Anti-aging skin care

  Sun protection explained  The skin is exposed to a number of different rays directly from the sun. These include UVA rays which are generally more longer wavelength rays followed by UVB rays which have shorter wavelength rays but higher energy levels.  The UVB rays cause direct damage within  the  skin cell surface layers and DNA within the skin through oxidative stress by the radiation on the skin and this can result in aging of the skin, wrinkles, skin cancers and indirect DNA damage. It is therefore important to ensure that appropriate sun protection measures are taken when the skin is exposed to external radiation and elements which are capable of inflicting oxidative stress on the skin and damage. Sun protection lotions are available and manufactured from a number of different companies in a variety of different formulations. The differentiating factor between different sun protection products is the factor that they have on there label. There are an arra...

Acne, what are the causes?  Acne is caused by excess oil or sebum which builds up and forms a plug within the hair follicle. When bacteria and inflammation add to this the patient presents with severe acne. There is no specific set age or decade of life within which a patient may present with acne and the cause of the acne can be multifactorial from changes in medication, diet, stress or hormones to other reasons. Excess androgenic activity can produce surges in testosterone levels which can present as acne, in addition menstruation and hormone related changes can also exacerbate acne and make the condition worse. Acne can present as mild, moderate or severe and can appear anywhere on the body from the face, forehead, chest to the shoulders and back. Common mild acne presentations are as pimples, papules, blackheads, whiteheads and nodules which present as lumps and cysts. Pimples present as small raised bumps which are raised and can be red in colour. Blackheads present as plugged...

  What is pigmentation? Pigmentation is the formation of pigment within the basal layer of the epidermis which is visible at surface level of the  as a marked area which is differentiated in colour from the rest of the skin and more often than not hyper-pigmented.  The molecule responsible for the pigmentation is called melanin, the up-regulation and production of melanin is regulated by a number of different factors. There are two sub-variants of melanin which are known as eumelanun and pheomelanin, each of these respective variants are responsible for different colour pigments within the skin. Eumelanin produces pigmentation more within the brown and black colour spectrum and pheomelanin produces pigmentation which is visible more within the yellow and red colour range. The ratio of eumelanin to pheomelanin is reflective in the colour of the pigment that is produced and seen within the skin.  There are a number of biochemical pathways involved in the production of ...

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition of the skin. Rosacea classically presents as excessive dryness on the surface of the skin with a very dry itchy skin barrier which the person often feels like scratching. It  can present with or without acne aswell.  What causes rosacea? There is a tiny little mite that lives on the surface of the skin of every single human being this is called the dermatophyte mite. In a patient with rosacea the concentration of the dermatophyte mite is significantly greater than it is in the normal population. The multiplication and replication of this mite on the surface of the skin self-perpetuates the rosacea condition and makes it a lot worse. Typically the mite thrives and multiplies more oilier skin mediums.  Typically, the patient feels that their skin is very dry and itchy and is prone to  scratching, however intrinsically the rosacea condition is caused by an oily skin barrier type. The pores in the surface of the skin are higher...

  Retinol is a  synthetic derivative of vitamin A. The synthetically derived form of vitamin A is available and formulated into several different topical applications such as creams and lotions. Halied as the holy grail of skincare ingredients and more often referred to as the ‘superhero’ ingredient of any skincare cocktail, this ingredient delivers phenomenal results in anti-aging, anti-acne and anti-pigmentation effects on the skin.  Vitamin A is an anti-oxidant. Antioxidants are imperative in any skincare formulations this is because they scavenge free radicals which are formed on the surface of the skin as a result of oxidative damage. Oxidative damage and stress can can be inflicted onto the skin surface by environmental aggressors, pollutants, and any other extrinsic source. This damage affects the skin cell surface by causing premature aging, pigmentation, fine lines, surface creasing, and wrinkles and accelerated aging of the skin. By applying an antioxidant to th...

Polynucleotides really are quite the buzz word in today’s aesthetic treatments. They have selectively honed a niche in  delivering results for treatment of targeted skin concerns such as treatment of hollowing and pigmentation under the eyes, treatment of volume loss across facial structures and rejuvenation and tightening  of skin across a number of different areas on the face and body. What are polynucleotides? Vitaran is a polynucleotide is made from purified salmon DNA fragments. This belongs to a group of molecules commonly referred to as  ‘bio-stimulators’. These molecules work in a way so as to ignite the production of cells within the skin structural cell layers in particular proliferating fibroblast activity underneath the surface of the skin to produce more elastin and collagen. It also increases the dermal skin cell hydration levels of the skin cells and turns off and inhibits the production of melanin responsible for pigmentation of skin cells. The overall res...

  What are anti-wrinkle injections and how do they work? Anti-wrinkle Injections are neuromodulators which are injected into specific points across the face or the  body. These neuromodulating agents work to relax the muscles into which they are injected and by relaxing the muscles the skin which sits superficially on top of the muscle is stretched  taught. The skin subsequently appears smoother having a simultaneous ‘wrinkle-reduction’ effect in the process which is visibly apparent on the superficial structure of the skin as visible or superficial lines fade and in many cases diminish altogether. This produces an instant aesthetic improvement and a more youthful appearance.  Patient satisfaction is achieved as the wrinkles are diminished and the skin appears smoother, more flawless and develops the much-hyped ‘Botox - glow’ the ‘radiant’ and ‘re-freshed’ look which is highly desirable.  What can anti-wrinkle injections be used for? The most common areas in whi...