Pittwater Life June 2017 Issue

Hair & Beauty
Spot of bother: how to
manage annoying acne
with Sue Carroll
Healthy skin has become
synonymous with youth
and beauty in our
society.
Our skin is our outermost
and largest organ of the
body and is a mirror of what
is happening internally with
our health and emotions.
Unfortunately there are times
when skin irregularities
such as milia, blackheads
(comedones), sebaceous
hyperplasia and seborrhoeic
keratosis may develop on
the skin on the face and the
body. With a combination of
a good homecare routine and
the use of clinical treatments
such as diathermy and peels
these skin irregularities can be
treated successfully.
While most people have
attempted to squeeze
acne blemishes, it is not
recommended unless you are
trained and know what you are
doing. Serious consequences
may result from touching acne
lesions incorrectly. These
range from worsening the
inflammation, the spread of
infection, the creation of scar
tissue and post inflammatory
hyperpigmentation (PIH),
and having a longer healing
process.
Prevention
Usually the best place to start
is by reviewing the possible
cause of the acne.
Some of the first questions to
ask are:
1. What shampoo, conditioner
and body wash is being
used? Do these products
contain a high percentage
of coconut by-products or
silicons? If they do, this is
the first area to change.
2. If the lesions are on the
body, check what fabric is
against the skin most of the
time – is it a synthetic or
cotton? Cotton is better.
3. If the lesions are on the
face, is hair kept off the
skin as often as possible,
Celebrating 25 Years
including when sleeping?
Caps/hats/riding helmets
can also inflame acne
lesions and should be
cleaned on a regular basis.
4. Is there any sign of an
infected throat or sinus,
thrush, constipation or
diarrhoea? These heath
issues can inflame the acne
lesions.
5. What is being put on the
skin topically? (i.e. makeup,
sunscreen, cleansing,
moisturising and self-tanning
products). Have these
products reviewed by your
aesthetician and perhaps
have a more suitable home
care treatment protocol
prescribed.
Treatment
Clinical aestheticians can help
with either a deep cleansing
skin treatment, (where you
can be educated on how
to clean the skin correctly,
followed by extraction and
a high frequency and LED
treatment to assist a faster
rate of healing), a herbal peel,
(herbs are massaged into
the skin to assist with a light
exfoliation which will allow the
skin to detoxify and exfoliate,
revealing a less congested skin
and a minimisation of scar
tissue), blue LED (Light Emitting
Diode with either blue, indigo
or violet light assists with
destroying P acnes bacteria),
diathermy (a precise treatment
using a high frequency current
directed via a very fine needle
which will cauterize the lesion),
or a combination of all of these
modalities.
Both acne and ageing
lesions are often a
consequence of life. Many
forms of skin irregularities
once considered to be
irreversible, can now be
treated quickly, easily and
inexpensively. As always,
the best and most effective
way of treating the skin is
to look internally (general
health, diet, medication, water
intake, hormonal activity) and
externally (topical products
used on the hair and skin,
squeezing, scratching). Then
utilising the health jigsaw
puzzle, putting all of the
pieces together, the result is a
healthy, flawless skin.
Sue Carroll of Skin
Inspiration writes on
beauty trends and treatments
for Pittwater Life.
She has been a fully qualified
Aesthetician for 33 years.
Sue has owned and
operated successful beauty
clinics and day spas on
the Northern Beaches.
info@skininspiration.com.au
www.skininspiration.com.au
JUNE 2017 51
Hair & Beauty