Expert's Opinion

Keloids are overgrowth of scar tissue. Dr Hina from Cosmebeaute clinic on Harley Street discusses that they can be varying in size, a dark colour , shiny, hairless, reddish and can be itchy and uncomfortable.

They are a concern for aesthetic purposes and look unsightly when on areas such as face and ears and can cause emotional distress.

Elastin is an extra cellular matrix protein that lends elasticity and resilience to tissues. Elastin is found in the dermal layer of skin and provides the elasticity to our skin so it recoils back when pinched. The amount of elastin in our skin decreases with age.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan (long unbranched carbohydrates called polysaccharides) found throughout our body. In humans, hyaluronic acid is most abundant in the skin accounting for 50% of the total body hyaluronic acid. It is also present in the vitreous of the eye, umbilical cord, synovial fluid in our joints and other organs including the heart and the lungs.

In the skin, hyaluronic acid is involved in hydration of the skin and has a space filling capacity. The synthesis of hyaluronic acid increases during tissue injury and wound healing which forms the basis of treatments such as microneedling and Profound. Hyaluronic acid regulates several aspects of tissue repair and provides the framework for blood vessel formation.

When used topically in skincare products such as creams and serums, hyaluronic acid gives your complexion a boost by quickly increasing your skin's moisture levels due to its ability

Collagen is an essential scaffolding protein that gives smoothness and elasticity to skin.

 

Type 1 collagen is the main collagen found in skin (80-90% of skin collagen). It is produced by fibroblasts and found predominantly in the dermis. The production of collagen declines with age and this decrease in collagen is associated with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. There are other factors that influence collagen production over our lifetime (puberty, pregnancy), intrinsic factors (genetics, age, ethinicity) and extrinsic factors (UV radiation, pollution, smoking).

 

Collagen based supplements have therefore become a keystone in the management of the ageing process, with ability to repair skin damage and bestowing a youthful and healthy appearance of the skin.

 

We recommend having a daily drink of Skinade

Hydration needs for healthy skin

 

Hydrated skin is healthy skin. When the epidermis (outermost layer of our skin) does not contain enough moisture, the skin loses its elasticity, feels rough, looks red and inflamed and exaggerated fine lines and wrinkles. Hydrated skin, on the other hand, feels smooth and soft. The epidermis needs the moisture to flush away toxins and carry all the good and essential nutrients to the skin cells. Irritants and germs are also more able to slip through the lipid barrier when the skin lacks moisture.

 

The easiest way to hydrate skin is by drinking plenty of water, up to 1.5 litres a day. We should eat foods that are rich in essential fatty acids such as salmon, olive oil, walnuts and pumpkin seeds. Baths and showers should be warm and not too hot. Too much heat (heating) and cold (air conditioning) can also steal moisture from the

SPF in winter

• Ultraviolet A is a long, lower energy ray that penetrates deeper into the dermis and damages collagen. Hence this causes aging.

• Ultraviolet B is higher energy and penetrates the epidermis (which is t

Skin the largest organ for the human body.Unlike some other organs, our skin is exposed to the environment and can be affected by external factors such as heat, humidity, pollution and chemicals.Our skin helps regular our body temperature and protects us from microbes and external elements.Our skin is also involved in sensations of touch, heat and cold.

There are 4 different types of skin depending on the feel and texture – normal, dry, oily and combination. The condition of our skin is determined by factors such as age, hormones, genetics and external factors such as weather, environment including pollution.

Normal or eudermicskin refers to well balanced skin, which is well textured with soft appearance, no visible pores and few imperfections. This is due to good circulation. People with normal skin do not require any specific skincare or treatments.

Dry skin, as the same suggests, lacks moisturedue to reduced sebum production which in turn leads to less lipid that is required to retain moisture to protect our skin against external factors. Dry skin is typically a result of increasing age but can also be attributed to other factors such as weather, hot water and low air humidity. As a

In addition to the above, medical professionals at COSMEBEAUTE classify skin according to the Fitzpatrick skin photo type, to assess a patient’s risk of sunburn and skin cancer and also to assess the suitability or degree of treatments such as laser or UV therapy skin treatments.

The Fitzpatrick Scale classifies skin from Type I to Type VI.

Fitzpatrick Skin Type I: Skin is sensitive to UV exposure, always burns and never tans (patients with pale white skin, green/blue eyes, blonde/red hair).

Fitzpatrick Skin Type II: Skin burns easily and tans minimally (patients with fair skin and blue eyes).

Fitzpatrick Skin Type III: Skin burns moderately and tans gradually to light brown (patients with darker white skin).

Fitzpatrick Skin Type IV: Skin burns minimally no always tans well to moderately brown (patients with light brown s