Blog: September 2024
Caitriona,
Autumn is upon us, although I question if summer even happened?
It's time to look at how best to prepare your skin for the months ahead. Winter can be a great time to manage any PIGMENTATION and to really lock in you HYDRATION to protect against those cold harsh winds and dry air from indoor heating.
Below I hope to answer some of the questions that typically come up at this time of year - but remember for personalised advice please come visit for a full consultation to make your skin goals happen!
Pigmentation - How can I manage it?
Management is a key word here!
Pigmentation is a tricky and prevention is the best cure - sun avoidance and SPF are your best friends.
It is important to note that even as we step into winter - those damaging UVA rays dont take a break. Keep going with a good quality SPF - your skin will thank you for it!
There are different types of pigmentation and these will have differing protocols depending on their cause.
Home care is the most effective form of treatment. Skin care is pricey so what I always suggest is buy 2 or 3 very high quality medical grade products - to match your skin care concerns and mix these with lower grade products where you can. If all your products are generic over the counter - you can spending quite a lot for very little benefit.
Retinols, Vitamin C+E, Hydraquinone (Prescription only) and Transexamic acid (Prescription only) are exceptionally effective when treating all pigmentation - the latter two more useful with melasma.
IPL - Intense Pulsed Light
Not all machines are created equal - in clinic we use medical grade machines for effective and safe treatments.
These advanced IPL skin treatments target the root cause of skin concerns. With the power to rejuvenate skin, reduce acne, boost collagen, remove pigmentation and reduce redness. Excelight IPL Skin treatments are the next level in treating problematic skin concerns.
As these light based treatments cannot be used on sun exposed skin, there is no better time to start than now - you need to be 4 weeks post sun exposure and a patch test is necessary. It works really well in combination with IllumiFacial ( I plan to speak more about this in the next newsletter)
Moisture - The holy gail for dry skin!
For those of you with Oily skin you can skip on by!
Those with dry, combination or eczema prone skin play close attention.
Trans Epidermal Water Loss - As the name suggests (yes, it’s a mouthful), TEWL is the process of water leaving the body through the skin. The skin is made up of a number layers, with the epidermis being the uppermost layer closest to the surface. This is where water evaporates from. Our skin continuously releases water via TEWL, a process that is naturally regulated by the body.
As you may remember from school, humans are made up of 60% water. Water is a vital nutrient to the life of every cell and is responsible for many crucial functions within the body including regulating temperature, assisting in flushing waste and lubricating joints.
While TEWL is a naturally occurring process, too much water loss can cause issues for the skin and body as a whole. In general, low levels of TEWL equates to healthy, happy skin.
What causes TEWL?
Higher than normal levels of TEWL can be caused by a number of factors. Unsurprisingly, the environment plays a key role. For example, drying weather — both in cold and hot climates — will dry out your skin.
Products that strip or dry the skin can also cause issues. Think foaming cleansers or using an acid or retinol too much or to strong that upset the delicate balance of the skin and compromise the barrier. In fact, when the skin barrier is damaged in any way, TEWL increases; so if you’re suffering from a condition like eczema, chances are your levels of TEWL will be on the higher side.
You will normally notice if you have high transepidermal water loss thanks to a few telltale signs. Of course, dryness is the number one giveaway. Skin feeling tight, rough to touch or a little flaky? Blame the TEWL. More visible lines on the skin is also something to look out for.
How Do We Treat It?
We know that low-humidity environments exacerbate trans-epidermal water loss,so now is the time to swap out your lighter moisturisers and serums for something heavier. HydraDew or HydraCalm from Alumier for silky hydration without that heavy feel. Profhilo Haekieum - Ultimate light weight serum for deep hydration.
Maybe it's time to consider a humidifier at your desk or in your home - increase moisture levels in the air, and help to keep skin hydrated.
While it can seem counterintuitive - peels are a great way of improving your skins moisture. Stay tuned for more in next months letter!
Your skin is a barrier. Injectables are a great addition as they go below the surface to tackle these issues from within. Meso therapy or skin boosters can be an choice excellent for those who are taking a first step into the world of injectables but their effects are short lived. The amazing anti - aging treatment Profhilo, gives long last collagen stimulation and anti - aging effects but due to its high concentration of hyaluronic acid provides significant hydration.trans epidermal water .
