Acne Scars
Unfortunately, sometimes after acne we are left with damage and scarring to the surface and deeper layers of our skin.
Acne scars are permanent textured changes and indentations that occur on the skin as a result of severe acne. The word scarring however is not used for those temporary red and brown marks left early after acne as they will most likely always improve.
There are many different types of acne scarring. And most often people will have a mixture of acne scars, including tethered or anchored scars, ice pick scars, boxcar scars and rolling scars.
Different types of scars will require different treatments and a tailored approach to scar revision therefore provides the best outcome.
There are many treatments available for acne scars which can improve and soften the appearance of the scarring. A combination of treatments may be required. It is unrealistic to expect the return to completely normal skin.
Congested Skin
Congestion is a term used to describe skin which has clogged pores. These are seen as blackheads and whiteheads making the bumps and dirty look associated with it. Blackheads are when the clogged substance is close to the surface with the air making them appear black and whiteheads are the deeper ones, harder to treat and not accessible to the air.
The overall cause is, of course, those pesky hormones we all have, however why some people skins develop these problems and others don’t is due to a number of factors all of which contribute differently to the problem:
- A build-up of excess oil & sebum
- Dead cells which are produced constantly as our cells turnover
- Environmental pollution and daily dirt
- Toxins being expelled by the body via your sweat
- Makeup & Skincare
- Insufficient cleansing
- Products that are full of toxins such as petrochemicals, SLS & other nasty’s.
Genetics and lifestyle issues play an enormous part in how the hormones act on the skin and so the treatment plan has to revolve around these.
Treatment is slightly different to skin with pimples though as congestion often leads to pimples our overall plan is similar. What we aim for is to change the pH of the skin, keep it well hydrated, build its immunity, stimulate cell turnover and keep the skin scrupulously clean without damaging the surface layers. Harsh scrubs & cleansers simply cause inflammation, drying the skin and causing a rebound of oil production.
A tailored professional home care routine and in-clinic treatment plan will have you well on the way to clear, smooth, healthy glowing skin.
Ageing
Let’s face it we are all going to age with time! However, with a little help from Dermotique you can age more gracefully.
Our skin is at the mercy of many forces as we age, the sun, harsh weather, and bad habits. But we can take steps to help our skin stay supple and fresh-looking.
How your skin ages will depend on a variety of factors like your lifestyle, diet, heredity, and other personal habits. For instance, smoking can produce free radicals, once-healthy oxygen molecules that are now overactive and unstable. Free radicals damage cells, leading to, among other things, premature wrinkles.
There are many other reasons, too. The most common factors contributing to wrinkled, spotted skin include normal aging, exposure to the sun (photoaging) and pollution, and loss of subcutaneous support (fatty tissue between your skin and muscle). Other factors that contribute to aging of the skin include stress, gravity, daily facial movement, obesity, and even sleep position.
As we grow older, changes like these naturally occur: Skin becomes rougher. Skin develops lesions such as benign tumours. Skin becomes slack. The loss of the elastic tissue (elastin) in the skin with age causes the skin to hang loosely. Skin becomes more transparent. This is caused by the thinning of the epidermis (surface layer of the skin). Skin becomes more fragile. This is caused by a flattening of the area where the epidermis and dermis (layer of skin under the epidermis) come together. Skin becomes more easily bruised. This is due to thinner blood vessel walls.
At Dermotique we have many treatments and also professional product ranges to help support premature ageing.
Enlarged Pores
Pores are the tiny, small openings in the skin at the top of our hair follicle, which cover our whole body. They release sebum (oils) to naturally moisturise and protect our skin.
Usually genetics determine larger pores. But oily skin, sun damaged and aging can also be factors.
As you grow older, your skin loses its elasticity, which causes your skin to stretch and sag, making pores appear larger. Your skin also thickens as you age, which causes skin cells to gather around your pores, making pores look bigger.
Years of sun damage can thicken the skin, which leads to bigger pores.
While you can’t change your pore size, you can minimise the appearance of enlarged pores.
And we offer a variety of treatments including Laser, peels and Micro needling to reduce the size of pores.
Dry Skin
Dry skin is a skin condition caused by lack of oil in the skin.
Environmental factors such as humidity and temperature have an effect on the amount of moisture retained in the skin. Therefore dry skin is more common in colder winter months and drier climates.
The elderly are more prone to dry skin than younger people, for as you age the natural skin oils and lubricants tend to diminish.
When there are deficient proteins and lipids in the skin, moisture evaporates more easily. As skin becomes dry it can also become more sensitive and prone to rashes and skin breakdown. Causing itching, rough, dry skin.
Dry skin can be improved by taking lukewarm showers or baths and avoiding excessive scrubbing. As hot water and harsh scrubbing can remove the natural oils that protect our skin.
We have many treatments and products here at Dermotique to help heal, repair and strengthen the skin barrier, so your skin can be hydrated, soft and healthy.
Dull Skin
Dull skin is exactly what it sounds like, skin that has lost its healthy glow of colour and brightness.
Dull skin is the result of skin cells that need a little bit of extra TLC.
As we age, it’s easier for our skin to become dehydrated and dry, leading to things like dull skin.
Sun damage is a common contributor to dull skin. The sun’s UV rays damage your skin cells and can even lead to serious illnesses like melanoma. Damage from UV rays can also make your skin appear worn out and dull.
Our Lifestyle choices can also cause dull skin. Smoking, eating unhealthy food often, lack of sleep, getting too little exercise, drinking alcohol to excess, and not drinking enough water.
Another cause can be dehydration. When your skin cells lack moisture they will appear dull.
We can help you brighten up your skin, clearing away dead skin cells, to help you feel bright and radiant again.
Pigmentation
Whether it is sun spots, age spots, freckles, sun damage, or melasma – skin pigmentation is a common issue. While imperfections can be beautiful, you cannot deny that if not appropriately addressed, those tiny brown spots adorning your cheeks or nose can become a real problem. Hyperpigmentation is usually harmless. However, it may also indicate an underlying medical condition.
If you got these spots because you didn’t take proper care of your skin, you can take steps to fade them.
Skin pigmentation is caused by melanin, a pigment in our skin that gives it colour. Normally, the amount of melanin in our skin stays constant, but in the case of hyperpigmentation, the distribution of melanin is uneven, creating a blotchy appearance. Skin pigmentation often occurs via sun damage, melasma, hormonal imbalance, or injury to the skin.
Most cases of pigmentation can be classified as “post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation”, which appear as dark spots on your face and neck caused by acne or other injuries on the face. Your melanin levels rise as your skin heals from injury, and the spots can remain for weeks after the cause.
Skin pigmentation can be difficult to treat because you can’t just peel away the sunspots from your skin. It’s relatively harmless, though some people might choose removal options for aesthetic reasons.
Some people are more prone to skin pigmentation than others, and its severity can depend on factors like your lifestyle, genetics, and even your age. If you’re cosmetically concerned about your skin pigmentation, it’s best to consult us at Dermotique.
Broken Capillaries
Broken or dilated capillaries are tiny veins that can appear anywhere and often on the face, most commonly around the nose, cheeks and chin. They occur just beneath the surface of the skin, looking like a red web-shaped appearance giving them their common name spider veins. They occur when the capillary walls expand and contract too quickly, causing them to tear and allowing blood to seep out.
Thin, dehydrated, dry and sensitive skins provide less protection and are most commonly affected. However, genes, sun exposure, changes in weather, changes in pressure, pregnancy, environmental irritants, rosacea, alcohol consumption and injuries are other causes of broken blood vessels on the face.
While these spidery, reddish blemishes aren’t harmful, they can stand out and look unsightly.
Once these broken vessels appear, they do not heal or disappear on their own. But the right therapist will know how to treat your skin gently in facials preventing further damage.
There are a range of treatment options available in our clinic including laser and IPL.
Rosacea
Rosacea is an inflammatory rash on the face. It appears most commonly on the cheeks and nose, and less commonly on the forehead and chin. It starts typically in adults 30 to 60 years, and more prevalent in fair skin, blue eyes and Celtic origins.
Contributing factors to rosacea include genetic, environmental, vascular and inflammatory conditions. Skin damage due to chronic sun exposure is another important factor.
Rosacea may be aggravated by facial creams or oils, and especially by topical steroids. Rosacea is characterized by red spots (papules), sometimes pustules, scaling and swelling.
Frequent blushing or flushing and redness due to prominent blood vessels – telangiectasia is typical. Dry and flaky facial skin is common. Aggravation by sun exposure and hot and spicy food or drink (anything that reddens the face)
Sensitive skin: burning and stinging, especially in reaction to make-up, sunscreens and other facial creams.
Treatment for rosacea is multimodal, including vascular laser. We tailor the treatment program to suit your skin.
Moles
Moles are pigmented lesions that appear on your skin. They are usually round or oval in shape and can sometimes be raised from the skin. Most people have about 50 moles.
Most moles are mostly harmless, but some types can develop into skin cancer. This is usually caused by long periods of exposure to the sun.
It is important to get your moles checked regularly by your GP or Dermatologist.
Look out for any changes, including:
- The size, shape, colors or irregular outline of your moles.
- Any bleeding, soreness, itching, weeping or inflammation should be checked
- A crusty or flaky appearance developing, or new moles which look different or unusual
Warts
Warts are infections in the skin caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are more than 100 types of HPV that are responsible for the many different types of warts, which include common warts, plantar warts, flat warts and genital warts. Warts are common, particularly in childhood. Some estimates suggest that up to one in five children have warts, with children aged 12 to 16 years most commonly affected. Without medical treatment, many wart infections go away by themselves.
Most warts are easily recognized. For unusual warts, see your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
There are many different treatments for warts. Warts can be stubborn, so you may need to use more than one type of treatment. Laser therapy is a very effective way to burn off the warts. Scarring may occur.
Cherry Angiomas
Red moles, or cherry angiomas, are common skin growths that can develop in most areas of your body. They most often grow on the torso, arms, legs, and shoulders. They’re also known as senile angiomas or Campbell de Morgan spots.
A cherry angioma is often bright red due to the collection of small blood vessels inside the lesion. They are circular or oval in shape and ranging in size from a pinpoint to a few millimeters in diameter. Some cherry angiomas appear smooth and even with your skin, while others appear slightly raised.
Bleeding can occur if the angioma is scratched, rubbed, or cut open.
The exact cause of red moles is unknown, but there may be a genetic factor that makes certain people more likely to get them. They often begin to appear when individuals reach 30 years old and seem to increase in size and number with age.
You probably won’t need to have a cherry angioma treated, but you do have options if you want it removed for cosmetic reasons. A yellow laser is the most effective way to remove cherry angiomas. Depending on how many angiomas you have, you may need between one and three treatment sessions. This surgery can cause slight bruising, which can last up to 10 days.
If you do have angiomas removed with any of these methods, scarring is uncommon but always possible.
A cherry angioma won’t go away on its own, but it’s also unlikely to cause you any problems. It may bleed from time to time if it’s irritated. However, a red mole that changes in size, shape, or color is always cause for concern and should be looked at by your primary care doctor or dermatologist.
Milia
Milia are small white benign bumps just under the surface of the skin. They most often appear on the face, and are particularly prominent on the eyelids and cheeks, but they can occur elsewhere. An individual milium is typically smaller than 1mm but can measure up to 3mm or more. They commonly occur on the faces of newborn babies, especially on the nose. Milia can also affect children and adults, with one type of milia causing pearly bumps around the eyes.
What causes milia?
Milia are a type of cyst containing dead skin cells (keratin). They are formed when flakes of keratin get trapped just below the skin’s surface. They are harmless and cause no symptoms.
Milia are easy to identify and can be diagnosed by a doctor without any need for testing.
Milia usually go away naturally without any treatment. They don’t leave scars and trying to squeeze or burst them at home is not recommended. In some cases, your doctor can remove milia by slicing off the top of individual cysts with a sterile blade or needle and squeezing them out.
We offer effective treatment options for the removal of milia.
Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are scar-like streaky areas that appear in overstretched skin. Underlying tissue expansion is the most common cause, so they develop most often during the growth spurt in adolescence and on the expanding abdomen in the third trimester of pregnancy.
They can also occur in bodybuilders, as a consequence of rapid weight gain, and in some medical conditions where the skin is exposed to excessive amounts of a hormone called cortisol. Early stretch marks are usually red or purple. Over time, stretch marks lose their colour and become white or silvery in appearance.
A stretch mark is formed when the skin is stretched as a consequence of underlying tissue expansion. There is an inflammatory reaction in the skin that is responsible for the characteristic red or purple colour. The inflammation eventually fades and is replaced by scar tissue. This produces a thinned epidermis, loss of dermal elastin, and a replacement of the dermis by abnormally dense collagen fibres. The scarring is characteristically white or silvery in appearance and permanent.
Evidence suggests that the application of creams and lotions can’t prevent stretch marks. However, some treatments have shown promise in individual studies.
Stretch marks naturally fade and usually become less conspicuous over time, so in many cases, treatment may not be necessary.
We have various effective treatments available for the management of red, purple or white stretch marks.
Your skin deserves Dermotique!
We are passionate about giving our clients the best skin possible & fixing problems where others have failed.
We aim to provide you a professional service and effective treatments coupled with unparalleled knowledge of the skin.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with our skin therapists, because your skin deserves it!