What skin treatment is right for you?

Have you ever wanted to go into a clinic for a skin treatment but have no idea what to book in for or where to start? First off, knowing the difference between a Beauty Spa and a Cosmetic Clinic, can save you a lot of money and time. Although we are gradually seeing a merge between the world of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetic Medicine, there are still major differences to be aware of.

At a Cosmetic Clinic you will find Doctors, Nurses and Laser technicians who are trained in treating skin medically as an organ. When attending a cosmetic clinic, you should receive a thorough consultation regarding your skin type, medications, lifestyle factors and main concerns. The clinics have a medical feel and treatments are designed to change or restore the skin. If your skin is problematic, then these are the types of specialists I would recommend seeing. It is always great to have a consultation first and then decide on a treatment plan, however, here are some treatments offered at Cosmetic Clinics that are great for majority of skin types and needn't shy away from.

Microdermabrasion

What is it:

Microdermabrasion is a minimally invasive skin treatment where a finely abrasive technique is used to buff away the outermost layer of the skin. A small machine buffs away dead skin whilst encouraging lymphatic drainage. The idea is that if you remove or break up the dead skin cells on the surface of the face, the body interprets that as a mild injury and rushes to replace the lost skin cells with new and healthy ones. This polishing removes dry, damaged surface skin and stimulates collagen production and blood flow to give you an instant glow.

Who can have it:

Microdermabrasion is suitable for majority of skin types. The roughness and degree to which the machine exfoliates the skin, can be determined by your Dermal Technician to ensure it is suited to your skin type. It is great for following:

  • Breakout prone skin
  • Dull looking skin
  • Ageing skin
  • Healthy skin to help preserve
  • Oily or dry
  • Pigmented skin

 When is this treatment not suitable: 

  • Open lesions on face (from either picking or from severe acne)
  • Eczema
  • Dermatitis
  • Rosacea and broken capillaries.
  • Can not be performed within 2 weeks of having anti-wrinkle injections or dermal fillers.

Down time:

This treatment requires very little down time. You will be quite red immediately after as the treatment encourages blood flow (hence the glow!). You will be required to wear spf 50+ straight after treatment and stay out of direct sunlight to insure pigmentation does not occur. It is recommended not to wear makeup after treatment, as anything you put on your skin will infuse a whole lot deeper! So if you are naughty and do wear makeup after, be mindful of using mineral, organic makeup.

Treatment Plan:

How often you have a Microdermabrasion is dependant on your skin concerns. If you're happy with your skin and just need a boost, you can have the treatment once every now and then or a maximum of every two weeks.

If you're treating breakouts and problematic skin, then your Dermal Tech should discuss other treatment options to include in your skin plan alongside Microdermabrasions.

Dermalux infrared Light

What is it:

LED uses low levels of light energy to target skin concerns. The light stimulates the healing process at a cellular level repairing and reversing damage. The red light penetrates deep into the dermis, increasing blood flow and cellular activity. LED Therapy utilises yellow, red and blue wavelengths to offer a variety of treatments such as skin rejuvenation, acne treatment and pain relief, and aids in the healing process after invasive or minimally invasive procedures. Although a medical treatment, the light is quite relaxing and pain free!

Who is it suitable for:

Basically all skin types! Perfect for inflamed acne, rosacea, eczema and dermatitis.

Down time:

NO downtime is required post Healite. Slight redness of the skin can occur and will subside over the following one - two hours. Again spf 50 + and no makeup is recommended post treatment.

Treatment plan:

Again this is dependant on the condition you are wanting to treat. LEDs can often be prescribed to patients as intense two week courses to reduce significant inflammation, or can be incorporated into long term treatment plans to initiate quicker healing and amplify the results of other cosmedical treatments. Results can be seen after just one treatment with results improving with each additional treatment thereafter. My recommendation would be to start with a combination of Microdermabrasion followed with a LED to really amplify the glow!

SKIN NEEDLING (Meso Therapy)

What is it:

Skin needling often scares people due to the gruesome videos on instagram, however it is by far one of my favourites! There are quite a few different names and techniques to this treatment however the basic principles are as follows.

Lots of fine surgical steel needles are applied directly to the skin in a crisscross motion. The objective is to puncture the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin production, smooth skin and promote scar or stretch mark reduction through the skin's natural wound healing process. When performed medically in a Cosmetic Clinic, the target of the needles and penetration is the upper dermis called the intermediate reticular dermis. This is not as painful as it sounds and can sometimes be relaxing for the patient. 

Who is it suitable for:

  • Acne scarring
  • stretch marks
  • fine lines
  • Pigmentation
  • enlarged pores
  • Blackheads
  • Scarring.

When is this treatment not suitable: 

  • Cannot be performed over active cystic acne.
  • Can not be performed within 2 weeks of having anti-wrinkle injections or dermal fillers.
  • During pregnancy.

Down time:

Redness post treatment can subside between 12- 48 hours post. Makeup is not recommended 12- 24 hours post.

Treatment plan:

Optimal results come from having a course of three to six treatments monthly. The true result of your Skin Needling treatment will be apparent approximately three - six months post treatment as your skin regenerates and continues to produce new collagen and elastin. However, most clients can note improvement in their skin texture and clarity within a two to four week period.

Book in with Dee, our in house Skin Expert at The Functional Skin Studio for any of the above treatments. BOOK NOW


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