If you’ve ever experienced any of these, then you’ll know that the skin and brain talk to each other. I have previously written about the gut-skin connection, similarly, there is a brain-skin axis. You only have to think about when you’ve felt stressed and felt the sweat running down your back, to know the impact our feelings can have on our skin.
All of the above are temporary responses to stress or emotions, but what if feelings like being sad, overwhelmed and being out of control, take over your daily life?
The pituitary gland is about the size of a pea and rests in the anterior chamber of your skull. It acts like a switchboard for your stress hormones, the primary signal coming from the hypothalamus gland, just above it. When it’s activated, like when you’re stressed, it sends a signal to another gland just above your kidney, called the adrenal gland.
When your adrenal gland receives its message, it releases a powerful hormone called Cortisol, and other stress hormones called Catecholamines. Both of these hormone types are beneficial and vital in maintaining a healthy body. However, if you’re high for too long, they can turn against you. High levels of cortisol and catecholamines can weaken our immunity, damage organs (including the skin), and increase blood sugar levels.
This is why chronic stress has been linked to a host of conditions like diabetes, food allergies, weight gain, increased susceptibility to colds and flu-like illnesses, cancer, heart disease and many more…..
As noted previously, high levels of stress hormones weaken your immunity, which means that it can’t keep itself in tip-top condition, which means it’s more susceptible to bacteria, virus’s and fungi; sun damage and pollution.
This can worsen chronic skin conditions like eczema, acne, rosacea and psoriasis. Apart from this, the reduced ability of the skin to repair itself, means that you will experience more lines and wrinkles as elastic tissue depletes, loss of plumpness as collagen levels dive and your skin could become dry as the skin loses its ability to produce the lipid layer that seals moisture in.
While reducing stress levels should theoretically help to alleviate damaging effects on the skin, there’s only limited data regarding the effectiveness of stress-reducing interventions. There is some evidence that meditation may lower stress hormone levels in people who do it regularly. Research shows these techniques to be helpful in controlling psoriasis, however, more proof is needed to show the benefit of these techniques in other skin conditions. Healthy lifestyle habits, including a well-balanced diet and exercise, may also help to regulate stress hormones in the body, which should in turn have positive effects on skin and hair.
If you are experiencing a skin condition related to stress, see a dermatologist for your condition, and try some stress-reducing techniques at home. In addition, No4 can offer advice and treatments aimed at reducing adult acne, rosacea and ageing skin.
For more information contact us here.
The excitement of Christmas has faded away, replaced by a new year! We often see this as a new start and a chance to reset, as we abstain from bad foods, alcohol and an unhealthy lifestyle. We start a diet instead or take up running. However, you want to be careful with this ‘new year new me’ philosophy!
There’s one big problem with this mindset – it doesn’t work! Studies show that 23% of people give up on their New Year’s Resolutions after one week, while 43% expect to give up before the end of January. In fact, less than 10% of people successfully continue with their new lifestyle!
‘New year new me’ won’t motivate you for very long, especially after a slip-up. You need a plan for a long-term goal because you can rarely make lasting changes based on an impulse. As a dentist, I believe in making small changes, which culminate in significant improvements.
Take alcohol for example. From a skin perspective, we’re in favour of reducing your intake. Too much alcohol dehydrates the skin and reduces elasticity, leading to fine lines, creases and a dull, dry complexion. It can also give rise to conditions like psoriasis and rosacea, to say nothing of the increased risk of skin infections. On the other hand, going cold turkey can be a mistake. It doesn’t allow any flexibility for what can be a big lifestyle change (depending on how much you’re used to drinking). Similarly, you might be invited to a social event and feel like you’re unable to enjoy a drink, leading to regret, resentment and an eventual return to bad habits.
Instead of being stern with yourself, follow a little-by-little approach. Try giving up alcohol during the week and allowing yourself 3-4 units at the weekend or at a party. It may feel like a little change, but imagine the impact after one, two or three months! You’ll be in a much healthier state, without the inevitable disappointment caused by the ‘new year new me’ attitude.
There’s more to January than giving up bad habits. Many of you contact me in the winter, asking me to restore your faces after the festive period. You might be searching for a quick fix, hoping that I’ll turn around and present you with a miracle cure. We have some excellent treatments at No. 4, including luxurious Hydrafacials and healing light therapy, but they’re not magic. I can’t solve all your problems with the wave of a wand or give you an undetectable treatment with no downtime.
We’re not here to transform you into your ‘new year new me’ ideal. We’re here to walk alongside you as you seek to renew your skin and age well. Ageing well takes commitment, much like a New Year’s Resolution, which is why we encourage you to stop and think about the best ways to achieve your goals.
We’re partners, you and me. You trust me to listen to you, identify your main concerns and then come up with a plan. I might direct you to Su’s Skin Program, ideal for investing in your future complexion. Alternatively, I might point you to my own skincare plan, perfect for combating signs of ageing and menopause. Through 12 in-depth sessions, I’ll boost your collagen production, reduce fine lines and soften wrinkles, helping you achieve a healthy, glowing appearance.
Are you ready to take the first step? Then contact us to book a consultation! It’s the best opportunity to find the right treatment.
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The world of medical grade skincare products can be an intimidating place. There are so many brands that claim all kinds of results, with wildly different prices and promises about their efficacy. That’s before even knowing what’s right for your skin, as everyone is so different.
Unfortunately, this confusion can lead you to waste your hard-earned cash on products that do nothing for you or worse, actually have a negative impact on your skin. To cut through some of this confusion, I thought I’d clear up a few myths for you…
I’m going to take you through four common skincare myths to make sure you don’t fall for them!
Myth 1 - ‘Medical grade’, ‘professional’ and ‘clinical’ are regulated terms
Nope! These words are up for grabs, which I think can be a really confusing thing for consumers. They carry the implication that these products are superior and scientifically proven to work, but that’s not necessarily true. Don’t let this kind of wording trick you into thinking you’ve found something that’s guaranteed to work.
Myth 2 - Medical grade skincare ingredients are a higher quality
It’s easy to believe that expensive products, using the aforementioned unregulated words and phrases, must be using fabulous ingredients. Another myth! There’s no guarantee that they contain any higher quality ingredients or more actives than high street brands.
Myth 3 - Medical grade brands are required to test their efficacy
You might think that medical grade skincare products need to be tested to show that they actually work but this isn’t true either. There’s no requirement for regulated ingredients such as salicylic acid to prove their efficacy. The only rule is that the manufacturer details the strength of the active, not whether or not it works!
Myth 4 - Medical grade brands are rigorously lab tested for safety
Ok, for me, this is where things get a bit scary. All of these skincare products do need to go through three rounds of checks; microbiological, stability and challenge testing. The issue is that the last two of these aren’t necessarily done in a lab. They can be done in-house by any suitably qualified employee. This means that the results may not be unbiased!
Sorry if I’ve scared you a bit with all of those myths, but I think that it’s important for you to be well informed. I also want everyone to be comfortable in their own skin, without spending too much or having to try hundreds of products until you find what’s right for you. So, here’s how I choose the products that I use and recommend.
Compare - A lot of medical grade skincare products are very similar to each other, despite what their marketing may have you believe. This means that it is incredibly important to judge each on its own merit, NOT by the brand.
Research - I don’t accept product claims as facts until I’ve got some evidence. I want to know the clinical trials they have been through and then I critically evaluate these before accepting anything.
Check the cost - I’m not going to choose products that I don’t believe are priced reasonably. This is because once you’ve got your routine sorted, you’re likely to keep it pretty much the same. I don’t see the point in finding the ideal fit for someone if it’ll only be affordable for a month.
Get a bit cheeky - Once I’ve gone through the above I like to get a bit cheeky and ask for some freebies. I want to be able to test the product myself before I endorse it!
Doing all the above takes a lot of time and effort, it’s easier if you have experience and are knowledgeable about skincare products in general but I know that isn’t the boat everyone’s in. I appreciate that most people will not be able to do this but don’t worry, that’s why I’m here!
I’ve curated a collection of products that I truly believe in and I have them all in one place for you to browse…
To get your hands on high quality, reasonably priced and effective products just head over to my online store! After any of our treatments, we’ll always give you advice on what skincare products to choose to maintain your results. Of course, if you have any questions, you can always pop back into the clinic or give us a call on 07595221484.
Skincare is a minefield. From double cleaning and retinol to glycolic acid and niacinamide, there are so many factors to consider and so many common skincare mistakes to avoid. And with the rise of internet know-it-alls claiming to know everything about skincare… it’s a real issue for me. I often end up dealing with the fallout, with patients coming to my clinic with a plethora of concerns they’re desperate to address.
Take my patient Mary*, for example. Mary sadly fell victim to new products wreaking havoc on her skin. Mary made some incredibly common skincare mistakes, which left her skin dry, dull and lacklustre.
Keep reading to find out more about how I helped Mary’s skin!
*Mary’s name has been changed to protect her identity.
I asked Mary to bring along her skincare products for me to look at and I was shocked at what I saw! She came in with a huge bag of products and was hoping I’d be able to tell her what else she needed to improve her skin. Anyone who knows me, or has come to see me, knows that I won’t always tell you what you want to hear. The reality for Mary was that there were no magic creams or lotions that were going to help her. But her existing products were certainly at the root of her issues and she had unwittingly subjected herself to several common skincare mistakes.
One incredibly important thing that I tell patients like Mary is that they need to scale back their routines in order to restore their skin to optimal health. Our skin has a barrier that needs to be protected, but when Mary was double cleansing, she was drying out her skin.
In younger people, this may not have been as much of a problem, but as Mary had aged, her levels of oil production had slowed down, which meant her skin was now much drier than it once was. This common skincare mistake is one that perimenopausal women tend to make.
You need to listen to your skin as you age because changes in the body can have a detrimental impact on your skin.
There are many common skincare mistakes you need to avoid throughout your life, but one to consider as you age is the fact that you can’t treat your skin the same as you did in your twenties when you’re well into your forties. As oil production slows down and spots become a less frequent occurrence, you should lean towards a gentle cleanser that will help you keep your skin’s natural barrier intact. My personal favourites are by CeraVe and ALLSKIN | MED as they don’t dry the skin out at all.
To help you even further with your menopausal skin, it might be time to invest in a tailored skincare routine that has been designed by an expert. By getting a thorough consultation and a skin scan, you can gain a better understanding of what your skin needs, whilst also learning more about products within your budget.
When you visit my clinic, you will be able to benefit from Su’s expert advice. She will teach you about the common skincare mistakes you’re making and how to avoid them going forward. Su is an absolute expert and her honest and informative advice during a skin consultation will show you the extent of any damage you’ve accidentally caused before getting you back on the right track.
She will then look at the products you’re using alongside your lifestyle and diet, as this will give her a more holistic understanding of your relationship with your skin. As part of your consultation, Su will also put together a tailored skin improvement plan and treat you to a condensed but equally effective version of one of our favourite treatments - HydraFacial. She will also give you a sample product that she thinks will benefit your skin before you commit to any purchases. When you follow this plan, you will be left with healthy, youthful and glowing skin - what more could you ask for?
There are no short-term goals here! The focus is on long-term prevention and management because we don’t want you to learn the hard way, like Mary.
To get in touch, fill out a form on our website, call us on 07595221484 or send an email to [email protected] today.
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See you soon!
