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!

Chemical Peels for Acne and Pigmentation

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON CHEMICAL PEELS AND ENERPEEL

 

 

 

 

The history of chemical peels dates back to the time of Ancient Egyptians and Romans; where women used  sour milk and fermented grape juice to rejuvenate the skin. Thankfully, chemical peels have evolved to become more  palatable  and safer to patients today. Although eclipsed in popularity by the wide variety of skin resurfacing lasers, chemical peels still remain a safe and efficacious way of lightening pigmentation such  as melasma, erase fine wrinkles and control acne outbreaks.

What is chemical peel

Chemical peel, or chemoexfoliation, is a non invasive clinic based treatment that is suitable for for individuals with pigmentation, wrinkles, uneven skin tone and acne. By removing damaged skin and promoting collagen rejuvenation, skin looks younger and smoother.  this "younger" skin also tends to be more radiant and receptive to skincare because there are no more damaged and dead skin cells to impede penetration.

There is a wide array of chemical peels available and the selection of the agent will depend on your skin condition and your expectations. Hence, treatment can be personalised for each patient.

The treatment involves the doctor applying the selected solution to your skin and monitoring your progress.  When the endpoint is reached, the solution is neutralised.  The objective of the treatment is to achieve removal of damaged skin to allow skin rejunvation.

How does a chem peel work

Essentially, chemical peels remove the top layer of damaged skin gradually, thereby promoting collagen production and skin regeneration.  This layer of new skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled. Chemical peels have been used to treat conditions such as acne scars, melasma, uneven skin tone and fine wrinkles.

The  mechanism of chemical peels can be classified according to the depth of their action-superficial depth, medium depth and deep peels.

Superficial chemical peels extend to the level of the epidermis and are most well tolerated by patients. A superficial chemical peel can be used to lighten certain types of pigmentation, achieve more even skin tone, lighten scars and improve acne scars.

Medium depth peels extend to the upper reticular dermis and can be used to treat the same conditions as superficial chemical peel. Understandably, the downtime and discomfort may be longer than superficial chemical peels.

Deep peels extend to the  mid reticular dermis and usually require analgesia prior to performing the procedure. Deep peels are useful in treating severe wrinkles and intense pigmentations. These peels are also associated with a higher risk of complications.

What conditions can be treated by chem peel

·         uneven skin colour/ skin discolouration

·         pigmentation (e.g. freckles, melasma, lentigenes, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation)

·         fine lines and wrinkles

·         exfoliation and acne control

·         soften acne scars

·         control oil and sebum secretion

Am I a candidate

Patients with skin discolouration, pigmentation, aged skin and acne are ideal candidates for chemical peels.  By lightening pigmentation, removing dead skin and promoting collagen rejuvenation, skin appearance and texture can be improved.

What can i expect/experience during the peel

After a thorough evaluation and discussion with our doctor; the choice of chemical peel is selected. your face is thoroughly cleansed to remove dirt, sweat and oil. Using an applicator, our doctor then applies the chemical peel to your skin. You may experience a temporary tingly sensation,  itchiness or warmth which will resolve when the peel is complete. Please inform your doctor if you find the sensation to be unbearable.

When the chemical peel has reached its endpoint the chemical peel is neutralised. this is followed by cleaning of the skin. Cooling measures may be employed if necessary.  An antibiotic cream is usually prescribed to prevent skin infections

What to expect after

There is no immediate downtime for chemical peels and the procedure can even be performed during lunch time! Depending on the chemical peel used, you may experience facial redness for 1-2 days followed by flaking or exfoliation for up to 1 week.

The skin flakiness may be fine or slightly larger depending on the type of peel used. It is safe to wear makeup to conceal the flakiness if you choose to do so. you may experience skin dryness and this is easily correctable with a moisturiser. During this phase, it is also important to have adequate sun protection and to be gentle when cleansing your face.

How to care for the skin after

·         Be gentle with your skin- please do not peel off any flaking skin

·         moisturise well

·         strict sun protection and sun avoidance for 2 weeks.

Protocol- how often, combination treatment, how many peels/duration

The number of sessions and treatment programme is depend on your skin condition and our doctors' assessment. Generally, deeper and more stubborn lesions will require more sessions.

 

Chemical peels can be combined together with other medical treatments such as lasers to accelerate result. A recommended programme would comprise of a chemical peel every 4-6 weeks.

Complications

Complications are rare when chemical peels are performed by trained doctors, patients are closely monitored and evaluated and when the appropriate chemical peel is selected.  Some of the complications that have been quoted with chemical peels include hyperpigmentation, skin infection, milia seeds, acneiform dermatitis, persistant wrinkles and scarring

Why enerpeel

As one of the leading aesthetic clinics in Singapore, The Clifford Clinic is committed to performing safe and efficacious treatments. traditional chemical peels have been dependent on skin redness and frosting on the surface of the skin as indicators of skin reactivity to the chemical peel. A more ideal peel would allow less visible skin redness and frosting while achieving deeper skin remodelling and rejuvenation.

 

Enerpeel (R) employs a breakthrough patented carrier solution which controls the acids' activity until it is absorbed.  bB using desmosome disruption- or more simply, by controlling the acid and then releasing it to penetrate between skin cells, the uptake of the acid is more uniform and enhanced. additionally, the uptake of the acid is increased by 2-3 fold without having to increase the strength of the acid. Talk about achieving better results with greater safety! What our patients can expect from Enerpeel(R) are: faster resolution of skin redness and enhanced skin renewal! 

Nose thread lift - Ultra V Hiko Nose Threads

Traditionally, nose augmentation or improving the nose profile has been limited to rhinoplasty (commonly referred to as "surgical nose job") and nose fillers

The recent trend for nose augmentation is starting to see a shift away from fillers and instead moving towards nose threadlifts due to the improved safety profile. Nose threadlifts are also known as Hiko nose threadlifts.  This procedure was first introduced in Korea 15 years ago. 'Hi' means high and 'Ko" means nose in the Korean language.

Here's a comprehensive FAQ that I've written for nose threadlifts. Enjoy!

What is the Ultra V Hiko nose threadlift / thread lift?

Hiko nose threadlift is also commonly referred to the "lunch time nose job" because my patients have been able to leave my clinic within 30 minutes and resume their daily activities. The nose threadlift are performed by placing very fine threads in the supraperichondrial and supraperiosteal plane of the nose without requiring any incision or surgery, thereby lifting the nose bridge and tip immediately!

Essentially, the hiko nose threadlift is a cross between nose dermal fillers and surgical rhinoplasty. It combines the benefits of dermal fillers (e.g. no incision, no downtime...etc.) and surgical rhinoplasty (e.g. longer lasting results).

What are the improvements seen with a nose threadlift?

1. Higher nose bridge
2. Sharper and better defined nose bridge
3. Straighter nose bridge
4. Sharper nose tip
5. Correction of bulbous nose
6. Shrinkage of nostrils

 

How is the Hiko nose threadlift performed?

Let's go through a detailed step by step analysis on how a nose thread lift is done
We can go through a patient who has kindly agreed for the use of her pictures

  

Step 1
After removing makeup and dirt from the face, the face is sterilised with Iodine and Chlorhexine. Next, localanaesthesia is placed at the tip of the nose, nose bridge and along the nasal septum to the philtrum. These are the locations for which the threads will be inserted, both to build up the nose bridge height as well as the nose tip.

Step 2

Once the nose is numb, the threads are introduced using a blunt cannula which is then removed. Nose threads are placed horizontally through the nose tip in the supraperichondrial and supraperiosteal plane. This improves the height and definition of the nose bridge.

Step 3

It is the same process for the nose tip. The threads are then placed vertically through the nasal tip along the columella.

 

What are these threads made of?
The threads are made up of a material called Polydioxanone (PDO). PDO is commonly used in surgeries as sutures to stitch up wounds. PDO is absorbable and is dissolved in 6 to 12 months time.

Fortunately, before the PDO threads are completely absorbed, the threads stimulate your nose to produce its own collagen and connective tissue along where the PDO threads were placed. This collagen and connective tissue produced by your body accounts for the long lasting results of nose threads. Also, the results of the nose threads continue to improve over time even as the PDO threads dissolve away. Patients can expect to see a continued gradual improvement of their nose bridge and nose tip over time.


How long can the threads last?
The results of these nose threads last 1-2 years but with the new collagen and connective tissue produced by your own body, there will some permanent results. However, in patients such as smokers, the results can be shorter lasting.

The Hiko nose threadlifts can be repeated if necessary. This can be done either at the 1 month follow up, or even after 6 months after the initial thread lift.

Is there any pain from the procedure?
Pain level from nose threads are actually surprisingly similar or even less than fillers. Some anaesthesia is used to numb the entry point for the threads. After that, the threads can be inserted with ease into the nose, with minimal pain and hardly any discomfort.

Is there any downtime? Do I need to avoid anything?
There is hardly any downtime. There is very mild swelling and bruising that usually results from the local anaesthesia and this disappears in a few hours. Patients are able to return to work and wear makeup after the Hiko nose threadlift.

You can resume your daily activities and sports too after the Hiko nose threadlift. The nose threads are very stable and secure and will not migrate or change in shape.

In terms of diet, there is no food that you need to avoid too.

I have done fillers before, am I still suitable?
Yes, these threads were particularly designed for those who have gone through fillers previously and are intending to find a more permanent solution but yet are not ready to undergo a rhinoplasty.

For patients unsatisfied with the problems and risks of fillers, the Hiko nose threadlift is a good option.

Rhinoplasty vs Threads
Threads are a great alternative to rhinoplasty for many reasons. First with surgery there is a risk of the implant shifting. Secondly, revision surgery may be necessary if you happen to be unhappy with the result from the surgery. The nose may be not straight, too round, not tall enough etc etc. Third, threads do not leave scars unlike a rhinoplasty that does leave a well hidden scar beneath the columella.

What are the risk of threads then?
As with all procedures, some minor bruising and swelling is expected.  Swelling is usually due to the local anaesthesia and disappears within a few hours as the local anaesthesia wears off.  Ice packs for cold compression can be used to hasten the recovery. Full recovery can be expected in 2-3 days.

There is a small risk of infection (e.g. cellulitis and abscesses) but unlike an implant where a repeat surgery is required to remove the foreign body, threads are easier to remove and the risk of infection is low. In my clinic, the Hiko nose threadlift is performed using sterile techniques and patients are started on antibiotics and this helps to minimize any skin infection. Keeping your face clean at home also helps to reduce the chances o infection.

The nose thread lift has no chance of displacement or shifting. This is because the thread lift thread is placed within the soft tissue. The threads then dissolve within 6 months and natural collagen stimulated. This new collagen is formed by your own body and this gives the long term lasting results for the height increase.

Are threads safer than fillers?
Threads are much safer than fillers for many reasons. Nose fillers have long been plagued with complications like blindness and skin necrosis, due to the inadvertent puncture of fine vessels around the nose and injection of the filler into these vessels, hence limiting blood flow to the eye or the skin resulting in these complications. Although the risk of this happening is extremely low, the risk is still there and the consequences are devastating.

Threads however have no risk of occluding these vessels. The puncture or damage to these vessels do not cause problems, but it is when a filler or gel is injected into these vessels and it tracks into the more narrow vessels that causes these unfortunate events. Although the risk is low, but there has already been 2 blindness cases reported in Singapore till date!!

Secondly, dermal fillers in the nose are known to migrate and can cause broadening of the nose bridge. This unsightly problem does not occur with nose threadlifts as the threads are very stable and can hardly migrate.

Bilateral blindness after filler injection. Published by Dr Kim from Korea.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013 Feb;131(2):298e-299e.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23358039

Avoiding and Treating Blindness From Fillers: A Review of the World Literature. Published by Dr Beleznay K
Dermatol Surg. 2015 Oct;41(10):1097-117.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26356847

No doubt I have performed countless number of nose fillers over the years with excellent results, but safety is still of paramount importance to my patients. Hence I would much prefer decreasing the use of these fillers for nose augmentation.

Which type of nose threads do you use?
Ultra V Hiko Nose threads improve the height of the nose and give the sharpest profile.

Some doctors claim using those with cog threads are able to grip better to lift the sagging skin. However from my experience, the results do not differ much from normal Ultra V Hiko threads. In fact these threads may even cause unnecessary tension on the skin and result in scarring or uneven texture on the surface.

How many threads do you use?
It all depends on the height and the baseline we are starting from. It is usual for one to need about 6-8 threads for the bridge and about 4 for the columella. 2-3 threads can be used for the nasion as well.

Adult acne - Permanent cure - More updates

Around November 2015 I think.. patient with her latest pictures from my IPhone. Finally had the time to upload this. A happy patient is what drives me everyday in fine tuning and perfecting the cure for acne. It isn't perfect and acne is a journey of ups and downs with set backs. What works for one may not necessarily work for another, but I can safely say that with patience and trust, we will get there one way or another.

Have faith. Acne is curable!

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.

Adult Acne Permanent Cure

More updates with regards to how Adult Acne is treated. Pictures on 10th September 2015. Acne is more stable. Reduction in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or acne marks.

 

PIH is primarily causaed by 2 main causes. The first is caused after the basal cell layer in the inflamed skin is destroyed leading to the accumulation of melanopahges containing a large amount of melanin in the upper dermins. The second is caused by an epidermal inflammatory response, leading to an accumulation of chemical mediators that stimulate the syntheses of melanin in the melanocytes that then transfer this pigment to the surrounding cells.

Q-switch laser is used in the treatment of her PIH. We have devised a fixed protocol using this laser to remove PIH without causing any complications. There was no rebound hyperpigmentation and no areas of hypopigmentation.

The next series of update will be the last set of pictures to conclude this series of adult acne treatment using AGNES and Q-switch laser.

Happy Chinese New Year 2016!

 

Just want to say it's been such an awesome year that has just gone by and many thanks to my patients from The Clifford Clinic. It has been great seeing the improvements in many of the different concerns many different patients have came with and are happy with.

I'm glad I was there to help you prepare your skin for your weddings and for many of my patients who then return and I showed me your lovely wedding photos. Or do the many who were changing jobs and needed good skin while preparing for job interviews.

I'm glad I could be there for others whom I incidentally managed to detect some early skin cancers and I was also there for the many others as we together go through life's incredible journey.

To everyone else, hope you have a great 2016. Stay healthy and stay beautiful as we all aim to age gracefully!

Dr Gerard Ee

Acne, the permanent cure with AGNES

For those who have seen SL's blog, I guess she gives an update of her acne progress much quicker than me, as I do not often have the time to log on to document her progress. Nevertherless, these are some of her old photos taken from my IPhone. Though it has been a few months since these photos are taken, but they still provide a good update on her progress through the treatments.

 

These were taken in 25th June 2015. Slow progress, but I can see the improvement she is getting. It would need time for the pigmentation to improve but we are getting there.

AGNES and Q-switch laser. The treatment for acne / pimples

It has been only a week since the previous photos were taken. These were taken on the 11th of June 2015. Currently a single session of AGNES has been completed and I have began her Q-switch treatment.

She has reported less commedones, although clearly there is still a lot of hyperpigmentation

The recovery post AGNES is actually quite fast. Initially you may notice a few rather raised spots, but that is expected even after a facial.

These spots usually calm down within about 2-3 days. After that the Q-switch laser would then be required to remove the pink / brown pigmentation.

Sometimes there is evidence of some pustules post agnes, but these do subside pretty quickly as well, which is also the reason why you would be required to return on the second day to extract these pustules.

 

A lot of the pustular nodular acne have calmed down, leaving behind post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation which are essentially acne scars or acne marks.

The Q-switch laser ND YAG is a laser used for pigmentation. It is used to remove haemoglobin and melanin, which are deposited in the skin.

Studies performed using the Q-switch have showed significant reduction in inflamed, non-inflamed lesions as well as sebum levels.

AGNES - The PERMANENT cure for adult acne / pimples

Let me talk about the AGNES and go through a case study with a patient whom I have treated recently. She was kind enough to allow me to take pictures for posting on the internet to educate my readers including those suffering from adult acne.

Here is Patient S. A young adult female whom has been battling with acne since her teenage years. I first met her in June and this pictures were taken on 5th of June 2015

 

You can see evidence of multiple papules and comedones. These comedones are evidence of congestion of the oil glands. The redness is due to inflammation as bacteria invades into the oil glands causing infection and inflammation.

 

 

As I go through with all of my patients who require acne treatment, acne is a multi-factorial condition caused by a few factors, from genetics to hormones and also life-style factors. The conditions in the skin or pathogenesis that promote acne include hyperkeratinisation ( Or excess skin growth ) , obstruction of sebaceous follicles resulting from abnormal keratinization of the infundibular epithelium ( congestion of the oil glands ), stimulation of sebaceous gland secretion by androgens (excess oil gland secretion ), and microbial colonization of pilosebaceous units by Propionibacterium acnes ( bacetria ), which promotes perifollicular inflammation.

 

 

Of course acne comes in many various severity and different treatment protocols and treatment methods can be used to treat acne with varying degree of effectiveness.

Over the next few weeks, I shall be writing on her progress as we have actually started treatment a few months ago and we have now started to see progress of the treatments.

 

 

Is there a miracle cure for eye bags??

There was some recent hype over a product called Instantly Ageless that can remove wrinkles and eye bags in an instant. It sounded really too good to be true, and it made me wonder what is the hype all about and if this product is indeed genuine. 

I performed searched for reviews on the product and found quite a number of very mixed reviews of the product. Amazon.com and realself.com both had quite a number of contrasting reviews.

So what is this product all about?

Well we all know as a result of ageing, our skin loses elasticity and collagen thus making the appearance of wrinkles more obvious. Moreover, because of the expressions on our faces, the constant folds over our skin eventually becomes more obvious. A good analogy would be to imagine our skin like a piece of cloth, that has been folded on itself, forming a crease.

These products that claim to get rid of wrinkles seem to act like a glue, stretching the skin temporarily. Some have claimed that it only works if you don't move your facial muscles at all, meaning the product no longer works the moment you smile or laugh. Which does make sense, if the product is like a glue, whose function is to stretch out the skin thus decreasing wrinkles. Others have feedback that they became allergic to the product or once they rubbed the skin, the effect was lost.

In my clinic, I have often advised patients to perform treatments that build elastin and collagen naturally. This is often achieved through lasers and products that give a more lasting and natural result. Often through a few sessions of lasers, you should be able to see a firmer, smoother more glowing looking skin, as certain lasers can stimulate collagen growth.

One thing I really do not like about this product, is the way this product is being sold. To purchase it, there seem to be some multi-level marketing involvement. Hence this makes a lot of the reviews highly biased as people may have a secondary agenda when giving the product a good review instead of genuinely talking about a good product.

Unfortunately I will not be carrying this product in our clinic. But do keep me updated if you have tried it and I would be curious to find out your opinion.

Her World Plus - Feature - Clifford Aesthetics

http://www.herworldplus.com/beauty/updates/8-last-minute-grooming-gift-ideas-father%E2%80%99s-day

Many thanks to Her World Plus for the excellent feature of Skin Ceuticals Men's Age Defying Facial at Clifford Aesthetics.

To all fathers out there, I hope you had a great day! Happy Fathers day!

Grand Opening of SEA's first Skinceuticals Advanced Clinical Spa @ Clifford Aesthetics!

 

I'm a little behind on this, so here's a throwback to the grand opening of an exciting collaboration I've been busy with-South East Asia's very first Skinceuticals Advanced Clinical Spa!

You probably already know that Skinceuticals is the world's leading premium professional clinical skincare brand and their products (especially their antioxidants) are recommended by dermatologists.With this collaboration, my patients to experience both proven antiaging and rejuvenating treatments as well as Skinceutical’s professional facial treatments! I'm excited to be able to share this with you and I thank you all for patience and kind support!

Here are some snippets from our grand opening!

 

 

 

Sharing skincare tips during the lunch time beauty express

My good friend, Dr Chow getting his skin analysed with our new Skinceuticals skin scope.

We had a sharing session with the Skinceuticals team for my patients. Hope you found the session fruitful!

Thank you once again for your continued support and do come by to get a free skin analysis with our new Skinscope! If you're interested in knowing more about the Clifford Aesthetics  and the treatments offered, do drop Clifford Aesthetics (at #01-03A Clifford Center, 24 Raffles Place) by or ring 65322048 for queries or an appointment. Have a good week everyone!

Crow's Feet - How To Get Rid Of Them?

The wrinkles at the corner of eyes are actually called crow’s feet, as these wrinkles simply resemble crow’s feet. People with Crow’s Feet often looked older than they actually are especially when they smile.

Two Types Of Crow's Feet

Dynamic Crow's Feet

Do you notice wrinkles on your smiling photos and no lines in photos that you aren't smiling? When you stop smiling, the muscles relax and the lines disappear. This is what we call a dynamic wrinkle. 

Static Crow's Feet

Do you notice wrinkles on your smiling and non smiling photos? If the lines still appear there even though you had relaxed and aren’t smiling, the dynamic wrinkle has become a static wrinkle. Static wrinkle means the existence of the wrinkle even at relaxed state. A static wrinkle occurs when the skin is constantly folded in the same direction and over time, when skin quality and tightness is lost through aging and the skin experiences laxity, the static wrinkle becomes a permanent wrinkle and thus a permanent and unwanted facial feature on yours.

The Merz scale is actually a scale doctors use to grade the severity of your crows feet

Solutions for Crow's Feet

1. BOTOX

last up to 4 months and the effects are almost immediate: you will notice improvement within 24 to 48 hours after your Botox treatment and you will see significant improvement at 7 days, continuing up to a month. Not everyone requires the same amount of Botox treatment for Crow’s Feet wrinkles as this truly depends on the how large and strong your orbicularis oculis are. There is also zero downtime for BOTOX treatment.


2. Fillers

Fillers, like its name, fills up the "cracks" and uneven portion of our skin, giving us the plump and full look and also smoothens out the lines.

3. CO2 Laser Resurfacing

CO2 Laser Resurfacing Laser penetrates through the top skin layers, stimulating collagen and resurface the top skin layer. Your skin’s natural rejuvenation process will help to improve the appearance of the crow's feet.

4. Thermage Skin Tightening Treatment

Thermage is a new type of non-surgical, non-invasive procedure for the face, neck and chest that uses radiofrequency and the body’s own natural healing process to lift, tone, and tighten loose skin. The FDA-cleared device used in the procedure uses radiofrequency to stimulate the deep structural support layers of the skin without disturbing the surface of the skin. Results will unfold over the course of 2-3 months and some patients have reported continued improvement for up to 6 months. While Thermage does not duplicate the results of surgery, Thermage has proven to be an inviting alternative for those who are not yet ready for surgery.

Ready to get rid of your crow's feet?

CALL US at 6532 2400 to make an appointment. I will love to have a personalised consultation with you and get rid of your facial troubles. See you.

Thank You, Her World Singapore

We had our grand opening yesterday! We're so excited to collaborate with Skinceuticals and of course, we welcome everyone to SEA's very first Advanced Clinical Spa!

In case you're wondering, Clifford Aesthetics is located at Clifford Centre, which is a mere ONE minute walk away from Raffles Place MRT. With fuss free treatments and low down-time, anyone can drop by during lunch-time for a small touch-up.

Thank you for joining us, Her World Singapore!

We're checking out the swanky new #Skinceuticals #Spa -- the first in Southeast Asia, BTW -- located right smack in the middle of the #CBD at Clifford Center. The cool bit? You get to pair your doctors' fixes like lasers, #fillers and injectables with a tailored post-treatment regime courtesy of the #cosmeceutical brand. Have fun getting #pretty! - EQ

A photo posted by herworldsingapore (@herworldsingapore) on Apr 28, 2015 at 6:05am PDT