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!  

Christmas Top Ten Non-Surgical Treatments - CountDown!

Skin Deep – December 2010

South Warrington News

Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ – This month’s feature looks at ‘Annual Review – Top 10 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 ‘New Year – New You for 2011’.

OK, so it’s that time of year when we have reviewed many of the newest non-invasive treatments on the market.  From client feedback and treatment results here are the ‘Top 10’ most popular and successful treatments for 2010:

10           Cellulite removal – Radio-Frequency method, comfortable, fast and excellent results.

9              Muscular strains and sports injury – most popular following high impact accidents and sporting incidents, fast recovery time and leads to a return to normal activities quickly.

8              Pigmentation – melasma, ‘mask of pregnancy’, sun/age spots, freckles, all easily removed with laser based pulsed light treatment, no downtime and minimal discomfort.

7              Stretch mark removal – ideal for new mums, pink and white/silver stretch marks can be treated.

6              Non-Surgical Face Lifts – anything can be treated from a localised area like dark circles, sagging below or above the eyes, around the mouth to a full face including the forehead, neck and decollate.

5              Acne and acne scarring – this can be done with laser based treatments, peels or products depending on the extent of the acne or depth of the scars and can also be preventative.

4              Micro-Roller Facials – a great way of introducing products deep within the epidermis and dermis via micro-channels, ideal for scarring, pigmentation and general skin rejuvenation and collagen stimulation.

3              Chemical Peels – with new technology there are now more peels than ever that can be tailor made for the individual to treat at different depths for a temporary boost or long-term improvement.

2              Thread vein and vascular removal – laser technology can be used to treat unsightly vessels on the legs and face, everything from a small cherry spot to an enlarged area of veins can be targeted effectively.

And…..number 1                 Hair Removal – as ever, the most popular laser treatment for permanent hair reduction on all areas of the body, popular with men as well as women – being hair free has never been easier!

Christmas Treats - Non-Surgical Treatments: Skin Deep – November 2010Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ –...

Christmas Treats - Non-Surgical Treatments: Skin Deep – November 2010
Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ –...: "Skin Deep – November 2010 Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ – This month’s feature looks at ‘Christmas Treats’. Any questions, as always – just ask Dr...."

Skin Deep – November 2010

Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ – This month’s feature looks at ‘Christmas Treats’.

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 an ‘Annual Review – Top 10 Treatments’.

Just because it’s getting dark and cold, there are no excuses as the festive season approaches to let your appearance slide. In fact, it’s an ideal time to do something about those thread veins around your nose, red cheeks and any areas of ‘unwanted hair’ that are bothering you.  Autumn and winter pampering sessions are just what you need to put a spring in your step, make you feel rejuvenated and get ready to steal the limelight at the Christmas do or New Year’s Party.  Many laser based treatments cannot be safely carried out on heavily tanned skin, so now that your beach induced ‘natural glow’ is fading, take advantage of seasonal special offers and by the time it’s New Year your resolutions can be to maintain your new great look, instead of just starting off trying to achieve it.....along with all of the other tempting resolutions that beckon after a little over-indulgence. By starting a treatment package in November it means that the one thing that you won’t need to worry about in 2011 is your unwanted rosacea, tired eyes, uneven pigment, or a new area of hair growth that you’d really swear wasn’t there a couple of yeas ago. Many local establishments offer great incentives of 5-10% off treatments booked prior to the end of the year, thus saving you money and making you feel great.  So why delay, take advantage of an seasonal incentives and treat yourself before Christmas this year, you deserve it!