Institute of Epidermal Cell Therapy Forum - Recent Topics

A hidden epidemic of shrinking jaws is behind many orthodontic and health issues, Stanford researchers say

Tajah McEwan — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:23:36 +0000

I read an article from Stanford University explaining that many common dental problems, like crowded teeth, needing braces, and wisdom tooth removal, might actually come from a modern issue where our jaws are getting smaller. What stood out to me is that researchers don’t think this is mainly genetic, but instead caused by lifestyle changes.

The article explains that earlier humans had larger jaws and fewer dental issues, which suggests this shift happened too quickly to be due to evolution. Instead, things like eating softer, processed foods, chewing less, and having poor oral posture like mouth breathing or tongue positioning seem to be the main causes.

What I found interesting is that this problem can actually be prevented, especially in kids. Simple habits like encouraging more chewing, maintaining proper breathing, and developing good oral posture early on can help guide healthy jaw development.

Overall, I took away that shrinking jaws aren’t just something we have to accept they’re largely preventable, and addressing them early could also help avoid bigger health problems like sleep apnea and stress later in life.

Discussion Question -#416 How to Chart

Shelby De Jong — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:56:19 +0000

-You can go back to those notes and see what progress has been made with the clients skin with the treatments that you have been providing.

-Its important to go back to the previous note left so you can pick up where you left off. This will also help remind you of what you are working on with the clients skin, so you can ask questions regarding how the last treatment went and how the clients skin felt/looked the following days.

-Charting treatment notes will help remind you what modalities/product usage was used and what level the client can tolerate up to.

-In the clients chart, all products and treatments should be listed not only for the client, but also to protect ourselves. IF anything goes wrong, or the client comes back unhappy with treatment results and would like to pursue legal action, you have all of their treatment history.

Discussion Question -#424 Microdermabrasion Therapies Crystal / Particle

Shelby De Jong — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:33:53 +0000

Three types of crystals used for microdermabrasion is aluminum oxide, sodium bicarbonate, and magnesium oxide. These different types of crystals are used for different reasons, but all are effective in exfoliation of the skin.

Discussion Question -# 401 Fundamentals of Skin - Ultrasonic Current

Shelby De Jong — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:42:23 +0000

1. The vibrations from the skin scrubber deeply rejuvenates, cleanses, and exfoliates the skin. This is done through a non-irritating matter that does not involve harsh scrubs or rubbing.

Discussion Question -# 401 Fundamentals of Skin - Ultrasonic Current

Shelby De Jong — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:40:59 +0000

Ultrasonic Therapy is very beneficial for those that use it. It can help loosen and remove oil and cellular debris from follicles and help penetrate products into the skin. The great thing about ultrasonic therapy is that it is painless for the client!

Discussion Question -# 401 Fundamentals of Skin - Ultrasonic Current

Shelby De Jong — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:40:44 +0000

Discussion Question -#423 Advanced Hair Removal

Shelby De Jong — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:38:24 +0000

This can cause hyperpigmentation in areas such as that underarms, under the chin, in the groin area, and on the neck. Hirsutism can also occur which is an excessive amount of hair growth in abnormal places. Irregular periods can occur if PCOS is present which makes it hard for women to conceive since ovulation does not occur as frequently. Another symptom is weight gain.

Pregnancy skin: How your complexion changes when you're expecting

Tajah McEwan — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 23:16:15 +0000

Reading this article, I learned that pregnancy can really affect your skin because of all the hormonal changes. It’s not just one thing either you can get acne, dark patches on your face (like melasma), itching, stretch marks, and even rashes. Acne seems to be pretty common, especially early on, and more likely if you’ve had it before, but it can improve later in pregnancy.

I also found out that a lot of women experience itching, sometimes without even having a rash, just because of hormones or the skin stretching. There’s also something called PUPPP, which is like a hive-like rash that can show up later in pregnancy. It’s uncomfortable but not harmful and usually goes away after giving birth.

From what I read, you can’t really avoid all these skin changes, so the best thing to do is keep skincare simple. Using sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) is important since your skin becomes more sensitive. It’s better to stick to gentle, fragrance-free cleansers and light moisturizers, and avoid heavy or oily products that can clog pores.

I also saw that things like really hot water or steam can dry your skin out more, so it’s better to avoid those. And one big thing is to stay away from products with retinol because they’re not safe during pregnancy.

Incredible Experiment Reveals a Way To Make Skin Transparent

Tajah McEwan — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 19:38:24 +0000

This article talks about how researchers at Stanford University have developed a technique that can temporarily make parts of a living mouse transparent using a safe, common food dye called tartrazine. The dye works by altering how light travels through tissue reducing light scattering and allowing it to pass through and reflect from deeper structures like blood vessels and organs.

This effect is achieved by adjusting the tissue’s refractive properties using principles related to the Kramers-Kronig relations. As a result, researchers were able to observe internal biological processes, such as muscle movements in the digestive system, in real time without invasive procedures.

The transparency develops within minutes of applying the dye and is reversible once it is washed off or naturally cleared from the body. Scientists hope this technology could eventually improve medical imaging, assist in early disease detection, and make procedures like blood draws and laser treatments easier.

'Blocked Pore" Turns out to be Skin cancer for 29 year old mom: 'I had such a bad feeling about it"

Tajah McEwan — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:56:24 +0000

I just read this story that really stuck with me. It was about a 29-year-old mom who thought she had something minor a clogged pore on her nose but it turned out to be skin cancer. What hit me most was how easy it is to dismiss small changes in your skin, especially when they don’t look like the typical warning signs we hear about, like dark moles.

She almost ignored it, but after seeing something similar online, she trusted her gut and got it checked. Even when the doctor initially thought it might be harmless, she kept pushing for answers because she had a bad feeling and she was right.

It also made me think about things we don’t take seriously when we’re younger, like occasionally using tanning beds, can come back to affect us later. She didn’t even use them heavily, but doctors still think it increased her risk.

The part that really stayed with me is how much this has affected her mentally constantly worrying, checking her skin, losing sleep. It’s a reminder that health scares don’t just go away after treatment, they linger.

Overall, it made me realize how important it is to pay attention to your body, trust your instincts, and take prevention seriously especially something as simple as protecting your skin.