Obagi Medical Systems Seminar Building Your Practice with Obagi Systems

Objectives Aging Skin  

Photoaging and Skin Cell Functions Skin Typing and The 3-Cs (Condition, Concern and Commitment)

The Right Obagi System for Your Patient 

Obagi Systems Product Overview

Case Studies and Skin Typing Exercise

UV Radiation UV rays have several harmful effects on the skin •Cumulative •All skin types are vulnerable UVB rays impact the skin’s surface Primary cause of sunburn

UVA rays penetrate 30-40x deeper Heavily contribute to premature aging Both UVA and UVB rays contribute to skin cancer

15 years sun exposure through glass UVA damage on left side

Understanding Photoaging 

How has aging affected your patients’ skin? 



What effects of photodamage are they exhibiting?

What is the best Obagi System for them? 

How do we determine this?

First You Skin Type You look at the patient’s skin in terms of:  Color  Thickness  Oiliness  Laxity  Fragility

Skin Typing Focus Color 

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Determined by amount of pigment Fitzpatrick Scale I-VI Darker skin requires longer conditioning before and after rejuvenation procedures Higher potential for PIH

Thickness 

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Defines the depth of the epidermis and dermis  Thin  Medium-thick  Thick “Pinch” exam Thickness determines skin conditioning regimen for rejuvenation procedures

Skin Typing Focus Oiliness 





Defines amount of oil being secreted  Oily-excess sebum  Normal-average sebum  Dry-below average sebum Excess oil acts like “sebaceous glue”  Prevents normal shedding of stratum corneum  Inhibits proper penetration of topical agents Impacts the duration and course of treatment

Laxity 

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Defines sagging skin  Laxity in thin skin reveals wrinkling  Laxity in thick skin demonstrates jowling Indication of depleted collagen and elastin Determines protocol and length of treatment and/or type of rejuvenation procedure

Skin Typing Focus Fragility   



Defines level of skin tolerance Fragile skin is different from “sensitive skin” Occurs in all skin colors and thickness  More common in Asian skin Fragile skin requires 2 – 3 additional skin cycles than conditioning normal skin

The 3-Cs: Becoming an Expert 

Your patients trust your expert guidance for their skin Develop a home care protocol that can be easily implemented and repeated  Be confident in your knowledge 



Draw upon the 3-Cs of skin typing Condition  Concern  Commitment 

1st “C” - Condition 

Your observation of the patient’s skin      



Hyperpigmentation Laxity Lines/wrinkles Sallowness Acne Other skin conditions

How are their cells functioning?   

Keratinocyte Melanocyte Fibroblast

Condition of the Keratinocyte Epidermal Layer

Photodamaged Skin  Stratum Corneum thickens  Keratinocytes develop irregular shape  Keratinocytes are disorganized  Natural exfoliation process and cellular turnover is slowed

Results in rough, coarse skin

Transformed Skin  Stratum Corneum is thin, tight and strong  Keratinocytes’ shapes become uniform  Keratinocytes are organized like a newly built brick wall  Natural cellular turnover renewed This means smooth, youngerlooking skin for your patient

Condition of the Melanocytes Epidermal Layer

Photodamaged Skin 







Skin attempts to protect itself from UV rays Melanocytes enlarge and increase in number Melanin is overproduced by increased tyrosinase action due to UV stimulation Cannot distribute pigment evenly

Results in mottled, uneven skin tone (hyperpigmentation)

Transformed Skin 





Reduction in overactive melanocytes production Normal distribution of melanin is restored Uneven pigmentation is corrected

This means clear, even skin tone for your patient

Condition of Fibroblasts Dermis Photodamaged Skin 





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Rete ridges (“hinges”) in epidermal/dermal junction are lost Fibroblasts decrease collagen and elastin production Increased metalloproteinase due to UV radiation breaks down collagen fibers New collagen fibers are NOT produced Dermis cannot support epidermis

Results in accentuated wrinkles and laxity

Transformed Skin

Rete ridges are restored  Fibroblasts are able to increase collagen and GAG production  Natural strength, elasticity and resiliency are restored This means reduction in wrinkles and laxity with more tighter, resilient skin for your patient 

Condition of All Skin Layers Photodamaged Skin

Transformed Skin

2nd “C” – Concerns

Finding out your patients’ concerns  

Have patient look in a mirror This is your time to ask great questions 



Focus on their first and second responses   



Listen, Acknowledge, Explore, Respond

What do you like about your skin? What do you wish you could change? What changes have you seen recently on your skin that you do not like?

Listen to what they are focusing on 

What cell do they wish they could change the most?



Ask about how much “fun in the sun” they’ve had 



How many bad burns can they recall? Sneak preview for future damage…

Delicately point out other problems 

Ask if those are of concern or not

3rd “C” – Commitment What is the patient prepared to do to transform her/his skin?

Questions/Conversation:  

Ask the patient about their goals for their skin What products are you using now?  What do you and don’t you like about these products?  Any reactions? 

Tell me what happened

What skin care treatments or procedures have you done in the past? Skin transformation is a long-term commitment; are you prepared to care for your skin on a regular basis? 



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Mild irritation in the beginning? Understanding that maintaining results takes daily compliance?

Tie Breaker . . . ????

Commitment determines the System when there is a tie between Obagi Nu-Derm and Obagi-C Rx Just in the beginning . . . With a little TLC and time, you will get them to the right System

Stepping up with Obagi Systems Cellular Correction & Protection

Obagi-C Rx Cellular Protection Obagi Professional-C Serums No cellular change Ingredients that do this:  Sunscreens  Exfoliants  Antioxidants Other products in this category:  MD Forte  La Roche-Posay/Bio Medic  SkinCeuticals  Prevage MD 

Cellular change of melanocyte  With hydroquinone Continued protection of all three cells with:  Antioxidants  Sunscreens  Exfoliants No other Systems in this category

Cellular Correction & Protection Obagi Nu-Derm Cellular change of all three cells melanocyte, keratinocyte & fibroblast  With tretinoin  With hydroquinone Continued protection of all three cells with:  Antioxidants  Sunscreens  Exfoliants No other Systems in this category