4Sep

With the lockdown blues, many of us are suffering from a dull, lacklustre skin. A dehydrated skin is when there’s a lack of water in the skin. This can happen to anyone, regardless of skin type — people with oily or combination skin can still experience dehydration. Dehydrated skin typically looks dull and can show premature signs of ageing, such as surface wrinkles and loss of elasticity.

With dehydrated skin, you might also notice: darker under-eye circles, or tired eye appearance; itchiness; skin dullness; more sensitive fine lines and wrinkles.

SOLUTIONS

Superficial peels are quick, lunchtime procedures. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) gently dissolve outer layers of dead skin, repair damaged collagen and speed up cell turnover, helping the skin to appear healthier, plumper and tighter with enhanced smoothness and clarity.

These peels are ideal for teenagers and young adults suffering from acne and excessive oil production. For mature ladies wanting a fresh and healthy complexion, peels offer instant results. Combined with specific scientifically-proven topical creams which we stock, results will be enhanced.

STRONGER PEELS

We also offer medium-depth peels, which provide accelerated results for all forms of photo-ageing, sun damage, scarring, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and Melasma.

Our deep peels are ideal for tightening the skin. Ideal for resurfacing the upper lip, plus a chemical blepharoplasty of the eyelids.

HYDRATION VS MOISTURISATION

Just by way of explanation: hydration and moisturisation are two different things. The pinch test is a great way to tell if your skin is dehydrated. Pinch a small amount of skin on your cheek, abdomen, chest, or the back of your hand and hold for a few seconds. If your skin snaps back, you’re probably not dehydrated. If it takes a few moments to bounce back, your skin might be dehydrated.
On the other hand, in dry skin water isn’t the problem. Dry skin is a skin type, such as oily or combination skin, where the complexion lacks oils, or lipids, so it takes on a flakier, dry appearance.

You may also see: scaly appearance; white flakes; redness or irritation; increased incidence of psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis.

Dehydrated skin and dry skin need different treatments. If you want your skin to look and feel its best, you need to both hydrate and moisturise. However, those with dehydrated skin may be able to skip moisturisers while dry skin types may find their skin getting worse by only hydrating.

If you’re hydrating and moisturising, use hydrating ingredients first and then take steps to seal in that moisture.

13Aug

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that serve as building blocks for proteins, such as collagen, elastin, and keratin. When applied topically to the skin, peptides act as little messengers, triggering skin cells to perform specific functions such as building collagen and elastin, reducing inflammation, and locking in skin hydration.

In general, peptides can have a wide application especially for anti-ageing and sensitive skin. They’re good for all skin types, but keep your specific skincare needs in mind when looking at different product formulas. Opt for a moisturising formulation with hyaluronic acid, glycerine, or ceramide that is alcohol-free if you have dry skin. A serum or a lotion that is lighter would be good for an oily or acne-prone skin.

If you need more moisture, try to find a very moisturising product that contains peptides instead of layering. Most peptides are commonly incorporated into serums and moisturisers.

Among the peptide-containing products we stock are:

  • NeoStrata® Comprehensive Retinol Eye Cream
  • Obagi Professional-C Peptide Complex
  • NeoStrata® Illuminating Serum
30Jul

Irritating and unsightly yes. But the good news is that warts aren’t cancerous. There are quite a few types of warts. Over time, your body often will build up a resistance and fight them off. But it may take months or as many as two years for them to disappear. In adults, warts often stick around even longer, perhaps several years or more. However, some warts won’t ever go away.

Flesh-coloured growths are most often on the backs of hands, the fingers, the skin around nails, and the feet. They’re small — from the size of a pinhead to a pea — and feel like rough, hard bumps. They may have black dots that look like seeds, which are really tiny blood clots. Typically they show up where the skin was broken, perhaps from biting your fingernails. (This can also transfer the virus from your hands to your face.)

Flat Warts are even smaller and smoother than other types. The downside? They tend to grow in large numbers — often 20 to 100 at a time. They tend to appear on children’s faces, men’s beard areas, and women’s legs.

Lasermed’s Alta van der Merwe explained, “When treating warts with a laser, the light heats up the blood in the tiny vessels inside the wart, thus destroying the vessels. Without blood supply the wart will die and the wart tissue is destroyed. The laser’s heat also may attack the virus that causes the warts.

“Because the treatment is painful, it’s best to apply a local anaesthetic (EMLA) 1,5 hours before the laser treatment. For best results, cover the area with clingwrap.

“Laser treatments are done with 3-week intervals and numerous treatments may be needed depending on the depth and size of the warts – sometimes two to four treatments or or more. Between treatments you may continue with topical treatments such as Duofilm or Wart Magic.”

Some info and photo: webmd.com.

13Jul

Because face masks have become as necessary as your cell phone when leaving the house, you may find that your skin is breaking out frequently.

In an article in The Independent, consultant dermatologist Dr Adil Sheraz explained, “Due to the tight-fitting nature of the mask, this can lead to blockage of the follicular openings and cause outbreaks of spots and acne. The increased sweating doesn’t help either.”

Because masks are fitted to your face, moisture from breathing while wearing one can become trapped on the skin, increasing humidity which can also cause breakouts. “Also, the act of constantly adjusting and touching the mask and thus touching your face will transfer oil, dirt and irritants to the skin.“

A silk mask with multiple layers would be ideal for sensitive acne-prone skin, he said. Cotton cloth masks are also soft enough to be comfortable on sensitive skin and typically are lightweight. To ensure you’re as protected as possible, look for cotton masks that have a built-in filter or a pocket to which you can add a filter too.

If you have a reusable cloth mask, wash it regularly. Not only is this vital in protecting against the coronavirus, but it will also clear any oil, dirt or bacteria that could result in skin irritation or acne.

Cleanse your skin properly to keep pesky spots at bay. Choose the right cleanser for your skin type. If you like to wear make-up under your mask, experts recommend double-cleansing in the evenings to ensure pores do not become clogged.

For blemishes that won’t budge, a targeted spot treatment can speed up the healing process, while reducing irritation and redness. Look for ingredients that contain salicylic, glycolic and lactic acids, which exfoliate, dissolve gunk and grime and break down debris clogging pores, which cause spots.

When using a spot treatment, always apply it to dry, clean skin, followed by your moisturiser. A light moisturiser with hydrating ingredients such as glycerine and ceramides will help prevent irritation from your mask. Oil-free formulas will work best for acne, as they minimise oil production, which can clog pores and increase breakouts and won’t add extra shine.

13Jul

Hyperpigmentation can cause significant distress as the dark spots tend to appear on the face, hands, and other highly visible body parts that have been exposed to the sun, and can be difficult to hide.

Hyperpigmentation occurs when melanin is overproduced in certain spots on the skin, resulting

in flat, darkened patches of skin that are light brown to black in colour. They can vary in size and shape.

The most common types of hyperpigmentation are:

  • Melasma or chloasma which affects 90% of pregnant women. It occurs as a result of hormonal influences such as pregnancy and birth control pills, and causes dark and irregularly shaped areas on the face or arms that can be quite large.
  • Freckles are caused by sun exposure, and commonly appear on the face.
  • Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs when a skin injury or trauma heals and leaves a flat area of discolouration behind. It’s commonly found among acne sufferers and can also be caused by cosmetic procedures such as dermabrasion, laser treatment and chemical peels.

The following products available at Lasermed can help to minimise hyperpigmentation:

  • NeoStrata Illuminating Serum
  • Dermaquest SkinBrite Cream
  • Obagi Professional C-Serum
  • Skin Tech Blending Bleaching Cream

Phone us on 021 9146006 or email and we’ll deliver to your door.

29Jun

Many people ask whether eye creams are simply more expensive moisturisers in a smaller package. Not necessarily. Eye creams are formulated specifically for the delicate skin around the eye, so they tend to be thicker. They contain more oil than facial moisturisers and usually feature active ingredients aimed at the problems we experience around the eyes.

The skin around the eyes is more fragile, more prone to dryness and quicker to show age and fatigue. Squinting and constant movement of the eyes also hasten the appearance of lines and wrinkles. In addition, fluids collect under the eyes, resulting in puffiness and dark circles. Eye creams can address some of these issues.

Collagen helps maintain skin’s elasticity. Vitamin C, peptides and retinol have boosted collagen production, while ceramide and hyaluronic acid help prevent water loss in the skin and improve elasticity.

Some of the recommended eye creams available at Lasermed are:

  • Dermaquest C-Infusion Eye Cream
  • Obagi Gentle Rejuvenation Eye Cream
  • NeoStrata Bionic Eye Cream Plus
  • Avéne Soothing Eye Contour Cream
  • Zone Eye Gel