Making skin care pleasurable
By John Dickey/Appeal-Democrat

Chris Kaufman/Appeal-Democrat Esthetician Holly Mescher performs a microdermabrasion on California Institute of Skin and Beauty guest Jennifer Traynham at the new Yuba City facility. The combination of spa and clinic allows the estheticians to have access to the doctor’s scientific background - and laser equipment - providing the best care possible. A Yuba City dermatology clinic has opened a new medical spa facility, following a growing trend toward mixing skin care with pleasure.

Dr. Robert Peppercorn's Advanced Dermatology and Laser Center, 350 Del Norte Blvd., has drawn patients throughout the area who seek to lighten age spots, ease wrinkles and look better with the help of his lasers.

The center has just opened the doors to the California Institute of Skin and Beauty, a medical spa. Construction started in 2004 on a $1.5 million, 9,000-square-foot addition that includes the spa.

The spa hopes to capture what is a growing demand for medical spa treatments. A November 2004 study by the International SPA Association, a Kentucky-based industry association, found that medical spas were the fastest growing segment of the $11 billion spa business. Medical spas grew 205 percent from 1999 to 2004 reaching total revenues of $200 million.

Peppercorn said he is bringing to the Yuba-Sutter area something that one would normally see in much bigger metropolitan areas.

“This is really a national trend,” Peppercorn said. “This is a trend you would see in places like La Jolla and Los Angeles.”

California Institute of Skin and Beauty will provide a mix of medical dermatology practices and pampering. People will seek out the spa to take advantage of Botox, medical facials, microdermabrasion, noninvasive lasers and traditional spa services like massages, body treatments, waxing and cellulite treatments. But three doctors are next door to assist with more aggressive treatments.

“There's just a whole different standard, I think, in a facility of this caliber versus a hair salon,” said Institute Director Lori Barnette.

Chemical peels offered by the medical spa, for example, can be stronger than those offered by beauty salons. Salons often advertise skin or vitamin peels but they're not going to be as strong as those offered under the supervision of a doctor and nurses, said Kelly Costa Gravitt, a publicist for the institute and former director of a spa in La Jolla.

State law also prohibits salons from using lancets, or other instruments that pierce the skin.

“There are treatments that their skin care specialists can provide because Dr. Peppercorn is on board, because there is a nurse and physician assistant around the corner,” said Gravitt.

The state Department of Consumer Affairs says that skin-peeling chemicals used by physicians are usually stronger than those used in salons and penetrate deeper layers of skins. Any skin peel product with a strength greater than 40 percent by volume should be used only by medical professionals.

Peppercorn said the combination of spa and clinic allows the estheticians to have access to the doctor's scientific background - and laser equipment - providing the best care possible.

While it's providing serious skin care, the spa tries to offer a relaxing environment. It has a separate entrance from the dermatology center, with a fountain and cushy furniture in the waiting, soothing music and six spa treatment rooms.

“That whole part of the building has been geared toward peace and tranquility,” Peppercorn said.

So far for its first week, the institute's appointment log is about 65 to 70 percent booked. If the turnout for an opening event Tuesday is any indication, it should be pretty busy. More than 200 people showed up for the event, said Barnette.

For more information, see the institute's Web site, www.instituteofskin.com.

Appeal-Democrat reporter John Dickey can be reached at 749-4711. You may e-mail him at jdickey@appeal-democrat.com