My Skin Journey: EEK!!!

“Skin is A Beautiful Thing: Wear It Well”

I am South African (SA), a child of the 70’s and grew up on the border of Angola and Namibia before we moved back to South Africa. These areas are well known for their Sub-Saharan climates and an average temperature of 32 degrees although it always felt closer to 40. My earliest memories are of me and my sister aged 5 playing outdoors mostly dressed only in tiny briefs. In all my childhood photo’s we are darkly tanned. The majority of South Africans have a high affinity for water and our days are spent out in the sun without sun block or hats especially growing up. This is still prevalent and evident in Europe and UK summer days. Who does not love looking brown and feeling vital?

Fast forward and I am now nearing my 50’s. During the last couple of years, I have noted changes in my skin which are alarming. I used to be told that freckles are “kisses from the sun” and to be freckled is very attractive, cute and interesting. All words any girl would love to hear until I started my journey in aesthetic medicine.

I will never forget meeting up with a skin care representative and attending numerous conferences on anti-ageing, skin care and aesthetic medicine where I became aware that freckles are sun damage and that I am an idiot. It is also true that in the 70’s we were not as aware of sunblock and its links to cancer and other conditions as we are now. In fact, we used oils and various other methods including laying out in the sun to get that overall brown complexion that is associated with health and vitality. 

However, I am not unique in this. The biggest proportion of patients attending my clinic are woman aged 45 upwards. Their concerns are skin laxity, lines, wrinkles and pigmentary changes to their skin. They now notice large brown spots on their hands and face. Skin is lacklustre and dull. Some of my patients are still oblivious to the changes in their skin and are often shocked when I point it out to them. 

I scanned my skin and started the journey of operation skin recovery. 

Top (L) shows my skin as it is in the day light, a mirror image. The second image top middle is a UV light that shows pigmentation and scarring. There are large areas of pigment in various stages (I am already on great skin products at this stage, so hate to think what it would have looked like). There are moles and areas where the pigment is starting to join up causing me sunspots which will be much more visible the older, I get. Top right show veins known as telangiectasia, which is prolific over my cheeks, also caused by the sun. The bottom left is a combination of problems which often show up pigment and or diseased skin. In my case it is the area most affected by the sun where I have veins and sun damage. The bottom middle is a different chromophore (light) which show up other flaws, in this case the white spots which is caused by acne. The bottom right image is all the images superimposed on each other. It shows the cumulative effect of skin damage. If untreated and when older the skin can show up like this but not to this degree.

Quit wishing you HAD amazing skin, make it happen NOW

The Good News? There is Hope:

I researched treatments and came across cosmeceuticals and its function.  

What is a Cosmeceutical?

Cosmeceuticals is seen as the future of skin care. It is defined as products that are used for cleansing, moisturising and improving skin texture by rubbing, applying or sprinkling. The term cosmeceutical is a cosmetic invention that also acts as a medication. Cosmetics do not modify normal cell functioning whereas cosmeceuticals do and have a biological action in the skin. There is an increased interest in antiaging preparation for more youthful appearance because a well-designed skin care regime yields results that parallel invasive procedures.

There are 5 Principles of Skin Care:

1.        Cleanse

2.        Tone

3.        Repair

4.        Dermal Turnover

5.        Protect

Each principle will be discussed in more depth in following papers. However, this is the result within 6 months achieved by using a combination of skin treatments. Cleanse and tone to stabilise pH and improve moisture. The sun damage was reduced by using high doses of antioxidants in toner and Vitamin C (l-ascorbic acids) which is poured into the skin to minimise free radical damage and lighten the skin. The real skin lightening was achieved using hydroquinone 4% products. The skin texture and tone were further improved with an alpha hydroxy acid moving the dead skin cells off the outside and increasing the dermal skin turnover. The result is rejuvenated (baby skin) which is plumper and retain fluid. Further improvements were made with a Vitamin A derivative known as Tretinoin. This is a true workhorse which helps stimulate collagen, improve fine lines and wrinkles, improve dermal turnover and protect against UV radiation. Finally, to avoid further skin damage and to protect new skin the use of sunscreen is most important.

Clear skin with reduce sun damage and improving collagen and elasticity is achievable. Never give up and accept the status quo. There is always hope.

“I regret taking such good care of my skin said no one EVER”

My skin transformation:

Reducing sun damage and removing freckles.

Improving skin elasticity and collagen.

Reducing fine lines and wrinkles

My skin is not only rejuvenated it is also ageless.

The skin scanner diagnosed my skin age in my late 50's but with the skin care treatment my skin age is now reduced to 45 years.

I will take that!