NU Aesthetics

Skin Science and Health – January 11, 2021

Acne-Rosacea

Acne Rosacea -Rosacea is a complex skin condition , with inflammatory triggers, in which environmental factors can interfere negatively or positively in its evolution.   Our skin barrier can be disrupted due to many possible reasons. When it’s damaged the tight junctions between the skin cells are lost. This allows external irritants to get in our skin a lot easier and lead to more water leaving our skin, leading to a dry tight feeling. Damaged skin barrier is characterised by an easily irritated, dehydrated and flaky skin, red skin. Improving the skin barrier function can significantly reduce symptoms, plus reduce inflammation. Up to 30% of rosacea sufferers have a family history of the condition leading researchers to believe it involves as yet unidentified genes, and for some, this is an inherited condition.

Skin Science and Health – January 02, 2021

Free radicals & Antioxidants.

What are free radicals?Natural chemical reactions in our cells produce unwanted by-products called reactive oxygen species (ROS) – better known as free radicals. These furiously ping about inside cells causing havoc, particularly a type of damage called oxidation. Seen an apple go brown? Smelt oil or nuts that have gone off? That’s oxidation. Unchecked, a disastrous chain reaction would occur in which cell’s most precious elements – their fat rich membranes, their proteins and DNA - would degrade and suffer irreparable harm.There’s also a whole other source of free radicals - the environment. The skin is bombarded by sunlight (UV, infrared, visible light), weather and pollution which trigger the production of free radicals.

Skin Science and Health – January 02, 2021

What can be done to slow the ageing process?

We start losing collagen from the age of 20, starting the creation of lines and wrinkles. Healthy skin reflects overall health, and poor nutrition can contribute to factors that accelerate skin ageing.Environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation, pollution, nutrition and stress, play a key role in the way we age. Research also suggests that a diet rich in sugar contributes to the loss of collagen in the tissues as the result of a process known as glycation, which can destroy collagen. Smoking kills vitamin C and in turn damages collagen. 

Skin Science and Health – May 03, 2020

Discolouration and Dark Circles Under the Eyes

Dark circles, also known as periorbital hyperpigmentation, are a commonly encountered condition best described as the darkening of skin pigmentation around the eyes. Whilst dark circles are not usually caused by an underlying medical condition, many people think they make them look tired, sad or older than they are, and therefore can affect their emotional well-being .

Skin Science and Health – May 02, 2020

Why is daily sun protection so important?

Skin ageing is 93% sun damage.The sun damages our skin every day, all year round – even on the cloudiest of days. Sun and environmental damage are associated with 93% of skin ageing. Wearing daily sun protection is essential in maintaining your clients’ skin health and helping to prevent premature skin ageing. In fact, rather than sun protection we should think of it as daylight protection. That’s because while UVB is strongest in the Summer, UVA, visible light and infrared-A are present all year round.

Skin Science and Health – May 03, 2020

Antioxidants help to protect against Free Radical damage.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause damage to our cells. What makes them unstable is that they are missing electrons from their outer shell. This causes them to search for other atoms or molecules that have these electrons, in order for them to feel whole again and become stable. Due to their reactive nature, free radicals can wreak havoc on your skin and other cells in their quest to find an electron and feel whole again. In order to stabilise themselves, free radicals try to bond to other atoms or molecules. 

Skin Science and Health – January 06, 2020

Your skin’s greatest enemy is no longer just the sun.

Since pollution is all around us, the best thing we can do is to make sure we give our skin the best protection available. Sunscreen is no longer enough. With these new findings, it is ever more important to replenish your skin’s antioxidant levels either through diet, topical products or both.