The skin is our body’s largest organ, and it's the one we wear daily, in all its glory, for the world to see. Our skin tells our story; whether we suffered from acne in our youth, if we keep tiresome hours at work, or if we spend too many hours in the sun. Our skin can tell a lot about us.
Ageing factors such as the sun, diet and a lack of sleep are just a few contributors in the way our skin ages; however, ageing on its own also plays a significant role. It's not rocket science that as we age, our skin does too, but our skin doesn't have to reflect the exact number of years we've been around! Ageing also happens on a deeper level. It is not just the skin that ages. Loss of the facial fat pads and bone resorption also happen as we age.
To give you an understanding of the skin and how it ages, let’s take a look at the skin and its layers. The skin comprises of 3 layers:
The epidermis (the one that we visually see when we look in the mirror) is the outermost layer of the skin, and consists of 5 layers of its own; the stratum corneum, stratum lucidum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum and the stratum basale.
The dermis (located beneath the epidermis) contains connective tissue, hair follicles and sweat glands.
The hypodermis (which is the subcutaneous layer, the deepest layer of the skin) is made up of fat and connective tissue.
So, how can we slow down the signs of ageing you ask? Well, it’s simpler then you think. Aside from obvious factors such as keeping hydrated, staying protected from the sun’s harmful rays, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, cosmetic treatments such as chemical peels, botulinum toxin, dermal fillers and platelet rich plasma, combined with a good skin care regimen, can all help to restore the skin, aiding in a more youthful looking you.
Let’s delve into these cosmetic treatments a little further…
Chemical Peels
Did you know there are two types of peels? There are superficial peels, and then there are deeper peels. You might be more familiar with superficial peels. They are the ones that leave you with a satisfying peel a few days after being applied the skin. Great, right? Well, not necessarily. If your concerns are of acne, pigmentation or fine lines and wrinkles, these issues actually begin within the dermis - that’s right, the layer below the epidermis. So, whilst shedding of the epidermis is great for that initial glow, it is not targeting the problem. Targeting the dermis, where the beginning of collagen and elastin break down, where acne develops, and where pigmentation starts to form, is how we address these issues. We achieve this through our deeper chemical peels that penetrate right down to the dermis.
Botulinum toxin
What is botulinum toxin? Botulinum toxin type A, more formally recognised as Botox, is a muscle relaxant. Notice those lines on your forehead or between your brows? Botulinum toxin can help with that. Dynamic lines are those lines seen on our face when we activate the muscle by either raising our brows or by frowning, whilst static lines are the lines present on our face when our face is at rest. Ever noticed that your make-up tends to crease along your forehead or between your brows? By relaxing the muscle with botulinum toxin, we can help to soften these existing lines and wrinkles, whilst also preventing them from getting any deeper, and can also help prevent further breakdown of collagen to the epidermis. Have no fear, you can still look natural even after having anti-wrinkle treatments done!
Dermal fillers
Most dermal fillers on the market today are made of hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a naturally occurring substance found within the body. That‘s right, the ingredients of dermal filler are found naturally within the body! HA is a polysaccharide that loves water, and is responsible for giving us that youthful glow and plumpness to the skin. As we age, our natural HA tends to diminish. This is where dermal fillers save the day. HA fillers can be placed in a variety of areas within the face, depending on where the volume needs to be restored. Certain areas of our face not only suffer from collagen and elastin loss, but also from fat loss and bone resorption. By our early 30’s we begin to lose approximately 1% of collagen each year, and over time the fat pads in our face shift forward and down, resulting in deepening of the nasal labial folds and the beginning of jowls. The type of filler that will be used will depend on the area needing to be treated. Soft, medium and thick fillers are designed to treat all different areas of the face, whether it be for volume loss from either the fat pads in the face shifting, or by bone resorption, dermal fillers can help to restore and harmonise the face. Dermal fillers can also be used to hydrate the skin, aiding in less wrinkles for a more youthful and brighter completion.
Platelet Rich Plasma
Platelet rich plasma (liquid gold!) is a great treatment for those wanting to rejuvenate the skin. Platelet Rich Plasma has been used for many years in the medical field to help heal wounds and sports injuries, and is a form of regenerative medicine that has the ability to amplify natural growth factors of the body to help heal tissue. When placed within the skin, Platelet Rich Plasma has the ability to stimulate collagen and new cell growth, helping to treat thin creeping skin around the eyes, neck and back of hands. Platelet Rich Plasma can also help with acne scarring, dark circles under the eyes, the complexion of the skin, as well as hair loss, hollowing underneath the eyes, lid puffiness and uneven skin tone.
Skincare
Are you confused or overwhelmed by the amount of different cosmetic treatments on the market? Not sure what to use, and where, and when? Don’t worry, we're here to break it down for you with these simple steps:
Cleanse: It is important to use a gentle cleanser morning and night, to help wash off any debris, oil, make-up and dead skin cells. This helps clean the skin for better absorption of your active ingredients.
Hydrate & Restore: Active ingredients are a great way to help hydrate and restore the skin, and can not only prolong your cosmetic treatments, but also prevent against signs of ageing.
Vitamin C is a popular antioxidant that helps fight off free radicals such as air pollutants and the UV radiation. Using a vitamin C every morning after cleansing can help maintain hydration & brightness and reduce hyperpigmentation, whilst also promoting the production of collagen.
Vitamin A (retinol and retinoids) is a great ingredient to use as part of your night time skincare routine. When we are younger, our skin sheds dead skin cells (starting from the dermis and finishing off at the epidermis) roughly every 30 days. As we age, this shedding starts to slow down, aiding in fine lines and wrinkles and dull skin. Using a Vitamin A can help to increase the speed this cellular turnover, resulting in skin that looks radiant, fresh and smooth, whilst also thickening the dermis to reduce those fine lines and wrinkles. Using a Vitamin A can also help with hyperpigmentation, acne scarring and reduce the size of your pores.
Protect: SPF speaks for itself really, and the higher the better. Using a SPF every morning, whether or not you're going outside, helps your skin to stay youthful and radiant by protecting it against the sun's harmful UV rays. UVA (think A for ageing) and UVB (B for burning) are present even when the sun is not. It is crucial to use a SPF every day as part of your skincare routine if you want to reduce your chances of pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles.
How can we help?
Remember: we age at different layers of the skin and the face. Loss of collagen and elastin, as well as loss of fat and bone resorption, are some of the many ways in which our face can show signs of ageing. Through the use of cosmetic treatments, dermal fillers, botulinum toxin, Platelet Rich Plasma and a good skincare regimen, you can help fight the signs of ageing, restore volume loss, and put your best face forward.
Come in and speak to one of our skin experts today, and find out how we can have you looking more youthful. Let's bring back your inner Goddess!