Sun Damaged Skin: Part 2

Tackle Fine Lines, Wrinkles & Thread Veins

For anybody who missed Part 1 of the September focus on Sun-damaged Skin, we are currently devoting our discussions to tackling the 4 big effects of sun damage, namely Thread Veins, Fine Lines & Wrinkles, Dehydrated Skin and Pigmentation (sun/age spots). And before we start to discuss thread veins, fine lines and wrinkles which are the focus of this post, let us say once again that using a high-factor SPF throughout the year is the only effective way to avoid sun-damaged skin.

Thread Veined Skin Rescue Guidelines:

So, what are thread veins? Thread veins are also known as spider veins or broken capillaries. The proper medical term is “Telangiectasia”: they are small, twisted blood vessels which are visible on the skin’s surface and can be red, purple, or blue. They usually form on the face and legs which are most exposed to the elements. Thread veins may be influenced by genes, hormones and lifestyle choices (e.g. smoking, over-weight, inactive, sedentary lifestyle).

It should be noted that thread veins on the legs can often be symptomatic of underlying varicose veins which can go on to cause problems at a later time. If you want to tackle thread veins on your legs, the first sensible step is therefore to get the underlying causes investigated before considering any treatments.

So we will content ourselves to dealing only with facial thread veins in this post. Over the last 12 years, we have devised a very effective solution which combines in-clinic treatments with products from our skincare ranges (Skinceuticals, Alumier MD and Beaute Pacifique). Each treatment protocol will vary slightly depending on the patient’s skin condition and type but our general approach is as follows:

Step 1: initial consultation with patient to assess the damage and put together a patient-specific action plan

Step 2: Our treatment recommendations will usually include laser on the affected area – again the number of treatments will depend on the individual’s skin condition. For thread veins, we normally use BBL Hero which is the most advanced IPL laser available in the market. BBL (which stands for Broad Band Light) is a minimally invasive device which penetrates the deeper layers of the dermis to target fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage. BBL is also extremely effective when used on other skin problems – we have had particular success with Acne, Rosacea and facial redness, and Age Spots.

Step 3: Patient will be advised on general skincare and beauty routine including skin products and diet going forward to maintain vein-free skin.

The key takeaway from any discussion on facial thread veins is that they can come back easily so it is imperative to follow your therapists’ recommendations which will include advice on lifestyle and skincare. But, as always, one of the best habits you can acquire is the application of SPF every day!!

Fine Lines & Wrinkled Skin Rescue Guidelines:

Now when it comes to Fine Lines and Wrinkles, there are many treatments to reduce them such as the use of Botox and fillers however, in our opinion, PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy which is the signature treatment of The Otto Clinic, is the best non-invasive treatment in the market today. Much research has been carried out on the effectiveness of PRP proving what an amazing treatment it is. If any further proof were required, we only need to consider the range of its applications in medicine: “PRP (known as Platelet Rich Plasma) application, is becoming a more widely practised standard in sports medicine, orthopaedics, traumatology, general surgery, dentistry, veterinary and cosmetology (Hall et al., 2009; Virchenko and Aspenberg, 2006). The concept of using PRP derived from the patient’s blood to improve tissue function by rebuilding its morphology and improving its metabolism sets itself apart from conventional means of interaction with tissue and together with tissue engineering, sets a new course for the development of medicine (Creaney et al., 2011)” (Source:NCBI, Journal of Human Kinetics).

Another key influencing factor to be aware of when tackling Fine Lines & Wrinkles is that night-time is the most important time of the day for your skin – this is when it repairs and renews itself so the evening skincare routine is crucial to maintaining young-looking skin. We would therefore recommend the following:

Step 1: Always double cleanse at night! Because the first cleanse removes the built-up dirt and debris on the skin’s surface while the second cleanse ensures a deeper clean, getting right to the heart of the pores so that your anti-ageing creams can do their best job overnight!

Step 2: Use a fragrance-free/alcohol-free toner such as Skinceuticals Equalising Toner

Step 3: Follow this with a rich, nourishing night cream suited to your skin type. Here for example, you could use Skinceuticals Resveratrol B E (specially formulated to improve firmness and elasticity) and Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 which is an anti-ageing corrective moisturiser that nourishes and rehydrates skin.

Step 4: Lots of sleep! For more information on the powerful benefits of sleep, check out our blog post "5 Great Reasons to Get Your Beauty Sleep".

*(Beaute Pacifique is one of the leading skincare brands in the market today which specialises in skin conditions such as acne and rosacea as well as ageing skin. Beaute Pacifique’s mission is to create products that do not just improve the surface appearance of the skin but improve the biological function of the deeper levels of the skin using active ingredients).

For more information on how Platelet Rich Plasma can rejuvenate your skin, book a skin consultation with us today or call us on 061 317678!