Acne Treatment at Snowberry Lane

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This interesting piece from the BBC sheds light on the fact that people with Acne are struggling to get treatment due to a shortage of skin specialists. Here at Snowberry Lane Clinic we offer a variety of treatments to help to treat live Acne and Acne scarring as well.

Below we give you a brief overview of the available treatments:

Laser Treatment for Acne:

This treatment works by using the powerful light from the laser to target and damage the wall of bacteria cells within the skin, the aim is to kill the bacteria, which helps to reduce symptoms and therefore the visible signs of Acne. Secondly laser treatment can help to reduce inflammation and oil (sebum) levels. Higher sebum levels are found within Acne sufferers, so reducing these levels can also help to control symptoms and reduce the appearance of Acne.

Obagi Treatments for Acne:

Our most popular Obagi treatment for Acne is the CLENZIderm M.D. System. This is a 3 part product range that you build into your daily routine to help treat the symptoms of Acne.

Step 1: Daily Care Foaming Cleanser

This light cleanser contains 2% salicylic acid. Salicylic acid works by penetrating clogged and oily pores more effectively than some other alternatives. This means it is able to clean more deeply, exfoliating and removing dead skin cells and reducing sebum. It also contains cooling menthol to help reduce irritation and inflammation.

Step 2: Pore Therapy

This further clears pores with 2% salicylic acid, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and preparing your skin for the third step of the treatment.

Step 3: Therapeutic Lotion

The final step of Therapeutic Lotion BPO 5% contains benzoyl peroxide, a bacteria-fighting ingredient. Obagi CLENZIderm Therapeutic Lotion works as a daily moisturiser calming and healing skin to prevent it from becoming dry and irritated. The hydrating Squalane helps balance your complexion and reduce excess oil production.

If you want to see results for yourself, have a look at the case studies on the Obagi website here.

Laser Treatments for Acne Scarring:

If you have previously had Acne and are now left with visible scarring we offer Laser resurfacing treatments that can help. These treatments effectively encourage new skin to grow on by taking away the outer layer of skin. This promotes collagen, plumping and tightening the cells, which can help to smooth the surface of the skin, reducing the appearance of shallow Acne scarring.

If you want to get in touch, please give us a call today and we will help you with any questions you might have and arrange a consultation – 01225 700072.

Tixel in the Press

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It seems that everyone’s talking about Tixel, with two recent articles in prominent magazines. The first is a full page spread in the September issue of Good Housekeeping, where beauty director Eve Cameron tries the treatment herself, focusing on her eye area. She concludes:

“So does it work? The skin under my eyes is tighter and there’s a lift on the lids, where the skin also looks less crepey. My crow’s feet appear less pronounced, too. It’s subtle, but I can definitely see the difference. I’m almost tempted to try the full-face version…”

(Good Housekeeping September 2018 page 70)

The second article is in the October issue of Tatler magazine:

Top tips to help keep wrinkles at bay

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At Snowberry Lane Clinic we have over a decade of experience in helping our clients look and feel their best. Some of our most popular treatments include procedures that help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. However, there are some top tips we’d like to share to help you keep your skin in great condition, some are easier than others and some we’re sure you know already but just in case:

  • Avoid Frowning where possible, this sounds silly we know, and could go hand in hand with avoid all facial expressions including smiling and laughing (to reduce laughter lines) but we just like the idea of reducing the negative – frown less, smile as much as you like – smiling is brilliant!
  • Try not to sleep on your stomach or side profile where possible, again easier said than done, but when you are able, and if it’s comfortable for you, try and sleep on your back.
  • Avoid rubbing the eye area vigorously, the most common time this would happen is when removing make-up with cotton pads or a face wipe. Instead try a gentle face wash with a very soft facial cloth and work the make-up off slowly and gently – gently is key.
  • Avoid excessive sugar consumption – sugar causes dramatic spikes in the body’s insulin levels, which in turn leads to the breakdown of elastin and collagen. Interestingly, reduction in sugar consumption also helps to reset your palette, so over time your sweet tooth won’t be so sweet and your sugar cravings will fade.
  • Reduce sun exposure, perhaps the most obvious one, we all know by now that excessive sun exposer damages the skin, so we recommend wearing a moisturiser with SPF 30+ every day and SPF factor 50 during summer and in hotter climates.
  • Stop smoking – this is important, not only for your skin, but your general health.
  • Avoid chronic stress – this one can be difficult, obviously we all try and avoid stressful circumstances where possible, sometimes stress finds us and there’s nothing we can do about it. But when under stress, work on managing it as best you can, things like meditative breathing and mindfulness are great techniques for staying peacful.
  • Get Sufficient sleep, again this isn’t always something we can choose to do, but getting into a regular pattern of going to bed and waking-up at them same time each day can help.
  • Don’t use drinking straws – this is probably the easiest of all, avoid straws, not only do they create lines around the mouth over time but more often than not they are made of plastic, and reducing our use of plastic is good for the environment too – win win!

Clearly, even doing all of these things without fail every day, would not prevent wrinkles from forming completely, however they are useful little tricks to help your skin look its best for as long as possible and some of them have additional benefits too!

 

 

Primary source: American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine

Special Feature: Lip Fillers

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In the article below we outline everything you need to know if you’re thinking about getting your lips enhanced with Dermal Fillers.

Do your research:

Research the clinic thoroughly, although discounts and offers that save you money can be attractive, when it comes to your body we believe that you shouldn’t short change yourself. A well-trained and experienced practitioner will be able to ensure that the results are as subtle and natural looking as possible working with your proportions.

The most common side effects are bruising, redness and tenderness but there are also important vessels in this area that can be effected by the treatment if it is not carried out properly. It’s very important that the practitioner has a thorough understanding of the anatomy and therefore knows how to avoid permanent scarring and disfigurement.

Considerations before you commit to treatment:

It’s important to understand this is an invasive procedure with risks, and although some media channels may portray it as a treatment that can be completed in your lunch break, any prospective patient should consider the possible serious risks before making a final decision.

Consider the long term cost implications, fillers need to be maintained on average every 4-6 months, so make sure that is affordable for you if it’s something you’re seriously considering.

There’s very little downtime. The actual procedure itself takes about 30-60 minutes and after treatment you can resume your day-to-day routine. However, especially if it’s your first treatment and you’re unsure how your body will respond, it’s best to give yourself some recovery time in case of a reaction or bruising.

In the build up to your appointment:

Ten days leading up to your appointment should avoid all blood thinners such as: asprin, anti-inflammatories, fish oil and vitamin E. This is because blood thinners can increase your chances of bruising and bleeding. Twenty four hours before your appointment it is also advised to avoid alcohol or caffeine as this will help to limit swelling. We recommend Arnica tablets, a homeopathic remedy that helps to reduce bruising, although if you take blood thinners or have had blood clots in the past, please seek further advice from the Doctor.

If you have a history of cold sores, we recommend that you take cold sore prevention medication two days before the procedure as injections in the lip area can trigger a cold sore. It is not possible to carry out this treatment if the client has an active cold sore.

The Treatment:

Start gradually, if you’re new to lip fillers, start with a minimal amount of volume, this will allow you to build up volume more gradually over time if requires and won’t leave you with over-filled lips.

A small amount of bruising and bleeding at the site of injection is totally normal and expected, bruises should fade after five to seven days after treatment.

Occasionally Fillers can cause bumps and lumps beneath the surface of the skin. This can be corrected, so if it’s something you experience get in touch with your practitioner.

Results:

Results are quite quick to show through and in most cases you’ll see increased volume straight away. However some of this can be down to swelling from the injection so make sure you allow 24-48 hours to go down before evaluating the full effects.

Corrections and reversals:

We use hyaluronic acid fillers, these are not permanent, which means they break down over time and must be topped up to maintain them. This also means that they can be corrected by being dissolved with the injection of a special enzyme if you are not pleased with your results.

Post Treatment:

Following treatment you should not apply any pressure or make-up to the area for 12 hours. You should also steer clear of any activities that increase blood flow to your head for 24 hours. Prolonged exposure to UV light should be avoided for two weeks following treatment.

For further information or to make a booking for a consultation please give us a call on 01225 700072.

Sun safety myths – true or false?

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Reversing skin damage from the sun isn’t easy and we would always say that prevention is the best way to avoid issues later in life. It’s important that you know how to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Today we wanted to bust five common myths about skin care in summer to steer you in the right direction:

  1. You can’t get sunburnt when it’s cool and cloudy

FALSE: UV, which causes sunburn is present every day even in winter, there is no correlation between the temperature and the UV level. Cloud cover is commonly thought to act as a shade but UV rays can penetrate clouds and catch you out. You can check UV levels at reputable websites such as: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/

  1. Sun cream is the best way to protect skin from the sun

FALSE: Sun cream is just one of several measures needed in combination to protect yourself against sun damage. This includes staying out of the sun during the hottest hours of the day, covering skin that isn’t used to being exposed as this is more susceptible to damage, and wearing UVA and UVB combined sun cream with a minimum of factor 30SPF.

  1. After sun products repair the damage caused by sunburn

FALSE: They are designed to soothe and moisturise, but the real damage is done on a cellular level. If you notice your skin becoming pink in the sun seek shade immediately and do not return sunburnt skin into the sun until it is fully healed otherwise the issue will be exacerbated.

  1. You can’t get sun burnt indoors through windows

FALSE: Glass does not block UV rays so you can get burnt through windows. This most commonly occurs in cars, where people are exposed to UV whilst driving.

  1. Men and women are equally informed when it comes to sun safety

FALSE: A recent survey from the American Academy of Dermatology put women on top when it comes to understanding sun safety. “The results indicated only 56% of men know that skin cancer can occur on areas of the skin not typically exposed to the sun, compared to 65% of women.”* Click here for full article.

If you’d like to talk to one of the team about our skin care products or treatment options please give us a call on 01225 700072.

Special Feature: Thread Veins

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This week on the blog we’re talking about removing and reducing the appearance of thread veins. Thread veins are simply broken down blood vessels or capillaries, which can appear as red, blue or purple threads beneath the surface of the skin. They are very common and can appear anywhere on the body most often on the legs, arms, back of the hands and around the upper cheek area.

How can we help?

At Snowberry Lane Clinic we offer two treatment options to help deal with the issue of thread veins.

Laser treatment:

In some cases we use medical lasers to help break down thread veins to reduce their appearance. The Laser works by penetrating the skin with light energy to work on the veins without affecting the surface of the skin. During treatment the laser energy will be focussed on the target area and will cause the unwanted capillaries to collapse and break down, over time they will dissolve away, reducing the appearance and in some cases removing it completely.

Microscleratherapy:

Microscleratherapy utilises a medical solution that is injected into the target area to cause the veins to deteriorate, restricting blood flow to the vein and causing it to fade and in some cases disappear. This treatment is designed to encourage the body to naturally repair and that’s why some patients can have light bruises near the treated area. Within a few days this dies down and after a few weeks patients are left with uniform colouring around the skin.

If you’d like to learn more you can request a call back from Snowberry Lane by clicking here.

What can I do to fix an overstretched or split earlobe?

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Ear lobe expanders have become an increasingly popular form of a body modification over the years, and while they can definitely be a great form of self-expression, sometimes people want to reverse the process. It’s also possible for earlobes to become damaged and torn accidentally and this is something that we can help with too.

On the blog today we’re going to show you what exactly happens in an earlobe repair procedure and how we at Snowberry Lane Clinic can help. Our earlobe repair surgery for both split and stretched earlobes is a minor Radio Surgery procedure, where the excess tissue is removed, and the two splits are carefully stitched back together using very fine dissolvable stitches. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and takes between 20 – 30 minutes per ear, meaning that you will be able to walk out of the clinic and resume normal activities on the same day. Please note that stretched ear lobes can take a little longer depending on the size and complexity of the hole to be repaired.

On average ear lobe repairs will need 6 months to heal, and there may be some small scarring on your ear, that will fade in appearance over time. For more information click here or give us a call on 01225 700072.

What makes Alevere a good option for me?

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As one of our most popular treatments, Alevere weight loss therapy is proving to be a treatment our patients want to know more about. Today we want to talk to you about how Alevere can help Improve Your Lifestyle:

It’s fast acting

When you see the before and after pictures of Alevere clients, you might find it hard to believe they lost their weight in such a short period of time. This is because the treatment is designed to optimise weight loss through both diet and treatments. This means that your body is actively engaging in change and isn’t in a passive state like it can be in other dieting options.

It’s healthy

Alevere isn’t about dropping a few sizes as quickly as possible. It’s focussed on getting the body to the a healthier state so that you really feel the benefit. At the start of your journey we go over all of your body’s key statistics as well as running a blood test to check your health. Throughout the process our bloods are monitored on a monthly basis and you will have reviews with a Doctor to ensure that everything is moving in the right direction and all of the changes that are occurring are positive.

Its rewarding

The last thing we want Alevere to be is a negative therapy treatment. We’ve all been on diets that make us feel drained and miserable. You will meet with a therapist on a weekly basis who will help you to maintain your focus and momentum so you don’t feel like you’re going it alone.

Interested in finding out some more information regarding Alevere weight reduction? We’d love for you to get in touch with the clinic by emailing us enquiries@snowberrylane.co.uk

If you’d like to read some more about Alevere, you can do just that at http://www.snowberrylane.co.uk/treatments/alevere-wiltshire.html, where you’ll get more detailed information what you can expect when going through treatment.

Obagi in the spotlight!

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It’s not just us who are big fans of Obagi products – we’re very excited to share 6 recent press features where Obagi products have been selected as top performers in their category.

Obagi Radiance Peel

In Vanity Fair’s Best New Facials of 2017, the Obagi Radiance Peel is called out as a great way to get your skin ‘glowing’ ahead of a big event.

Click here for Vanity Fair article

Obagi Professional-C Serum

Look! Magazine selected Obagi Professional-C Serum as a good treatment for acne scarring as it can help to ‘fight discolouration, increase skin cell turnover and improve texture.’

Click here for Look! article

The Telegraph revealed that Vitamin C was the most searched for beauty product of 2017 and selected Obagi Professional-C Serum as one of it’s top 3 products containing Vitamin C.

‘Vitamin C is a key anti-ageing skincare ingredient that helps to gently brighten and smooth your skin. It’s one of the most power antioxidants and helps protect your skin against free radical damage caused by the environment, which can breakdown your collagen and encourage wrinkles and sagging.’

Click here for Telegraph article

The Sun put Obagi Professional-C Serum to the test and chose it as their top ‘Luxury’ product to ‘make your skin glow this spring’. Here’s the full review:

  • ‘Promises to protect and perfect the skin, leaving it healthier and brighter.
  • It has a lower vitamin C concentration than the mid-range product so I used it twice a day on cleansed skin and achieved great results.
  • It has a lovely smell and the serum penetrates skin really well.
  • My skin tone was much improved and looked clearer and more even.
  • Yes, it is pricey – but it really does work.’

Click here for The Sun article

Obagi Hydrate moisturiser

Obagi Hydrate moisturiser has been featured in Reveal Magazine. It was selected by Dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting as an excellent moisturiser to use when going through acne treatment, which can have a drying effect on your skin.

Click here for Reveal article

Obagi Exfoliating Day Lotion

Dr Sarah Tonks an Aesthetic Doctor, selected Obagi Exfoliating Day Lotion as the best spot treatment:

‘I like the Obagi Exfoliating Day Lotion, it contains glycolic acid and camomile. Glycolic acid to unblock the pores, hyaluronic acid to prevent your skin from getting too dry and camomile is great for inflamed skin such as acne.’

Click here for Cosmopolitan article

If you’re interested in discussing what Obagi can do for you give us a call on 01225 700072 or e-mail us: enquiries@snowberrylane.co.uk