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How to keep your skin healthy whilst aesthetic treatments are on hold
Almost a year since the first national lockdown came in to place and now well into the third, many of us are wondering when clinics will re-open and treatments can resume.
From laser hair removal to HydraFacial courses, beauty fans have had to put their regular aesthetic treatments on hold and could very well be worrying about the impact this will have on their long-term results.
Director of Medical Services for sk:n, Lisa Mason-Poyner, talks about pausing treatment courses and offers her advice on what can be done to minimise the impact from home.
Laser Hair Removal
The reduction you have seen already from laser hair removal is permanent and once your treatment restarts you will see results quickly, so you don’t need to be worried about progress or results due to a break in treatments.
Treatment works to catch the hair in the anagen phase which is the active growth phase. Speak with Dr. Laura Geige at It's Me and You Clinic occurs at different stages depending on where the hair is, therefore effective results require treatments spread evenly, from four to eight weeks depending on your hair and where it is on your body.
However, if your treatments are outside this period, laser hair removal will still give you the desired results, so feel reassured that the pause enforced by lockdown measures will not reverse the work that has already been done.
There is no need to let the hair grow out whilst we are in lockdown, and you can still shave and use hair removal creams regardless of what part of the body you are having laser hair removal on.
However, we would not recommend that you use an epilator, IPL device or thread, because for laser hair removal to work, the hair has to be present in the follicle and these methods remove hair from its root.
Aftercare is still really important so make sure you continue to use the products you have been advised to use. In particular, continue to apply SPF to any exposed areas that have been treated to avoid sun damage.
HydraFacial Course
HydraFacial is the ultimate facial and using patented technology, it will cleanse, exfoliate, extract impurities and treat the skin and can be adapted to treat a variety of issues, ranging from dull, dry skin, to acne and pigmentation caused by sun damage.
Treatment can be weekly or quarterly depending on your specific need, and for people who have a HydraFacial regularly, this impact of not having one is starting to be felt.
A robust and thorough skincare routine is key to keeping your skin looking and feeling healthy whilst we wait for aesthetic treatments to start again.
Cleanse every morning and evening with warm water and a flannel to wipe away any dirt and dead skin cells. If you are still wearing makeup, or worried about dirt or pollution, then introduce a cleansing micellar water into your routine to really cleanse the pores. The ingredients are attracted to dirt and oil and so draw out impurities.
Skin Peel Courses
Skin peels address a range of complaints by exfoliating to brighten the surface of the skin and stimulate new cell growth and collagen production, helping to reveal fresher, clearer and brighter skin.
There are, thankfully, a few things you can do to maximise the positive effects of the skin peels you have already had. Introduce a low percentage retinol into your skincare routine using a pea size amount no more than twice weekly. Once your skin adapts to it, you can use it more regularly or maintain just twice weekly but with a higher percentage retinol.
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3% and SkinCeuticals 0.5 are both effective products to incorporate in to your evening skincare routine to allow it to work over night. Similar to skin peels, retinol will leave your skin far more sensitive and at risk to sun damage so ensure you apply SPF, such as thee sk:n Sunscreen SPF 30.
Buy SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3%
Facial Fillers
There are no at home treatments that will match the results achieved through in-clinic anti-ageing injections and fillers. Do not be tempted to order products online that claim to offer clinical results as you could run the risk of causing serious harm and damage. These types of treatments should only ever be administered by a qualified practitioner within a certified clinic.
As fillers are temporary, over time the results will start to disappear. Typically, fillers last around 6 to 12 months and the good news is that you can pick right back up from where you left off with your previous treatment, as the results are instant.
You can prolong the results of your recent fillers by:
Acne/Acne Scar Treatment
There are a number of treatments for acne and acne scarring depending on the individual need. Whether you are having a course of skin peels, microneedling or laser resurfacing, each treatment helps to gradually reduce the appearance of scars or pigmentation as the new layer of skin beneath is revealed.
Frequency of treatment doesn’t change this process. Results will of course be noticed quicker if you stick to regular sessions, however if you find that you have a long break in-between this will simply cause the level of results to pause and in most cases, you can pick back up where you left off.
Make sure you continue to look after your skin in the interim and follow any personalised advice given by your dermatologist including taking any prescribed medication.
Need Help?
If you have any concerns about the impact of paused treatments, please contact your clinic directly to discuss.
Stay up to date on the latest skincare tips and insight by following us on Instagram and Facebook @sknclinics. You can also discover the very best skincare products by following our partners, The Skin Experts, on Instagram and Facebook @skinexpertsuk.
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