*South Warrington News Online* - Dr Angie Winnington-Sharp's latest articles

It's that time again, time to check out this month's article online http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk//launch.aspx?pbid=3a38be36-0b4e-4e25-b9f0-9dd97713dd8b p5 and the new ad' on p9. Please don't be confused by the new business that has opened up with the same name as my long standing article 'Skin Deep'. Cheshire Skin Clinic has been established for over 7 years and has a client base of over 800 - any questions, lease feel free to contact Dr Angie Winnington-Sharp at angie@cheshireskinclinic.com or ring the clinic directly to pose your queries www.cheshirskinclinic.com

*Top FAQ's for 2014*

Skin Deep – August 2014

Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ – This month’s feature looks at our ‘Frequently Asked Questions for 2014’.

Any questions, just ask Dr. Angie Winnington-Sharp – www.cheshireskinclinic.com angie@cheshireskinclinic.com or 01925 263660 & 07967 481594. 

Next month – ‘Body Sculpting and Non-Surgical Face Lifts’.

Most questions about non-invasive treatments involve the question ‘how does it work’, so, here are some answers to the most common questions:

• How does hair removal work? Using laser or pulsed light, the pigment (melanin) in the hair follicle absorbs the light and heats up the base of the follicle leaving it unable to grow again. Hair has different phases of growth and only those in the correct phase are effectively ‘killed’ hence a course of treatments is required in order to clear the area and leave it hair free.
• Can you effectively treat active acne with light? Yes! This treatment requires a different wavelength (colour) of light as the target in this case is the bacteria (and in some cases, the redness in the area). It is a similar process, completely non-invasive and can be done on the body as well as the face.
• Is it possible to remove small red veins from around the nose and cheeks? Again, the answer is yes. In this instance we target the haemoglobin within the capillaries, thread veins, cherry spots and/or rosacea and break down the vessel(s). The redness gradually fades as the bodies lymphatic system naturally breaks down and removes the visible heightened colour, thus leaving the area looking rejuvenated and giving an even skin tone,

If you would like to ask any questions, please email me and I will be happy to answer them for you. Great looking skin really does make you feel fantastic. 

**Skin Damage/Acne/Online Article Link**

South Warrington News - Skin Deep July Article. Free Newspaper and Online NOW http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk//launch.aspx?pbid=3a38be36-0b4e-4e25-b9f0-9dd97713dd8b the article is p5, new advert p11 - enjoy x

**The Good Skin Guide to Treating Acne**

Skin Deep – July 2014

Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ – This month’s feature looks at our ‘The Good Skin Guide to Combating Acne’.

Any questions, just ask Dr. Angie Winnington-Sharp – www.cheshireskinclinic.com angie@cheshireskinclinic.com or 01925 263660 & 07967 481594. 

Next month – ‘Frequently Asked Questions for 2014’.

One of the main misconceptions about acne is that it is limited to people with oily or unclean skin, this just isn’t true. A key driving force behind acne production is the skin trying to protect itself when the outer barrier is damaged. It does this by inflaming the area and producing excess sebum (this is an oil but may be produced in an area that is otherwise normal or even dry), which provides ideal conditions for bacteria to grow, thus causing infection and resulting in acne.

Acne on the body tends to have a different environment to that on the face due to clothing, detergents, heat etc hence it is treated slightly differently. Another misconception is that excessive cleaning and scrubbing an area will improve it. It can actually do the opposite due to the physical abrasion causing more damage to the skin barrier, leading to a persistent cycle of the problem. The most important thing to do initially is to remove the bacteria, this can be done with a targeted laser or peel system in a clinical environment.

After this, it is then important to cleanse the skin in a home environment, preserving the natural oils that keep the skin barrier healthy, provide adequate hydration, clean pores and smooth the texture to prevent a re-occurrence.

Another similar, and very common, condition is characterised by small bumps on the upper arms or thighs, this is called keratosis pilaris and can be treated in a similar way to acne. This is also true for some forms of rosacea, blocked pores, black heads and various other dermatological conditions. Your skin specialist will be able to advise on each.

Staying safe in the sun - how to select the right *SPF*

Skin Deep – June 2014

Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ – This month’s feature looks at our ‘Staying safe in the sun, which SPF is right for you’.

Any questions, just ask Dr. Angie Winnington-Sharp – www.cheshireskinclinic.com angie@cheshireskinclinic.com or 01925 263660 & 07967 481594. 

Next month – ‘The Good Skin Guide to Combating Acne’.

Recently the media has started reporting more and more on the dangers of sun beds and excessive tanning due to the increased risk of developing skin cancer. However, it is still confusing to people when selecting a good Sun Protection Factor (SPF) as there are so many brands on the market, with varying degrees of protection.

UVA tends to be associated with Ageing and being carcinogenic, whereas UVB is linked directly to Burning (and also has links to pre-cancerous cell changes). For the best protection against ageing and skin damage it is essential that UVA and UVB are shielded against and the product is reapplied every few hours as even natural perspiration can remove it. (No products in the UK are considered ‘water proof’, merely water resistant).

UV-reflective ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide may be controversial in high concentrations as they have the ability to attract free radicals, which in turn can sensitise and age the skin. In order to prevent this from occurring, select a product containing anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories, your skin specialist will be able to assist with this. Remember to apply 20-30 minutes before going outside as it takes the product this long to correctly bind to the skin, having healthy skin means you actually get better protection! And finally, remember the neck, chest, ears and hands…..not just the face, these other areas can be the most significant signs of our true age!

**Removal of Unwanted Pigmentation**

Skin Deep – May 2014

Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ – This month’s feature looks at our ‘Removal of Unwanted Pigmentation and Age Spots’.

Any questions, just ask Dr. Angie Winnington-Sharp – www.cheshireskinclinic.com angie@cheshireskinclinic.com or 01925 263660 & 07967 481594. 

Next month – ‘Staying safe in the sun, which SPF is right for you’.

Unwanted pigmentation and age spots are some of the most visibly ageing signs on the skin. In particular, the neck, decollate and hands can give away our age, no matter how much care and attention has been spent on our face. Most people forget to apply SPFs to these three areas so how can we reverse the damage caused.

To achieve the best results, typically a clinic treatment should be accompanied by pre- and post-care home use products as this will speed up the response and maximise the results. The pigmentation is caused by a combination of melanin forming cells ‘behaving badly’ and an inflammation in the skin via a compromised skin barrier. If we actively target the inflammation and repair the neglected skin barrier, then the effects of the damage can be reversed.

A combination of treatments can be tailored to the individual’s needs and typically tend to incorporate light with a specific peel system. The latter will maximise cell turnover with minimal irritation and peeling, thus providing long term results with virtually no downtime. Hyperpigmentation is the main sign of ageing on the decollate, whilst the neck tends to require additional tightening, toning and firming as well as wrinkle reduction.

By using clinically proven inhibitors that stop tyrosinase (an enzyme responsible for melanin/pigment production) from reaching the required pathways that lead to the formation in irregular pigment, the effects can truly be undone. Botanically based products that don’t contain hydroquinone (which has to be prescribed in the UK) are the most effective and are none irritating.

Most professional brands come in a range of strengths that can be used on a vast array of skin types. A combination of intensive nourishment, barrier repair and light diffusing particles to give an overall rejuvenation effect is the most common. There is a skin condition called poikiloderma of civatte, which can also be caused by sun damage in earlier years. It tends to look like red/brown pigment spots in exposed areas, this can also be successfully treated with simple light treatments and products.

Some experts have suggested that the skin on the neck can age up to 7 times faster than that on our face, so it requires a different treatment regime with more focus on elastin and collagen. Hence always highlight to your practitioner which areas are your primary concerns and exactly what goals you would like to achieve.

***Client's beware of laser scam - please read and share***

It has been brought to my attention today that there are several 'laser clinic groups' posting other people's blogs (mine being one of them) and posting them as their own. This is a scam and people who have given card details (as a secure deposit to reserve a slot) to these 'supposedly large high street chains' are being charged for absolutely nothing at all. Please, would all of you who read this, share it. I have spoken to one company in Hertfordshire and one in London today, both using my details. Absolutely unbelievable. Do not trust these guys, ask questions. The flashy websites with an 0800 number aren't necessarily 'honest'. x

Dr Angie Winnington-Sharp
angie@cheshireskinclinic.com
01925 263660
07967 481594