Get and keep a Cleopatra complexion
JOBURG – How to beat dry and dull skin during the winter months.
The cold winter months are fast approaching in South Africa and, besides the cooler air, they bring with them dry and blotchy skin.
Co-founder of the Radiance for you Centre Dr Salome Gurgenidze said keeping your skin smooth and supple is as easy as bathing in milk.
“In this day and age, there is officially no excuse for letting your skin dry out this winter. With modern medicine and technology at your disposal, you can do wonders.”
The doctor added that these methods can also be used all year around and not just in winter to endure great complexion.
The loss of moisture content is a natural part of the ageing process, due to the increased water loss from the thinned epidermal skin layer.
“Exposure to harsh climates, such as that on the South African Highveld with its intense heat and dry winter, definitely have a negative impact on the skin and can result in many of us looking much older than we are.”
You can indulge your skin with a selection of treatments, ranging from 30 minute lunch-time interventions, to high-tech indulgent treatments worthy of a modern day Cleopatra.
The chemical peel
The superficial glycolic peel has become renowned as a ‘lunchtime treatment’ for dry and dehydrated skin. Involve the application of a chemical peeling agent such as glycolic acid, which effectively removes the outer layer of the epidermis exposing skin that is smoother and more hydrated. It has been proven to result in up to 25 per cent increase in skin thickness, improved quality of elastic fibres and increased density of collagen. While most people will need three to five sessions for long-lasting benefits, the improvement following each session is immediate.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion (or MDA) is a rejuvenation technique that involves controlled mechanical exfoliation of the skin, using crushed industrial diamonds mounted on the tips of the applicators fitted with a vacuum suction. Despite the sound of it, MDA causes very little or no discomfort while it gently removes the outer layer of the skin, promoting skin regeneration, and the synthesis of new collagen and elastin. A course of five to 10 MDA treatments will result in the thickening of the epidermis, which will provide the skin with better hydration levels and a long-term anti-ageing effect.
FotoFacialRF™
The FotoFacialRF™ combines the gentle light of IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and electrical energies to treat the likes of facial veins and broken capillaries, as well as resolve stubborn pigmentation and improve uneven and rough skin texture. In order to enhance the skin rejuvenation effect of FotoFacialRF™, it is often preceded with an MDA treatment, the combination of which results in smoother skin with a brighter complexion and visibly reduced fine lines and pores. After three to six treatments, the epidermis becomes significantly thicker, providing longer-term improvement in the hydration levels of the skin.
Dermal needling
Dermal or skin needling is an aesthetic procedure performed using a device called a dermal roller, which is studded with very fine needles made of sterile surgical stainless steel that aim to increase penetration of active ingredients into the skin, thereby promoting skin healing and collagen production. Dermal needling can work as a standalone treatment, or in combination with special anti-ageing serums and cocktails containing growth factors, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and other proprietary ingredients.
Mesotherapy
Over the past decade, mesotherapy has become a popular method in aesthetic medicine, involving the intradermal injection of a variety of hydrating and anti-ageing compounds directly into the dermal layer. In a nutshell, mesotherapy rejuvenates the skin via the injection of hyaluronic acid and collagen synthesis which is stimulated via the active ingredients of the injected compound, as well as by the multiple injections themselves, as needle stick injuries initiate the wound healing process, encouraging collagen synthesis.
“Drink more water and less coffee. Use a good cleanser, toner and moisturiser during the day and at night. Always use an SPF and keep your face out of direct sunlight when possible. Exfoliate regularly and get enough sleep,” Dr Gurgenidze advised.
