水光针 Skin Boosters - Get Korean Dewy Radiant Skin

Skin Boosters appears to be the latest craze in Singapore, providing quick and instant radiance to the skin, pore closure and a healthy glow for the Korean Dewy skin texture and skin tone.

Skin Boosters are made up of a combination of Hyaluronic Acid. As the skin undergoes sun damage and ageing, it loses moisture and collagen. Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring compound that can now be directly injected into the dermal layers of the skin, delivering hydration to exactly where it is needed. Unlike creams or serums that contain hyaluronic acid, the absorption of this serum into the deeper layers of the skin is limited.

Skin Boosters can be injected deep into the skin through micro-injections with a delivery gun, allowing precise and accurate micro-partials to be injected evenly throughout the entire face

Skin Boosters are suitable for those who have
1) Dry dehydrated skin
2) Oily skin with big open pores
3) Dull skin
4) Aged skin
5) Sun damaged skin with a combination of the above

Results from the Skin Boosters injection depends on the type of product used and the scheduling technique of your doctor. Some clinics recommend once a month for the first 3 injections followed by a 6 monthly. Others recommend doing it once every 2-3 months.

 

Restylane Skin Boosters is my product of choice. Although there are many alternative names like AquaShine, Dewdrops, Aqua Boosters, Aqua Shine etc, Only Licenced Medical Clinics are allowed to use Restylane Products. You do not want third party products injected into your skin as you are not sure of firstly the manufacturing process, the sterility of the product and the purity of its claims.

Skin Boosters can be used in both men and women across all age groups. A lot of the times, it is done before a special event like Weddings, ROMs, parties, gatherings etc. However, skin is something that requires continuous care. Although the skin boosters are able to make the skin radiant before your all important event, the process of injecting Skin Boosters into the skin also helps to stimulate our own body to produce collagen, allowing for long term benefits beyond the lifespan of the product which is technically up to 9 months maximum.

Common FAQ
A) How is the procedure done?
1) Numbing cream is first applied onto the face and the cream is left on for about 30 mins
2) You will be brought into the treatment room where you will lie down and the cream is then cleaned off
3) The face should feel numb now and your doctor will use a gun to deliver the product into your skin. The gun used in my clinic has 5 micro-injectors where exactly 0.01ml per injector is delivered precisely into the dermal layers of your skin
4) The process is repeated throughout the entire face, focusing more on the problem areas like the cheeks
5) Lastly, the face will be cleaned after the process is done and some antibiotic cream will be applied on
6) Down time is about 2 days. Some elevated bumps on the first and these gradually will subside on the second day

B) Is there anything else apart for Restylane being injected?
Very often we use a combination of Botox and Restylane in the mixture. There are some clinics that use Vitamin C as well as PDRN (婴儿针) in their mixture. Although this has been postulated to improve wound healing and has been used in the treatment of diabetic foot ulters, it's use in North America and Europe is currently still not widespread. There have been Korean Clinics starting to use this product but while it is still new and undergoing clinical trials, I would advise against using it in the face for now until more literature is released.

C) How fast can I see results?
You can see results from the injection within a week

D) Is it painful?There is some discomfort from the procedure, but the numbing cream makes the procedure much more bearable.

E) Any examples of how my skin will look after the injection?http://www.paperkitties.com/2016/12/my-very-first-skin-booster-at-clifford.html

So head down or ring us up at 6532 2400 for a consultation to learn more about Skin Boosters.

Protecting Your Skin From The Haze in 4 Easy Skincare Tips

Haze and skincare tips

Is your skin looking dull and your pores getting clogged very quickly these days? I've got bad news for you-the haze is back. Again.

 

 

You may already be familiar with the damage that the haze does to our airways and eyes. However, the impact of the haze particles on our skin is not to be negated. Every year, I see an increase in haze-related dermatological problems in  my patients and so I've compiled a simple FAQ on how to protect your skin at home from the haze.

 

 

What are some of the common skin problems due to the haze?

·         clogged pores

·         blackheads

·         dry skin

·         skin redness

·         pimple/acne outbreaks

·         eczema flares

·         irritable/sensitive skin

·         rough skin texture

·         dull skin

·         premature skin aging (e.g. fine lines and wrinkles)

·         flare up of inflammatory skin conditions (e.g. psoriasis, eczema...etc)

What is haze?

To understand how haze wreaks havoc on the skin, it is important to understand what exactly haze is.

 

Haze is a mixture of air pollutants, dust particles and smoke suspended in air. These particles are usually less than 10mm in size. Haze resulting from forest fires has a high concentration of these fine particles and can remain in our atmosphere for weeks.

 

The air pollutants in haze are often referred to as "smog" and consist of a noxious chemical mixture of ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide as well as other pollutants. Smog is what irritates our eyes and makes us cough.

How does haze affect my skin?

Haze damages our skin in more ways than one.

 

The toxic particles in the air contain free radicals that exhaust the skin's oxygen supply. Your skin cells need these oxygen molecules for normal functioning and when deprived of oxygen, premature aging results. Collagen and elastin in the skin become depleted and skin loses its elasticity and wrinkles can develop-Think of the discolouration that happens to an oxidised apple after it has been cut. Free radicals also cause DNA damage in cells, affecting their ability to heal. Diseases linked to free radical damage include cancer, heart disease and dementia.

The dust particles are also a major culprit in skin damage. You know that grime that you can wipe off from your face? Those clogged pores and dull skin? That's due to the dirt and dust in the air coming into contact with your skin and building. Unfortunately, this layer of gunk also irritates and destabilises skin, causing acne and pimple flares.

 

It is a myth that the haze blocks out UV rays. In fact, dust particles are also known to intensify sun damage from UV rays. UV rays bounce off dust particles and become scattered in the atmosphere- meaning that the UV rays are intensified because of the haze.

 

What can I do at home to protect my skin?

Maintaining good skin hygiene and skincare habits can reverse some of the damage done by the haze. Here are the 4 simple but crucial steps that I personally practice to protect my skin during the season of the haze:

 

1) Cleanse

Having clean skin vital to having healthy skin. Double cleanse your skin with a makeup remover and gentle facial cleanser to adequately remove all that dirt and grime that are causing your clogged pores and dull skin. Your skin may be more sensitive and irritable during this period, so please remember to be gentle with your skin!

 

2) Antioxidants

Free radicals in smog rob skin cells of their vital oxygen supply, causing accelerated skin aging and loss of collagen has been well documented in many studies. In recent years, there has a been a revolutionary development to defend against these harmful free radicals- Antioxidants.

 

There is an comprehensive article on the antioxidants and their mechanisms here

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249911/

 

In summary, antioxidants protect our skin at different levels by preventing free radical formation, scavenging free radicals and repairing DNA and cell damage. Some common antioxidants include Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid), Vitamin E, Niacinamide and Resveratrol.

 

My personal favourite, as you can see from this photo on my table  (excuse the amateur photography!), is Skinceuticals' CE Ferulic. This synergistic combination of antioxidants- 15% pure vitamin C, 1% vitamin E and 0.5% ferulic acid is my preferred choice in the day time to fight free radical damage.

 

At night, I switch to another potent antioxidant combination- Skinceuticals' Resveratrol B-E. This contains both Resveratrol and Vitamin E and works well for my sensitive skin.

3) Moisturise

Having well moisturised skin is especially important during this period. Moisturiser application acts as a physical barrier  between the skin and the environmental pollutants and free radicals, thereby acting as a double defense.

 

4) Sunprotection

Diligent sunprotection can minimise the damage by UV rays. Choose a broad spectrum sunblock with SPF above 30 and reapply every 3-4 hours if you can.

 

What else can I do for my skin?

So if you've done all that and your skin's still dull, dirty and irritable? Pimple and acne flares not getting better? It is worthwhile to consult your doctor to see how your skin can be treated in order to prevent your skin condition from worsening.

 

 

Some of the common treatments that I recommend my patients to clean and control their skin conditions are :

1) Hydrafacial

 

The Clifford Clinic's award winning Hydrafacial consists of a comprehensive, non invasive treatment that combines a patented hydrovortex exfoliation and extraction technique together with delivery of antioxidants and hyaluronic acid in to the skin. This works very well for clogged pores, blackheads and white heads, dull skin and pimple/acne outbreaks.

2) Dermaplaning

I've previously shared about dermaplaning here :

http://drgerardee.blogspot.sg/2016/03/dermaplanning-exclusive-treatment-in.html

 

By exfoliating the epidermis and removing the skin of dirt particles, skin is immediately cleaner and brighter. This is ideal for patients who have dull and rough skin. Also, without the dead skin cells and dirt particles, penetration of skincare products is improved.

3) Laser

With pimple and acne flares, laser is very helpful to improve control and prevent scaring.  Laser also promotes collagen rejuvenation, erasing away the effects of premature aging and achieve a more even skin tone.

4) Chemical Peel

http://drgerardee.blogspot.sg/2016/06/chemical-peels-for-acne-and-pigmentation.html

You can read about my comprehensive review of chemical peels here. Essentially, problems like pigmentation, clogged pores, dull skin, scars and acne control can be addressed with chemical peels

I hope you have found my tips useful in protecting your skin from the haze. Please stay healthy everyone!

Dermaplanning - Exclusive treatment in Singapore

"Dr. Stafford R. Broumand, a plastic surgeon whose Manhattan practice includes spa services, said that facials including dermaplaning, which cost $185, increased threefold in 2014 over the previous year. He said that the procedure is advocated for its efficacy in exfoliation (scraping away dead skin cells, pollution and small imperfections) rather than for hair removal."

So what exactly is Dermaplaning?

Dermaplaning is a skin procedure that involves using a sharp tool to exfoliate the surface of your skin, while also removing small, fine hairs. Basically, an esthetician or dermatologist will take a small scalpel and very gently scrape the surface of your skin using light, feathering strokes

So what exactly does lightly scraping your skin with a scalpel accomplish?

A lot, apparently. Dermaplaning’s purpose is to give your skin an immediate exfoliation for a luminous glow, allowing the skin to look more radiant. The benefits are dewy skin, faster cell turnover, and a smoother texture. Doctors in the US usually recommend dermaplaning to anyone who is about to undergo a Q-switch laser treatment or chemical peel. This allows the products or laser energy to penetrate more deeply into the skin. Plus, the light “shaving” motion gets rid of light facial hairs while it exfoliates.

Who is suitable for this treatment?Anyone who has unwanted facial hair and anyone who wants exfoliation can benefit. This procedure is especially good for anyone who has sensitive skin or is unable to use certain products or exfoliation treatments such as those who are pregnant. It’s an alternative way to lightly resurface the skin.

Is it painful?Dermaplaning is absolutely painless.

So there you have it, treatments from Hollywood. Try it to believe it.