Dr Dawn Hunter

Reality Scope.

Real vs fake. Photos these days.

    Many photos that show before and after of beauty treatments are not showing real results. With the technology and photoshop available to every home computer user it is even harder to decipher real after photos. Many clients tell me all the time about wonder products they have tried with “proof” in the photos. I ask them to bring the photos in and lets examine them under the “reality scope”. Being an artist I have a keen eye for details and light/shadow play after all these are the tricks we use in art to create the illusions in a given piece. Shadow, angles, color and lighting all add to the smoke and mirror effects that I have spent years learning as an artist. I can see detail that most cannot. Many of the photos are simply a trick of lighting and angle.

   
Here is an example of a “before” and “after” for an over the counter scar treatment product. The claim is that this product produced these results. Looking at the photo I can see this in not the case. First of all the client has acne scars and scars cannot be fixed by any over the counter goop or goo. Period. You can read more about scar treatments in another blog. Notice the trick on lighting and angle. The scars look diminished because of the lighting and the flat angle of the second photo.
There is also suspicious blurring of the
scar area on the second photo and notice the first photo has shadows to exaggerate the  scar texture that is absent in the second photo.

  
  This picture is a realistic real photo of a Fraxel
laser treatment for scars. You can tell the photo is the same angle and same lighting with realistic results. The texture has changed realistically and the treatment is a well documented medical procedure that is a laser for scars.

    Remember if it is to good to be true it most likely is and real skin treatments that produce results usually require medical intervention. Consult with an expert and ask to see photos the pull out your
“reality scope” and think “hmm, what would Dr Dawn think of this?” . Better yet, email me the pictures and I will tell you exactly what I think. As I always do. I care .

Diet, bones and excuses. You want to read this.

    I am always unimpressed when a friend or client of mine is stating their case about being fat giving me the “facts” of how difficult it is. I ask “Is it difficult to be in a body that is unhealthy or is it difficult to move into change without excuses?”  Most of the time the response  is dismissal . Usually they continue on with more excuses and pretty soon my internal focus has shifted and all I can think of is an Eddie Murphy stand up show. Eddie is on stage discussing women he has dated with special emphasis on deceit and excuses women come up for various reasons. He uses  the analogy of skeletons in the closet. He rants on about various excuses women make about deceit and shouts out “women have so many skeletons in their closets that every time they open their mouths a bone pops out” It fits this excuse pattern perfectly and lends to a funny chuckle.

    I have personally seen this “bone” phenomenon many times in my professional life at seminars and trade shows. One in particular stands out to me. At a local fair we supported a health booth with education and products related to the HCG diet that was sound healthy principals and offers some assistance in fat reduction. There was a women in her 30’s that drove up to our table on her scooter (the one with the seat and fanny pack) and was around 150lbs over fat. She rolled up and asked about the diet. We  discuss a bit of the program with her and with that she stated that “her condition” prevented her from losing weight. I asked her what condition that was and she replied “my knees are shot from being fat for so long and my back hurts when I walk”. She allowed her body to be over fat so long her joints couldn’t even hold her up properly, there was nothing clinically wrong with this person other than a huge storehouse of old bones. I wished her well,watched her roll away on her stroller towards with deep fried pigs ears booth and thought of our healthcare system...that is another blog.

     Let us examine basic physiology. If you are  over fat it means that your calories in the body  overweight the expenditure out of the body. There are some medical conditions that can create and over fat body but they are very rare and usually respond well to medical intervention .Two that come to mind are Cushing's Disease and Polycysitic Ovarian Disease. “Oh, Dawn, but I have hypothyroid”a client says. Another bone.Sorry, but true hypothyroid issues are not common.
    If you poll most lean people you will find that they tend towards a balanced diet, exercise and know when to make up time for indulgence. I myself have been into fitness my entire life as a child playing soccer, volleyball, ran track and always belong to a gym with weight training. I work out and try new things to keep it fresh. It is a life long commitment. As Gwenth Paltrow stated “I do not have a genetic gift, I get out and exercise, it is hard work but I do it anyway”. Excuses don’t make change, they keep you in limbo. I want to put up a sign at our  medspa “Check your excuses at the door”. Think of all the things you could do if you checked your excuses at the door, better yet, clear out the closet and give those bones to your dog.

My journey with sunless tanners.

We all have been exposed to the plethora of information regarding skin damage related to tanning rays from the sun or sun beds. Our saving grace has been the miracle of sunless tanning products. (yay!) They come in sprays, creams and full application stand up spray rooms with new formulas that can create a natural glow for any skin type. Long gone are the orange oompa loompa look, now it is almost impossible to tell a suntan from a sunless tan.
My first introduction to sunless tanners was in 4th grade when I found a bottle of my best friends mom's QT tanning cream . Being a Canadian kid and part irish I was and still am very white  and to have a tan was the envy of every girl like me in elementary school. It didn't help that my best friend, Lisa, was half portuguese with golden brown skin all year long. As young girls will do, I was competitive with her and thought I had found the answer to the tanning envy issue. My new journey to celebrity status at Lord Elementary School was  in this new bottle of goo called QT tanner. I was so excited to try it out I preceded to sneak the bottle into my jeans and lock myself in her moms master bathroom with the bottle  of QT. I sat on the toilet seat dreaming of my new life where all the kids at school chanted my name, I was on the superstar popular list and Charles in my 4th grade class would develop a mad crush on me. We would live happily ever after in a big house with a dog. I would have made it. All because of QT. I quickly  put the bottle on the sink basin and glazed over the instructions just pouring the goop in my hands. I turned to face the mirror and in a little girl frenzy mashed it all over my face, neck and chest. Pulled off my jeans on spread it on the front of my legs.
I realized that the bottle was almost empty so I turned it upside down and squeezed it till my fingers turned white to get every last drop of this magic goop out. It was an emergency in my mind as my bff, Lisa, was going to be knocking on the bathroom door any minute and there was no way I was going to share this secret with her. The goop spurted out on the counter and I scooped it up to smear it all over my stomach and reached around to hit my back. Completely missed the back of legs.... I quickly washed my hands and put the bottle back, fixed my hair and exited the bathroom hoping Lisa would not notice anything.
Exiting the bathroom Lisa mentioned that smelled like chinese food. I shrugged it off and we went to make some "carmel" burning butter on a skillet with sugar added to it before her mom got home. I couldn’t wait until I got home to check on my tan. So... later that night I got up to look in the mirror to see the miracle and as I turned on the fluorescent light I could not believe my eyes. “Oh nooo” I cried. I was shocked at the streaks of orange all over my face, neck and chest and how oddly artificial I appeared. I pulled up my jammies to find my legs were a patte of orange blotchy swrils and streaks with a finger print on my lower right calf. I grabbed a towel and scrubbed to hard but the QT would not come off. I suddenly felt very defeated as tears came down my face making streaks of white through my orange face. All my dreams...poof!
I looked at myself in the mirror and wondered what my mom was going to say in the morning, worse yet, what would Charles say at school. I just started crying and cried out “I hate you QT tan, you ruined my life”. I started thinking of how sick I would be by morning so my mom would let me stay home, then I thought how long with this last, will I be orange forever?
Well, flash up to present time. I survived the 4th grade drama and moved on with my sunless tanning obsession. I tried many over the years and growing up in southern california it was a lifeline. I tried the at home creams with a very specific ritual and kit I made that included medical gloves, make up sponges, skin cream and rubbing alcohol. I was determined to perfect this un sun tanning.  I endured the mistakes of lines around my feet, spots between my fingers and stained hands. Then I moved to Seattle.
The reprieve of living here was sweet. I relished the whities that surrounded me focusing on creating my signature porcelain skin perfection. It was such a relief to be in my own skin and love it. However, being a southern california teenager the love of having a sun tan never quite left me and during the "warmer" weather here I do break out the self tanning rituals only now I just walk into a booth at Desert Sun and the spray tan robot does the work for me. I realized that taking the wet wipes and standing on them in the booth solved the problem of stained feet.
Hail to the sunless tanning gods and for allowing my little girl inside to feel pretty during the dog days of summer. Who needs Charles anyway? (snap)

Listen to me Grasshopper..

Ladies; please focus your attention to the woman on box A and the woman on box B. Miss A box has luminous dewy clear skin that is youthful and well hydrated. She looks amazing. Her age is 35. Look at Miss B box, she has sun spots, dry matted flat skin with sagging and wrinkles , age 35. Let me ask you audience, which lady on the box listened to my advice? Yes of course, Miss A box did. You see experts really know what they are professing thus the reason they are deemed experts.

I am a beauty and anti aging expert so thus you need to listen to me. For my ladies over 35 (notice loud speaker in my hand) you must put aside money to pay for beauty, real beauty treatments and products. Over 35 , time is heading to warp speed in the aging process and all the sins of youth are catching up fast. It is critical that you wake up and quit spending your valuable money on Sephora skin care products, that is for the 20 somethings. You must spend on cosmecutical skin care products that are not over the counter. Period. No, do not start to argue with me, that is it.

Cosmecutical skin care products are quality over quantity. Over the counter (OTC) products at your local Bartell's are quantity made for the masses with fillers and cheap goop to fill a bottle to sell to you and the FDA has no control on the 450 carcinogenic added items they throw in our made in America brand. When it comes to keeping youthful, you must spend wisely grasshopper and I am your sensei .Cosmecuiticals are concentrated high quality products that will deliver when used with the right combination of treatments and instructions. Some require prescription add ons.The message here is find a local medical esthetician or knowledgable doctor and invest in a few quality products such as serums, peeling agents and specialized antioxidant formulas.My rules for amazing skin are Feed, Peel and Heal. Add on Sunscreen and my favorite IPL/Fractional combos and soon 35 will resemble 25.

via dawnhunter.typepad.com

Listen to me Grasshopper..

Ladies; please focus your attention to the woman on box A and the woman on box B. Miss A box has luminous dewy clear skin that is youthful and well hydrated. She looks amazing. Her age is 35. Look at Miss B box, she has sun spots, dry matted flat skin with sagging and wrinkles , age 35. Let me ask you audience, which lady on the box listened to my advice? Yes of course, Miss A box did. You see experts really know what they are professing thus the reason they are deemed experts.

I am a beauty and anti aging expert so thus you need to listen to me. For my ladies over 35 (notice loud speaker in my hand) you must put aside money to pay for beauty, real beauty treatments and products. Over 35 , time is heading to warp speed in the aging process and all the sins of youth are catching up fast. It is critical that you wake up and quit spending your valuable money on Sephora skin care products, that is for the 20 somethings. You must spend on cosmecutical skin care products that are not over the counter. Period. No, do not start to argue with me, that is it.

Cosmecutical skin care products are quality over quantity. Over the counter (OTC) products at your local Bartell's are quantity made for the masses with fillers and cheap goop to fill a bottle to sell to you and the FDA has no control on the 450 carcinogenic added items they throw in our made in America brand. When it comes to keeping youthful, you must spend wisely grasshopper and I am your sensei .Cosmecuiticals are concentrated high quality products that will deliver when used with the right combination of treatments and instructions. Some require prescription add ons.The message here is find a local medical esthetician or knowledgable doctor and invest in a few quality products such as serums, peeling agents and specialized antioxidant formulas.My rules for amazing skin are Feed, Peel and Heal. Add on Sunscreen and my favorite IPL/Fractional combos and soon 35 will resemble 25.

via dawnhunter.typepad.com

Listen to me Grasshopper..

Ladies; please focus your attention to the woman on box A and the woman on box B. Miss A box has luminous dewy clear skin that is youthful and well hydrated. She looks amazing. Her age is 35. Look at Miss B box, she has sun spots, dry matted flat skin with sagging and wrinkles , age 35. Let me ask you audience, which lady on the box listened to my advice? Yes of course, Miss A box did. You see experts really know what they are professing thus the reason they are deemed experts.

I am a beauty and anti aging expert so thus you need to listen to me. For my ladies over 35 (notice loud speaker in my hand) you must put aside money to pay for beauty, real beauty treatments and products. Over 35 , time is heading to warp speed in the aging process and all the sins of youth are catching up fast. It is critical that you wake up and quit spending your valuable money on Sephora skin care products, that is for the 20 somethings. You must spend on cosmecutical skin care products that are not over the counter. Period. No, do not start to argue with me, that is it.

Cosmecutical skin care products are quality over quantity. Over the counter (OTC) products at your local Bartell's are quantity made for the masses with fillers and cheap goop to fill a bottle to sell to you and the FDA has no control on the 450 carcinogenic added items they throw in our made in America brand. When it comes to keeping youthful, you must spend wisely grasshopper and I am your sensei .Cosmecuiticals are concentrated high quality products that will deliver when used with the right combination of treatments and instructions. Some require prescription add ons.The message here is find a local medical esthetician or knowledgable doctor and invest in a few quality products such as serums, peeling agents and specialized antioxidant formulas.My rules for amazing skin are Feed, Peel and Heal. Add on Sunscreen and my favorite IPL/Fractional combos and soon 35 will resemble 25.

via dawnhunter.typepad.com

Listen to me Grasshopper..

Ladies; please focus your attention to the woman on box A and the woman on box B. Miss A box has luminous dewy clear skin that is youthful and well hydrated. She looks amazing. Her age is 35. Look at Miss B box, she has sun spots, dry matted flat skin with sagging and wrinkles , age 35. Let me ask you audience, which lady on the box listened to my advice? Yes of course, Miss A box did. You see experts really know what they are professing thus the reason they are deemed experts.

I am a beauty and anti aging expert so thus you need to listen to me. For my ladies over 35 (notice loud speaker in my hand) you must put aside money to pay for beauty, real beauty treatments and products. Over 35 , time is heading to warp speed in the aging process and all the sins of youth are catching up fast. It is critical that you wake up and quit spending your valuable money on Sephora skin care products, that is for the 20 somethings. You must spend on cosmecutical skin care products that are not over the counter. Period. No, do not start to argue with me, that is it.

Cosmecutical skin care products are quality over quantity. Over the counter (OTC) products at your local Bartell's are quantity made for the masses with fillers and cheap goop to fill a bottle to sell to you and the FDA has no control on the 450 carcinogenic added items they throw in our made in America brand. When it comes to keeping youthful, you must spend wisely grasshopper and I am your sensei .Cosmecuiticals are concentrated high quality products that will deliver when used with the right combination of treatments and instructions. Some require prescription add ons.
The message here is find a local medical esthetician or knowledgable doctor and invest in a few quality products such as serums, peeling agents and specialized antioxidant formulas.
My rules for amazing skin are Feed, Peel and Heal. Add on Sunscreen and my favorite IPL/Fractional combos and soon 35 will resemble 25.

HCG Diet. The real "fat burner".

HCG the diet t that actually assists your body burn fat instead of fighting it. A lot of traditional diets fail as our bodies hold on to fat like it was liquid gold  (well most of us, some are fortunate to have super human genes, i.e.: fashion models).  Some struggle more than others and any fitness trainer will tell you how hard it is to balance the fat ratio loss with preserving lean muscle. It is, indeed, quite a challenge and thus many people ultimately fail and are frustrated when they regain the fat lost. Traditional diets often can be nutrient deficient,  too high in salt and sugar, leading to blood sugar regulation problems or the super-processed foods found in microwave meals can lead to deficiencies in micro nutrients, which then starts the domino effect of cravings. 

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Demi Moores big mistake.

I really had to write something about Demi Moore as I feel like she is a train wreck right now. I grew up loving Demi from her start on All My Children with her sexy tough girl character all the way through the brat pack days into Ghost and on past the forgettable Marine movie. Demi has always fought the good fight  paving the way for many an ungrateful starlet in hollywood. Demi battled her way into mass power all with street smarts, good looks and vitamin packed persistence on top of having three amazing daughters have that no doubt watched and admired their take no prisoners mogul mother blossom.
Right now thought, Demi is too thin, too taught, too tired and too needy. Every pore in her right now is oozing with desperation. Demi's big mistake is allowing her identity to be associated so much with her image and appearance that it takes one little moment to shatter. She is fragile.
Demi seems to have it all. Money, power, sexy body,family and more but has made a big mistake. Demi’s mistake is one I see all to common in many woman her age. Fighting her age with such vengeance it becomes the focal point of her existence and thus highlighted in every expression and nuance she makes. Demi's mistake is trying to stay top dog in an arena of alphas.  Demi needs to move into a more meaningful relationship with herself and her image. It is not time to break out the purple hats for her but she needs to relax into her self and find the joy, beauty and fun of the age she is at now. She is in her fighting prime yet is totally unaware, to focused on the unatainable. Demi is  hyper focused on the impossible.
It is important to look as great as you feel inside and aging is a process that no one gets a free ticket out here...it is a process of acceptance, self love and finding more interesting pastures to graze in. There is only so much botox, face lifts and fillers to be done. Demi, we care for you and love you very much regardless of how thin or flexed you appear. Take a mentor in Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep there is beauty in  every age and you deserve a break; or a breath.

40 is the new 30. How to trick father time.

One only need look back at old photos of what 40 was back 40 years ago. Over the hill, past the stream and into the cave. Times have a changed thanks to Madonna, Demi and Christey. The set point has been raised. Women and men over 40 are considered hot, sexy, sought after and fierce. With age comes freedom of spirit, wisdom, unbridled confidence that 20's never know. It is a time of fun, risk and hot sex. The 40's plus is like a new adventure full of anticipation as to what is next around the bend to explore and try out the new wheels. "Yippy" you say, let's go and as the wind lifts your spirits full of light energy; so blows the loose skin. As with anything yin there is a yang .

Our skin, everyone's skin, starts to show sins of the past in the last thirties and on up with sun spots, fine lines and awkward wrinkles, looser neck line with some crepe like textures. Yuck. How depressing that  just as we reach our pinnacle of happiness within ourselves, our outside selves betray us. Not fair I say. Luckily everyone faces the same chrysalis in reverse so we are all in this together, we all have to look at each other so I say we best look good and science is helping out.

Science, my favorite topic.Science has given us a plethora of medical grade  products with the most advanced and studied ingredients to metemorph our skin in incredible ways. Can you hear Steven Hawking's robotic voice "we now have the capability to freeze aging until our sun implodes". Not really but we do have some incredible treatments and ingredients to freeze time a bit longer as i referenced before, the bar has been raised. Here is my list.

Chemical peels: Glycolics, Salicylic, Lactic, TCA, Phenol, combinations of them all. Peels are the choice for dewy, hydrated smooth skin. Do them or die a miserable death.

Serums: Yes serums offer 75% of the cellular change in your skin. If your not using a real one (medical grade) your missing the party. Cells rejoice when you feed them skin salad full of hylauronics, flavanoids,antioxidants, lipoic acid,idebenone,super oxide dismutase. Look them up it will you do your aging brain some good.

AHA's and retinoids: No longer must one have to deal with raw red retin A skin we now have better combinations with retinoids and hydrators. Blending healing with peeling is what is in.

Fractional 1540 laser: Dermal heat creates collagen tightening, end of story. Nothing will tighten your jawline, cheeks and neck non surgically better than fractional laser.

Botox: Nothing erases a wrinkle like botox.

Fillers: Volumizers are so essential in creating a youthful look. The secret here is technique and when to say no. Out are trout lips, chipmunk cheeks and pillow faces. In is subtle revolume to replenish what you need.

Exercise: Demi and Madonna still sweat their way to fantastic bodies. Hot bodies are hot bodies doesn't matter the age. Just ask those 20 something boys hovering over Demi as we speak.

Sleep: It should be called the down comforter of youth, forget fountains. A long deep slumber in a lovers arms is the top beauty tip I can offer you. I also find that cuddles from my daughter, fresh air and gazing into the stars helps. Find your bliss.