Skin Diagnostics – A Balanced Perspective

In the ever evolving world of skincare, staying ahead with innovative solutions is crucial. Boots, a leading pharmacy chain, has recently launched a skin condition diagnostic app that promises to revolutionise how we approach skin health. Although this app offers some advantages in terms of ease and accessibility, it also comes with some drawbacks.

Our founder Rebecca explores both sides to give a balanced perspective on whether this is right for you and your skin concerns.

Benefits

Quick and convenient. This first thing that does stand out about the app is its efficiency. Users can quickly assess their skin condition with convenience, great for those with busy schedules.

User-Friendly. Deigned with simplicity in mind, it is user friendly and easy to navigate.

Affordable. Cost can very often be a barrier to seeking professional advice. This is a cheap alternative to traditional dermatological consultations making it accessible to everyone.

Professional collaboration. A strong point is its partnership with medical professionals. This ensures the advice and guidance is based on medical knowledge and protocols.

Discreet and private. For many discussing their skin conditions can be an uncomfortable experience. The app offers a discreet way to seek advice, which can be beneficial for those that feel embarrassed about their skin issues.

The Drawbacks

A lack of comprehensive questioning. While the app provides quick assessments, it falls short of gathering detailed information about the users family history, diet, and lifestyle factors. These elements are all crucial in understanding and diagnosing skin conditions accurately, and this omission can lead to incomplete assessments that can be the key to treating a condition successfully.

A focus on medication. Another significant limitation is the app’s apparent focus on prescriptive medication as the primary treatment option. While medication can be effective, it’ not suitable for everyone and for all conditions. Not all individuals want to go down the medical route, by not offering a broader range of treatment suggestions the app may alienate users would would rather seek alternatives.

Conclusion

Here at re/skin our consultations last around 1 hour, this allows a comprehensive approach, taking into account all factors that can impact the skin. By spending this time with our clients at the beginning allows us to not only get to know our clients and how they feel about their skin, but to build a trusting relationship that really is the foundation of getting great results.

In the world of skincare, no single solution works for everyone, it’s not a one size fits all. We need the time to navigate the whole picture when it comes to skin health, this can’t be done with just a photo and a few generalised questions.

It’s about finding the right tools and resources that suit your individual needs, and yes, this app will be right for some people that are seeking a quick, convenient and affordable way to get professional advice. However, it is important to be aware of its limitations and seek other professional services when necessary, especially as the evidence for a holistic approach to skin health becomes more and more apparent in this fast paced industry.

As always, re/skin is here to support you in navigating these options to achieving the healthiest skin possible. If you would like to explore our options or book your skin health consultation then please either give the clinic a call on 0114 236 2393 or book online here.

Is Beauty Sleep Really a Thing?

Good sleeping habits are essential to maintain skin health. Our skin is a renewing organ so it needs the time and rest for this to be done effectively. Lots of cellular functions happen at night and it’s a time when our skin repairs the damage that has occurred throughout the day. Lack of sleep will cause the skin to become sluggish, increase in inflammation and a decrease in collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production eventually resulting in lines appearing and a loss of tone and volume.

It's important to maintain a good, consistent sleep pattern of around 8 hours per night, this will benefit overall health and in turn your skin too. Avoiding caffeine or alcohol before bed as these can interrupt sleep patterns.

Always remove your makeup before bed and change your pillowcase regularly, this reduces the chances of bacteria or blocked pores causing congestion. A silk pillow case can really benefit the skin reducing the friction and pressure reducing the risk of lines appearing. Side sleeping can also lead to lines and wrinkles forming so where possible sleep on your back.

Avoid having the heating or air conditioning on too high as this can cause a dry atmosphere reducing hydration levels within the skin, sleeping with a humidifier in the bedroom is great for ensuring you wake up with hydrated, plump skin.

Ready to take the next step towards healthier, radiant skin? Schedule your personalised consultation today and let's embark on your journey to skin confidence together. Don't wait any longer to love the skin you are in - contact us today!

Three Of The Very Best Simple Tips To Prevent Premature Ageing

How do we prevent premature ageing?

Over the last decade, due to the many advertisements from brands pushing solutions to prevent premature ageing, it has become common knowledge of the importance of keeping one’s skin healthy. Each person must regularly engage in appropriate acts of hygiene necessary to keep the skin in a healthy condition. But on the other hand, we frequently find ourselves in the difficult position of either lacking the time required to carry out these activities or simply unaware of what those activities are. Brands are great at selling their products with celebrity backing or inspiring offers but skip over how maintaining good skin hygiene fits into our challenging daily life. Here are three of the best simple tips you can do to keep your skin in tip-top condition and prevent the dreaded premature ageing associated with it around your normal daily activities.

Get your cleanser right

This is the most important step in your skincare routine and the one that should be done first to prevent premature ageing. But know, if after using your cleanser, your skin feels tight and squeaky clean, it’s time to switch to a different product. A good cleanser should not only clean the skin but should also nourish it and keep it hydrated simultaneously. Cleansers containing glycerin are renowned for their ability to hydrate the skin even as they effectively remove dirt and makeup simultaneously. You can use them as a daily cleanser or as part of a routine in the evening before going to bed. Finding a cleanser that is formulated specifically for your skin can help you achieve the best possible results. Your pores will be kept clean, and you won’t experience any breakouts on your skin as a result. Do not over-exfoliate

Do not over-exfoliate

The number of times a person’s skin needs to be exfoliated varies from person to person, but as the general rule, I recommend exfoliating no more than three to four times per week at the most. Every day is an excessive amount. Not too long ago, exfoliation started to become popular, and now many different brands are focusing on it as a method to improve skin health and increase cellular turnover. However, many of these brands are now walking back their previous statements and attempting to make amends for the harm their last advice caused. People frequently over-exfoliate their skin, which is one of the most common mistakes people make. Most of the time, we have the misconception that more is always better; however, this is not always the case. When you exfoliate, dead skin cells are removed, which can also help you get rid of blackheads and clogged pores; however, if you exfoliate too vigorously, you will end up with dry patches and increased sensitivity.

Sunscreen 365 days of the year!

The sun is the most significant contributor to the premature ageing of the skin. It is essential to use sunscreen daily and apply it before going outside to protect your skin from the harmful effects of UV rays. The sun is a natural source of vitamin D, which helps build strong bones, but too much sun can damage your skin and cause wrinkles and other skin issues. Therefore, taking care of your skin is crucial even when you are not exposed to the sun. We don’t think that we need to go into much detail here because we’ve confident you know our stance and its reasons. However, the use of sunscreen is the most effective and economical method of delaying the ageing process. Always wear sun protection, 365 days a year. A straightforward expression that might not seem like much, but it is essential to the health of your skin. Applying sunscreen consistently throughout the day is the most critical thing you can do to keep your skin in pristine condition and ward off the dreaded signs of premature ageing.

Conclusion to prevent premature ageing

In conclusion, the health of your skin ought to be your primary concern when it comes to personal hygiene. It is the only thing that will endure, and many things can be done to delay the onset of premature ageing and ensure that it remains in pristine condition. By putting just a few of these suggestions into practice, you can ensure that your skin will always be in the best possible condition and will also remain fresh and young. Care for your skin is in your best interest, as this will bring out your most beautiful qualities. Thank you for reading, and as ever I or anyone at the clinic is here for any advice, just reply with any questions.

Is botox really the answer?

Botox before and after.

Wow! We’re now into June and finally getting the summer weather shining down upon us. This week, while writing this, it has been an absolute scorcher so like me I hope you have managed to stay cool and topped up with your sunscreen applications! If you need any advice regards to being out in the sun and why sunscreen is so important, please read my recent blog on skin cancer. I wrote this for Skin Cancer Awareness Month but it’s still very relevant and really important.

Let’s talk about Botox

In this blog we want to talk about Botox. I had a conversation with a client this week and she told me her friend was thinking of getting Botox to “improve her skin.” Obviously, my well-educated client put her friend right and said this was not the correct approach. Which got me thinking about the importance of getting the right message across and prompted this blog. The subject of Botox is always coming up in clinic and it should be carefully discussed. I feel that PR often creates a narrative that Botox can fix anything and although it was created for medical purposes it wasn’t designed to slowdown or stop the natural process of ageing.

Love it or hate it

Botox, whether you love it or hate it due to personal experience, the PR it receives, or just because it’s the word around town, it does have a huge place in the aesthetic industry. In fact, around 18million pounds worth! But when it comes to improving skin health it doesn’t really do a great deal.

So, let’s consider Botox before and after its introduction as a cosmetic procedure. It was first discovered around 1920 and became the centre of many people’s research. The largest discovery coming around 1950, when learning that it could help muscle spasms. But it wasn’t until 1989 that it became licenced in America for medical use and 2002 for cosmetic procedures. The UK followed similar pace. I think most people are aware of the cosmetic reasons for Botox, frown lines and crow’s feet, but not its medical implications and its use to treat excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), muscle spasms of the eyelids (blepharospasm), cross eyes and other medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, Overactive bladder and migraines.

So what does it do

There’s a common myth out there that Botox can heal all wounds and rejuvenate the skin, but that’s not entirely true. Botox is a protein that is injected directly into the muscle temporarily paralysing or weakening it for three to four months, on average. But it can vary depending on the person and how much they use it. This process stops the signal from the nerves to the muscle preventing the muscle from contracting and therefore no more lines. But that’s where its benefits end. Yes, it gives you a nice smooth forehead, or reduces those crow’s feet, but it can not give you glowing skin.

This is why Botox and skin care go hand in hand. In fact, we know some aesthetic doctors that refuse to administer Botox to clients that aren’t taking care of their skin.

Anti-ageing

Now we’re not against Botox, we regularly have specialists working with our clients from our Skincare Clinic in Sheffield. There is a place for Botox, but it has its limitations when it comes to your look, including anti-ageing. That’s why we continuously push for clients to see the relationship between Botox and good skin health and act accordingly. With Botox, your lines may disappear, but if you aren’t feeding your skin with the right actives or protecting it daily from the sun, as well as having your in-clinic treatments, your skin is in fact still ageing and Botox will only temporarily cover the issues.

Conclusion

So, by all means if you want to go for the injectables, then do. But just like buying a car without maintaining the engine. It may always look good but without oil and water it’s breaking underneath.

If you want to know more about Botox, skin care or how the two align, please reach out and contact the clinic as we’ll be happy to explain further and help where we can. We will never judge you on your appearance or personal choices. There are a lot of false information around Botox and it can be hard to know what’s right or wrong.