People seeking cosmetic improvement of their skin do so for many different reasons. More commonly concerns are focussed on changes in the skin and one`s complexion that occur as we age.
Skin specialists now believe that most of the changes that we see in our skin as we grow older are due to the sun (sometimes referred to as "photodamage").
One way to observe this yourself is to look at the quality and elasticity of your skin on the backs of your hands compared to another part of your body that is not regularly exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun. It is well known that excessive sunbathing, or use of sunbeds can accelerate this process.
Changes that occur to our skin include a loss of elasticity; wrinkles can start to develop and become deeper; we may notice unevenness in our skin tone and texture with some areas of brown pigmentation (age spots) and fine red thread veins. In addition an underlying loss of fatty tissue can also cause our skin to become loose and sag resulting in a hollowed appearance around the cheek area, and jowls around the chin and jaw.
Private clinics and practitioners offering treatments for skin problems mainly focus on changes due to ageing, as these are generally not addressed by the National Health Service (NHS).
We have tried to encompass a range of treatment options that are available in private clinics for cosmetic improvement of the skin. For additional treatments options, please also see our Which Treatment sections for pigmentation, lines and wrinkles, facial skin tightening and thread veins.
Do you have a question? Ask one of our experts NOWCell Therapies like Recell® use the patient’s own skin cells to repair and rejuvenate the skin; treating lines and wrinkles, scars and burns.
The use of chemical peels to soften and improve the appearance of skin dates back to the ancient Egyptians. Today, scientists have identified numerous forms of acid which can be used to treat skin.
Cosmetic skin camouflage is the art of concealing a discolouration, blemish or scar with the application of specialist camouflage creams that are matched to the surrounding skin tones.
Unlike ablative and non-ablative lasers Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing (Fractional Photothermolysis) only damages small zones within a target area, causing fractional trauma and quicker recovery.
Book your HydraFacial today! Find the best HydraFacial clinics near you. This rejuvenating treatment cleanses, hydrates, and revitalizes for glowing skin!
Laser, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), Light Heat Energy (LHE) and Light Emitting Diode (LED)technologies have been developed to treat a variety of skin problems including sun damage effects and wrinkles.
Laser and light technologies have been developed to treat people with a variety of different skin problems including pigmented (skin colour, birthmark) and vascular (vein) problems.
The use of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), red, yellow and blue light sources for the treatment of acne and for skin rejuvenation.
Medical Skin Needling, also referred to as Collagen Induction Therapy and Micro-Needling is aimed at stimulating the body’s own collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Mesotherapy is a medical technique used for the treatment of cosmetic conditions, including skin rejuvenation and improvement, hair regrowth, localised fat reduction and as a treatment for cellulite.
Micro-current therapy has been available in the UK since the early 90s with the introduction of the CACI (Computer Aided Cosmetology Instrument) which is known as the original non-surgical face lift. It can also be used to treat other areas of the body, such as mild lifting of the breast.
Microdermabrasion helps improve the texture and appearance of the skin using a stream of fine micro particles which partially removes the outermost layer of the skin and stimulates new cell growth.
No-needle mesotherapy (e.g. Eporex™ & Acthyderm®) seek to encourage the penetration of topically applied active ingredients through the skin using mild electric currents to treat ageing & reduce fat.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, also known as the vampire facelift works on the basis that the bodys own natural healing powers may slow and even reverse the ageing process .
There are many hundreds of different types of cosmeceutical skin care products on the market today that contain active ingredients and claim they can improve wrinkles and the appearance of ageing.
SPF, UVA, UVB? All too confusing? Dermatologists recommend daily use of a broad-spectrum (covering a wide range of wavelengths) UVA and UVB sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15.