We are all going to show the signs of ageing sooner or later, regardless of whether we like it or not. Fortunately, when it comes to ageing skin, stretch marks, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, there is a new kid on the treatment block and it is known as Plasma Pen technology.
Plasma pen devices utilize the fourth state of matter, which is plasma. Plasma was discovered by Sir William Crookes, an English physicist, in 1879. The other three more well-known are solid, liquid and gas. The plasma energy is formed through the ionisation of atmospheric gases which will stimulate instant contraction and tightening of skin fibres. This technology does not use scalpel or laser to tighten excess skin, thereby avoiding all risks inherent to traditional intervention.
The principle of the plasma treatment is where the electrical energy is turned into an electrostatic energy, which is then transmitted to the probe. At about 1mm from the skin, oxygen and nitrogen are mixed and the electrostatic energy produces an arc of plasma which is discharged on the surface of the skin (epidermis). The plasma causes instant contraction and tightening of skin fibres, thus resulting in the reduction of the surface of the skin.
The treatment does not touch the skin, it is only the tiny plasma flash that makes contact. This contact leaves a very small superficial brown carbon spot that looks like a freckle. There is no heat to the surrounding skin. These small spots draw the skin together in their direct environment and shrink the excess skin. A specific pattern is followed to form a reduction grid. The final result is an improvement to the firmness and tension of the skin (lifting effect).
Since plasma energy affects the deeper dermal layers, the result is a lifted contour, a decrease in deep wrinkles, thicker and firmer skin. Plasma promotes new collagen protein which allows the original collagen protein to strengthen the skin.
Depending on the size of the area, and the skin condition to be treated, this will determine the length of time the treatment takes. Plasma Pen technology will treat, skin laxity, wrinkles, stretch marks, skin tags and certain types of pigmentation.
Plasma Pen Technology Results
Immediately after the procedure, the treated area will be quite red and may be slightly swollen. This can last from 1-3 days. The small carbon dots will dry to become small crusts. These crusts must not under any circumstance be picked or scratched off, they must be left to fall off on their own which can take anything from 5-14 days. These dots can be covered with a mineral foundation or mineral concealer.
The final results may be seen within 8-12 weeks post treatment and may continue improving a few months after. Results are cumulative and in some cases 2-3 treatments may be required to deliver the desired results. Depending on the condition being treated, if another treatment is required it may be performed as soon as 6 weeks later.
Plasma energy is not new, but the way it can be harnessed to assist with skin irregularities is an amazing technology. As always skin health and colour is taken into consideration before performing the treatment. To receive the optimum outcome for the skin, correct clinical homecare must be used before and after the treatment and the desired results can be achieved.
Renewal and spring cleaning are always top of mind this time of year. We turn our attention to discarding the old to make way for the new and shedding the dull of winter in exchange for the vibrant, youthfulness of spring. As crucial as this renewal process is for nature, it is just as necessary for our skin and body. With summer just around the corner, many of us resolve to get into shape for the summer swimsuit reveal. Unfortunately, there is no easy fix and a combination of at home, and in-clinic treatments need to be utilised to provide the best possible you.
Number 1: Calm down. Anxiety produces extra cortisol, a hormone that encourages the body to store fat. Deep breathing exercises performed every day this spring and summer will assist in combating stress.
Number 2: Scientists have increasingly demonstrated the effectiveness of light, particularly infrared, near-infrared light and LED, in manageing a variety of medical conditions, including aching muscles and joints and ageing skin. The light used in the treatment is non-harmful and scientists believe can cause positive effects to the skin’s collagen production. Due to the heating, the treatment results in sweating out of toxins and fat tissue being liquified.
Number 3: Do strength training workouts twice a week. The more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism and the more calories you burn all day long.
Number 4: While invasive procedures like liposuction are suitable in certain circumstances, demand is growing for non-invasive alternatives that require minimal downtime. Fat freezing is one such treatment where areas of the body can be frozen and fat cells destroyed and removed from the body permanently.
Number 5: Sleep more. Your skin and body restore themselves while you sleep. Applying active products to the surface of the face and body before bed can increase their absorption, revealing smoother and more hydrated skin.
Number 6: Radiofrequency skin tightening, stimulates collagen and will often smooth contour irregularities, and the appearance of cellulite and can improve the appearance of stretch marks. Experience a series of RF treatments to achieve the optimum results.
Number 7: Lay off the sugar. Sugar is single-handedly one of the biggest causes of premature ageing throughout the whole body.
Number 8: Lymphatic Drainage, either manual or with pressotherapy, can achieve a considerable reduction in the appearance of cellulite, reduce the discomfort of fluid retention and assist with a weight loss programme.
Number 9: Skip the tanning at the beach or the almost obsolete solarium and achieve the honey glow of your dreams with a professional spray tan.
Number 10: Full body microdermabrasion and peeling treatments gently reveal smooth, soft, radiant skin, from head to toe.
Number 11: Just as our bodies need support from nutrients to function, so does our skin. Peptides, essential fatty acids, growth factors, and amino acids, which we know are necessary in facial applications, also work wonders on the body.
Number 12: HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) can tighten and tone the skin. Two treatments are usually required, spaced about 3 months apart to achieve the best possible tone of the skin.
Number 13: Making sure the body is adequately hydrated both internally and externally is absolutely essential if you want to get the most from both your home, gym and in clinic treatments.
Number 14: Plasma Pen is one of the best in clinic treatments for the appearance of stretch marks. Depending on the colour present (white, grey, silver, red or purple) this will determine the number of treatments required.
With swimsuit season right around the corner, today is the best time to start your promise you have been making to yourself all year, the best version of you that you can be. I often refer to the health jigsaw puzzle, and this is the perfect example of it, where multiple modalities are available, clicking one piece at a time, to help you be the best YOU.
After the summer sun destruction to your skin, the telltale signs of brown hyperpigmentation and the red capillary blush, are scattered all over our facial and body skin. The cooler months are the best time to refresh and rejuvenate your skin using IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Photofacial. This treatment is also known as Photorejuvenation.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) uses light photons to rejuvenate skin and is the world’s most popular skin rejuvenation treatment. In contrast to laser resurfacing, IPL does not injure the skin’s surface and has a much shorter recovery time. IPL primarily addresses the skin’s tone, texture and reduces the brown pigmentation and redness that create a dull, aged complexion. IPL is a treatment that delivers pulses of light to the targeted areas, such as brown pigment and red cells in the skin. The light is converted to heat energy, which fades those specific targets resulting in a more even, brighter complexion with less discolouration. People who have had IPL treatments once or twice a year over a decade have healthier more radiant skin with often less skin cancer than those who do not have treatments.
IPL is used on sun-damaged skin to even out a range of skin issues, such as skin discolouration, texture, pigmentation, distended capillaries, facial rosacea or redness and poikiloderma of Civatte. IPL will also complement other rejuvenation skin procedures such as laser resurfacing, skin needling, microdermabrasion and dermal fillers.
Most clients who have IPL, tolerate the treatment with minimal discomfort. The sensation of the treatment can be likened to the snapping of a few rubber bands at one time. For those who are sensitive, a numbing cream may be applied about 30 minutes prior to the treatment. This will reduce the discomfort by about 60-70%. The treatments are designed to work over multiple visits which may be from 1 -3 treatments over a couple of months. Most people will see improvement in the removal of capillaries and freckles within 2 weeks of their first treatment. Deeper redness and brown discolouration will take 2-3 treatments to see significant improvement.
For some people, the side effects of the IPL treatment may include swelling and redness of the treated area. This may last for a few days and up to a week in some cases. When darker brown pigmentation is treated, scattered brown crusts resembling dark coffee granules may occur and will take 7-12 days to slough off. A very important point to remember is that IPL treats what it sees at the time of treatment and does not prevent new discolouration from forming.
Following an IPL treatment, sunscreen is a must in order to reduce the occurrence of pigmentation and distended capillaries. Ten to fourteen days post-treatment it is advisable to attend the clinic for a deep exfoliation treatment such as microdermabrasion or Jet Peel. This is then followed by a hydrating infusion with either oxygen therapy or relaxing facial treatment. These post-treatments ensure the optimum result for the skin and any follow-up treatments can then be customized for the individual needs.
Intense Pulsed Light is a procedure rather than a relaxing treatment. The results of the IPL treatment will reveal a brighter, healthier complexion. When the prescribed home care products are used diligently morning and night this will enhance the results of the IPL treatment to reveal a healthy and definitely rejuvenated complexion.
Male or female, young or old, enlarged pores can play havoc with the smooth appearance we are all striving for with our skin. Beauty and healthy skin are associated with perfect skin and pores are a huge part of this equation. A person’s pores may be more or less noticeable depending on their genetics, skin type and age. The good news is there are
Clinical treatments and home care products can be used to minimise the appearance of the enlarged pore size.
There is a misconception surrounding the nature of a pore. It is not a hole in the skin, but rather an opening onto the skin’s surface from a gland below the skin. A pore provides a channel through the epidermis (first layer of skin) into the dermis (second layer of skin).
Three main causes of enlarged pores are:
Excessive oil or sebum – sebaceous glands produce a lot of oil and this can be stimulated by both heat and humidity particularly in the summer months
Decreased elasticity around the pore. This is when the skin becomes less supple over time, particularly when there has been a lot of sun exposure in the past – the collagen and elastin become less firm supporting the skin around the pore.
Increased hair follicle volume. The pore at the end of the hair follicle becomes clogged with oil, oxidizes and turns dark.
While we cant remove pores, the combination of Clinical treatments and home care products can certainly reduce the appearance of the pore size to make them less noticeable.
Some of the in Clinic treatments may include:
Venus Viva™, Nano Fractional treatment – the latest fractional radiofrequency device, has demonstrated great results in improvements to enlarged pores, wrinkles, reduced acne and traumatic scars.
Tixel – a skin treatment that involves the stamping of a heated metal plate with pyramid-shaped spikes onto the skin. It is not a laser, but instead, it utilises thermo-mechanical energy to evaporate tiny channels into the skin. This has the effect of stimulating new collagen formation which improves skin quality and assists with reducing pore size
Pixel Fractional Laser -is an FDA-approved fractional laser treatment that can reduce years of sun damage, fine lines and can also shrink the appearance of pores and smooth out acne scars.
Skin Needling – is one of the most effective dermal therapies for optimising skin regeneration. It’s a minimally invasive treatment designed to improve the appearance of pore size and skin texture
Chemical Peels – a skin-resurfacing procedure in which a chemical solution such as TCA or Jessner’s solution, is applied to the skin to remove top layers of the skin. The skin that grows back after a chemical peel is younger-looking and smoother. Chemical peels are used to treat enlarged pores, skin discoloration, wrinkles, skin and scars.
Referring to one of my usual analogies: if you were to go to your personal fitness trainer for a flat tummy, pay the fees, do the workout and come home and eat cream cakes and drink sugary beverages and then complain that their training did not work, you are not getting bang for your buck. You have to put in 80% of the work and us/they do 20% of the total result. This is the same with your skincare in Clinic treatments and your home care regime.
Your homecare regime should consist of a cleansing routine, the use of gauze and toning lotion, the application of either a Vitamin A, salicylic, mandelic, glycolic or lactic acid serum each night along with the appropriate growth factor and multivitamin serums, moisturising treatment cream for day and night and sunscreen for day use.
Pores are a vital part of our skin health, and getting rid of them completely is impossible. Regular work with the appropriate home care products and regular in Clinic treatments will assist with minimising their size, providing the skin with a smooth, firm appearance.
