The peel itself was delightful. It burns a bit, but there’s a fan to help keep you cool. Meredee was very knowledgeable about my skin type (light medium, combination skin) and the hormonal damage. She warned me that an aggressive peel might make the hormonal patchiness worse so to avoid that she started with a less-aggressive peel to slowly reveal new skin beneath.

Right after the chemical peel, my skin felt rough and there was obvious peeling happening around my jaw line and forehead – the most prominent damage areas. There were days it did look worse than I did before the facial, but those feelings quickly dissolved once I started to see the new skin come to the surface.

Meredee strictly warned me to use at least a SPF 30 on my face and to also start using a Retinol cream. She recommended the starting a Retinol immediately and stick to the following brands for the best results: Skinceuticals, RoC and Neutrogena.

I chose the Neutrogena product because it was easy to find at my grocery store. The benefits of using a Retinol are astounding. My new skin regime keeps me acne-free, dry skin free, oily skin free and healthy looking. My skin hasn’t looked like this since I was in my early 20s and I couldn’t have done it without Meredee and LaserSpa of Tampa Bay.I’ll definitely go back for another peel soon, and I’ll never go a day without sunblock and Retinol A.

Give Meredee a call today at (727) 934-4477 and book a peel. It’s the most affordable thing you can do for yourself that gives you results in just a few days.

Do tattoo removal creams actually work?

Posted on April 30, 2015

The short answer is no. Even worse, the FDA warns that these products can actually cause irreparable damage to your skin. Our clients are always looking for the most effective and affordable way to remove unwanted tattoos, and at $35 and up for a one-month of skin bleaching lotion the cost of laser tattoo removal is less than the cost of these ineffective creams that are marketed as tattoo removal kits.

What types of tattoo removal creams are out there?

Here are a few brand names of recognizable tattoo removal systems:

Wrecking Balm Tattoo Removal & Fade System – $35.99

Tat B Gone Tattoo Removal System – $68.81

Tattoo Removal Cream 3 Step Action: Profade – $69.95

But after months of application after repeat application, do the products actually work in three easy steps as they claim? No. It’s impossible to remove tattoo ink at the second layer of skin with just a magic potion. These creams cannot penetrate beyond the first layer of skin – leaving behind a streaky look from small changes in your skin’s penetration. There is no way these creams can actually destroy the ink where it is located.

What say the FDA?

The FDA also regulates and approves laser hair removal for consumers. According to the FDA, just one laser treatment is not enough and some tattoos may require six to ten treatments. As technology improves, however, these treatments are fewer and farther between.

At LaserSpa of Tampa Bay, we utilize a combination of lasers, including the latest PicoSure Laser tattoo removal technology, to develop the right removal plan for you. Check out this CBS News video all about PicoSure and how is fast becoming the quickest option for tattoo removal.

Step-by-Step Laser Tattoo Removal

Posted on October 26, 2014

Considering having your tattoo removed, but you’re unsure exactly how it’s done? With all the latest advances in laser technology, it’s important to consider all of your options and to pick a technician who can remove it quickly with as few treatments as possible. That’s why we’re excited to offer two types of lasers that target specific ink colors and skin types.

Most laser tattoo removal technician in the Tampa Bay area use a Q-switch laser – and we offer that too – but no one else also uses the PicoSure Cynosure laser.

PicoSure laser tattoo removal blasts unwanted ink away in fewer treatments and with less damage to the skin. To help explain how PicoSure works, we put together this handy infographic.

Send us your tattoo pictures today and we’ll put together a treatment plan that’s just right for you.