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Year: 2022

21Jun

In the age of individualism, we personalise skincare.

To better serve the special skincare needs of each client, Lasermed offers an initial free consultation. Because fact is, we all have different skin.

Skin types

The industry presumption is that there are four skin types: dry, oily, sensitive and normal. Not so. It’s probably more than 20 000 different skin profiles based on an individual’s gene expression, environment, lifestyle and skin concerns.

Our technology

And, by incorporating cutting-edge technology, our methods are creative and exciting to improve clients’ overall skincare experience. Which is why, in the initial consultation, we can identify a client’s specific concerns and needs. We call it the personalisation of skincare. Book your free consultation today!

chemical peels
6Jun

Yes, the word is out: many celebs swear by chemical peels. Some choose not to reveal their cosmetic treatments, but others are quite open about their love for this procedure to maintain a flawless skin. Gwyneth Paltrow, Courteney Cox and Jennifer Anniston are a few who have given the thumbs up to regular peels.

Lactic acid peels are nothing new. In fact, Cleopatra used sour milk and clay to exfoliate her skin. But these days we use infinitely more scientific chemical peels to either remove the outer layer of skin or inflame the deeper skin so that the healing process will lead to renewed, refreshed skin.

Which peel?

Chemical peels are the ultimate multitaskers: providing exfoliation, skin rejuvenation and general skin tone improvement. And do note that it’s never too early or too late to start your chemical peel journey.

In your 20s and 30s, light peels, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) peels, glycolic acid and other AHAs are great for rejuvenating the skin, as well as treating mild to moderate acne.

From age 40 upwards you might want to consider deeper peels. Trichloracetic acid or TCA peels (which have greater depth than AHAs) reduce the onset of sun damage and stimulate collagen when applied at least once a year. On the other side of the spectrum, phenol peels are reserved for deeply-damaged skin.

A chemical peel won’t erase deep wrinkles or large areas of pigmentation. Rather, it can work wonders at minimising sunspots and other discolouration, reducing fine lines, boosting your skin’s collagen production and improving elasticity.

Frequency

Chemical peels can be administered as frequently as once a month to treat acne-prone skin, or at much longer intervals from a few months to six months for ageing skin. Phenol peels are often administered only once, or with many years in between.

When deciding on the frequency of your peels, take the condition of your skin into consideration. For instance, if your skin is acne-prone, a monthly treatment might be advisable.

So be assured that chemical peels can shave years off your face. After all, celebs swear by chemical peels.

But to look youthful, you must be diligent about stripping off that top dead-cell sludge. Another bonus is that topical products such as moisturisers and serums will penetrate the fresh new skin much better.

preventing skin cancer
6Jun

Although the statistics for skin cancer prevalence are alarming, remember that preventing skin cancer starts with you.

There are three major types of skin cancer. And the most deadly, melanoma, kills about 20 people every day in the US, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Self-examination

Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common, followed by Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Both are predominantly caused by sun damage. Melanoma is also caused by the sun but can be familial too.

Although many skin cancers aren’t necessarily life threatening, they are tissue threatening. And the bad news about Melanoma is that it can metastasize to other areas of the body.

If you have rough lesions on your skin, or lesions that peel, bleed, or aren’t healing properly, see your dermatologist as soon as possible. In the case of Melanoma, check your moles. For self-examinations, apply the ABCDE method. A is for asymmetry; B is for irregular borders; C is for colour variation; D is for a diameter greater than 6 mm (the size of a pencil eraser); and E is for evolution (any change in size, shape or colour).

If you have any cause for concern, make an appointment with your dermatologist. Remember, dermatologists have more experience diagnosing skin cancer than any other doctor.

Your children

As stated in the first paragraph, preventing skin cancer starts with you. And teach your children well from an early age.

So, even though we’re in the throes of winter, don’t let them skip the daily SPF50+ sunscreen application. Also, insist that they wear long sleeves and pants, plus a wide-brimmed hat.

It’s best to keep infants out of the sun for the first six months. For unintended exposure, make sure they wear sun-protective clothing and use stroller sunshades. From the age of six months you can start applying sunscreen.

Look after yourself too

Don’t neglect your own sun-protection regimen. Seek shade between 10h00 and 16h00, wear sun-protective clothing and sunglasses with UV protection.

  • Use extra caution near water, snow and sand. These surfaces reflect the sun’s rays, thus increasing chances of sunburn.
  • Watch out for windows. While glass blocks UVB rays reasonably well, it allows UVA rays to pass through. When you’re in the car or near a window at home, remember to wear sunscreen and sun-protective clothing.
  • Don’t ever use tanning beds. UV light from tanning beds can cause skin cancer and premature skin ageing. If you absolutely must have a tan, rather use a self-tanning product. But never skip your sunscreen!

Be safe, be sure: preventing skin cancer starts with you

26May

If you’d like to take a collagen supplement, opt for liquid collagen instead of powder form. Reason being that collagen powders absorb less and slower than liquids.

According to a spokesperson for ProActive Collagen, supplements in liquid form is by far the best option in terms of safety, quality, dose consistency, absorption and effectiveness.

What is collagen

Collagen is the main structural protein in our skin which helps the dermis retain firmness and elasticity. It’s also found in our bones, tendons and cartilage. Sadly, in our 20s we all start experiencing an inexorable decline in our natural collagen. And the rate depends on environmental factors such as sun exposure, smoking and pollution. Consequently, as we lose collagen, our skin becomes drier and more wrinkled.

How to apply brakes

To slow this process, do avoid aforementioned environmental hazards. Specifically, stay away from harmful pollutants (cigarettes in particular), be religious about applying sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Eating foods high in antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables can also prevent collagen breakdown. Finally, staying hydrated throughout the day is all-important.

Choosing the format

When choosing your collagen supplement, consider this: Does the collagen get absorbed? Does the collagen supplement display all the ingredients on the packaging? ProActive Liquid Collagen is a pharmaceutical-grade collagen which meets the highest standard of quality.

So the take-out is, if you want to start a collagen regime, opt for liquid collagen.

20May

The good news is: IPL reduces the appearance of Dyschromia. Another alternative treatment which yields good results is chemical peels.

As the name indicates, Dyschromia is a skin pigmentation disorder. The main cause is hyperpigmentation: darker patches surrounded by lighter patches on the skin. Normally, these darker skin patches occur on areas of the skin which are commonly exposed to sunlight, such as the face, hands and arms.

Causes

Age or liver spots are the most common form of Dyschromia. Meanwhile, Melasma and Chloasma have larger darker patches on the skin as a result of hormonal changes.

More melanin in the skin can also be the result of other factors such as heat, heavy metals, hormones and trauma from ionising radiation. Mottled skin is another type of Dyschromia in which blood vessel changes cause a patchy appearance.

Many things can cause Dyschromia, but by far the most common is accumulated sun exposure, especially recurrent sunburns or suntans. In some cases, certain medications heighten sunlight sensitivity.

Other causes are post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) as a result of wound or skin infection healing. Generally, the darker your complexion, the darker your PIH will be. Café-au-lait spots, Mongolian blue spots, seborrheic keratosis, moles, malignant melanoma and radiation therapy can also cause Dyschromia.

Treatment

By far the best treatment is to avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Use an SPF50+ sunscreen, cover legs, arms and hands and wear a wide-brimmed hat.

If you suspect that you suffer from Dyschromia, consult a dermatologist. Once the condition is diagnosed, he/she may prescribe topical creams such as hydroquinone and/or tretinoin and steroid creams. But do check whether you’re a suitable candidate for IPL, because it’s definite that IPL reduces the appearance of Dyschromia. You may need more than one session to truly see a good result, but it will be worth it in the end.

Chemical peels also are a good alternative. And again, a series of peels may be necessary.

So, although Dyschromia is mentally traumatic, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Photo: stemcellreference.com

4May

Yes, sunscreen is important in winter too. Read on to understand why.

Firstly, many people think UVA/UVB rays aren’t a factor in winter. Wrong! Secondly, winter strips your skin of moisture and sunscreen helps to restore some moisture to your skin.

Another factor is that the ozone layer is thinnest in winter. This means that even though the sun doesn’t feel as hot, you are actually exposed to greater intensity UV rays.

The sun damages your skin

So, whether winter or summer, the sun’s rays definitely accelerate skin ageing, decreasing collagen and elastin production. But applying sunscreen religiously come rain or shine helps to keep skin looking more youthful.

And just because it’s cold doesn’t mean your sunscreen will last longer. Icy winds and low temperatures combine to weaken a sunscreen’s efficacy. That means you still have to reapply the sunblock every couple of hours to protect your skin.

Beware UVA rays

UVB rays (which are weaker in winter) are linked to skin damage such as sunburn, sun spots and various skin cancers. But UVA rays actually are even worse. Plus the strength of UVA rays is consistent throughout the year. Therefore, because they penetrate deeper, they cause more damage. Worse though, UVA may cause for melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Limit light from electronics

With winter meaning more time indoors, don’t overdo the use of computers, TVs and cell phone screens. These light sources, as well as some types of indoor lighting could add to skin damage. That’s why daily sunscreen application is all-important.

The take-out is that sunscreen is important in winter too. This is key to skin health and looking younger for longer. And remember, ‘broad-spectrum’ is the operative word. So read the labels before buying sunscreen. According to dermatologists, SPF50+ is the one to go for.

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