London: An expert has revealed how you can easily heal a variety of skin concerns. Australian cosmetic physician Dr. Phoebe Jones said thanks to technological advances and scientific research we now know how to treat skincare conditions like rosacea and pigmentation.
‘The even better news is that we are seeing the way in which treatments at home and at the clinic can complement each other for optimal results in addressing some of the most common skincare problems affecting Australians,’ she said. Dr. Phoebe Jones has shared expert tips for treating six common skincare woes at home and at the clinic.
Get Rid Of Discoloration And Freckles
Pigmentation:
Skin pigmentation occurs when dark spots appear on the body, often on the face, neck, and décolletage. Dr. Jones said that for many people it can be a result of excessive UV exposure or imbalanced hormones.
At home: ‘When it comes to pigmentation, there is no better form of protection than sunscreen,’ she said. ‘This requires a strict SPF application every single day, even if you spend most of the day in the office.’
She said that reapplying at lunchtime is key and recommends over-the-counter ingredients that brighten, such as niacinamide, kojic acid, licorice root extract, retinol, and 2 percent hydroquinone.
At the physicians: ‘Diagnosis is important to determine what treatment plan is suitable,’ she said. Pigmentation as a result of sun damage compared to pigmentation due to melasma needs to be treated accordingly as one course of action can be more aggressive than the other.
‘For gradual improvement, I recommend laser facials for both conditions,’ Dr. Jones said. ‘Alternatively, for more rapid improvement of the sun-damaged skin, I recommend some more intense treatments to resurface the skin, such as with a C02 laser, and other lasers that can specifically target sunspots.’
Double chin:
‘Submental fat that forms beneath our chin is what has come to be known as the double chin. Genetics, weight gain, and loosening skin can all be blamed for this happening,’ she said.
At home: Unfortunately, some people will always have a double chin even if they lose weight, however, Dr. Jones discovered a little tip from non-other than Rihanna in a Vogue makeup tutorial.
‘Rihanna started contouring her double chin, as well as, her jawline with a bit of bronzer – which is quite clever for a mild double chin,’ she said.
At the physician: ‘For a mild to moderate double chin, I recommend deoxycholic acid injections. This is quick and straightforward,’ Dr. Jones said.
‘Deoxycholic acid is found naturally in our small intestines and helps to dissolve the fat found in our food. When injected into fatty areas it breaks down the adipocytes, which are fat cells, releasing the fat, which is then absorbed and excreted by the body. ‘I generally advise two treatments of this. For those with a more severe double chin, submental liposculpture is a better option as it can be dealt with in one session.’
Premature aging:
While there is a natural aging process, factors like the environment and certain lifestyle choices can speed up the aging process of our bodies. Premature aging impacts our skin’s levels of thinness and dryness and causes fine lines to appear.
At home: Dr. Jones advises there are two must-have items: sunscreen and prescription tretinoin 0.05 percent. ‘Sunscreen with good UVA coverage will prevent damage to the collagen and resulting elasticity, while tretinoin is a vitamin A derivative that functions to increase cell turnover and stimulate the production of collagen,’ she said.
At the physicians: ‘Think triple R-Lift. Rejuvenate: this can be done through various lasers and skin boosters,’ she said.
‘Relax: anti-wrinkle injections will improve and prevent dynamic wrinkles. Restore: to replace the volume that has been lost with age, fillers can be used with bio stimulators or the patient’s own fat. And finally, lift: using dissolvable threads. This is a great, minimally-invasive procedure to achieve a more lifted and youthful face.’
