15Jun

Ageing arms and hands can be the bane of many people. Sadly, skin changes occur all over our bodies with age, including of course arms and hands.

Problems include a change in skin quality and loss of skin strength. But more significantly, there’s the battle of protruding veins, wrinkly skin and those dreaded ‘sun spots’.

Our solutions

Lasermed has several treatments for ageing arms and hands. For creped skin, the Dermapen4 Advanced microneedling works well, as do chemical peels. And for sun spots, commonly known as ‘liver spots’ or age spots, IPL is ideal, as well as our fractional resurfacing lasers. Age spots could affect all skin types, although they’re more common in light-skinned adults. Unlike freckles, which are common in children and fade with no sun exposure, age spots don’t fade.

Your treatment options for ageing arms and hands depend on your anatomy and aesthetic goals. Make sure you research all possibilities before deciding on what’s best for you. Not forgetting that Lasermed offers a free consultation to discuss your concerns.

Alas, many people limit their age-defying energy to only the face. But arms and hands also are important. Don’t let your ageing hands and arms add unwanted years to your appearance. They deserve the same attention as your face.

At-home treatments

After your treatment of choice, it’s easy to maintain younger-looking skin on your arms and hands.

The same treatments and products that work for your face to improve skin tone, work just as well on arms and hands too. And these are: Soap-free cleansing, regular non-abrasive exfoliation, sun protection and antioxidant-loaded products. Remember, fine wrinkles on the arms and hands from sun damage also may be treated with retinoic acid. This treatment can improve your skin’s texture, reduce discolouration and increase collagen. Apply at least three times a week.

Image: eliasmedical.com

11Jun

Our client Tania de Clerk was Lasermed’s guinea pig during our recent training on the Nordlys Frax 1550, a new fractional laser.

She writes, “I’m a huge fan of preventative skincare treatments. So, I was very excited when I was asked to review the Frax 1550 laser. Herewith my experience at Lasermed.

The low-down

“Being a non-ablative fractional or fractionated laser, it doesn’t wound or remove thin layers from the skin surface. Instead, it delivers a large number of very small spots per square centimetre of skin treated.

“A 1550 wavelength heats the dermis and the area of heat spreads down, below and outwards from each spot. And the heated area is known as a Micro Thermal Zone. Heating the dermis in a controlled way causes new collagen to form.

New collagen

While treatments only last a few minutes, replacing collagen in the treated area is a gradual process. Thus, you’ll note continual improvements for a 3- to 6-month period post-treatment.

“The good news is that the fractional resurfacing laser reduces fine lines and wrinkles. But even better, those caused by the sun, especially around the eyes and lips, respond best. It’s never too late or too early to treat wrinkles. After all, prevention is better than cure.

“As opposed to ablative resurfacing, the huge advantage of the non-ablative fractional laser resurfacing is that there’s minimal, if any, post-recovery period.”

Thanks Tania. We loved treating you!

5Jun

Stretch marks affect many people. And the causes typically range from puberty and pregnancy to pronounced growth periods. Other causes are periods of quick weight loss or gain, weight training that increases muscle mass quickly or using steroid creams or ointments for extended periods. But there are good treatments for stretch marks.

All age groups suffer

Alas, all age groups can be affected by stretch marks. Sometimes the marks lighten and also could disappear. However, in many instances they’re permanently visible – causing much distress.

Stretch mark sites

Typical stretch mark sites are the buttocks, hips, thighs, or breasts. They first appear as discoloured lines in the skin, sometimes with a red or purple tinge. Also, they may itch, in addition to having a different texture from the surrounding skin.

Considering the cause of stretch marks is literal tearing deep beneath the skin, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that there’s no tried-and-true cure.

Mosaic laser to the rescue

Lasermed’s mosaic fractional laser is very effective as one of the treatments for stretch marks and scarring – especially in young people. The laser delivers energy pulses into your skin, tricking your cells into thinking they’re injured. This causes your body’s natural healing process to kick in, triggering cells to release chemicals to build new collagen.

Other treatments for stretch marks

A dermatologist also can prescribe tretinoin, which may reduce the early appearance of stretch marks. However, no single method works for everybody. Therefore, dermatologists may recommend a combination of the techniques listed above.

Some creams, such as Dermastine Jeune Maman have also been found to be effective as a treatment for stretch marks. But for best results, apply creams, lotions and gels as soon as stretch marks appear.

5Jun

Today, the ideal candidate for facial rejuvenation may just as easily be a man. Reason being, an active lifestyle with exposure to sun and wind can leave skin wrinkled, discoloured, and aged. And in today’s competitive environment, older men need to project vitality. This can add years to your career lifespan. Which is why men also benefit from facial rejuvenation.

On the plus side, men have thicker skin with more hair follicles than women. This allows for quicker healing; which means that men can opt for more aggressive resurfacing procedures.

The right resurfacing procedure can leave the skin refreshed with improved skin tone, texture, colour, pore size, plus reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. We achieve this with IPL, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, or Dermapen4 Advanced microneedling.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is primarily aimed at improving skin condition. The treatment reduces fine lines, discolouration and sun damage. With little or no downtime, it’s ideal for a busy professional man with little time to spare.

Fraxel

Fractionated ablative resurfacing is a newer method of ablative resurfacing where skin is removed using a Fraxel CO2 (carbon dioxide) laser. Luckily, enough of the body’s own tissue is spared to allow faster healing with fewer side effects It also can also be used to blend the face and neck, thus avoiding sharp transition zones between treated and untreated skin.

IPL

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) or Photofacial is a broad band light device utilising multiple wavelengths to treat skin tone, texture, colour, pore size, fine lines and wrinkles. Studies show that IPL treatments alter the skin DNA towards a more youthful genomic pattern.

Chemical Peel

Superficial or deep chemical peels deliver great results. The peels rejuvenate the skin by removing old, dead skin and superficial skin layers. Benefits of chemical peels include improved skin tone, texture, pore size, colour and reducing acne scars.

Dermapen Advanced4 microneedling

Microneedling is a time-tested skin rejuvenating procedure. It works through a process of collagen remodelling where new collagen forms in the punctured skin. As such, we recommend a series of treatments for optimal results.

An investment with many returns

So, the long and short of it is: it’s not a ‘sissy’ thing to do. Men also benefit from facial rejuvenation.

17May

Yes indeed, skin conditions tend to worsen during winter. As a result, sensitivity also increases.

The usual suspects are temperature fluctuations, the drying effect of low humidity and the heat of fires. Without enough protective oils, moisture escapes from the skin which leads to dryness.

Unfortunately, this effect intensifies as temperatures and humidity drop. And moisturiser alone won’t help. Luckily, there’s a solution for skin hydration: overall body hydration.

1. Regular exfoliation

Exfoliation clears complexion-dulling dead cell build-up, making way for fresh new cells to emerge. And this not only provides a radiant canvas, but also is good for skin health.

2. Buy good cleansers

Avoid soap-based cleansers in favour of creamy alternatives. Because fact is, fragranced soaps and those containing alcohols will definitely irritate sensitive skin.

3. Moisturise effectively

Apply moisturiser immediately post-cleansing or –showering. Always choose products tailored to your skin type. An oil-based moisturiser will create a protective layer, but women with oily skin should avoid these. The drier environment of winter can actually exacerbate oil production and, when combined with oil-based products, can lead to breakouts.

One of the best ingredients to use in the winter is Hyaluronic acid. Believe me, it holds up to 1000 times its weight in water.

Its light consistency is an absolute pleasure. Plus, it’s a great product for all skin types. 

4.. Eat & sleep for skin health

Healthy eating habits are very important for overall skin health and hydration. Which is why you should eat skin-boosting foods packed with vitamins, minerals and anti-ageing antioxidants. And don’t skimp on 8 glasses of water a day. Finally, a good night’s sleep helps to renew and repair every cell in our bodies.

17May

Alas, we all love the sun. But sunshine gets a bad rap as one of the major causes of hyperpigmentation – otherwise known as ‘liver spots’. This may occur on any skin colour at any age. Other causes may be hormonal fluctuations or injury to the skin.

The age factor

Unfortunately, hyperpigmentation goes with the territory as we age. It mainly occurs in patches where the skin tissue becomes darker than the surrounding skin. The darkening is a result of too much melanin. As our bodies age, the regulation of melanocytes are less controlled and the distribution less balanced. Melanocytes concentrate in certain areas, and when stimulated by UV rays, wherever the cell concentration is higher, the greater amount of hyperpigmentation will occur.

Melasma

Then there’s melasma. Again, the hyperpigmentation in melasma resembles age spots, but are a result of hormonal fluctuations. Pregnant women and those on birth control pills can generate an overproduction of melanin, causing hyperpigmentation. Generally, it appears on the cheeks, forehead, bridge of the nose, upper lip, and chin.

Skin trauma

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation appears when a skin trauma or injury heals, leaving discolouration behind. A great deal of this type of hyperpigmentation is the result of acne which has healed, leaving a dark mark or spot in its wake.

The wonder of IPL

Although skin lightening creams can treat hyperpigmentation, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) still remains the best option. Creams can fade the appearance, whereas IPL treats it and balances your skin tone.

The way we treat it is with powerful flashes of light in short, polychromatic blasts. The energy created by the light penetrates the dermal layers below the skin’s surface and begins to address the melanin that’s causing the spots. The heat penetrates and attacks the pigment particles, breaking and destroying their bonds. The particles then rise to the surface and form scabs, only to slough off. Thereafter, the body eliminates them naturally.

No downtime

Best of all, IPL requires no downtime post-procedure – just a bit of temporary redness. You’ll see results for minor hyperpigmentation after one session. However, we recommend five sessions for more advanced hyperpigmentation.