From everyone at Toronto Cosmetic Clinic, we wish all of our clients and visitors a Happy New Year! Best wishes for 2008.

The clinic will be closed on December 31 and January 1. We’ll be open again from January 2.

Just because it’s the winter, doesn’t mean you can put away that sunblock. The UV rays of the sun anytime of the year are harmful and it’s one of the main contributors to premature aging, leading to those wrinkles and lines most of us would rather do without.

There are two main types of UV rays we should be concerned about: UV-A and UV-B. UV-A is responsible for weakening collagen over time. These rays have an ability to penetrate the skin deeply so that they can do their damage. The rays of UV-B are shorter, but because of this, they easily cause the skin to burn.

There is one more type of UV ray: UV-C. Fortunately, we’re protected from most of this type of UV ray due to the ozone layer. While the other types of rays are also partially filtered by the ozone layer, a good sunblock is absolutely necessary to provide that extra protection.

But if you’ve already got wrinkles and would like to explore ways to get rid of them through treatments like photofacial, contact us!

It’s Christmas time and despite how much we all love working at Toronto Cosmetic Clinic, we need to spend some time with our families and friends, just like you do.

So, we’ll be closed on December 25 and 26 for the holidays.

Everyone at TCC would like to wish all of you and your families a wonderful  holiday season!

Yesterday, we talked about preparing for a Chemical Peel treatment. Today, we’ll talk about recovering from one.

After the treatment, you may find that your skin is reddish and sensitive. Because the top layer of the skin is going to shed naturally, do not use any product that could irritate the skin. This includes creams that include AHA, Vitamin C or retinol, as well as any other products with irritating ingredients (like those found in some makeup). When washing the treated area, do not rub or scrub and use a gentle cleanser. Your medical aesthetician may recommend using a pharmaceutical grade product during this time.

You may find that sweating irritates the skin. As a result, avoid strenuous exercise or any activity that makes you sweat for up to three days following the treatment.

Most importantly, protect your skin from the sun. You’ll burn easily during this time so it’s absolutely a must that a good sunblock with an SPF of at least 30 is applied. Use this daily for at least a week after the treatment.

A chemical peel treatment is a great way to reduce acne, correct age spots and get rid of fine lines and wrinkles. A noninvasive cosmetic procedure, a chemical peel procedure takes up to 30 minutes.

But before you go for your chemical peel procedure, make sure you prepare!  This means you should avoid the following for at least one week before your treatment:

Removing hair by waxing, electolysis, depilatory creams and laser hair removal.

Suntanning, in any way.

Avoid doing the following 2-3 days before the procedure:

Exfoliating the area to be treated.

Using harsh products that dry or irritate the skin, such as AHA, salicylic acid and products that contain Vitamin A or retinol.

Biting and chewing your nails is one of those nasty habits most of us are guilty of, sometime in our life. We all know why it’s bad for us: it makes our hands look ugly, damages our teeth, and is unhygenic due to the amount of bacteria and dirt that we collect underneath out nails. So want to kick the habit already?

Well, here are a few tips to help you stop:

1. Wear nail polish. You’ll think twice before you bite into a nail painted with varnish. Not only will it taste bad, but it’ll also be extra unhealthy with all of those chemicals in the polish. Try a transparent colour if you don’t want to be too flashy. Or you can even try those products that help you stop biting your nails, which really do work!

2. Get your nails professionally done. Spend a lavish amount getting a manicure and hand massage. Who would want to chew on those beautiful (and expensive!) nails afterwards? You can even make this a weekly or biweekly activity as a reward for not having chewed your nails throughout the week.

3. Do something else - healthy. Right before you put that fingernail between your teeth, get busy with something else. Hungry? Munch on a carrot stick for that satisfying crunch. Bored? Do something that will occupy your time and your hands, like cooking.

Most of us chew our nails absentmindedly, without really paying attention to what we’re doing. That’s why it’s important that in order to stop the habit, you’ve got to start paying attention and deliberately change your behaviour.