Between treating your acne scars early and late, some people choose to have theirs treated late, thinking their acne scars will improve without treatment over time. Skin doctors do not agree. “Acne scars look deeper as people get older, particularly as they approach their 40s, because natural aging results in collagen loss and general loss in facial volume or fat” says Dr Michelle Lim, Medical Aesthetic Consultant at the SW1 Clinic. “Younger skin also regenerates better so theoretically, acne scars treatments started in your 20s or 30s are also more effective.” For these reasons, she chooses more aggressive treatments for her patients in this younger age bracket. Another obvious motivation for treating acne scars early? “There is a definite advantage to having a crystal clear complexion socially and even for work. It’s like going to the mall with and without makeup on and feeling like I get different treatments from people depending on how I look” says Amelia, IT Consultant. Is it difficult to have acne scars erased? Dr Michelle Continue Reading
The Truth about Acne Scars
Scars from acne can seem like a double punishment – first you had to suffer through the oily pimply skin and now, you have unsightly marks to remind you. Some people ignore their scars and some wear them with pride, but if like the rest of us, you want a smoother complexion, fret not, there are a variety of ways to help improve the appearance or get rid of your old acne scars. POTIONS & PEELS The common ingredients in topical creams for acne scars include Vitamin A, which helps with stimulation of collagen, and Vitamin C, Kojic acid, arbutin, that help to lighten the pigmentation associated with early scars (post inflammatory changes). A chemical peel involves the application of a high potency acid upon the skin, and the more potent the acid, the deeper the penetration into the skin. You may want to consider Professional Chemical Peels that are excellent in lightening the post inflammatory marks and reducing the oiliness, which also helps to control new acne outbreaks. Continue Reading
The 4 Faces of Ageing: Which One Are You?
BY LISA WILLIAMS The first step to amazing skin is to find out how yours is holding up. “Not all ageing is created equal. Depending on the complex interplay between multiple factors such as genetics, the environment, hormones and our facial structure, we tend to age differently,” explains Dr Low Chai Ling, from SW1 Clinic. Look into the mirror: Your primary problem tends to be the one staring right back at you first. Armed with this knowledge of their top challenges, beauty writers and willing friends of SKIN tested out this guide to radically rid their faces of visible signs of ageing and prevent future problems. Read More: You Can Now Shape Your Body While Naturally Augmenting Your Breasts
How To Revitalize Skin Using Supercharged Lasers
Long before the birth of skin renewal lasers, Cleopatra already had science on her side, taking milk baths which contained lactic acid to exfoliate and rejuvenate skin, dead sea salts for its mineral healing properties, honey for its hydrating properties and many more. Today we have medical technology on our side, using supercharged lasers to resurface the skin, effectively plumping up skin and erasing away spots, fine lines and wrinkles. But if you thought only those with problem skin needed lasers, that’s where you are wrong. Lasers now come in wavelengths which also target dyschromia or uneven skin tone and also brightens skin, resulting in the coveted dewy photoshop effect. We speak to Dr Kenneth Lee, who founded The Sloane Clinic 15 years ago and now, helms the 8000 sqft large SW1 Clinic. Q : Which lasers are best for smoothening wrinkles and scars? Dr Kenneth: Traditionally, the CO2 lasers such as the SmartX laser are best for these. New versions of CO2 lasers are now fractionated and delivered Continue Reading
5 Things To Start Now To Look Younger Than Your Friends in 10 Years’ Time
If you ever need a reminder at how fast you might be aging, look at your friends. Women, especially, age at dramatic speed once they hit 35, and after they have had kids. If you are still quite happy with the way you look, congratulations! But time does have its way of creeping up on people, and who’s to say who will look better as they age? Well, I have always been careful of the saying “burning the candle at both ends”, and now, in my late 30s, I am fairly comforted by the fact that I look younger than my real age. It takes a bit of effort, a little investment but you will thank yourself when you go for your next class reunion and log that youthful-looking face in a photo. Build Up Your Collagen Bank First of all, think of your skin’s collagen stores like a piggy bank. Collagen is abundant (like how parents put hard-earned money raising children) when we are young, but this Continue Reading