business|the elements of skin care
LED and ATP HIGHER LEVELS OF ATP SYNTHESIS CREATED VIA MICROCURRENT HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO INCREASE BLOOD CIRCULATION, COLLAGEN PRODUCTION AND ELASTIN PRODUCTION.
LED is similar to microcurrent in that it is able to energize the mitochondria. With red light 640 nm, the appropriate strength of energy (lights and power of lights), combined with the correct frequency (flickering), LED can power the mitochondria and influence its ability to upregulate the level of ATP. With LED, ATP benefits can be seen in the skin color, texture and eventual increase in collagen and elastin synthesis. Although the objective of LED is very similar to that of microcurrent, the discipline used to accomplish the objectives for each of these is very unique, making them both applicable technologies to be used in a single service.
Liquid/dry microdermabrasion and ATP
David Suzuki, president of BioTherapeutic, Inc., has been an active licensed member of the esthetics industry for more than 18 years. He is an authority on technology and regulatory issues, including FDA submission and acquisition. Suzuki serves as an advisor to institutions and state boards, writes for numerous industry publications and journals and conducts educational seminars and classes. Email him at dsuzuki@bio-therapeutic.com or visit bio-therapeutic.com.
Page 82 • LNEONLINE.com Les Nouvelles Esthétiques & Spa • November 2013
photo courtesy of Bio-Therapeutic
terrific and too much is devastating. Studies indicate that less than 300Ua (micro amperes) is the most productive range of stimulation. More than 300Ua actually does the opposite and reduces mitochondria activity. Higher levels of ATP synthesis created via microcurrent have been proven to increase blood circulation, collagen production and elastin production. Furthermore, when we physically manipulate the muscles of the face into shorter and longer positions, the higher doses of localized ATP stores allow for the muscles to stay in these new positions for a longer period of time. This is commonly referred to as muscle re-education. Because the depth of patented microcurrent penetration can be precisely controlled, it is also the most strategic tool in skin care for targeted specific iontophoresis. This is vitally important when focusing on highly active ingredients, as it can increase their penetration capability by as much as five times. Ergothioniene is a cutting-edge new ingredient that comes from mushrooms, and it has an uncanny ability to migrate into the mitochondria, bringing essential fatty acids along with it. The use of this ingredient with microcurrent greatly intensifies the migration efforts, making more EFAs available to the mitochondria.
Offering an aqueous/dry microdermabrasion is the next generation of exfoliation. The process is just as it sounds, applying strategic topical solutions to the surface of the skin and using a closed loop microdermabrasion system with a diamond encrusted tip to precisely exfoliate the skin while simultaneously vacuuming up the abraded debris. The result is perfectly smooth, hydrated skin. How relevant is this to ATP and the mitochondria? It is very relevant, due to the fact that the stratum corneum is a nonliving protector of the skin and body. It is nonconductive, and inhibits product penetration, cellular respiration and LED light energy. Therefore, removing as much of the stratum corneum as possible before layering other technologies is a must. As a result of our evolution and understanding of the human body, more than half of licensed physicians now prescribe natural supplements as an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical prescriptions. And this number is growing rapidly. As we look to the future, we must look to the human body, as the most powerful solutions to a younger, healthier body lie within its mastery. Although the world of skin care only scratches the surface, we know that championing and respecting the human body is the way forward. The use of technologies that are true to this objective is where and how we need to focus our energy as forward thinking skin therapists. n