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Month: July 2022

Hair loss
20Jul

If you suffer from androgenic alopecia or alopecia areata, the good news is that microneedling may help for hair loss. And Lasermed’s therapists are highly skilled in microneedling. However, you do need to consult with your dermatologist prior to treatment.

It’s believed that the same process of creating wounds in the skin will regenerate hair follicle health. This may result in new hair growth, or may thicken thinning hair as seen in androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness.

One study also explored the potential benefits of microneedling when used with a topical corticosteroid to treat alopecia areata. But the majority of the trials combine it with other therapies such as topical minoxidil or platelet-rich plasma.

The procedure

Forty-five minutes before the procedure, your therapist will apply a topical anaesthetic to your scalp to reduce discomfort. Then, she’ll use a roller with needles in several directions over your scalp. Usually, the procedure takes about 10 minutes. After the treatment, she’ll apply a topical balm to the area.

Side effects

The treated area may be red and inflamed for a few days post-procedure. But most side effects diminish within 5 days after your treatment. However, do note that microneedling itself may also result in: bruising, redness, swelling, pain and oozing from the wounds.

If you have a history of acne or eczema, diabetes, or are on blood thinners or other medications, it’s imperative to consult your dermatologist prior to booking a treatment.

Your dermatologist also should advise whether minoxidil should be used after the treatment. The minoxidil may cause more burning, itching and scalp irritation.

After-care

Use a sunscreen daily on your scalp and adding a hat when outdoors would be even better.

Because of the possibility of infection, your healthcare provider may prescribe topical or oral antibiotic to ward off bacteria. But it’s imperative to follow the aftercare instructions meticulously.

vitamin C serum
11Jul

To beat free radicals with vitamin C serum, you need to find the serum most suitable to your skin type.

We all know that there are countless benefits to using vitamin C. And chief among these are managing hyperpigmentation issues (including acne scars) and evening out skin tone.

But importantly, as an antioxidant, vitamin C helps to neutralise free radicals in the atmosphere. These unstable atoms form as a result of exposure to environmental stressors such as UV rays and pollution. As time marches on, free radicals can cause oxidative stress, thus harming the skin and causing premature skin ageing.

Concentration

Firstly, the concentration is important. Because vitamin C products may be a skin irritant at higher concentrations, first-time users should ease into the programme by starting with a 5% concentration.

Gradually step up the concentration to 10% and then 15%. However, those with non-sensitive skins may even go all the way up to a 20% concentration. But after 20%, the effects you’ll get from vitamin C products pretty much plateau.

Dry or sensitive skin types should stick to lower concentrations. But oily skin types, or those who deal with extensive pigmentation issues, may be able to handle higher serum intensities to improve tone and texture.

Check the ingredients

People with oily skin should choose a serum containing sodium ascorbyl phosphate – a light, water-based product. But if you have a mature and dry skin, the lipid-soluble ascorbyl palmitate, is by far the better ingredient option.

Also, being sensitive to both oxygen and light, Vitamin C is very unstable. So do check the packaging. Products in light-blocking opaque or dark packaging are best. But an airless pump is even better, because it’ll prevent exposing the serum to oxygen.

Application

The golden rule is to apply vitamin C in the morning directly after cleansing your skin but before moisturising it. Also please note, if you use retinol or benzoyl peroxide regularly, steer clear of using a vitamin C serum at the same time. Rather use benzoyl peroxide and retinol at night, or on different days of the week for the best results.

The take-out is: you too can beat free radicals with vitamin C serum.

Enlarged pores
4Jul

If you’ve experienced the horror of enlarged pores in the magnifying mirror, know this: you can shrink those pores with IPL. You can’t wish your enlarged pores away, but luckily you can gradually shrink and minimise them. Achieve this with a mixture of effective cleansing, exfoliating and the wonder of IPL.

Often enlarged pores are genetic. An oily skin doesn’t help either. Usually, overactive sebaceous glands which cause pores to expand are the culprits. Also, hormonal changes, poor skin hygiene, too much sun, extreme climates and the ageing process influence pore size.

Treatments

We all regard enlarged pores as cosmetically undesirable. Not only that, but they’ll be more prone to getting clogged with oil and dirt, increasing the chance of break-outs.

Steps to take include prudent use of skincare products adapted to your skin type. That certainly will help to reduce oil production and help control pore size. Do take note that by using cosmetics to camouflage large pores, the problem actually might eventually get worse.

The wonder of IPL

IPL is recognised as an effective treatment to stimulate cell renewal and collagen production in the skin. So, to shrink those pores with IPL, it works thus: without harming the skin’s surface layers, light pulses are focused on the skin cell layers responsible for cell renewal. These intense light pulses effectively have a rejuvenation effect by penetrating deep into the skin, killing bacteria and stimulating collagen production. The result is improved skin tone, reduced oil production and an eventual reduction in the pore size.

Typically, multiple treatments are necessary. But the good news is that you will notice results within a week or two after the first treatment.

In addition, IPL also corrects visible skin imperfections and improves skin tone. So, it’s a double-whammy.

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