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Queensland Australia 4812

What can I do about pigmentation?

Written by Helena Rosengren on . Posted in Healthy skin, Skin Conditions, Skin Treatment.

If you have an uneven skin tone characterised by discolouration, dark spots or brown patches it’s highly likely you’re dealing with pigmentation.

Pigmentation is a very common skin concern, which can usually be improved.

There are many common skincare products you can incorporate into your daily skin care routine, as well as some more powerful treatments, that can help you regain a more even skin tone.

DAILY PIGMENTATION FIGHTERS:

Slip, slop, slap.
When your skin isn’t busy fighting off the immediate effects of the sun, it has the chance to set about repairing past sun damage. That means sunscreen, a hat and long sleeves aren’t just protecting you from sun burn and skin cancer right now, they’re also helping your skin to undo damage that’s already done. To acheive younger, smoother, more even coloured skin, simply get into the habit of putting on sunscreen each morning and covering up whenever you’re outdoors.

A, B and C serums
Serums are highly-concentrated products, typically rich in vitamins A, B or C, that can be a powerful tool in the fight against pigmentation, as well as many other skin concerns including fine lines, dryness, acne scarring and large pores. You can learn more about how to best use serums on our blog post here.

Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is a skin lightening agent that can be used for a more severe form of pigmentation, known as hyperpigmentation. While hydroquinone rarely causes unwanted side-effects, it does tend to work better for certain skin types including people with normal or oilier skin and those with fairer skin tones. For some people, hydroquinone can in fact exacerbate hyperpigmentation. In Australia you can only access hydroquinalone through a medical practitioner with an interest in pigmentation concerns.

POWERFUL PIGMENTATION TREATMENTS 

Peels
There are cosmetic peels available for all sorts of skin problems, including peels designed specifically to reduce the appearance of pigmentation. Peels work by removing the outer layer of dead skin cells to speed up the generation of younger, plumper looking skin. While they can be used as one off treatments, peels have been found to deliver much better results more quickly when used at fortnightly intervals over a couple of months. You can learn more about the power of peels here

Fractional Laser
Laser therapy can be used as an anti-ageing treatment for fine lines and pigmentation on the face, neck, décolletage and backs of hands. While other laser treatments might leave you feeling raw for several weeks, fractional laser is a gentler option that can be used at monthly intervals to deliver the same end result with a much shorter recovery time than other laser treatments.

Galvanic skin infusion
A relaxing, pampering treatment, galvanic infusion also allows deep skin absorption of powerful skin lightening and anti-ageing products.

There is an array of treatment options available for helping you reduce pigmentation and other skin concerns. If you’re confused or overwhelmed by all of the options, you may like to discuss your treatment options with a medical practitioner who can help you decide on a tailor-made approach for your particular needs.

The team at Skinovation Cosmetic Clinic would happy to consult you on your options.

Serums and Dermal Rollers – The Ultimate Age-Fighting Duo

Written by Helena Rosengren on . Posted in Healthy skin, Self-Care, Skin Treatment.

Batman and Robin.
Wine and Cheese
Coffee and a great book.

There is no denying some things are just better in pairs; and when it comes to skin care there is no better duo than an anti-ageing serum and a dermal roller.

How do anti-ageing serums work?

Unlike creams or lotions, serums are highly-concentrated products rich in active ingredients – typically Vitamin A, B and C – and containing fewer ‘filler’ ingredients. Serums have been clinically proven to reduce pigmentation and fine lines, firm the skin, maximise skin health and ultimately slow down the ageing process. This means they are highly effective at delivering a knock-out punch to some of your skin’s greatest nemeses including dryness, fine lines, acne scarring, pigmentation and large pores.

How do I incorporate a serum into my existing skin care regimen?

Serums work best when added to your existing skin care routine, which may already include cleansing and moisturising. This one extra step is most definitely worth the effort, especially if you are over the age of 40 and starting to notice the tell-tale signs of ageing skin. For best results, apply your serum immediately after cleansing to warm, slightly moist skin. You can then proceed with moisturiser, sunscreen and finally make-up as you usually would.

Do skin care products containing serums really work? from Skinovation Cosmetic Clinic on Vimeo.

What are the benefits of using a dermal roller?

Dermal rollers are an easy to use, at-home skin microneedling tool. Their heads contain hundreds of tiny 0.25mm pin heads which, when run gently over the face create microscopic holes or channels in the skin. The benefits of this action are two-fold: firstly, the microneedling stimulates the skin’s healing process, encouraging plumping, tightening and thickening; secondly, the channels allow skin care products, like serums, to penetrate more deeply into the skin.

So how do serums and dermal rollers work together to fight ageing?

Dermal rollers have been found to improve the effectiveness of serums and moisturisers by up to 40% because they enable active ingredients in skin care products to reach beyond the superficial layers of the skin and deep into where they can do the most good. When added to the natural Collagen and Elastin boosting effects of dermal rolling, this can improve the appearance of uneven skin tone, acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles.

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If you’re interested in adding this dynamic age-fighting duo to your skincare regime, you can find the Rejuvaderm Home Infusion Roller and a selection of high-quality serums in the Skinovation Cosmetic Clinic or in our online store. We’d be happy to recommend the best products for you.

3 Tips for Reducing Downtime After a Cosmetic Procedure

Written by Helena Rosengren on . Posted in Healthy skin, Self-Care, Skin Conditions, Skin Treatment.

Cosmetic Treatments can help you feel like your most confident self. However, more complex procedures such as platelet rich plasma, threads and fillers, can require a little downtime before you’ll look your absolute best.

Bruising is common after some cosmetic treatments, especially if they involve the eye, lip or neck areas.  These are our top 3 tips for reducing downtime associated with cosmetic treatments:

1. Tell your treating doctor what medications or supplements you’re taking

Some prescription and treatments and non-prescription supplements can increase your likelihood of bruising.  These include simple remedies suxh as:

  • Vitamin E
  • Omega 3
  • Horse radish
  • St John’s Wort; and
  • Gingko biloba

It may be best to stop taking these 10 days prior to a cosmetic procedure but we would recommend speaking to your treating doctor also for individual advice.

2. Be proactive in preventing bruising

Some people have found the homeopathic remedy Arnica useful in reducing swelling and bruising, if taken a few days before and after their treatment.

3.  Actively treat established bruising

After your procedure, hirudoid cream may help any established bruising to resolve more quickly. As soon as you suspect that you have bruised following a cosmetic treatment, begin applying hirudoid cream to affected areas every eight to 12 hours.

Additinally, please plan ahead and allow at least 10 days between your treatment and any special event to ensure you will look your best.

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Does Extra Screen-Time Affect Your Skin?

Written by Helena Rosengren on . Posted in Healthy skin, Self-Care, Skin Conditions, Skin Treatment.

Our lifestyles have changed a lot in the past few months and it’s likely that you’re spending more time in front of the computer screen, television and phone than ever before.

It’s wonderful that our devices can keep us so well connected but could all this extra screen time be taking a toll on your skin?

You’ve probably heard about Blue Light – which is emitted by the display screens on televisions, computers and smart devices – and how it can impact your eye health. Studies have found that blue light is a definite contributor to digital eye strain and may even increase your risk of developing macular degeneration. These findings have led to blue light filters and specialised computer glasses to help counter the impact of blue light on our eyes.

Now, researchers are starting to look at whether blue light exposure impacts our skin, and a small body of studies is starting to suggest that it may indeed accelerate the ageing process.

LISTEN TO OUR RECENT INTERVIEW WITH ABC NORTH QUEENSLAND

How Blue Light indirectly impacts the skin:

We can confidently say that blue light exposure indirectly impacts the skin’s innate hydrating and healing functions by disrupting the body’s natural circadian rhythm. This change to the rhythm has been proven to impact the quality of our sleep, which is vital to helping skin heal and repair itself. If you’re not getting enough sleep, your skin is sure to look drier, duller and less firm; so switch off those devices at least an hour before bed.

How blue light might directly impact the skin:

Recent studies have shown that exposing our skin cells to the light emitted by electronic devices – even for as little as one hour – can generate an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. This imbalance is suspected to cause damage to our skin’s proteins and may even cause cell death, which impacts our skin health. Furthermore, blue light seems to accelerate apoptosis – or the natural death of skin cells – and necrosis – the premature death of skin cells. You can imagine that if we’re experiencing a much higher rate of skin cell death; and reducing our sleep quality, which is vital to our skin’s natural ability to repair itself, we’re going to see a definite impact on our skin’s appearance.

So how can you counter the impact of screen time on your skin?

The obvious first step is to reduce your exposure to light from electronic devices, particularly at night when it is most disruptive to your circadian rhythm. Try turning off the TV and putting down the phone an hour before bedtime and consider turning off some of your social media notifications so you don’t feel compelled to look at your phone every 10 minutes.

High quality skin care products and targeted skin treatments that increase collagen and healthy cell generation are also incredibly important. The best way to determine the right products and treatment for you are to speak to a skin care professional.

You can browse our treatment menu here; or book in with our friendly team for a one-on-one consultation to get started.

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5 Self-Care Rituals for a Quick Confidence Boost

Written by Helena Rosengren on . Posted in Healthy skin, Self-Care, Skin Treatment.

At Skinovation Cosmetic Clinic, everything we do is underlined by our mission to help the women in our community be the best versions of themselves.

We believe true self-confidence requires inner and outer self-care in tandem; and that it is an ongoing journey that takes lots of practice and constant maintenance.

Here are some of our favourite self-care rituals, that can give you a quick confidence boost when you are in need of a pick-me-up.

Pamper yourself in a DIY spa

The occasional (or regular!) girl’s night in is great for the soul. Why not spoil yourself rotten by setting up your own home spa and having a good pamper? You can do this any way you like, but we recommend:

  • Soaking in a nice warm bath
  • Lighting some luxurious candles
  • Nourishing your skin with quality skincare products – all of our favourites are available in our online shop
  • Listening to some relaxing music
  • Treating yourself to something decadent – strawberries and champagne, perhaps?; and
  • Focusing a few hours on your own happiness and relaxation

Have a kitchen dance party

Make yourself a playlist of all your favourite dance tunes and then put it to use. Dancing is not only great cardiovascular and strengthening exercise; but it also releases endorphins, the feel-good chemical responsible for helping to lift your mood. A couple of tracks in and you’re sure to be smiling from ear to ear.

Write a letter to your younger self

It can be easy to lose sight of all the wonderful things you’ve already achieved, especially if you’re continuously chasing big goals. Think back to a time when you dreamed of having everything you have now and write your past self a letter encouraging them not to give up. As you look back on how far you have come, you’ll realise that you’re pretty incredible.

Treat yourself

If you’re not feeling confident in your skin for whatever reason, do something about it. Whether you have acne, scarring, moles that make you self-conscious, or if your skin’s just not feeling it’s best, we can help you with your concerns.  Often a single treatment, or small series of treatments, can result in a noticeable cosmetic outcome that will help you feel like the very best version of yourself.

Browse our treatment menu here.

Do something you know you’re great at

Returning to something you excel at can be an inspiring reminder of how accomplished you are. Whether it’s playing the keyboard, hitting the tennis court, breaking out the sketch pad, or cooking up a storm – doing tasks you know you’re good at, can help boost your confidence to tackle other activities that may be more challenging for you.

 

Isolation Skin – It’s a Real Thing!

Written by Helena Rosengren on . Posted in Healthy skin, Skin Conditions, Skin Treatment.

In theory, you would expect self-isolation measures to lead to some of the cleanest, clearest skin you’ve ever had.

After all, many of us are taking an extended break from heavy make-up, outdoor pollutants and damaging UV rays as we spend more time at home. However, in reality, we’re seeing lots of our friends and clients reporting terrible skin woes in the last few weeks – acne breakouts, dry skin, dullness, redness and pigmentation have all made unwelcome appearances for many people we’ve been speaking with.

Why is Isolation Skin a real thing?

We’re all going through changes at the moment as we adapt to rapidly evolving isolation measures while trying to keep some semblance of routine in our daily lives. The move to working at home or significantly adapting procedures in your workplace can have a number of impacts on your body that will show up on your skin, including:

  • Stress
  • Fatigue
  • Change in diet
  • Lack of exercise

It’s likely that all of these day-to-day activities have been interrupted in recent weeks; but they all play a vital role in the health and condition of our skin.

How can I manage Isolation Skin?

Maintaining some kind of routine – both in your daily schedule and in your skin care regimen – will help to minimise the impacts of isolation and stress on your skin.

Some important tips include:

  • Try to get your beauty sleep.
    While stress and uncertainty can lead to many sleepless nights, the tips on our blog post here, may help you to increase your rest.
  • Be mindful of what you’re eating
    If you find yourself suddenly able to visit the fridge eight times a day, you may be snacking more and filling up on foods that can wreak havoc with your skin. Read how diet contributes to healthy skin here.
  • Make the most of outdoor exercise
    With outdoor exercise one of the few reasons we’re allowed to leave our homes right now, taking a run, walk or cycle can be a great stress reliever. Exercise also increases blood flow to the skin which helps to reduce inflammation, while sweat can help to remove toxins in the skin.
  • Use simple, but powerful skin care products
    You may be tempted to slap on every skincare product available now that you have some spare time to pamper yourself. While this move is well-intentioned, it can exacerbate issues while your skin is trying to adapt under pressure. We recommend sticking with a simple, regular routine using products selected to specifically to address your unique skin concerns.

While Skinovation Cosmetic Clinic is currently closed, we’ve made all our favourite skin care ranges available through our sister clinic, Skin Repair Skin Cancer Clinic. If you’re not sure which products are right for you our wonderful cosmetic nurse Lyndie is all too happy to have a remote consultation via phone or video chat, to help you find a suitable solution and show you how to maximise results.

BOOK A REMOTE CONSULTATION NOW

Just like the current pandemic, Isolation Skin won’t last forever, but a few simple measures can help you emerge on the other side more quickly.

The Power of Increasing Peels

Written by Helena Rosengren on . Posted in Healthy skin, Skin Conditions, Skin Treatment.

Peels can be quite effective for all sorts of skin problems.  Some peels are specifically designed to reduce pigmentation or active acne where others have a plumping, hydrating effect reducing the visible signs of aging.  Additionally, stronger peels can be used selectively for acne scars or deeper lines helping to smooth the skin surface.

A new approach to peels

At Skinovation Cosmetic Clinic we’ve developed a series of peels that increase in strength over time to improve healthy skin turn-over and promote younger, plumper looking skin.

This practice takes full advantage of the minimal downtime of peels, which is typically 1-2 days of redness, though can extend to 5-7 days of redness and peeling for sensitive skin or those using a high strength peel.

How does this Increasing Peel Program work?:

Using multiple skin peels, gradually increasing the concentration of active ingredients, at weekly to fortnightly intervals will markedly improve the skin texture, luminosity and softness of the skin and can be targeted to improve pigmentation, active acne, and lined tired looking skin and scars.

What is the program?

Week 1                 Enzyme peel
Week 2                 20% lactic acid peel
Week 3                 30% lactic acid peel
Week 4                 40% lactic acid peel
Week 5                 Tetra acid 50 peel
Week 6                 Recovery week for expected peeling and skin rejuvenation
Week 7                 Jessner Peel

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We’ve seen excellent results for our patients, who have completed this series of peels looking fresh-faced and feeling confident.

If you’d like to learn how this series of peels could work for you, be sure to book in for a consultation with our wonderful team.

5 New Year’s Resolutions for Beautiful Skin

Written by Helena Rosengren on . Posted in Healthy skin, Skin Treatment.

For many of us, a brand new year – and a shiny new decade – brings the promise of new opportunities, fresh optimism and a good kick of motivation to grow and improve in the coming months.

Health, wellbeing and self-care are often top priorities for people who like to set New Year’s resolutions and, when it comes to looking after our skin, establishing a few good habits can make all the difference between success and a quickly abandoned goal.

Here are five simple habits you might like to adopt in 2020, if achieving beautiful skin is on your list of resolutions.

1. Make sunscreen part of your morning routine

Sunscreen doesn’t just prevent sun damage and skin cancer, it’s also one of our most powerful defences against early ageing. In Australia, it’s recommended that we apply an approved sunscreen with an SPF30 or higher as part of our morning routine even if we work indoors. If you wear makeup, sunscreen should be applied after your moisturiser, and before your foundation. There are now some wonderful facial sunscreens available that have been developed specifically with make-up in mind that act as a primer.

A couple of extra seconds adding sunscreen to your morning routine will make years of difference to your face, neck, décolletage and hands by the time we enter the next decade.

2. Invest in good quality skin care products

Good quality skin care products will not only clean the day-to-day grime from your skin that can cause breakouts and a lacklustre appearance, but also help to slow down the appearance of ageing skin by helping it to appear smoother, plumper and more supple. By improving your skin’s texture with good quality skin care products you’ll likely find yourself using less make-up, which can help to balance out costs in the long run.

We’re proud to stock a number of great brands that we know and trust, and would be happy to recommend some based on your skin’s unique requirements.

BOOK A CONSULTATION NOW

3. Keep your skin well-hydrated

Dry skin can accentuate the appearance of pores and wrinkles, create break-outs and be downright uncomfortable. But the good news is that maintaining a high intake of water – about 8 to 10 glasses per day – can go a long way toward combatting dehydrated skin. Finding ways to sneak in an extra glass of water or two throughout the day can be easy once you start thinking about it, but we’ve written a handy blog post here to get you started.

Other easy ways to keep your skin hydrated include applying sunscreen in the morning and throughout the day, applying moisturiser in the morning and at night, and protecting your skin from too much sun exposure.

4. Have a proper skin check

Australia leads the world in deaths from skin cancer. However, in almost every case, early detection and simple treatment can result in total removal of skin cancer. If you have moles or skin spots that are painful, uncomfortable or changing in size, colour or shape, booking in with an accredited skin care specialist as soon as possible to rule out skin cancer is advisable. Our sister clinic, Skin Repair Skin Cancer Clinic is dedicated to reducing the burden of skin cancer in North Queensland.

Read more about the importance of skin checks here.

5. Pamper yourself with a rejuvenation treatment regularly.

Just like servicing your car or tending to your garden, maintaining beautiful skin requires some upkeep and TLC. Booking yourself in for a regular rejuvenation treatment will help you to look and feel your best. Our cutting-edge treatments can assist with common skin concerns such as sun damaged skin, unwanted pigmentation and freckles, poor skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles, dehydrated skin, reduced elasticity, scarring and small facial veins.

The best way to determine the rejuvenation treatment that’s right for you, is to book in with our friendly team for a consultation

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These simple strategies are a great way to kick your fresh new decade off with fresh, beautiful skin.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your skin, our friendly team would love to help you.

Sleeping Beauty had the right idea!

Written by Helena Rosengren on . Posted in Healthy skin, Skin Conditions, Skin Treatment.

They don’t call it “beauty sleep” for nothing, and when Prince Charming happened upon Sleeping Beauty and fell instantly in love, it was probably because her skin was looking radiant thanks to being so well-rested.

Getting seven to eight hours’ sleep regularly really will improve the appearance of your skin.

Research has confirmed that insufficient or poor-quality sleep contributes to more rapid ageing by:

  • Reducing the skin’s elasticity
  • Increasing the appearance of fine lines
  • Causing bags to form under the eyes
  • Stimulating appetite thereby causing weight gain
  • Speeding up the thinning of hair
  • Contributing to acne break outs; and
  • Slowing the healing process for other skin-related issues.

So if seven hours of good quality sleep is the difference between looking like a beautiful princess or a wicked old hag, how can you make sure you’re getting enough?

There are many tips for getting a good night’s sleep.
Some of my favourites include:

  • Set a regular bedtime and stick to it
  • Get plenty of natural sunlight during the day by opening the curtains and having lunch or taking a stroll in the sunshine. This will help keep your body clock (yes, it’s a real thing) healthy, just don’t forget to slip, slop, slap!
  • Avoid blue lights from electronics in the evening. Blue light from televisions, computers and smartphones tricks your body clock into thinking it’s daytime. You can install apps on your phone to block blue light and try to avoid television and computers for at least two hours before your bedtime.
  • Avoid caffeine late in the day. Caffeine in coffee, tea and energy drinks stimulates your nervous system making it hard to relax into sleep. Caffeine can stay elevated in your blood for up to eight hours, so it’s good to avoid it after lunchtime.
  • Optimise your sleeping environment by limiting external noise and light; keeping the temperature at a comfortable level; reducing clutter so your mind can rest; and making sure your bed, pillow and mattress are comfortable.
  • Relax before bed with meditation, massage, a hot bath or shower, quiet reading time or a few deep breaths. These can all help to prepare your mind for rest.
  • Exercise regularly. Some studies have found that exercise can almost halve the time it takes to fall asleep and improve sleep quality by 30 per cent. Just don’t exercise too close to bedtime, or it can have the opposite effect.

Creating a consistent bedtime routine with a combination of these methods will help you get to sleep sooner and ensure your skin lives happily ever after.

But if you need a fairy godmother, remember our friendly team is here to help address any of your skin concerns.

The Pros and Cons of Muscle Relaxants

Written by Helena Rosengren on . Posted in Skin Treatment.

The easiest way to distinguish muscel relaxants form dermal fillers is by remembering that muscle relaxants work on ‘moving’ lines that appear with facial expressions, while dermal fillers address ‘static lines’ that remain even when our faces are resting.

Read on, to understand more about muscle relaxants, or click here to read up on dermal fillers.

MUSCLE RELAXANTS

Muscle relaxants and what they are used for from Skinovation Cosmetic Clinic on Vimeo.

What are muscle relaxants?

Botulinum A muscle relaxants reduce or stop muscle contraction that occurs with facial expression such as lines on your forehead when you raise your eyebrows, crows’ feet when you smile, or frown lines.
Due to medical advertising laws, I can’t mention Botulinum A products by their common brand names, but it’s highly likely you’re familiar with at least one well-known brand.

What can muscle relaxants be used for?

Botulinum A muscle relaxants can be used to reduce or eliminate the wrinkles and lines that appear as your face naturally moves. Common treatment areas include:

  • The frowning area
    Lines that appear across the forehead when you raise or lower your eyebrows
  • Crows’ feet
    The creases that appear around the eyes when you smile
  • Bunny lines on the nose
    These often appear when smiling
  • Down turning of the corners mouth
    These occur naturally as you age.
  • Strap muscles in the neck
    These can be very marked in certain facial expressions with some women.
Reducing frown lines with muscle relaxants
Before and after muscle relaxants were used to treat frown lines at Skinovation Cosmetic Clinic Townsville

What can’t muscle relaxants be used for?

Botulinum A will not work on lines that you see when the face is at rest.

For example, if you have deep lines in the frown area, these will not disappear with a muscle relaxant, although the muscle relaxant will prevent the deepening of those lines when you try to frown.

Do muscle relaxants work straight away?

No. You will not see any visible difference immediately after your Botulinum A injection. It typically takes one to four days to notice any difference in the strength of your muscles; and up to two weeks for the full effect to be seen.  This gradual effect means the people around you, even your partner, will not tend to notice that you’ve “had work done”.

How long do muscle relaxants last?

Typically, the effects of muscle relaxants last for around three months.

Some lucky people will get six to eight months from a single treatment; and on a rare occasion someone may find the effects wear off in six to eight weeks, especially if they have a high metabolism or lead a highly active lifestyle.

What side effects can occur with muscle relaxants?

It is possible to bruise around the treatment area following Botulinum A.

– CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT DERMAL FILLERS –

We always recommend that you speak to a trained medical practitioner before undergoing a cosmetic treatment. A consultation with one of our friendly team members will help determine which treatment is best for you and your skin and help you achieve the natural-looking results you’re after.

 

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