New, most advanced VPL system now at Cheshire Skin Clinic!

Many people are now becoming familiar with the terms laser, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and VPL (Variable Pulsed Light) – the latter being the newest and most sophisticated form of the science based technology that can be used to remove hair, thread veins, acne, pigment, wrinkles and various other skin conditions. The majority of the most advanced systems are actually manufactured in the UK due to the strong research and development departments that we have at our universities. One such manufacturing company has recently launched a VPL ‘Ultra Plus’ system that now comes with additional hand-pieces that enable the operator to perform high energy medical treatments that out-perform any of the ‘beauty based systems’ on the market.  This means that it is now possible to treat more severe conditions of acne and associated scarring, more stubborn hairs and thread veins. By doing this, it gives the clinical professional previously unavailable settings that can be tailor-made to suit any potential client. The UK is leading the way in the development of VPL and actually supplies the majority of it’s systems to the United States due to the exceptional levels achieved.  It is therefore essential when booking a consultation that you ask your practitioner which supplier they use as there are a myriad of cheap imitation systems on the market that do not perform to the same level of accuracy or safety. If in doubt request to see a calibration certificate for the machine which will list the date of manufacture and most recent calibration checks, plus the origin of manufacture. Dr Angie Winnington-Sharp at Cheshire Skin Clinic is proud to be one of the first clinical professionals to offer this treatment system to all of her clients - new for 2011, why delay - book today.http://www.cheshireskinclinic.com/

Top 10 Treatments for Summer!

Skin Deep – June 2011

Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ – This month’s feature looks at ‘Top 10 Treatments for Summer’. Any questions, just ask Dr. Angie Winnington-Sharp – www.cheshireskinclinic.com angie@cheshireskinclinic.com or 01925 263660 & 07967 481594.  Next month we’ll be looking at ‘state-of-the-art VPL/laser system, new for 2011’.

With summer apparently on it’s way, this is the time of year that people want to look their best, wear less and show more skin, so we’re looking at the 10 most popular ways that people are maximising their appearance without surgery but with staggeringly fantastic results, let’s count down from 10 to 1:

10.          Sports injury treatments – typically getting rid of that tennis elbow or stiff neck to get back on the courts or maximise your performance.

9.             Open pores and black-head treatments – clean up the skin to give a fresh, clear appearance.

8.             Collagen stimulation – give yourself a natural boost by stimulating your own collagen to give a youthful, firm appearance.

7.             Acne and acne scarring – get rid of long-lasting bacteria, even-up skin tone and create smooth, blemish-free skin on the face and body (this can be done with laser and/or chemical peels).

6.             Pigmentation removal – eliminate unwanted freckles, even out patches of melasma (commonly called the ‘mask of pregnancy’, induced by the pill or pre/post-pregnancy) or other areas of sun-damaged skin.

5.             Thread vein removal – target cherry spots/angiomas, thread veins and rosacea so there is no need to wear layers of make-up to cover up embarrassing ‘flushing’ and redness.

4.             Non-surgical face lifts – using radio-frequency to target wrinkles, fine lines, eye-bags and slack jowls for a lifted, firmer outlook.

3.             Micro-roller facials – creates micro-channels to enable deep infusion of targeted products into the skin.

2.             Hair removal – the all time ‘number one’ has been knocked off top spot for the first time, but still massively popular to get rid of unwanted hair from the face on body, for women and increasingly, for men too.

1.             Cellulite and stretch marks – revolutionary techniques are the ‘en vogue’ treatment of the season – say goodbye to saggy, lumpy skin and hello to firm and toned, hurray!

Sun Damaged Skin & Sun Beds

Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ – This month’s feature looks at ‘Sun Damaged Skin and Sun Beds’. Any questions, just ask Dr. Angie Winnington-Sharp – www.cheshireskinclinic.com angie@cheshireskinclinic.com or 01925 263660 & 07967 481594.  Next month we’ll be looking at ‘Top 10 Treatments for Summer’.

Most people are aware that sun beds and excessive sun exposure can cause long term damage to our skin.  A tan itself is an indication that our skin has already been harmed in some way by UV rays and is actually trying to protect itself from further damage. Whilst having a ‘healthy glow’ can make many of us feel more attractive, going ‘over the top’ can have really destructive consequences in the long-term. Sun beds use for many young people may mean that a few decades after they initially used the devices they may suffer from premature wrinkles, aging, ‘leathery’ skin and even cancerous growths.

Some of the damaged skin can be treated successfully with laser resurfacing, collagen boosts, chemical peels and radio-frequency tightening and toning to give a non-surgical face lift.  Back in the 1970’s there wasn’t the same degree of awareness that there is now so many people who were teenagers at the time have no option but to have some form of corrective, preferable non-invasive, procedure to ‘put right their wrongs’.  However, in 2011 there really is no excuse.  If you feel that you must use a sun bed then keep it to a bare minimum and anyone with pale/freckled skin should avoid them completely and apply a regular SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of around 25-30 whenever they are outside, even in the UK and even in April/May.  The warm weather is wonderful, but UV is a powerful wavelength that can do invisible damage initially – but it wont stay that way for ever, and after the age of 18, who wants to look older than they actually are?!

How to get rid of Stretch Marks & Cellulite (plus tone and tighten your bod!)

Skin Deep – April 2011

Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ – This month’s feature looks at ‘Stretch Marks, Toning and Cellulite’. Any questions, just ask Dr. Angie Winnington-Sharp – http://www.cheshireskinclinic.com/ angie@cheshireskinclinic.com or 01925 263660 & 07967 481594.  Next month we’ll be looking at ‘Sun Damaged Skin and Sun Beds’.

Non-invasive Radio-Frequency (RF) is ideal for treating a wide variety of skin conditions. The mono-polar device being high intensity with deep penetration and the bipolar giving volumetric heating and a lower penetration depth. This makes it suitable for fine and deep wrinkles, cellulite, jowls, eye-bags, post-pregnancy tummies, bingo wings, non-surgical face lifts and a variety of other areas that may benefit from toning/tightening.  The most effective treatments normally consist of a combination between the two to give the most bespoke, tailored solutions to each individual client. 

The most common procedures tend to be abdominal tightening and toning, removal of stretch marks on the tummy and upper arms plus cellulite on the thighs, buttocks and around the knees. In addition to this many people choose to target specific areas of the face where they would like to see a visible lift without undergoing the more risky area of surgery.  The procedure itself is comfortable and takes around 20-30 minutes depending on the size of the area.  Treatments are normally spaced at 1-4 week intervals and can be arranged to coincide with an important event, such as a wedding, holiday or birthday – or alternatively as an ongoing solution to combat the signs of aging and/or a recent weight loss/gain due to pregnancy or diet. 

Treatment prices should be expected to reduce throughout a treatment course as the area responds more quickly with consecutive sessions so there is no need to pre-book a multi-treatment session, hence allowing you to arrange treatments around your convenience and personal finances.

Skin Deep - Acne (causes and treatments)

Skin Deep – March 2011

Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ – This month’s feature looks at ‘Acne – Causes and Treatments’. Any questions, as always – just ask Dr. Angie Winnington-Sharp – http://www.cheshireskinclinic.com/ angie@cheshireskinclinic.com or 01925 263660 & 07967 481594.  Next month we’ll be looking at ‘Stretch Marks and Scarring’.

Acne Vulgaris is a common inflammatory condition, which occurs when the sebaceous glands produce too much sebum (oil). Hormones, diet and stress can stimulate the glands to ‘over-produce’ this oil, which can then clog hair follicles and pores and cause an infection.  When these pores/follicles become blocked the environment is ideal for the bacteria associated with acne to thrive. This can cause redness in the surrounding skin, enlarged pustules, visible oils and in some cases scarring.  It tends to affect the areas on the body that have the most sebaceous glands i.e. face, chest, back and upper arms/shoulders.

There are a variety of treatment options available including laser based VPL^TM, chemical peels and home-use products.  All of these offer a great alternative to steroid creams and other forms of medication that can carry undesirable side effects, especially for young adults. A typical course of action is to have a number of laser based treatments to target deeper, more aggressive acne, followed by a course of home-use products and/or a chemical peel to target the remaining superficial areas of concern and any residual redness or raised and pitted scarring. The effects on a person’s confidence are all too often overlooked when dealing with acne and other dermatological conditions, and they can be devastating.  Frequently the person involved is not aware that anything can be done at all and find it a huge relief to know that they do not need to suffer with the visual appearance and associated long-term worry that unsightly scars may be present for the rest of their lives.

If this affects you or anyone that you know seek advice today, and put your mind at ease. You can combat acne safely and effectively and enjoy a more confident outlook for 2011.

Clinic Essentials - What You Need To Know!

Skin Deep – February 2011

South Warrington News

Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ – This month’s feature looks at ‘Clinic Essential’s – what you need to know before treatment’. Any questions, as always – just ask Dr. Angie Winnington-Sharp – www.cheshireskinclinic.com angie@cheshireskinclinic.com or 01925 263660 & 07967 481594. 

Next month we’ll be looking at ‘Acne – Causes and Treatments’.

When booking in to a new clinic for a non-surgical treatment such as laser hair removal, thread vein treatments, acne, scarring, stretch marks, chemical peels etc the most frequent first question is ‘how much will it cost?’.  Although cost is certainly an important consideration, and should form part of your initial research and comparison information, it isn’t necessarily the first or only question that you should ask.  Here is a list of a few other things that people frequently forget to ask and hence sometimes end up paying for unsatisfactory results:

·         How long has the clinic been open? – With so many new ‘franchise establishments’ popping up, ensure that you are going to a clinic that hasn’t just appeared overnight as there is a good chance that it will disappear just as quickly, leaving you without a point of contact and possibly ‘mid-treatment course’. This could mean that you’ll essentially have to start from scratch when searching for an alternative venue.

·         Who will be treating me? – Many clinics offer an initial consultation with a qualified clinician, but then substitute in a beauty therapist to perform the treatment. If this is the case you should ensure the therapist is fully qualified, has read your notes and establish how long they have been using the treatment procedure tools to prevent disappointment. If you are not happy, do not proceed further.

·         What are the payment options? – You should not be expected to pay for a full course ‘up front’.  Some clinics may entice you to do this as a way of ‘saving money’. However, many laser based treatments vary dramatically from one individual to another.  The average number of treatments may be quoted as 6-8, if you pre-pay for 8, there may be a tendency to ensure you keep attending for at least 8 by lowering the treatment parameters to below the minimum required for success in order for you to complete the course.  Most professional clinics will offer discounts off the treatment course as you proceed so that if you only need 4 treatments you still get discounts in the same way that someone needing 10 treatments would get them. Staggered payments also ensure that you can book in a schedule that suits you and you aren’t encouraged to have all 8 ‘squeezed in’ to a certain time period.

·         If in doubt ask! – This is the most fundamental point, always ask about anything that you are unsure of. There should be a section of your consultation dedicated to miscellaneous questions to address this point and ensure everything has been covered. This is the ideal time to check qualifications of the person actually treating you and also, if the practitioner is not based on site, ensure that they attend regularly to avoid you arriving for an appointment only to find that the ‘visiting hair removal specialist’ hasn’t turned up.

New Year = New You!

Most of us say ‘Happy New Year’ impassively but frequently during the first few weeks of January – but how many of us actually feel happy? It’s a great time to make an effort to resolve a few of our least attractive habits i.e. eat less junk, drink less alcohol, but unless we actually see a visible difference quickly, this strategy barely lasts out the month before we revert ‘back to type’.  Why not try something different this year – instead of tackling everything from the inside out, do both, inside and outside i.e. improved health and rejuvenate our appearance.  This doesn’t have to involve surgery or rocketing costs.  For under £100 it is possible to have one of the following for example: a professional chemical peel, a number of thread vein treatments, collagen stimulation, hair removal or even a non-surgical face lift.  Any one or a combination of these can give our confidence a major boost and this in turn is scientifically proven to give us more drive and determination in other areas of our lives such as work, health and fitness.  A single session can take under half an hour and the effects can be permanent depending on the treatment undergone.

So don’t let the January blues settle in, make a fresh start to the year and give yourself a visible boost that can be as noticeable as you’d like, subtle or truly amazing, the choice is yours.  This new year why not permanently look ‘yourself on your best day, every day’. There is no time like the present after all!