Cosmetic Surgeons Push 'Skin Doctors'

The true test of a cosmetic product’s efficacy is when professionals like cosmetic surgeons prescribe or endorse the product to patients either as alternative to invasive procedures or as a post operative skin treatment.

A lot of cosmetic surgeons stumble on and buy the cosmetic products even without any promotion or advertising push during their “trips” to the malls or to reliable retail shops of cosmetic products. Sometimes, they try the product personally and upon noticing beneficial changes on their skin they recommend it to their patients.

One time, Marshelly Grace Lazaro (owner of Cytherea Global Cosmetics Inc., exclusive distributor of Australian product Skin Doctors) got a surprising call from the store manager of Rustans about a walk-in customer who presented a prescription of a cosmetic surgeon for Skin Doctors’ eye tuck (eye bag remover).

She called the doctor and found out that the doctor bought and used it before, saw it was effective in removing eye bags and recommended it to his patients. So she offered to supply the doctor with Skin Doctors to sell directly (for added income) to his patients but the doctor refused. He said he was happy just endorsing products that work.

“Before I deliberately avoided tapping the cosmetic surgeons thinking that they are my competitors only to find out that they push our products, even giving complimentary samples to their patients,” Lazaro said.

Some cosmetic surgeons offer Skin Doctors for patients who don’t want surgery while others offer it as a complimentary product after a face lift. There were other patients who came from a face lift, botox or other surgical beauty procedures who also obtained complimentary smaller sizes of Skin Doctors products from the clinics to help them recover faster and avoid bruising and reddening of their skins.

“Now I have more clients who are cosmetic surgeons than ordinary dermatologists. Since the ordinary dermatologists sell cheaper products from Korea, Thailand and sometimes sourced locally. I think I am the first distributor of Skin Doctors who went to retail at once. The other Skin Doctors distributors just followed,” Lazaro admitted.

Lazaro began exclusively distributing Skin Doctors in the country in 2004 selling them at first through professional channels, dermatologists and spas or clinics. She discovered Skin Doctors during her travel to Australia when she noticed several pages of full-page ads about the product so she rang the company and had an appointment. After the meeting, she signed a contract, gave downpayment for the stocks to be shipped to her and was given monthly sales quotas, which at first seemed too stiff for her. But later she found out that after educating customers (in workshops done in the outlets), the products would sell themselves.

Skin Doctors is so named because it has 30 products for every conceivable skin concern. “We have three products for the eyes (for eye bags or periorbital puffiness, periorbital dark circles or under eye circles and eye lines); for the face there is a product to remove melasma (or the patchy brown discoloration of the skin on the face), product for whitening, skin firming without the use of collagen; skin renewal; preventing photo aging (from UV exposure); skin resurfacing through gamma hydroxyl; zit zapper that works on pimples overnight; removing and preventing wrinkles; a product for post operative bruising and for the body there are removers of varicose veins and cellulite.

“It is really complete, which is why I am happy with Skin Doctors. But sometimes it is difficult to manage such a wide array of product variants. But Rustan’s is happy since the comprehensive skin care line make customers faithful shoppers,” Lazaro said.

Because of the strength of the brand in Australia and the UK, PharmaCare, the biggest pharma company in Australia bought Skin Doctors but opted to keep Lazaro as exclusive distributor for the Philippines, despite the fact that some offered to distribute the products in the Philippines. The new management saw the feasibility of retailing the products more than selling through professional channels (the old strategy) for most of its country dealerships. In Hongkong, the top market in Asia, retailing is also getting bigger.

Because of her youth and good looks, Lazaro is able to attract equally-attractive and eloquent sales people to man the counters at Rustans in Glorietta and Shangrila (now temporarily being renovated); Cebu and the stand-alone outlet in Davao, which opened two years ago.

The top selling product of Skin Doctors is the eye tuck, increasingly among young call center agents whose jobs require night work. In close second is super facelift – cream for firming and tightness and then skin whitening.

“Some who undergo botox experience a downtime after a treatment. They can’t be presentable for how many weeks only to find out that after some time, they need to go through a firming procedure again. Our cream has no downtime. Just apply daily and you will notice the improvement,” Lazaro said.

She developed a strong friendship with the 75-year old brother (back then) of tycoon John Gokongwei who profusely thanked her for bringing Skin Doctors to Cebu; he no longer had to go through the scheduled eye bag removal by just using the 15ML cream (that he bought for P5,000). Her sales staff convinced Gokongweig to cancel his surgery since Skin Doctors would do the job he needed. “Now he is our product evangelist,” Lazaro said.

source: mb.com.ph

Senstitive skin

Sensitive skin affects millions of people, but the exact definition varies depending on who you ask. Dermatologist Leslie Baumann, MD, FAAD, director of the University of Miami's Cosmetic Medicine & Research Institute and professor of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, reports that in her practice up to 50 percent of patients have some form of sensitive skin. According to Dr. Baumann, there are four distinct types of sensitive skin — acne, rosacea, burning and stinging, and contact dermatitis (allergies and irritants) — and they all have one characteristic in common: inflammation.

Background on Skin Care Products for Sensitive Skin

Skin care products marketed for sensitive skin do not specify for which type of sensitive skin they work best — such as acne or rosacea.

For example, a product for an acne patient is very different from a product for a rosacea patient. But, both products will be labeled for use with sensitive skin.

Manufacturers of skin care products cannot make any specific drug claims for treating conditions such as acne or rosacea. Therefore, "sensitive skin" has become a "catch-all" category for these products.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues monographs for ingredients used in products that allow manufacturers to make certain claims, but not every ingredient will benefit every type of sensitive skin.

For example, the FDA monograph that covers oatmeal allows the manufacturer to claim that this ingredient protects and soothes skin. However, Dr. Baumann reported that oatmeal would not be the best treatment for all types of sensitive skin, but can help contact dermatitis.

Acne

Acne is caused by oily skin and high levels of the bacteria P. acnes.
Some skin care products can clog pores, leading to whiteheads and blackheads.
Treatments for acne involve anti-inflammatory ingredients and anti-bacterials, including antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and retinoids.

One natural ingredient that is used to treat acne is tea tree oil.
Other natural ingredients, such as coconut oil and avocado, can cause acne outbreaks.

Dr. Baumann cautioned acne patients to be careful when selecting products labeled "natural" or "organic," and to ask your dermatologist if you have questions as to whether an ingredient will help your particular type of sensitive skin.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a common skin condition commonly marked by facial flushing, pimples and broken blood vessels on the face.

The cause of rosacea is not completely known, but theories range from bacteria, genetic causes, side effects of sun exposure and vascular instability.

Anti-inflammatory ingredients that do not cause irritation are the mainstay of treatment for this difficult condition. They effectively reduce the redness and inflammation caused by rosacea and prevent facial flushing.

These ingredients include caffeine, sulfur, sulfacetamide, various antibiotics and natural ingredients such as feverfew, chamomile, green tea and licorice extract.

Dr. Baumann advised that skin care products containing vitamin C and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) should be avoided, as they are acidic and can cause stinging.

Burning and Stinging

The cause of burning and stinging is unknown.

Dr. Baumann noted that there are no products that help burning and stinging sensations. That's because the mechanism of why they occur — such as what nerves or skin components are involved — has not been determined through scientific research.

Ingredients that are known to cause stinging are lactic acid, azaelic acid, benzoic acid, glycolic acid, vitamin C and AHAs.

Dermatologists gauge whether a person has this form of sensitive skin by taking a medical history of the patient, and certain tests can be performed to see if a patient has a positive reaction to the known stinging ingredients.

For example, the lactic acid stinging test can be conducted to determine if a patient feels lactic acid when a small amount is placed on the skin. However, this test is complicated by the fact that not everyone stings to lactic acid. For example, some patients who test negatively to lactic acid may sting to benzoic acid.

Contact Dermatitis (Allergies)

There are two main types of skin irritations in this category.

The first is allergens, which is when you are allergic to an ingredient. For example, when you are allergic to something, your immune system is making antibodies against the thing to which you are allergic and causing the allergic reaction.

The second is irritants, where an ingredient is irritating but you are not truly allergic. For example, if bleach is poured on your skin you will get an irritation from that chemical — but it doesn't mean you are allergic to it.

People who complain of frequent rashes to specific skin care products are most commonly allergic to fragrance, preservatives, colors or formaldehyde.

Dr. Baumann noted that it is difficult to predict who will be allergic, and dermatologists gather clues and make a diagnosis by asking patients questions as to when they notice the appearance of a rash.

For example, a patient may report that she notices a rash whenever she wears eye shadow.
In order to be certain of an allergy to an ingredient, patch testing must be done.

Dermatologists perform patch testing by applying a certain ingredient to the skin and look for a rash to develop within 24 to 48 hours.

Impaired skin barrier (or defects in the protective outermost layer of skin) may increase susceptibility to skin allergies and irritations.

Many organic products lead to contact dermatitis, because they contain essential oils and fragrances that can cause allergy.

For example, patients with a ragweed allergy could develop rashes to organic products that contain chamomile, calendula (marigold extract) and feverfew — as these ingredients are cross reactive ragweed allergies.

Dr. Baumann said that it is a misnomer to call organic products healthier and advised patients to use caution before using products labeled natural or organic.

Dr. Baumann anticipates seeing occasional cases of contact dermatitis to some botanicals found in skin care products.

See your dermatologist for successful diagnosis and treatment of skin, hair and nail conditions.

Find a dermatologist by visiting the American Academy of Dermatology's website at www.aad.org.

source: http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/prevention-and-care/sensitive-skin