20Apr

Many well-known personalities of screen and stage swear by the extraordinary transformational benefits of Fraxel laser .

The name Fraxel comes from treating a ‘fraction’ of the skin, leaving the surrounding tissue intact. This means that because there’s treated skin next to untreated skin, healing is much faster, as is downtime, but the results are still fantastic.

Mosaic or Nordlys Fraxel laser treatments are ideal for those aged 25 to 60 wanting to improve and resurface skin texture to: soften fine lines; lessen acne scars; heal traumatic scars; lighten age and sunspots; balance uneven skin tone; and reduce stretch marks.

So, the long and short of it is: The Fraxel laser hurts your face, but in a good way. The targeted micro-injuries trigger a healing reaction without damaging your skin. In other words, your body gets a call-to-action of generating new collagen to a specific area.

Who qualifies?

But the important question is: are you a candidate? If you have sensitive skin or active skin issues such as eczema, acne, or moderate to severe rosacea, you’re not a candidate for Fraxel-type resurfacing. In addition, those with a history of keloidal or hypertrophic scarring or vitiligo should avoid Fraxel treatment as it may worsen these conditions. Also, people with dark skin tones and melanin should avoid aggressive lasers as they can cause not only pigmentation issues, but keloid development as well.

Maintenance

This treatment is a pretty low-maintenance. A week before your appointment, stop using any retinoids, peels, acids, or products that can cause skin sensitivity. And if you’re having an intense breakout, you may want to postpone the treatment until your skin has calmed down.

Expect redness, swelling and some peeling afterwards, but this settles in less than a week. The important question is: how long does the result last? On average, the results of a Fraxel treatment last at least a year, but it varies from patient to patient.

Don’t forget Lasermed’s special offer on Mini-Frax 1550 treatments during April and fractional resurfacing in August and September – the savings are significant.

19Apr

Rosacea, a chronic skin condition characterised by redness, swelling and irritation around your cheeks and eyes, makes you look like you’re blushing all the time. But not to fear – this condition is treatable with Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) at Lasermed.

The red flag signs for rosacea is a fixed redness in the centre of the face. This redness can intensify and flare due to internal and external factors. Stress, heat, sunlight, spicy food and alcohol can all contribute to rosacea.

Gradually, you’ll also note a thickened skin, visible blood vessels and a long-term facial redness.

It hasn’t been determined what causes rosacea. Experts say a combination of hereditary and environmental factors may be the cause.

Rosacea also can create a swollen, bumpy effect – called adult acne. And then the underlying blood vessels look even more inflamed. The scientific word for this is Telangiectasias and it often appears on the cheeks and centre of the face.

All that inflammation on your face can lead to some seriously dry and parched skin. Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR), is a subtype of the skin disease. It tends to cause dryness as well as visible blood vessels, swelling, and scaly patches on the face.

Flare-ups often occur in cycles. This means that you’ll experience symptoms for weeks or months at a time, the symptoms will go away, and then return.

Anyone can develop rosacea and the condition can be seen in all skin types and colours. Luckily a few regular IPL sessions help to improve the condition greatly.

A number of our clients have seen a significant improvement in as few as two sessions. After obtaining a diagnosis from your dermatologist, book an appointment with us for a free consultation.

19Apr

Skin cancer is prevalent in large numbers throughout South Africa. And although basal and squamous cell carcinomas are the most common, melanoma also occurs in large numbers. The latter is by far the deadliest form of skin cancer, killing many people here in South Africa and around the world.

Early detection of the disease dramatically reduces the risk of death and the treatment cost. Which is why it’s imperative to have an annual appointment with your dermatologist.

Despite increased awareness and proactive measures, skin cancer remains the most common cancer in this country. But the good news is, most cases of skin cancer can be treated successfully when caught early.

One of the key differences between skin cancer and other malignancies is that it is visible on the skin’s surface. Accordingly, a screening by your dermatologist is a quick, non-invasive, painless, and highly-effective way to detect skin cancer at it earliest and most treatable stages.

Monthly self-exams

In addition to practising daily prevention such as applying sunscreen religiously, women and men should perform a monthly head-to-toe self-exam. Assign a specific date each month to thoroughly inspect your face and body for suspicious lesions, including fleshcoloured, pearl-like bumps; red, firm bumps; scaly patches and sores that won’t heal.

It’s also important to track changes and evaluate moles and markings. This means taking note of any asymmetry, irregular borders, colour changes that aren’t uniform, a diameter greater than 6 mm (the size of a pencil eraser), and evolution in appearance.

Annual dermatologist check-up

If you’re concerned about anything, make an appointment with your dermatologist immediately. If further assessment is necessary, your dermatologist will take a sample of skin from a particular lesion for a biopsy.

The take-out is: see your dermatologist annually without fail to catch possible melanoma diagnosis early.

26Mar

Ingrown beard hair is a pain – literally. Even though pseudofolliculitis barbae is a true inflammation of the hair follicle, the inflammation occurs due to ‘mechanical irritation’ and not because of a primary microbial infection, according to dermatologist Dr Jonathan Smith.

The condition is genetic, as those who develop it inherit very tough beard hair. Unfortunately you can’t change the nature of your beard hair, so the problem is usually chronic. Dr Smith said the condition did improve as one aged and the hairs become softer.

One solution is to undergo laser hair removal for men who don’t mind not having any beard hair. He recommended systemic (antibiotics, especially tetracyclines) and topical (keratolytics and antimicrobials) therapeutic modalities for a short-term treatment.

The following shaving tips do bring some relief:

  • Use a single blade, preferably a guarded one
  • Always ensure that the blade is sharp – use once, maximum twice
  • Wait for 5 minutes once the shaving cream has been applied before shaving
  • Shave in the direction of beard hair growth
  • Don’t pull on the skin while shaving

So, for men who want to alleviate the suffering, laser hair removal is the one option. Alternatively, you’ll have to grow a permanent beard.

Image: razors.co

18Mar

Many people find vascular lesions problematic. So, whether you have vascular/red birth marks (Port Wine Stains), broken capillaries (Telangiectasia), superficial to deep collection of vessels raised above the skin surface (Hemangiomas), Poikiloderma of Civatte, Campbell De Morgan lesion (cherry angioma), warts, or hypertrophic and keloid scars, Lasermed can help.

The Cynergy Vascular, Candela V-Beam and IPL lasers safely and effectively target unwanted facial veins and vascular lesions. Dermatologists and laser operators perform these treatments after the correct diagnosis.

Each patient will have different results. Unfortunately, therapy with the Cynergy Laser isn’t a cure for vein disease, but it’s used to fade, reduce or eliminate vascular lesions. Multiple treatments at 6- to 8-week intervals are often necessary.

For Port Wine Stains, the response to treatment varies according to the lesion’s colour, maturity, depth and nodularity.

In hypertrophic and keloid scars, treatments will eliminate the vessels and may reduce the scar’s bulkiness, plus normalise skin texture.

When warts don’t respond to topical medication or remedies, vascular laser treatment is recommended. The latter will destroy the blood vessels feeding the warts. As such, a course of 3 treatments at monthly intervals usually is sufficient.

5Mar

Today’s anti-ageing cosmeceuticals have moved past the hype and turned back the clock. And because beauty isn’t only skin deep, experts point out that what we put inside our bodies counts as much toward a younger look as what we slather on the outside.

A big part of that is using the most beneficial, age-busting product available: sunscreen. And the Heliocare range, available at Lasermed, is just the ticket.

Some research-proven ingredients to look for in your skincare products  include:

1. Retinol

Skin care professionals consider this form of Vitamin A the gold standard of effective topical treatments. Also available as prescription strength Retin-A, retinol is an ingredient in myriad over-the-counter products. It ramps up cell turnover in the top layers of the skin, decreasing wrinkles and improving skin tone.

2. Peptides

These chains of amino acids act as signalling molecules in cells, telling them to heal, renew and slough away.

3. Antioxidants

Fighting cell damage from free radicals, which are produced when skin is exposed to sunlight and some chemicals, antioxidants can make skin firmer and more radiant. Wear them, eat them and drink them, experts say. They’re available in several topical creams. Many foods, especially fresh produce and beverages such as fruit juice and various varieties of tea, also contain antioxidants.

4. Alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs)

These compounds, which include glycolic, lactic, citric and mandelic acids, can help peel away the top layers of the skin to erase fine lines. AHAs are available in both OTC and prescription strengths.

Anti-ageing products to avoid

Some ingredients in anti-aging products should be avoided, experts say. These include:

  • Petroleum-based products. They may temporarily soften skin, but these substances also plug up pores, preventing skin from breathing and detoxifying.
  • Sulfates. Chemicals such as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) dry out skin and hair.

When it comes to applying anti-ageing products, it’s not always better to apply more. Each product should be used as directed on the packaging.

Some products contain active ingredients that do more harm than good when too much is used. They can cause clogged pores, a blotchy complexion, or other unwanted effects.

And remember to drink plenty of water and to eat healthy fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids , both of which contribute to a dewier complexion. Other healthy lifestyle choices, such as engaging in regular exercise and not smoking, are also reflected on our faces.