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.

What Is Blue Light and How Can It Affect Your Skin?

Blue light is part of the visible light spectrum, meaning you can see it. It has a short wavelength, which means it has lots of energy and can create oxidative stress.

IN THIS HIGH-TECH WORLD WE NOW LIVE IN, THE SUBJECT OF BLUE LIGHT IS TALKED ABOUT MORE AND MORE. BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT OUR DEVICES ARE NOT THE ONLY SOURCE OF BLUE LIGHT? WE ALSO GET IT FROM THE SUN. IN FACT, UP TO 30% of the rays from the sun are actually blue light.

So team this with sitting at your laptop or scrolling your phone for hours, and we would get a pretty continuous dose of blue light all day long.

The Effects Of Blue Light

Although it is visible to the human eye, it can have negative effects on our overall health and well-being.

The effects of accumulative blue light on the skin can cause:

free radicals
inflammation
skin cell damage
damage to the important lipid bilayer that gives our skin its strong barrier
increased redness
pigmentation
dryness
loss of elasticity and collagen
increase in inflammatory conditions
premature ageing

What Can We Do To Prevent This?

So what do we need to do to protect our precious skin cells from this damaging light?

First and foremost, a sunscreen, but opt for one with a blue light filter too. This is sometimes referred to as an HEV filter, and many of the innovative sun care brands will include this now.

We need antioxidants and lots of them. So, look at including them in your diet as well as skincare so we are feeding them in from all angles.

And be conscious of the time spent in front of your screens. If it’s unnecessary, put them down, slap on the sunscreen, and go for a walk.

We have also had a recent new product launch at re skin in Sheffield. This is a brand new supplement from the Advanced nutrition program and has been designed to not only protect from the effects of blue light but also repair the damage caused.

Contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, helps to inhibit pigmentation and also reduces the breakdown of collagen.

The research results showed that this new supplement gave a 60% increase in protection from this light. As well as a; 19% decrease in redness, a 17% improvement in hydration and a 15% increase in skin smoothness. This was just by taking 1 of these tablets per day for 8 weeks.

Conclusion

If you are concerned with any of the skin conditions mentioned or spend a lot of time outside or in front of a device, this is definitely a must to introduce to your skin regime.

Get in touch with us today if you have any more questions on skin care, or take a look at our products and start your journey to perfect skin.

My Top Picks To Go With My Top Tips

Want to know 3 top products to improve
your skin?

Let’s admit it! We would all like to have beautiful skin. But there are occasions when we might not be sure which products would be best for our skin or even which adjustments would be most beneficial. This week, Rebecca from ReSkin Clinic will share with you some of her favourite products that might assist you in following the suggestions and leave you achieving fantastic skin.

Dermaviduals Cleansing Milk

(If you know, you know) I am completely in love with this cleanser! Most of my customers will agree that this is the best cleaner I have ever had the opportunity to keep in stock. The DMS cleansing milk is gentle enough to use on even the most sensitive skins. Because it has a dermal membrane structure, it is skin-identical. There is not a single ingredient in this cleanser that the
skin cannot recognise, and there is also nothing that can disrupt the skin’s natural protective barrier. Remove impurities and makeup, including mascara, in a manner that is extraordinarily delicate but still highly efficient. Do not pass up the opportunity to cleanse with anything like this. It fulfils all the requirements one would have for an effective cleanser.

Dermaviduals Enzyme Skin Renewal

Another best seller! The very outermost layer of the skin can be gently sloughed off with the help of this enzyme powder. It loosens and eliminates any skin cells lingering around a bit longer than they should be, but it leaves the rest of the skin cells alone, ensuring that the barrier is maintained in a healthy and robust state. It works wonders on under-the-skin bumps that won’t go away for people with sensitive skin and those with other skin types. This is the product for you if you want your skin to have a clear and smooth appearance.

AlumierMD Moisture Matte Sunscreen

I usually say products can’t multitask, but this one can. On the one hand, it is an excellent broad-spectrum sunscreen with antioxidants, providing essential protection against the sun. On the other hand, the antioxidants give it an additional anti-ageing kick. And the other, it’s a basis for everything! Therefore, using this product will allow you to maintain the colour and coverage of your makeup while keeping it in place. It’s possible that you won’t ever need to buy another foundation again! This product can help prevent premature ageing of the skin by providing the skin with additional moisture, thereby making the skin appear more youthful and revitalised.

Conclusion to prevent premature ageing

There you have it! The three top products that many of my clients and I have in their skincare armour. The health of your skin ought to be your primary concern when it comes to using skin care products. Don’t fall for the marketing hype around new-to-market products. And instead, spend time looking at the details and, where possible, speak to a skin care professional like
myself or anyone in my team at ReSkin Clinic. Some of the products above can only be sold after a consultation with us, so please get in touch and book a short consultation. Don’t let this put you off. See it as a positive. Our skin is literally the biggest organ in our bodies and one of the most complicated. It acts as the barrier keeping everything in via an airtight, watertight shield. You must protect this. Thank you for reading, and as ever, I or anyone at the clinic is here for any advice. Just get in touch with
any questions.