Skin Conditions

TREATMENTS FOR ACNE AT RENATUS CLINIC

• Chemical peels
• LED light therapy
• Skinpen microneedling
• SQT Bio Microneedling

Acne FAQs

Usually it can start around puberty, but there are many adults that can suffer with Acne and it can affect ladies going through the menopause. The impact can affect mental health as the client try to battle with the spots, redness and congestion on the skin.

What is Acne?
It is a common skin condition characterised by blocked/plugged pores; blackheads and whiteheads, inflamed pimples known as pustules or deeper lumps known as nodules. Acne can occur on the facer, neck, chest, back or upper arms.

Why shouldn’t I squeeze my spots?
Picking or squeezing spots can lead to increased inflammation in the skin and cause acne scarring. Some darker skins may find they have marks left after the spot has gone away with is melanin which has deposited where the inflammation was.

Grades of Acne
Grade 1 Acne
This is the mildest form of acne, consisting of blackheads mostly found on the nose, chin, forehead, but no inflammatory lesions.

Grade 2 Acne
This is considered as moderate acne, usually consisting of blackheads, whiteheads, papules and some pustules, these will be located in the oilier areas of the face. The majority of the skin will be clear, but the skin can look inflamed.

Grade 3 Acne
Papules and pustules present throughout the T-zone and cheeks. They may be a heavier texture to the skin. Scarring can be more prevalent and can be found all over the face and neck, as well as other body areas.

Grade 4 Acne
This is a severe form of acne, with blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, pustules, papules and nodules present over the face and neck. The skin will feel inflamed and sore. Scarring can easily happen.

Grade 4 Hormonal Mediated Acne
This female adult variety of hormonal acne is often found on the lower face, particularly the chin, jawline and neck. The skin is more likely to be lipid dry or sensitive (have permanent redness) but not oily. Macula’s (flattened crusted lesions) are found to be predominant with the acne that has been stimulated by high “androgen climate”, contraceptive or those with “androgen sensitivity”. Some nodules may be tender. There will be no blackheads or whiteheads.

Why is homecare important?
Contrary to belief Acne sufferers often believe their skin need to be washed more regularly and they shouldn’t apply moisturiser. This is not the case, over cleansing will actually strip the skin of its natural oils so the body produces more. If the skin is not moisturised it will also produce more oil naturally.
The right kind of medical grade products need to be used to help the skin on a daily basis, ones which are not harshly stripping the natural skin barrier, or adding in emollients or oil that can make the condition worsen.
It is best to see a skin specialist who can analyse and assess your skin and make appropriate recommendations.

Should I go on medication?
There are some cases of acne that can only be helped by seeing a dermatologist and using a strong medication to help. This medication can often cause skin sensitivity, soreness, irritation. High Street products can often not help the skin in this delicate time, your skin specialist can assist in finding some gentle homecare products to help relieve the skin and keep your barrier healthy whilst on this medication.
For milder cases of acne GP’s will generally prescribe topical antibiotics or in tablet form, you can often see an improvement in the skin whilst on these short courses but the skin can often get worse again when you stop them. The antibiotics only kill the bacteria multiplying on the skin, they don’t help other causes of acne.
Your skin specialist can help to address your skin barrier, bacteria, inflammation and sebum in the skin which in most cases can help without using the antibiotics.

What treatments can I have?
A full skin consultation will be taken to fully understand your skin and the issues. Your skin specialist will go through different aspects of your health, well being, routines and explain how to get the best from your treatment plan. She will make recommendations for the right homecare products and in clinic treatments to help the skin.Treatments will need to be frequent until the condition starts to improve.

Treatments may include chemical peels, LED light therapy and Skinpen microneedling and SQT Bio Microneedling

Will I see results straight away?
It is not realistic to expect to see results straight away. It will take time for the skin to adjust to new ingredients, products, treatments. Sometimes the skin can purge after starting new products or a treatment which means it is clearing out the pores from inside, This sometimes causes new break outs to appear. The important thing is to be consistent and give your skins barrier a chance to repair and work more effectively.

TREATMENTS FOR ACNE SCARRING AT RENATUS CLINIC

• Skinpen medical microneedling
• SQT Bio Microneedling

Acne Scarring FAQs

What is Acne Scarring?
This is where inflammation in the skin from the spots has damaged the deeper layers whilst it is trying to heal. This can cause dents in the skin which is known as acne scarring.
There are different types of acne scars; Ice pick, Boxcar, Rolling and Hypertrophic.
There can also be red or purple marks on the skin, this is Post Inflammatory Erythema, they are found where previous spots have been present on the skin.
When there are darker brown marks this occurs where the previous red marks have been. The body deposits melanin where the previous inflammation has occurred. This is known as Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation.

How can I prevent Acne Scarring?
Definitely do not pick any spots, this in itself can lead to red marks and pigmentation.
Some skins are more prone to getting marks and scarring, so if you can prevent the break outs as much as possible it limits the amount of damage to the skin. Seeing a Skin Specialist can help find the right products for your skin to reduce the break outs.

How can I treat the Scarring?
This all depends on the severity of the scarring, the type of scarring and the depth of the scarring. In some situations more invasive treatments such as Fractional resurfacing, CO2 Laser resurfacing or subcision of the scars may be required, your skin specialist will be able to advise.
At home products such as Retinol can help with marks on the skin and they can help rebuild the collagen to plump out the dents. This will assist with any other treatments you are having, but it is important to get a good quality Retinol from your Skin Specialist as they can recommend how to use it alongside your treatments.

Medium depth chemical peels can help with scarring, post inflammatory erythema and hyperpigmentation in the skin, a course is needed. The ingredients in the peel can also help to prevent new breakouts.

Skinpen medical microneedling andSQT Bio Microneedling can help with both the scarring and the post inflammatory erythema and hyperpigmentation. It stimulates a wound healing response to naturally plump your skin with your own collagen. A course of treatments are needed, results depend on the severity of the scarring in the skin. This will be discussed in your skin consultation.

TREATMENTS FOR ENLARGED PORES AT RENATUS CLINIC

• Chemical peels
• SQT Bio Microneedling

During your consultation we will be able to assess your skin and determine whether you have enlarged pores or congestion in your skin. Sebaceous filaments can often be mis diagnosed as enlarged pores as they can look similar.
Recommendations will be made for products and treatments that can improve the look of the pores and congestion on the skin.
These could be Chemical peels

or SQT Bio Microneedling

TREATMENTS FOR DRY SKIN AT RENATUS CLINIC

• SQT Nourish & Hydrate

This is generally due to a lack of lipids in the hydrolipidic barrier which is designed to protect your skin. The the oils in the barrier are deficient it leads to dehydration and dryness as the skin is unable to retain water. The skin will be flaky with visible dryness on the surface. It can be caused by UV damage, skin products, harsh temperatures, chlorine or medical conditions such as eczema.
Using the right ingredients will help the barrier to function properly these will be recommended during your skin analysis appointment.

Treatments such as SQT Nourish & Hydrate

will apply high levels of hydration to the skin, one session being equivalent to applying your skincare 500 times. This will help to repair the skin barrier, leaving the skin more comfortable and healthier.

Sensitivity in skin can occur at anytime in your life, it can be caused by different factors, your skin specialist will be able to help you ascertain the causes, they can then recommend skincare or treatments that will help to restore the barrier of the skin to make it work more effectively.

There can be many factors that can affect the skin and lots of ingredients that can irritate the skin further. Visiting a skin specialist can help you to learn what may be triggering your condition.

Symptoms may range from redness, itchiness, irritability to touch or light induced, skin be may cracked, tight, or burning.

This skin condition can range from mild symptoms to severe. There is no cure for Rosacea but symptoms can be managed by using the correct skincare and treatments to help the skin barrier.

Finding out what your triggers are and getting advice on ingredients that will help to keep the skin barrier healthy and working effectively will improve the condition. Ingredients like parabens, sulphates, perfumes, fragrances and other chemicals can be irritants and increase symptoms.

Also the overuse of emollients can make your skin barrier less effective and lead to a reliance on these products.
Once the barrier is in a healthier position treatments such as the SQT Bio Microneedling< have a protocol specifically designed to help improve redness prone or Rosacea type skins.

TREATMENTS FOR AGING SKIN AT RENATUS CLINIC

• Chemical peels
• Skinpen microneedling
• SQT Bio Microneedling
• Mesotherapy

Aging skin
As the skin ages it will develop lines and wrinkles, pigmentation may appear on the surface of the skin. The skin loses it’s bounce and can start to appear lax, sagging can occur. The skin can look different in it is dull and loses its radiance. It can become drier especially after the Menopause. The skin becomes thinner and veins can be more apparent, the skin can bruise more easily and it becomes more fragile.

Your skin analysis will address your personal concerns and advise on treatments that can help such as chemical peels, Skinpen medical microneedling, SQT Bio Microneedling and Mesotherapy. Recommendations for corrective skincare will be made to allow you to get the best from your results.

What causes skin ageing?
The skin is the largest organ on our body and has the job of defending us. Ageing is a natural process but the skin will age depending on genetics to some degree but mostly due to environmental factors such as UV exposure, pollution, and lifestyle factors such as smoking, stress levels, diet.

How can I prevent skin ageing?
It is not entirely possibly to prevent ageing but you can slow it down and keep the skin as healthy as it can be. Excessive UV exposure is one of the main ageing factors so being sure to wear a good quality Broad Spectrum SPF daily and reapply frequently when in the sun, this will protect the skin and help to prevent ageing. Antioxidants are vital in the fight against Free Radical Damage cause by pollutants, they help the skin to prevent the damage internally allowing the cells to repair. Both these things when used correctly and often will prevent premature ageing. Collagen boosting treatments help to increase collagen and elastin levels in the skin by stimulating the fibroblast cells. These treatments will help to slow down the ageing process or help to replenish lost collagen in the skin.

TREATMENTS FOR LINES AND WRINKLES AT RENATUS CLINIC

• Wrinkle relaxing injections
• Chemical peels
• LED light therapy
• Skinpen medical microneedling
• SQT Bio Microneedling
• Mesotherapy

Formation of lines and wrinkles is all part of the ageing process. There are different factors which can contribute towards accelerating the ageing process. Treatments and medical skincare can help to plump lines and wrinkles to allow you get a healthy more radiant look to the skin.

Anti wrinkle treatments can address the muscles responsible for the wrinkles but if you decide to embark upon this as a treatment it is important to understand that a holistic approach to the skin as a whole can provide you will better looking skin and longer lasting results. Wrinkle relaxing injections do not address the skin texture, hydration, collagen levels or the cellular turnover of the skin.
Treatments such as Chemical peels, Skinpen microneedling, SQT Bio Microneedling, Mesotherapy and LED light therapy can all help to address production of collagen, cellular turnover and plumping of the skin to keep the skin in the best possible health, giving it a radiance and that all important glow.

What causes lines and wrinkles on the skin?
UV exposure is one of the main causes of ageing, it breaks down the collagen and elastin in the skin, which is the skins’ underlying structure. This causes lines to form and over exposure to UV light can lead to early ageing and the formation of lines and wrinkles, it is known as photoaging.

Ageing caused by the genes we inherit is call Intrinsic ageing, it is also known as the natural ageing process. Collagen production starts to slow down from our mid 20’s, elastin is the substance that allows our skin to snap back into place this has a bit less spring as we start to age. Hyaluronic acid levels decrease and dead skin cells do not turn over as quickly. Whilst these changes begin in our mid 20’s the visible signs of ageing are not seen until much later. The skin will also become thinner and we will lose some of the underlying fat leading to hollowed cheeks and eye sockets, as well as firmness of the skin on the hands and neck.

Repeated movements of facial muscles; such as frowning, smiling and squinting can cause wrinkles to develop on the face from repeatedly moving them. People who are more expressive when they talk can often have more wrinkles.

Environmental factors have a big impact on ageing, this type of ageing is known as extrinsic ageing. UV exposure I have mentioned above is one of the biggest contributors to ageing. Smoking causes ageing and has a big impact on our skin. It can turn the skin a yellowish colour, smokers are more likely to develop deeply wrinkled, leathery skin compared to a non smoker.

Pollution exposure can lead to free radical damage which damages cells and our DNA. It can lead to premature ageing, inflammation of the tissue, wrinkle formation and pigmentation issues. People who live in more polluted areas are more likely to see ageing on their skin from the pollution levels.

High sugar diets can cause glycation in the skin, which is where the sugar attaches to proteins, the proteins collagen and elastin become more rigid and cannot move about as freely. The skin loses its bounce and there can be a feeling of adhesion under the skin. It is characterised by criss cross lines especially around the eyes, mouth and neck.

High stress levels cause inflammation in the skin, this in turn can damage the DNA in our cells and can accelerate ageing.
Lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep and exercise will all contribute towards ageing and how healthy your skin is.
The good thing about the environmental factors is that you can change and alter them, which will have a significant impact on ageing and the formation of lines and wrinkles.

Protection is also key in protecting ourself from UV exposure by daily using a broad spectrum SPF correctly and using serums such as Vitamin C & E to fight against free radical damage in the skin. Treatments that help too stimulate the fibroblast cell and increase collagen can help to lessen line & wrinkles, such as Mesotherapy, Skin medical microneedling and SQT Bio Microneedling.

• Skinpen microneedling
• SQT Bio Microneedling
• Mesotherapy

Hooding on the eyes can be common, sometimes it can be related to the bone structure of the eye and can always be present. But in some cases it can get worse as we get older.

Blepharoplasty is the surgical removal of this excess skin which is performed by plastic surgeons, but plasma pen can be suitable in some cases to treat this. There is downtime to this treatment and it cannot be performed on all skin types, so it does have limitations.

Tired looking eyes/ Dark circles around eyes
The eye area has the thinnest part of the skin on our face. It is the first area that will show the signs of lack of sleep, or feeling unwell. Some darker skins can be genetically predisposed to having darkening around the eye area.
Dark circles that are brown in colour stem from hyperpigmentation which can be as a result of aspects like your environmental surroundings, genetics and chronological ageing.

Blue or purplish under eye circles come from polled blood within enlarged veins that sit underneath thin and often translucent skin.
Specific medical eye creams including eye retinols are going to be important to use regularly to help to get the right ingredients into this delicate area.

Skinpen medical microneedling and SQT Bio Microneedling can be performed around the orbital rim to help to stimulate collagen to help to plump up the area.

Specific Mesotherapy sterile solutions are the best treatment as the targeted ingredients can be delivered inside the orbital rim to directly treat the area of concern. These are vitamins, minerals, amino acids and co-enzymes to promote a healthy internal environment to stimulate, repair, regenerate and renew the cells, also known as skin boosters.

Tired looking skin
Dull or lifeless skin can happen as a result of the natural ageing process, as the cells turn over more slowly leasing to them sitting on the surface of the skin for longer.

Or it could be as a result of factors such as exposure to the sun, or lifestyle factors such as smoking or poor diet.
It is always important to look at the root cause that may be contributing to the dullness in the skin, but in clinic treatments such as Chemical peels, Skinpen medical microneedling, SQT Bio Microneedling and Mesotherapy can do wonders to bring back the vitality to your skin.
Advice can be given as to the correct cleansers, exfoliators, serums, moisturisers, retinoids and SPF protection to help the skin to improve in-between clinic visits.

TREATMENTS FOR PIGMENTATION AT RENATUS CLINIC

• BioRepeel CL3
• SQT Revitalising

Pigmentation can occur in the skin where there have been higher amounts of the skin pigment melanin deposited. This causes darkening of the skin.

There are different types of pigmentation
Sun spots/Age spots/solar lentigines
These are related to UV exposure as they are triggered by overexposure to sunlight. They are generally found on the face, neck, arms or hands. They appear as flat spots and can be light brown to black in colour. They are related to sun exposure so appear mainly in older people but younger people with high levels of UV exposure can also get them.

Freckles
Mostly found in people with fair complexions, these are clusters of concentrated melanocyte cells, they are harmless and can become more pronounced with exposure to UV rays. They tend to be found in younger age groups unlike the age spots. There are two types of freckles, Ephelides are slightly tan spots usually found in redheads and Lentigines are isolated dark spots found on sites of sun damage.

Melasma
This is hyperpigmentation found in the deeper dermis layer of the skin, this is generally deeper than normal pigmentation caused by the sun. It occurs in pregnant women or women who have had hormonal changes from coming off contraception or a hormonal treatment. It is sometimes called “mask of pregnancy”, it typically produces pigmentation on the face and can very often be mirrored from one side of the face to the other. It can be very difficult to treat, and easily triggered by UV exposure. So it is imperative that melasma sufferers wear Broad Spectrum SPF daily and reapply often. Ones with iron oxides in for a tint to cover the pigment can be helpful but also protect against blue light and high energy visible light (HEVL) which can lead to darker and more sustained pigmentation. Ingredients to break pigment down and to calm the transfer of melanocyte cells will also help to prevent further pigmentation.

Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
This occurs after having some sort of injury to the skin. It could be from something like a burn, or squeezing spots, it is more likely to happen to individuals with darker skin types from a mediterranean to a darker skin.
Your pigment cells are best buddies with your Langerhans cells, so when the skin has inflammation it will also trigger pigmentation cells, so if you get sunburnt you will eventually develop a bit of colour as the melanin cells have been triggered.
If you have this type of skin you must not pick or pull at skin after treatments or cause injuries by squeezing otherwise new pigment deposits will be formed.

Melasma is one of the most difficult conditions to treat. It is easier to remove the more superficial pigment marks from the skin. In your skin analysis we will see the depths of the pigmentation which will allow us to recommend the correct products and treatments that may help. The medium depth BioRepeel CL3 and SQT Revitalising treatments are both different ways to help to treat pigmentation in the skin.

TREATMENTS FOR AGING HANDS AT RENATUS CLINIC

• Skinpen medical microneedling
• SQT Bio Microneedling
• Mesotherapy serums

Hands tends to be an area that we neglect in our skin routines and as they are exposed to the elements of UV, pollution and harsh weathers they can often show the signs of ageing.

The skin becomes looser, veins may be more prominent, dark spots may occur from exposure to UV light.
It is important to cover the hands with your SPF in your daily routine to help to protect them when you are going outdoors, as we wash our hands often, they will become more dehydrated and the SPF can be easily removed. Be sure to use a good moisturiser on them to rehydrate the skin.

Treatments such as Skinpen medical microneedling and SQT Bio Microneedling can be used to plump the collagen in this area.
Mesotherapy serums can be used to stimulate collagen and aid internal hydration.

TREATMENTS FOR SKIN TAGS AT RENATUS CLINIC

• Advanced Electrolysis

These soft, skin coloured growths are very common and are usually small and harmless.
Exact causes are not known but it is thought that there are likely to be both lifestyle and genetic factors. They can often be found in areas where the skin rubs against itself and some can vary in size.

With the process of using Advanced Electrolysis they can be removed quite painlessly even on delicate areas such as around the eyes on any skin types.

TREATMENTS FOR SKIN BLEMISHES AT RENATUS CLINIC

• Advanced Electrolysis

Certain skin blemishes can be improved or removed with Advanced Electrolysis on any skin type. Usually a test patch is performed to check suitability and skin healing. After care instructions must be followed to prevent any issues and sun exposure is not advised before or after treatment to reduce the risk of pigmentation complications. Certain skin blemishes such as moles require written consent from a GP before they can be removed.

Examples of blemishes that can be removed are

• Thread veins
• Milia
• Sebhorreic keratosis
• Sebaceous hyperplasia
• Cherry angiomas (red spots)
• Spider Naevi
• Syringomas
• Moles

TREATMENTS FOR PCOS AT RENATUS CLINIC

• Laser hair removal

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a condition that affects how the ovaries work. There can be side effects from having this condition such as breakouts and bad skin and excessive hair growth on the face or body.

We have helped many PCOS sufferers in clinic helping them to manage the side effects and giving them confidence in their skin.
Laser hair removal for sufferers of PCOS can bring great results but often top up hair removal treatments will need to be performed more regularly than someone who isn’t suffering with this condition.

TREATMENTS FOR SKIN LAXITY AT RENATUS CLINIC

• Skinpen microneedling
• SQT Bio Microneedling
• Radio Frequency
• Accor plasma pen

Laxity in the skin is due to the loss of skin elasticity.
As we age the skin loses its firmness leading to sagging of the skin. We notice this particularly in our faces as the lower portion of the face by the mouth starts to drop and we develop jowls. During the Menopause we lose up to 30% of our collagen in the first five years.

Genetically one person may be more prone to laxity in the skin than another.
Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol, diets and stress also all contribute towards skin laxity, along with UV exposure which can damage the skin which causes the skin to lose its elasticity.

This loss of the skins’ ability to bounce back leads to sagging and deeper wrinkles.
Surgery would be the most effective way to remove the excess skin especially if there is a large area of it.
Mild skin laxity can be improved with treatments that stimulate the fibroblast cells which will improve the collagen and elastin fibres in the skin, such as Skinpen medical microneedling and SQT Bio Microneedling, Radio Frequency can sometimes help to tighten the skin in certain situations and the Accor plasma pen can help to reduce skin to achieve an overall tightening.

Once women move into the Peri- Menopause or Menopause they will often see differences in their skin, hair and nails.
But the declining Estrogen levels impact so much, they are responsible for the significant collagen loss that we see in the first five years of the menopause, up to 30% of the collagen depletes. Before this we were losing around 1% per year. This loss contributes to the sagging skin, the loss of elasticity and the wrinkles that we start to see.

Hair and nails are also affected, our hair can thin and our nails can become brittle.
Some women may experience drier skins, and some may develop spots that they haven’t had for years. We see losses in the hydration levels of the skin, which can make the skin feel tight and dry. Fluctuations in hormone levels, the declining Estrogen can lead to increased androgens (male hormones) which lead to an increase in sebum production in the skin, clogging pores and leading to break outs
It also plays a big role in the Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause, these declining levels impact our cartilage, bones, muscle, tendons and ligaments. Making us more likely to break something when we fall than men.

This can all impact how we feel about ourselves and at this already difficult time for some women can be harder by suffering from other side effects. At this time in your life you really need to start looking after your skin and your body. Most people will do it once they hit the menopause but our preparation should begin before that.

Eating the right kinds of anti inflammatory foods, getting good sleep, using good quality skincare, having professional collagen boosting treatments if you are concerned about ageing and your skin. Exercising and lifting heavy weights to build our muscle and bone and stop the fragile decline that we are heading towards, will all help to boost our bodies for the better.