Month: April 2020

Many of my lovely patients come to me with skin concerns that they have noticed more so during or after the menopause. There are many ways that the menopause can affect the skin: Lines and wrinkles As oestrogen levels drop, supportive fat in the face, neck, hands and arms can cause wrinkles to appear. Loss of collagen and elastin production and repair Lowered oestrogen levels can result in a slowed production and repair of structural proteins (collagen and elastin) in the dermis of the skin. This can lead to loss of firmness, wrinkle formation and the skin can become lax. This lack of repair can be exacerbated if the skin is exposed to UV rays. Thinner epidermis (the upper skin layer) The blood flow in the dermal capillaries are reduced during the menopause and less nutrients and oxygen are available. This leads to thinning of the epidermis and a slower cell turnover rate. This can be accompanied by a reduced barrier function leading to water loss and dry skin. More prone to Sun Damage The number of melanocytes (cells responsible for the production of melanin) reduces during menopause. This means that we have less protection (melanin is responsible for protecting the skin), making it more susceptible to sun damage. This can also mean more risk of hyperpigmentation/age spots. Excess oil production During the menopause, as oestrogen levels decrease, testosterone is more prevalent in the body. Testosterone stimulates sebaceous glands to secrete thicker sebum resulting in oily skin and in some cases, adult acne. A Personal Perspective on Training As much as this might seem like a very long list of negatives about the menopause, it’s not all doom and gloom! This is why I choose to use the incredible collagen-stimulating product, Ellanse. Not only does Ellanse provide volume to the skin and reposition the tissue to appear more youthful (like a dermal filler) but thanks to its unique properties, it will also trigger the natural production of your own collagen. This means thicker, healthier, glowing skin! The effects are gradual and long-lasting, ensuring a natural, youthful look. It’s also really important to ensure that you are using good quality products that are suited to your skin. An SPF is always a necessity, regardless of age but it’s even more important during these hormonal changes due to the limited protection that our melanocytes are able to provide for us in the skin.

We hear so many brand names being thrown around within the Aesthetic industry and it can be really difficult as a customer to know what the benefit of each product is and whether it’s the right product for you. In this blog, we are going to talk about Ellansé. However, it’s important to mention that the Consultation that you have with your Practitioner is personal and should help you determine the best treatment for you. We are all beautifully unique and my view is never a ‘one size fits all’ approach. So, let’s get started. What is Ellansé? In the most simplistic terms, Ellansé is a collagen-stimulating filler. It is injected in a similar way (perhaps with a little more expertise) to a dermal filler to provide volume, combat signs of ageing and rejuvenate the skin. However, Ellansé is so much more than just a filler. The easiest way to understand the product is to view it from a step by step approach. How does Ellansé work? Day of treatment Ellansé is injected like a dermal filler into the areas of concern. Generally, a full-face approach is taken when using Ellansé and the product will be distributed into the whole face – treating areas like cheeks, jawline, temples and in lines and wrinkles. You will see immediate volume and improvement. However, the best is yet to come… Following day It is normal to experience swelling (perhaps a little more than when treated with a regular Hyaluronic Acid based filler) and you must always prepare for bruising. These aren’t definite, but it’s important that you are aware of the potential of swelling and bruising. Over the next 6–12 weeks This is where the magic happens! Over this time frame, the gel that was initially injected to provide immediate volume will completely break down and disappear.  But what about my results I hear you ask?! During this time frame, the PCL microspheres within the product will trigger your body’s natural collagen production. This means that the volume that was initially there from the gel that was injected will in time be replaced by your own body’s collagen. Cool, right? This ensures a very natural result and I love this product for its collagen-stimulating and rejuvenating properties. After 3 months It gets even better than that! Due to the collagen-stimulating properties of Ellansé, this means that not only does the product provide volume, but there is clinical data to prove (and it’s clear from my pictures below) that the general skin quality and texture is significantly improved also. We hear so many brand names being thrown around within the Aesthetic industry and it can be really difficult as a customer to know what the benefit of each product is and whether it’s the right product for you. In this blog, we are going to talk about Ellansé. However, it’s important to mention that the Consultation that you have with your Practitioner is personal and should help you determine the best treatment for you. We are all beautifully unique and my view is never a ‘one size fits all’ approach. So, let’s get started. Who is Ellansé for? Pretty much everyone. The product is generally most suited for mature patients that are looking to rejuvenate their full face and are considering a liquid facelift. However, Ellansé can also be very effective in younger patients to treat acne scarring due to it’s regenerating and rejuvenating properties. How long does it last? This is a key benefit of Ellansé – it’s longevity. There are a few options with this product, but the one that I tend to use lasts for a minimum of 2 years. There are also two other product options – one that lasts for 1 year and one that lasts for 3 years. We would discuss the appropriate product for you during your consultation. Check out my pictures on facebook page and patient stories – these are some of my patients that I have treated previously.  (They were very pleased!) If you are interested in having Ellansé treatment or would like to book in for a consultation, you can contact the clinic directly on 01793 959010 or contact us here.

It’s a common misconception that SPF only needs to be applied to the face when going out into the sun or when you’re on holiday.  In fact, you should actually apply your SPF on your face every single day regardless of the weather to combat premature photo-ageing even when you’re not going outside and even in winter. It’s really important to ensure that you use an SPF with UVA and UVB protection. So, what should I be looking for? SPF stands for ‘sun protection factor’ and the numbers following (for example SPF30 or SPF50) refer to how well the product will protect your skin against sunburn. A simple formula is used to calculate the SPF number – the number of seconds that it takes a patch of skin to slightly redden when covered in sunscreen divided by the number of seconds it takes to slightly redden with no sunscreen. There are two basic types of UV rays; UVA and UVB. UVA rays generally penetrate more deeply into the skin and are responsible for damaging elements within the skin such as collagen and elastin. This can lead to free radical damage, pigmentation and premature ageing. UVA rays can penetrate through glass too. UVB rays affect the more superficial layers of skin and are responsible for sunburn. Both UV rays can contribute and have a major part to play in the formation of skin cancers.   With more and more jobs being computer based and us spending an increasing amount of time on our phones, it’s also really important to use a product with Blue Light (HEV) protection.   There is now increasing data to show that Blue Light (the light that is omitted from your digital devices like your phone, laptop, tv) has been shown to contribute to premature skin ageing. Some research suggests that Blue Light can be more damaging than UVA and UVB as it can penetrate all the way down into our dermis (where our collagen and elastin live). So, what should I be looking for? Ideally, you need to look for a product that is broad spectrum, meaning that it’ll protect you from UVA and UVB. It is also worth looking for a product that specifically blocks Blue Light. Zinc and Titanium based SPFs are generally favourable for blocking Blue Light, but not all of it.  I personally advise using an SPF50 – some of favourite brands are ZO, SkinTech Melablock, Heliocare and Neostrata SPF50+.  It’s also worth mentioning that you can also ensure that the ‘night mode’ or ‘night shift’ setting on your phone is activated which takes the blue hue out of your screen and makes it a more yellow tone. This is not only beneficial for your skin, but also ensures reduces the impact of blue light on the eyes. This can reduce eye strain and allows the brain to relax and prepare for sleep.  I cannot recommend the daily use of SPF enough – prevention is always easier than cure! For any more advice about SPF and the best suited one for you, you can contact the clinic directly on 01793959010 or contact us here.