Cosmeceuticals

True cosmeceuticals are advanced medical-grade skin care products that can improve the function of skin in a variety of ways from preventing premature ageing, to improving acne, reducing pigmentation and generally improving the appearance of the skin.

They contain active ingredients at optimal concentrations to ensure excellent results. These products fall into the area between over the counter cosmetics and prescription-only medicines. As with all things in life, there are good products and not so good products.

We would recommend you obtain your products from Plastic Surgeons, Dermatologists and Medical Practitioners who have the expertise to use cosmeceutical ingredients and can best advise patients in achieving photo rejuvenation and prevention of photo carcinogenesis. Insist on products exclusively available to surgeons and physicians.

Optimal skin care and ski health need not be complicated and when used as a long term strategy it can help treat major skin conditions such as sun damage, pigmentation, sensitivity and acne. In particular, Rationale advanced skin care products are of premium quality and have been developed with a scientific approach by identifying the six key features required for skin health: Immune protection, anti-oxidant protection from free radical damage, UV protection, cleansing, cell repair and exfoliation.

Healthy glowing skin only requires a simple effective routine. So check out the Rationale skin care range now:

MORNING
Niacinamide Serum: Vitamin B3 enhances skin immune responses to UV light, helps fade pigmentation and reduces oily shine.
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Rejuvenating Serum: Anti-oxidants Vitamin A, C and E work in synergy to alleviate oxidative stress and assist collagen production.
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Intelligent Suncare FACE: Complete protection with nanonised zinc oxide, natural moisturisers and anti-oxidants.
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EVENING
Preparatory Cleanser: Solvent based cleanser, gently removes make-up and debris without irritation or leaving the skin feeling dry.
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Retinaldehyde Serum: Helps repair damaged DNA, redefines skin structure and has the anti-aging, skin rejuvenating benefits of Vitamin A without causing redness or irritation.
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Skin Refining Serum: Powerful, gentle chemical exfoliation helps restore youthful skin function and accelerate cell turnover to give a more luminous complexion.
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Please phone Mr Banwell's office for further information on the Rationale Skin Care Range
Or click here to find out more.

Chemical Peels

WHAT IS A CHEMICAL PEEL?
A chemical peel is a non surgical technique designed to revitalise damaged skin in people that have signs of sun damage, fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tones, acne and scarring. The aim is to resurface the skin resulting in a softer, smoother, more youthful look. Chemical peels are most commonly performed for cosmetic reasons, to enhance appearance and self-confidence. Chemical peel therapy may be performed in conjunction with other treatments; however, it is not a substitute for a face lift!

PROCEDURE PEELS
Procedure prescriptive chemical peels embrace the latest medical research and utilise Ascorbic acid, Lactic acid (AHA), Salicylic acid (BHA) and Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to facilitate a penetration of self-neutralising, anti-inflammatory chemical exfoliants. Procedure Peels are designed to maximise skin rejuvenation with minimal downtime. These chemicals combine to calmly resurface the dead layer of skin cells and speed cell turnover to return skin to its more youthful function. Patients usually experience minimal side effects. Erythema may be present but is minimal and of short duration. Dryness and shedding may be experienced on days 3, 4, and 5 post peel. Procedure peels can be uniquely customised and tailored to individual patient needs. A course of 3-6 peels is recommended for optimum results.

ASCORBIC ACID (Vitamin C)
Ascorbic Acid is a mild peeling agent ideally suited to use on highly pigmented skin. ( Fitzpatrick skin types 1V-V1). Performed regularly the Ascorbic acid peel can help resolve uneven pigmentation and provide exfoliation benefits for more reactive skin types. It can be used alone or in conjunction with other procedure peels if skin type Fitzpatrick 1V or below. It is recommended that Ascorbic Acid crystals are dissolved in Procedure Delivery Serum but may also be dissolved in water and used directly on the skin in its crystalline form.

LACTIC ACID
The L-lactic Acid peel is a hydrophilic acid of the Alpha-Hydroxy acid group. It is a light superficial peel which promotes cleavage of corneocytes from the stratum corneum and stimulates epidermal differentiation. This hydrating peel lowers the stratum corneum pH which promotes activation of enzymes that degrade corneosomes, facilitating shedding of superfluous surface cells. T his results in a reduction of fine lines and uneven pigmentation, giving an overall improvement in skin tone and texture. Performed on a monthly basis, there will be increased skin hydration, reduced visibility of pores and lightening of epidermal hyperpigmentation. This peel can be used alone or to augment the strength and effects of other Procedure Peels.

BHA (Salicylic Acid)
BHA is attracted to the lipid content of skin, particularly sebum, found predominantly in follicles. This peel helps to regulate the turnover of epithelial cells and shed unwanted cellular debris. This helps to unclog pores, reducing blackheads and spots. BHA peels help in the treatment of acne and excess surface oil. These peels are performed on a monthly basis in clinic and can be used alone or in conjunction with other Procedure Peels. They are often used in combination with the ThreeFIX acne product range.

TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid)
TCA has traditionally been used as a medium to deep chemical peeling agent. More recently, the benefits of TCA in stratum corneum and epidermal peeling have been elucidated. TCA effects a gentle sloughing of the stratum corneum without traumatising sensitive sun-damaged skin. It is also an effective angiogenic agent, re-establishing the fine capillary network atrophied by ultra violet radiation resulting in sallowness. Clinically, this benefit can be seen as a restoration of healthy skin tone and texture. There will be a reduction of fine lines and superficial pigmentation but further benefits also include softening of acne scarring and fortification of the skin barrier function with a reduction in sensitivity to topical irritants.

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Allied Treatments

MEDICAL MICRODERMABRASION
Medical microdermabrasion is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure used for skin rejuvenation in patients showing signs of sun damage and ageing. It is a simple treatment for dull lifeless skin, enlarged clogged pores, fine lines and uneven skin tones. It can also help to soften scars with the advantage of minimal downtime.

Medical microdermabrasion uses a highly controlled spray of fine crystals to resurface the epidermis, which is the outer layer of the skin. This action regenerates, repairs and gradually corrects blemishes and pigmentation on the skin giving a uniform appearance, firmness and glow. This treatment “super cleanses “ pores to refine skin texture and boost production of new cells and collagen.

Treatments last between 20 and 30 minutes and a course of 3-6 treatments are required for optimum results. However, most patients see and feel the benefits after just one or two treatments. Treatments will be carried out by highly-skilled practitioners and can be used alone or combined with chemical peels to augment their effect.

INTENSE PULSED LIGHT (IPL) THERAPY
Intense Pulse Light Therapy (IPL) is a non-invasive, non-ablative rejuvenating treatment that uses high intensity pulses of visible light to improve the appearance of skin problems.

IPL is a procedure capable of diminishing pigmentation, fine lines, facial flushing, broken capillaries, telangiectasia, haemangiomas, freckles and spider veins.

High intensity pulses of light (not lasers) penetrate the skin to aid rejuvenation. A highly advanced computer regulates the light pulse to a specific wavelength range to target the area to be treated.

More than one treatment may be required to give optimum results, this will be discussed with you at your consultation. IPL treatments will be performed only by highly-trained practitioners.

PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY
Photodynamic Therapy is a new advance in skin rejuvenation. It has been used for therapeutic reasons in the management of advanced sun damage and early skin cancer. However, a side effect of this treatment has also shown potential benefits for skin rejuvenation.

PDT is therefore a form of skin rejuvenation with great potential, minimal pain and little downtime. This process uses a medication (a cream) that sensitises the skin to light and then applies a light source to the area to alter the skin’s surface.

PDT includes three steps : Topical medication, an incubation period to allow the medication to take effect and finally light therapy.

PDT is not only used for skin rejuvenation, it also has a proven effect in treating superficial skin cancers and pre cancerous lesions. Several treatments may be required to achieve the desired results.

The length of the PDT session can vary and this will be discussed with you at your consultation. All treatments will be performed by highly-trained practitioners.

Newer therapies incorporating chemical peels and the light therapies used in PDT represents an exciting advance I this arena too (eg. EpiNova).

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