Skin Problems
| Lines & Wrinkles | Loss of Volume | Ageing |
| Thin/Crêpe Skin | Thread Veins | Acne Scarring |
| Stretch Marks |
Fine lines and wrinkles are inevitable as we age. As we grow older, our skin becomes thinner and less water is present in the epidermis. Our natural collagen in the skin is decreased and of a poorer quality, making the skin less elastic. Unfortunately, the ageing process starts to begin in the skin around the age of 30 years old. Lines and wrinkles can be divided into two categories, either static or dynamic. Static lines, are present all the time and are a result of loss of skin tone, gravity, heavier dehydrated skin, loosing natural facial fat pads and ageing. The first place that static lines tend to appear are from the nose to the corner of the mouth and below the corners of the mouth , although eventually they can appear across the whole face. There are many ways to improve these lines including surgery, dermal fillers and dermarollers. Dynamic lines occur as a result of constant muscle action on the skin and most typically occur around the eyes (crow’s feet ), as frown lines between the eyebrows or as horizontal forehead lines. Similar to folding and unfolding a piece of paper, creases will eventually appear as the collagen in the skin is broken down and the skin put under more and more tension. The obvious solution to this problem is to prevent the cause and relax the muscles that are responsible. This is easily achieved by careful injection of botulinum protein, a safe and painless procedure that has been around since the late 1980s and revolutionised the cosmetic industry.
Treatments for Lines and Wrinkles:
- Dermal Fillers
- Dermarollers
- Anti wrinkle injections
- Chemical peels
- Cosmeceutical skincare products
One of the key aspects of ageing is loss of facial volume. When we are young, our faces are full, voluminous, radiant and youthful, but with the passage of time, we lose volume. The skin becomes thinner and more dehydrated, our bones begin to be reabsorbed, our natural fat pads disintegrate and drop down and lines and wrinkles start to appear. We lose volume across the whole face although the most obvious places are the cheeks, the lips and the brow. Simply erasing these lines does not correct the problem and when considering any cosmetic treatment it is always important to consider why have these lines appeared? By restoring volume where it has been lost is the perfect solution, creating facial rejuvenation and a younger looking you! Similarly, volume is lost in other areas of the body, especially the décolletage and backs of the hand resulting in crêpe skin. Dermal fillers are the perfect solution to these problems and are safe and effective.
Treatments for Loss of Volume:
- Dermal Fillers
Ageing of the skin can be divided into two broad categories, either intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic ageing of the skin is genetically determined and typically begins around the age of 30-35 years old and there is not a lot we can do about it! Extrinsic ageing however is a result of the exposure of our skin to the environment and how we look after it. The most common cause of premature ageing is due to sunlight exposure and the most important message that we can give as a skin clinic is to use a high factor sun protection that will protect against both UVA and UVB radiation. Although the classical SPF rating on our sun creams is important, it only relates to blocking the sun’s UVB radiation which is what causes sun burn, however, UVA is the important factor when we look at ageing of the skin. UVA is present all year round, penetrates clouds, glass and even thin clothing. It is therefore important that you use a product all year round with good UVA and UVB protection. I am are more than happy to advise you on suitable products if you visit my clinic. Sun damage is responsible for the breakdown of collagen and other skin proteins as well as causing pigment changes (age spots), uneven skin tone and spider veins. Extrinsic ageing is also caused by smoking, alcohol, poor general health, poor sleep and not looking after your skin. Despite this, there are many cosmetic treatments available for reversing the signs of ageing, they can improve skin texture, replace lost volume, remove lines and wrinkles and help stimulate your own natural healing and collagen replacement.
Treatments for Ageing:
- Dermal Fillers
- Dermarollers
- Chemical Peels
- Professional skin care products and prescriptive products
- Anti wrinkle injections
Unfortunately, thin skin is another problem to contend with when we age. The rate of cell production in the skin slows down, resulting in a thinner epidermis, collagen synthesis is severely restricted, fat and supporting tissue is reabsorbed and the normal healing processes are impaired. The skin becomes more fragile and more prone to wrinkle and crêpe Areas commonly affected include the face, the hands and the décolletage (areas where sun exposure is greatest). In order to improve the situation, various treatments are available and often a combination will work best. First of all, we aim to rejuvenate the skin and stimulate collagen production, then we add back some volume and support to improve the skin health and cosmetic appearance.
Treatments for Thin/crêpe skin:
- Dermal Fillers
- Skin rejuvenation
Thread veins are extremely common and often embarrassing. They are very commonly found on the legs and often referred to as thread veins or spider veins They can look unsightly and appear over the whole of the legs. The appearance often affects what people wear and ladies will often wear long trousers even in the summer to cover them up. Thread veins are different to varicose veins which are larger and palpable, so you can feel them in the skin. Varicose veins can signify an underlying problem with the venous pump in the legs and disease of the veins or the valves and may require surgical treatment. Varicose veins can also lead to additional problems in the skin including eczema, pigmentation and sometimes ulceration. However thread veins are not considered to be a medical problem, only affecting the superficial veins, and it is more of a cosmetic concern. The actual cause of thread veins is unknown, although it is thought to be partly genetic and partly due to other factors (including prolonged standing, sunlight exposure, hormones and alcohol), however, some people seem to develop a lot more than others. The gold standard treatment for thread veins is by injection of a sclerosant (sclerotherapy) into the vein to dry and break down the wall of the vein and thereby get rid of it. It has been the best treatment for many years and considered safe and effective.
Treatments for Thread Veins:
- Microsclerotherapy
Acne is a devastating condition to the skin, whether it is blackheads, whiteheads, pimples or cysts, they all occur when the pores in our skin become clogged with sebum. Acne is most common when our hormones surge which is why it is more common in adolescence and in women before their periods. In most people acne will resolve without leaving any permanent damage to the skin, but in a significant amount of people, the inflammation and damage caused by acne results in a permanent scar to the skin. These scars range from tiny, barely noticeable scars to large ice-pick scars that can be large and deep. The impact of scarring on people varies considerably and can really affect self-esteem and confidence. Ideally acne is treated before any scarring occurs and there are many medications available either over the counter or from your GP or dermatologist. If acne scarring has already occurred, there are many treatments available which can lessen the appearance or get rid of the scarring completely, including chemical peels, laser treatments and dermaroller.
Treatments for Acne Scarring:
- Dermaroller
Stretch marks (striae) are a form of scarring and are caused by a tearing of the dermis, most often associated with a rapid stretching of the skin during rapid growth (typically in pregnancy) or weight gain. They first appear as red or purplish lines but generally fade to a lighter colour over time. They can appear anywhere on the body, but most commonly in areas where there are larger amounts of fat such as the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, breasts, hips and upper arms. They do not cause any underlying damage and pose no health risk, but it is the cosmetic appearance that is usually most distressing. Stretch marks are very common and 75-90% of women will develop stretch marks of some description during pregnancy. They seem to be influenced by genetic factors and hormones, although diet and exercise have also been implicated. Various treatments have been developed for the treatment of stretch marks, including creams, dermabrasion, laser treatments, dermarollers and surgery, although no single treatment has been proven to be 100% effective.
Treatments for Stretch Marks:
- Dermaroller