"I developed hyper-pigmentation on my face," Kendall said. "Strangers would come up and try to brush dirt off my face."
Over-the-counter remedies offered by "experts" didn't help. "I spent a fortune, but everybody lied to me and it got worse," she said.
After attending beauty school, Kendall learned the only products that really worked were prescription-strength formulas. And with the help of a master pharmacist, Kendall said she was able to develop a product that has shown amazing results in removing skin discolorations, healing wounds and acne and slowing the aging process.
She opened Laskin Medical Skin Systems in Greeley last September and has begun offering her products to clients with a variety of skin conditions mostly caused by too much sun, overactive hormones and overly sensitive skin. A slide show of before-and-after client photos runs in her waiting room at 1711 61st Ave.
"We do document everything, because people forget how far they've come," she said. "It's taken four years to get here - a long time and lots and lots of testing."
Paraben-free
Kendall contracted with a Food and Drug Administration-approved laboratory in Texas to produce her paraben-free formulas. Parabens are anti-microbial preservatives found in almost every commercial hair and skin product.
Kendall, 46, does not have a medical license but relies on Gregory Denzel, M.D., to oversee the prescribing of her products.
Denzel, a former family practice and urgent care physician, owns Pure Medispa and Salon in Water Valley, specialing in laser liposuction. Denzel said he has complete fiath in Kendall and her products.
"I've known Janet a long time and really trust her judgement and dedication," he said. "She's very meticulous about learning the science behind the medications and using them properly. I'm convinced they work very well."
"I do ongoing education all the time because the field changes so fast," Kendall said. "We're finding new products all the time that show a lot of promise."
She offers training to plastic surgeons and skin specialists and sells her products through pharmaceutical representatives and satisfied clients.
"We don't do any advertising," she said. "We do it all word-of-mouth. People notice the change and ask, 'What are you doing?'"
One who asked that question was Teri Boge, who will be opening a Laskin office in Fort Collins in August. She contacted Kendall about a year ago after seeing the results on a friend's face.
"I was really impressed with (Kendall)," said Boge. "I really liked her passion, her thoroughness and her dedication."
After being trained by Kendall, Boge said she's looking forward to "helping people be their best."
"I totally believe in it 100 percent," she said. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be doing it. I really love it and believe in it."
Global aspirations
While she won't reveal her formula, Kendall said the product's effectiveness is based on its ability to "force skin cells to turn over more quickly."
"You have to customize it for the individual person's needs," she said. Because it is available only by prescription, it won't be sold in stores or over the Internet.
Kendall said the products must be used continuously to maintain their effects and the average cost is about $50 a month. Personalized in-office treatments run between $100 and $125, she said.
Kendall, whose husband Mark owned Kendall Printing in Greeley for many years, said she hopes to open more skin care offices in the Denver area later this year. But she's not planning to stop there.
"Our plan is to go global with it," she said. "Skin is a huge deal in other countries. It's a status thing, and if a person has pigmentation (flaws) on their face it lowers their class."
Kendall said she hopes to bring some relief to those, like herself, who struggled for years to find something to correct their skin flaws.
"People give up because they don't realize they need a prescription to fix it," she said. "A lot of people think it's irreversible, but we can fix it."
