Emma

Registered Nurse and Independent Nurse Prescriber

Posts by Emma:

Acne Scarring: Crucial Facts You Need To Know Right Now

As a medical professional and someone who has suffered from acne, I know how distressing having acne can be. And so often, acne is also a double whammy. No sooner have you cured the acne itself; the acne scarring then won’t go away on its own. It can feel very unfair and impact how you feel. But there are ways of treating both acne and acne scarring.

In this blog, we look at the different types of acne and acne scars and how to prevent and treat both conditions to improve skin tone and minimise the risk of problems in the future.  

Types Of Acne 

There are several types of acne, from mild acne in the form of black or whiteheads to inflamed cystic acne, which causes painful pus-filled bumps. All acne can cause distress and a severe knock to self-esteem, and most types of acne can lead to scarring. 

However, cystic acne is usually the cause of the worst acne scars; picking or squeezing is the biggest culprit. Speaking to a medical professional about the proper treatment for your acne while it is active can help prevent scarring. Still, acne scars can also be successfully treated with the right approach.

Types Of Acne Scars And Treatments

Atrophic Scars

Atrophic scars form because the skin cannot create new tissue, leaving shallow skin indentations. There are several types of atrophic scars, including boxcar scars with sharply defined edges, ice pick scars which are wider at the skin’s surface and narrow the deeper they get into the skin, and rolling scars that are caused by bands of scar tissue under the skin. 

The best treatment for atrophic scars depends on the type of scarring you have. But the first line of treatment will always be to try and smooth out the surface of the skin. Some of the treatments I might suggest include:

  • Microneedling – to cause injury to the skin and improve the texture and tone
  • Laser therapy – to remove the outer layer of skin and stimulate the body’s collagen response
  • Chemical peels – to slough off the top layer of skin and reveal fresh, smooth skin below

Hypertrophic Scars And Keloids

For better wound healing and reduced scarring, collagen is usually our friend. But sometimes, the body makes too much collagen, resulting in hypertrophic scars and keloids. Hypertrophic scars are thickened areas of skin which appear at the site of an injury; keloid scars are raised skin growths with about 20 times more collagen than common areas of skin. 

Both keloid and hypertrophic scars are triggered by injury or trauma and are best treated with laser therapy. Both ablative and non-ablative laser therapy can be used, and I recommend Fraxel®, which treats both the surface of the skin and the deeper layers.

Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) 

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, known as macular scarring by medical professionals, is where there are changes to the colour of the skin following injury or trauma. For example, after being damaged by acne, the skin can develop flat red, pink or brown spots caused by the body producing excess melanin in response to inflammation.

The best treatments for PIH are any which resurface the skin. This might include:

  • Chemical peels – to remove the top layer of skin and reveal undamaged skin below.
  • Laser therapy – I highly recommend Halo BBL laser, which stimulates the growth of new healthy skin cells.
  • Microneedling – to stimulate the production of collagen and fade dark spots.
  • Medical-grade skincare products – including prescription-strength retinol- can lighten the skin and reduce the appearance of PIH.

All skin is different, and it’s essential to get specialist advice about your acne and scarring to ensure the proper treatment for your condition, as it can be complex. You don’t have to live with acne or scarring.

Find a medical practitioner that can help you with the treatment for acne scarring. They will consult you to find the best skin acne treatment.

The Top Aesthetic Trends To Look For In 2023

With science and technology driving the development of new procedures and the discovery of innovative ingredients, there are always new solutions to having great looking skin, while providing effective management of existing skin and body concerns. 

2022 was an incredible year for aesthetic treatments, with exciting new treatments including Saxender and The Perfect Peel topping the list of my patient’s favourites.

To whet your appetite for 2023, we take a look at some of the aesthetic trends we might be able to look forward to in 2023. Read on to find out more!

aesthetic trends

Exosomes For Skin And Hair

Exosomes are a next generation subdermal treatment which is based on stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy is centred around triggering more effective processes within existing cells. Exosomes are naturally released from cells, and help communicate genetic information, growth factors and proteins, while activating cells to work more efficiently.

Providing powerful skin regeneration, Exosomes have the power to repair damaged and scarred skin, as well as improve the appearance of wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and inflammation. And with anti-inflammatory effects, it is also highly effective as a treatment for eczema, rosacea, dermatitis, and psoriasis.

Exosome therapy can also be used to improve thinning hair and other scalp conditions. This is super impressive scientific breakthrough stuff in the worlds of regenerative, restorative and aesthetic medicine. Watch this space! 

Lanluma

In recent years, the holy grail of skin therapy is how to activate collagen production within the body. Several physical treatments are able to do this such as laser treatments or chemical peels but Lanluma is a brand new formulation which promises a highly effective boost from your own natural collagen process.

An injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) collagen stimulant, Lanluma increases fullness and adds volume to both the face and very excitingly the body too, providing plumping and firming plus indigenous correction of deep lines or larger body divets.

Excellent for smoothing out body cellulite, finally an actual solution to this previously, seemingly insolvable phenomenon! Lanluma treatment is virtually painless, with results appearing gradually over several months and effects often lasting more than two years.

Nutricosmetics

As the name implies, this trend combines nutrition and cosmetics, with ingredients based on things that are usually introduced through nutrition and food. The name is new, but the practice is ancient. Even Cleopatra would bathe in goat’s milk, the lactic acid is great for making skin firmer and plumper.

The popularity of ingredients changes as research into their efficacy for topical application grows. Vitamin C for example, is one of the current must-have ingredients, promoting healthy, radiant skin and improving skin pigmentation.

If you’re interested in nutricosmetics, try a chemical peel, as these contain various acids and vitamins designed to nourish your skin and bring out your natural glow. Talk to me today about which peel is right for you.

aesthetic trends

Hyperpersonalisation

Everyone is unique, and we all have unique skin types, complexions, and facial features. Leading aesthetic practitioners are now focused on getting to know their client’s individual requirements and carefully designing skincare routines and suggesting treatments which are tailored to lifestyle and skin type.

Cutting edge AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools have the ability to scan faces and produce more profound insights, which can then inform treatment decisions. A skin consultation with a specialist medical professional will result in a bespoke skincare regime that is expertly designed to your skin, lifestyle, and complexion concerns. 

We certainly have plenty of new treatments to look forward to in 2023! In the meantime, why not book a consultation to find out about the treatments that are currently available, to start your 2023 with your best skin yet?