Categories
Skin Care

Understanding Sun Exposure The Difference Between Tans and Sunburns

Recognising these distinctions and practicing sun safety can protect your skin from harmful UV radiation, reducing your risk of skin cancer and premature aging. This blog explores the difference between tanning and sunburn.

The Basics of Tans and Sunburns

Tans and sunburns are the body’s reactions to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun.

Let’s break down how each happens…….

Tans

  • Exposure to UV Rays -When your skin gets exposed to UV light, especially UVA rays, it produces more melanin.
  • Melanin Production – Melanin is a pigment made by skin cells called melanocytes. It helps absorb and spread out UV radiation, acting like a natural sunscreen.
  • Types of Melanin – There are two types, eumelanin, which is darker and offers more UV protection, and pheomelanin, which is lighter and offers less protection.
  • Tanning Process – As melanin increases, your skin darkens, creating a tan. This is your body’s way of trying to protect itself from more UV damage. However, even a tan can’t fully protect your skin from harm.

Sunburns

  • Excessive UV Exposure – Sunburns occur when your skin is exposed to too much UV light, especially UVB rays.
  • Damage to Skin Cells – UVB rays penetrate the outer skin layer (epidermis) and damage cellular DNA, leading to inflammation and the redness and pain of a sunburn.
  • Inflammatory Response – Your immune system responds by dilating blood vessels and sending inflammatory cells to the damaged area, causing redness, swelling, and pain.
  • Long-Term Effects – UVB rays can damage DNA and cause mutations in skin cells, increasing the risk of skin cancer. Sunburns are a clear sign of serious skin damage.

By understanding how tans and sunburns work, you can better protect your skin from harmful UV rays and reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature aging.

Identifying Sunburn – Symptoms and Immediate Steps

Recognising sunburn and acting quickly can help reduce discomfort and prevent further skin damage. Here’s how to identify sunburn and what to do if it happens….

Signs of Sunburn

  • Red Skin – The skin looks red and may feel warm.
  • Pain and Tenderness – Sunburned skin is often painful, tender, tight, or itchy.
  • Swelling – Severe sunburn can cause swelling.
  • Blisters – Severe sunburns may result in blisters, indicating significant skin damage.

Immediate Actions

  • Get Out of the Sun – Move indoors or to a shaded area immediately to prevent more damage.
  • Moisturise – Apply a gentle, soothing moisturizer with aloe vera to reduce dryness and pain.
  • Hydrate – Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
  • Pain Relief – Take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen to ease discomfort.
  • Protect Skin – Keep sunburned skin covered or stay in the shade to avoid further exposure.
  • Handle Blisters Carefully – If blisters form, do not pop them to avoid infection.
  • Rest – Stay in a cool, shaded area and avoid activities that could irritate your skin further.

If you need any help or advice with your skin this summer, please get in touch and chat with one of our Experts, or call us at 01932 731762.

Categories
Skin Care

How Staying Hydrated Affects Your Skin and Reduces Dark Circles

The Role of Hydration in Skin Health

Hydration is crucial for healthy skin. Adequate water intake keeps skin elastic, soft, and supple, while dehydration causes dryness, flakiness, and dullness. Dehydration can make dark circles more prominent as it thins the skin, revealing blood vessels. Drinking water improves blood circulation, which may reduce the appearance of dark circles.

Benefits of Staying Hydrated

  • Clearer Complexion: Water flushes out toxins, enhancing skin tone.
  • Reduced Puffiness: Balances the water-salt ratio in the skin.
  • Anti-Aging: Maintains skin elasticity, slowing the aging process.

How Much Water Should You Drink?

The Eatwell Guide recommends that people should aim to drink 6 to 8 cups or glasses of fluid a day. Water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks, including tea and coffee, all count.

You may need to drink more fluids if you’re:

  • pregnant or breastfeeding
  • in a hot environment
  • physically active for long periods
  • ill or recovering from illness

Can Drinking Water Reduce Dark Circles?

Dark circles under the eyes are a common issue, often blamed on lack of sleep, stress, or aging. While numerous eye creams promise amazing results, the power of hydration is often overlooked. Can drinking water really help reduce dark circles?

Why Do Dark Circles Appear?

Dark circles result from the thin skin under the eyes revealing blood vessels more clearly. Factors like sleep deprivation, aging, and genetics can make them more noticeable.

Beyond Drinking Water

Hydration isn’t just about drinking water. Foods with high water content, such as cucumbers, watermelon, and oranges, as well as herbal teas and infused waters, also contribute to hydration.

Additional Tips

  • Quality Sleep: Aim for 7-8 hours of restful sleep each night to allow your skin to repair.
  • Comprehensive Skincare: Combine hydration with good sleep, a balanced diet, and effective topical treatments for the best results.

For personalised advice, book a Skin Consultation with one of our Experts, or call us at 01932 731762.

Categories
Skin Care Skin Care For Men

Gut Health & Radiant Skin

Did you know that 70% of our immune system is nestled in our gut*? It’s also where we make nutrients and metabolise everything from food to hormones. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that our gut and skin health are intrinsically linked. It might not be the most glamorous topic, but if you’re looking to fight early signs of ageing, say goodbye to monthly breakouts or battle anything from redness to dull skin, the answer might be just south of your face – let’s explore how you can make your gut work for your skin health . . .

Inside and Outside Reflections

Studies have shown that where there is gut inflammation, there will often be skin inflammation and vice versa. Obviously, we can’t look inside at our guts, but we CAN see our skin and it does communicate – for example when you see redness, dry areas, blemishes and more, it might not be surface issues but interior issues. Build the good bacteria in your gut and your skin will reflect this with a new glow, so now we just need to know how?

Prioritise Your Needs

It’s (once again) all about lifestyle; food, supplements, exercise, sleep and stress, AKA wellness! Give yourself a routine and your skin will be visibly happier, while improving your gut health might have a positive impact on other aspects of your health as well. We love to think of the gut as a garden that needs fertilising with good whole foods like fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and probiotics from fermented foods and yoghurts. Prioritising sleep might not seem like it is connected to gut and skin health, but rest gives your body the opportunity to repair and restore and decent sleep is also linked to hormonal health. Which leads us neatly on to cortisol – the stress hormone – high levels of cortisol often cause poor sleep, impaired gut health and skin issues. Argh, it’s enough to send our stress levels soaring! Instead, we need to focus on how to deal with stress, we can’t make it disappear but there are many tools out there that can help to regulate stress levels from exercise to mindfulness. Find what works for you whether that’s yoga, therapy, spending time with friends or any hobby you love.

Listen To Your Skin

Learn to speak skin and you could help the inside of your body as much as the outside. With every bump, dry area or sign of redness, your skin is communicating with you. Your skin pro can help you to learn what your skin needs and if you respond correctly with the right skincare your skin barrier will be strong, healthy, and glowing. 

Support Your Microbiome

The body’s microbiome (the community of invisible-to-the-human-eye microbes) that live everywhere is an essential part of wellness, but especially when it comes to the gut and skin. Keeping these good bacteria balanced is crucial and skincare that protects the skin microbiome can complement good gut health with an inside-out approach:

Sunscreen protects it
The sun’s rays will deplete good bacteria and lead to premature signs of ageing, so protect your skin with the physical AlumierMD sunscreen that’s right for your needs.

EverActive defends it
As well as fighting the signs of ageing, our EverActive C&E™ + Peptide is a powerful antioxidant formula that defends skin from daily aggressors that target the microbiome.

HydraRich supports it
Pre-biotics applied to the skin can help support good bacteria and the skin barrier, HydraRich contains ProBioBalance CLR™ NP.

So, think about your gut, give it some lifestyle love, and support your skin with a personalised AlumierMD skincare regime and you’ll be hitting those skin goals in no time. Please get in touch or book in with one of our Experts here, if you want to have a quick chat, please do give us a call on 01932 731762.

An amzing BLOG – With thanks to our Friends at AlumierMD.

*Wiertsema SP, van Bergenhenegouwen J, Garssen J, Knippels LMJ. The Interplay between the Gut Microbiome and the Immune System in the Context of Infectious Diseases throughout Life and the Role of Nutrition in Optimizing Treatment Strategies . Nutrients. 2021 Mar 9;13(3):886. doi: 10.3390/nu13030886. PMID: 33803407; PMCID: PMC8001875.

Categories
Laser Hair Removal

Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?

One of the most common questions we receive is …..

Is laser hair removal permanent?

The answer is no, but let me explain. We can’t call it permanent because your body continuously develops new hair follicles, though at a much slower rate. What we offer is permanent hair reduction. This means you’ll need very little maintenance.

Many of our clients schedule yearly maintenance appointments to ensure minimal hair growth. Here’s how the process works:

The Process of Laser Hair Removal

The laser heat is absorbed by the hair follicle in your skin. The hair follicle, which is the root where the hair is attached, anchors into the dermal layer of the skin. Traditional hair removal methods like shaving and plucking only remove the hair itself, allowing the follicle to produce another hair.

In laser hair removal, the follicle absorbs the heat and is destroyed, preventing new hair from growing from that follicle. While your body will develop new hair follicles over time, it’s a slow process. That’s why our clients typically only need annual appointments to manage new growth. Many find they no longer need to shave or use other traditional hair removal methods.

What is Alexandrite Laser Hair Removal?

At our clinic, we use ND Alexandrite technology for pain-free laser hair removal.

Alexandrite laser hair removal uses a laser beam emitted from an Alexandrite crystal to target hair follicles. The laser energy heats up the hair follicles, destroying them and preventing hair growth. This type of laser is effective for lighter skin tones and darker hair colors.

It is safe, effective, and can provide long-lasting results for reducing unwanted hair on various parts of the body.

Is Alexandrite Laser Hair Removal Permanent?

The Alexandrite laser is particularly effective for treating large areas of the body, such as the legs and back, and is known for delivering long-lasting results.

Studies have shown that the Alexandrite laser can achieve up to a 90% reduction in hair growth after a series of treatments. However, the exact number of sessions required can vary depending on the individual’s hair type, skin tone, and other factors. It is important to undergo the treatment under the supervision of one of our Lynton-trained technicians to ensure maximum safety and effectiveness.

If you want more information about laser hair removal, contact our team and one of our specialists will assist you, get in touch or book in with one of our Experts here, or if you want to have a quick chat, please do give us a call on 01932 731762.