19Feb

Celebrities spent many thousands on cosmetic procedures in a bid to hold back the signs of ageing that affect us all as we grow older. Take Madonna, for example. She is often in the media spotlight being complimented for her age-defying looks. She’s had just about every injectable procedure out there. But have you ever noticed that she rarely exposes her hands? Don’t believe it? Go ahead and perform a Google image search and see for yourself. Madonna knows. She knows that while most people focus their attention on the wrinkles and fine lines on the face, the hands are often neglected. Read on to discover how to take care of these crucial parts of the body and to stop them from betraying your real age.

What Causes The Signs Of Ageing In Your Hands?

The skin on your hands is just as delicate as the skin on your face and requires the same level of care and attention. As the skin ages, fat is lost from just below the surface, making the veins and bone structure more pronounced. This is particularly true of the hands. While most people will do anything to eliminate the fine lines and wrinkles on their face, their hands seldom receive any special treatment.

Strenuous exercise can also lead to signs of ageing on your hands. As you exercise, you improve the blood flow through your hands and arms. Obviously, this is great for your overall health, but it also has the effect of making the veins on your hands and arms stand out.

The hands bear the brunt of environmental effects, too. Manual workers are at particular risk in this regard and need to take better care of their hands. The excessive handwashing involved in the fight against the coronavirus isn’t making things easier for hand skincare. Finally, the cold weather in winter and heat in summer can also have a damaging impact on your hands.

Make Your Hands Look Younger

You’ll be surprised how much different your hands look within a matter of weeks once you start paying as much attention to them as you do to your face. Skin ages the same, whether it’s on your face or your hands. Just like your face, the hands are vulnerable to the effects of sun exposure. Look closely and you will see signs such as:

  • Sunspots.
  • Uneven pigmentation.
  • Loss of skin tone.
  • Loss of elasticity.
  • Loss of fat tissue and collagen, resulting in your hands appearing thin, bony and wrinkled.
  • Rough skin and brittle nails.

You will experience some if not all of the above unless you take preventive action to fight the signs of ageing. If you already see some of the symptoms, it’s not too late to get treatment to improve how your hands look and feel.

Treatments For Combatting Wrinkles And Ageing Hands

Age Spots

Dermatologists offer several treatments for ageing hands, depending on the condition you are trying to remedy. Sunspots or age spots affect many adults. Over time, they will grow in size, especially if you spend more time in the sun. Treatment options for lightening or reducing the appearance of age spots include:

  • Cryotherapy.
  • Laser therapy.
  • Chemical peeling.
  • Microdermabrasion.
  • Skin-lightening creams and lotions.

Loss Of Volume And Fullness

The loss of youthful fullness happens as the elastin and collagen in your hands deteriorate over time. Your skin develops a texture and appearance similar to crepe paper. The loss of fullness in your hands means that the veins in that area will start to appear more prominent. Rejuvenating your hands will require treatments such as dermal fillers using calcium hydroxyapatite. Once treatment starts, you will notice the change in fullness almost immediately.

Wrinkles

Applying liberal amounts of sunscreen is one of the best ways to combat wrinkles and that dreaded crepe paper-like appearance and feel on your hands. If you already have wrinkles, then using retinol or glycolic acid lotion before bedtime will help. Other effective treatments include a light chemical peel every three months and, in some cases, laser treatment. Combining the chemical peel treatment with the lotion treatment may give you better and faster results.

Four Ways To Make Hand Rejuvenation Treatment Last Longer

Now that you have taken action to look after your hands better, how can you make your treatment results last longer? Here are four easy steps to help maintain the amazing results:

  1. Use sun protection – you don’t want to undo the great results and go back to dry and wrinkly skin, so this should be at the top of your list. Use sunscreen every day on your hands just as you do on your face.
  2. Wear gloves – when working in the garden, using detergents or cleaning. Gloves will help protect your hands from the excessive drying which is going to age them.
  3. Moisturise – do this like your life depends on it every time you wash your hands or when you finish washing up. The moisturiser helps to lock in the moisture and keeps your skin plump.
  4. Maintenance treatments – follow up treatments will help to maintain your results, especially those recommended by your dermatologist. Laser treatment and chemical peels may require more than a single session to undo years of damage.

Your hands deserve the same level of care you show your face, but many people overlook giving their hands the anti-ageing treatment they need. Vinci Aesthetics offer a range of skin rejuvenation treatments that will breathe life back into your hands. Get in touch to book your free hand rejuvenation consultation today!

18Feb

Itchiness is a common complaint of many beard wearers out there, whether they’re new to the beard-sporting business or veterans of the fashion for facial hair.  But just as you wouldn’t accept an itchy scalp as the cost of wearing a new hairstyle, neither should you have to tolerate itchiness in your beard. Although most people can live with some itchiness, it can quickly progress from minor discomfort to constant scratching. Before you know it, your annoying itch has morphed into skin irritation. This brief article will tell you what you need to know to stop your beard itching and to soothe the skin under your beard.

What Causes An Itchy Beard?

As there are different causes of itching depending upon whether the beard is new or fully established, we shall look at the two separately.

New Beards

When you first decide to let your beard grow out a bit, you may experience some itching to the growing stubble. Since you have only just stopped shaving, the growing hairs have a sharp edge left from the last time you shaved. These sharp edges are tough, and as the hairs push out, they scrape against the edges of the follicles, causing irritation. This irritation results in itching and explains why you get the urge to scratch your face when new hair is coming up.

Established Fully Grown Beards

You may also experience an itchy face if you have a fully grown beard, but for different reasons. The most common cause of itching when you have an established beard is dry skin under the hair growth. Facial hair draws up moisture from the skin to the surface of the follicles where it evaporates quickly. This process results in dehydration of your facial skin, causing your skin to become extremely dry or flaky. This extreme dryness can lead to the occurrence of beard dandruff. Additionally, the dead skin cells removed by daily exfoliation or face washing can become trapped in your beard. Dirt and oil build-up are also common causes of skin irritation.

How To Stop An Itchy Beard

Getting rid of an itchy beard and establishing a routine to prevent it from ever itching again is easier than you think. Here are a few easy steps to help you say goodbye to the problem forever.

  1. Cleanse – cleansing is not just for women; men’s skin ages just the same as women’s skin, after all. Regular cleansing and exfoliation will do wonders for your facial skin. Cleansing removes dead skin cells and stops dirt from accumulating in your beard. Do not use regular shampoo on your face, as the skin on your face is more sensitive. Choose a beard-specific shampoo and cleanser which are gentle on your beard and facial skin.
  2. Condition – argan and jojoba oil are excellent ingredients for beard conditioners and will help detangle and soften your beard. Use a conditioner after washing, leaving it in for a few minutes before rinsing out.
  3. Carefully dry your beard – beard rash can result from dehydration if you don’t fully dry your beard after washing and conditioning. Gently towel-dry your beard and soak up any excess water.
  4. Moisturise – use light beard oil or lotion to soften your facial hair and nurture your skin underneath. Pick a product that can deliver moisture to your skin while softening your beard and offering relief from itchiness.
  5. Brush your beard – finally, give your beard a clean shape and smoother texture by regular brushing. The added benefit of regular brushing is that it trains your beard hair to grow in a single direction, preventing ingrown hairs and itchiness.

The five-step formula above will ensure you eliminate the root cause of an itchy beard and simultaneously act as a preventive measure. The health of your facial skin will improve, and so will the texture of your beard.

Skincare Is Not Just For Women

Ok, so in this article, we have tackled the cause of an itchy beard and given you a simple five-step solution for preventing it. Looking after your skin and not just your beard is essential too. More men are turning to anti-ageing skin products to reduce the signs of wrinkles. Most guys worry about the wrinkles around the eyes, and the great news is that there are procedures to tackle exactly those types of wrinkles.

Vinci Aesthetics Clinic caters to both men and women who want to look their best. Some of the aesthetic treatments on offer include chemical peels which are great for treating pigmentation issues and wrinkles. You can also opt for anti-wrinkle injections which smooth the wrinkles around the eyes, a concern for many men. Discover how else you can improve the look of your skin in addition to having an itch-free beard. Get in touch with Vinci Aesthetics and book your consultation today.

16Feb

You may have come across the term skin barrier if you have read the small print on your cosmetics containers. If you are into your aesthetics and pay regular visits to your dermatologist, then you’ve probably heard them mention it a few times. You must know that it’s essential to keep your skin barrier healthy and to take care of it. So, what is the skin barrier, and what can you do to look after it? Read the entire article to find the answers to these exciting questions.

Looking At Your Skin Differently

To most people, their skin is either dry, oily or a combination of the two, but there is more to it than just skin type. Dermatologists believe you can resolve many skin conditions if you simply switch your focus to nurturing the skin barrier.

Skincare specialists find that educating people about their skin and the products they use results in them taking better care of their skin. What are the benefits of cleansing twice a day or washing your makeup brushes every week? If you don’t know the benefits of doing these things, chances are you’re going to skip a cleansing here and an exfoliation there. The result is poor skin which is prone to breakouts and other blemishes. You can’t afford to neglect your skin barrier, and this post gives you the reasons behind that important fact.

So, whether your skin is oily, dry, sensitive or breakout-prone, this is everything you need to know about looking after your skin barrier.

What Is Your Skin Barrier?

First things first. Let’s talk about what the skin barrier is. To put it in simple terms, it’s a little protective suit of armour surrounding your skin, protecting it from the outside environment. This is how your skin protects itself, and your internal organs, from the pollution of the outside world.

The skin barrier is made up of fats in the outermost layer of the skin. It prevents everything from dust to microbes from entering the dermal layers. It also prevents the loss of moisture for the skin, making it vital for preventing skin ageing.

What Causes Damage To The Skin Barrier?

The human body does a great job of protecting itself. Still, modern-day life has a devastating effect on the skin barrier. The top causes of damage to the skin barrier are:

  • Stress
  • Pollution
  • Exposure to UV rays
  • Blue light from devices
  • Infrared radiation

Usually, the damage to the skin barrier is reversible. However, continued exposure to harmful factors makes it harder for the skin to repair itself. Over time, the skin cells lose the ability to regenerate as quickly, meaning that the skin barrier weakens with age. The skin barrier is thinner in paler skin, making people with this type of complexion more sensitive to irritation and redness.

What Are The Signs Of Skin Barrier Damage?

Things start to get a little confusing when the skin barrier is damaged. You begin seeing symptoms similar to some common skin ailments. Acne, rosacea and sun damage can often be mistaken for standalone skin issues when they could be pointing to a compromised skin barrier.

Redness, flakiness, itchiness, rough skin, tightness, fine lines and increased breakouts are some of the classic signs of a failing skin barrier. A rash appearing in small or large areas of the body may also be a symptom.

Suppose you don’t pay attention to these initial symptoms and the skin isn’t given time to recover. That sort of neglect could be the start of a domino effect. The dermal layers become dehydrated and start producing more oil. Excess oil production then causes the sebaceous glands to swell, trapping bacteria inside until it becomes an acne spot.

How To Rebuild And Protect Your Skin Barrier

The first thing that sets off damage to the skin barrier is dehydration, and so an important step you should take is to ensure your skin is well-hydrated. Your skin might appear oily, but that doesn’t mean it’s receiving adequate hydration. If you aren’t already using moisturisers containing ceramides and hyaluronic acid, start now. These products absorb water and surround the skin cells with a fatty or lipid layer, enabling them to hang onto more water. Antioxidants which provide anti-inflammatory properties such as vitamin A, C and E are also vital.

To ensure future protection of the skin barrier, make sure you never over-exfoliate, and always allow recovery times when you have chemical peel treatment. The normal skin cell cycle is 26-28 days long. You should deeply hydrate them in small doses with products containing polyhydroxy acids and niacinamide (B3).

Give Your Skin Barrier A Boost

Maintaining healthy skin is more of a science than an art form. If you provide your skin with the nutrients it needs, it can take care of the rest. If you would like to give your skin a boost, Vinci Aesthetics offer various skin-rejuvenating procedures. Whether you want to get rid of age spots or you’d like to eliminate some pesky wrinkles, we have the right treatment for you. Head over to our contact page and book your skin-boosting treatment at Vinci Aesthetics today.

11Feb

Skin woes can have you trawling the internet for quick fixes and unorthodox remedies in a bid to achieve clear skin. While some remedies may occasionally work, it’s important to bear in mind that the internet can be a minefield of false information. Worse still, the web is often a downright dangerous place when it comes to skincare advice. Ensure your sources’ reputation is impeccable and always defer to professional practitioners’ advice if in doubt. Below are 6 skincare myths always making the rounds that you should avoid like the plague. They have no place in any effective skincare routine! As ridiculous as they may sound, they do make for entertaining read so let’s dive in.

Scrubbing Is The Way To Acne-Free Skin

Unless you wish to scrub yourself raw, you should go easy on the abrasive scrubs. Exfoliation is an essential part of your routine; there’s no doubt about it. However, using aggressive products and techniques is likely to result in micro-tears on your skin surface. Use mild scrubs for regular exfoliation. If you need something that goes a little deeper, choose chemical exfoliants. Liquid exfoliants can bring you brighter, clearer skin with fewer fine lines and blemishes.

Lemon Juice Your Way To Clear Skin

I like my lemon juice in my pancakes with a sprinkle of sugar. I do occasionally get a squirt in my eyes when squeezing a wedge and it’s not nice. With a PH level of 2, lemon juice is a strong acid which can cause serious damage to skin cells. Disturbing your skin’s PH balance can cause lasting damage because it irritates and sensitises your skin.

Lemon juice causes phototoxicity resulting in hyperpigmentation and often, chemical burns. Avoid using pure lemon juice to wash your face or any other part of your skin.

Pure Coconut Oil As Moisturiser?

Coconut oil is an amazing ingredient for hair and skin products. It smells good, tastes great and is good for your health too. Coconut oil has loads of vitamin E and essential fatty acids which makes it a beauty industry darling.

Like most oils, using it on your skin helps to lock in moisture—all well and good. But, coconut oil molecules are big enough to clog your pores which will result in breakouts. If you have oily skin, why not choose lighter oils like argan or hemp seed for your face.

Don’t Get Into A Spot Of Bother With Toothpaste.

As old wives tales go, this one has been around for a while; using toothpaste to treat spots. Many brands of toothpaste contain drying agents such as baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and alcohol. These ingredients perpetuate the myth that toothpaste is fast and effective at zapping spots. This trio of ingredients may be magical at keeping your teeth sparkling, but when it comes to your skin, it may just be a step too far. Toothpaste formulations are harsh chemicals, which may aggravate dermatitis and eczema. For spot treatment, choose products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide instead.

You Don’t Need SPF When It’s Cloudy.

Believe it or not, UVA rays are around all the time, whether the sun is shining or not. Most people will remember to lather on sunscreen when they head out to the beach or are on holiday. UVA rays are long-wave in nature and play a key role in causing premature ageing and skin cancers development. Therefore, it’s essential to wear sun protection every day, rain or sunshine. The earlier you start, the better it is for you. SPF30 is a great lightweight sunscreen and the minimum you should be using on bare skin or with make-up.

Skip Moisturiser If You Have Spots

Keeping the skin’s hydration up is essential for a healthy complexion because dryness causes blemishes. Many people assume that if your face is breaking out, then you should skip using moisturiser. However, this is a mistake because the moisturiser helps to keep the skin healthy. If you’re taking medication to help clear your acne, keeping your skin’s moisture levels up is vital. Combine your over-the-counter acne treatment with a non-comedogenic (non-pore clogging) moisturiser to help clear your skin faster.

Now That You Know The Myths…What Next?

They say knowing thy enemy is half the battle, and knowing yourself is the other half. Please pay attention to these myths, and make sure you don’t give in to the temptation to seek quick fixes when it comes to your skin. If you’ve been practising any of the above as part of your skin regime, stop immediately and give your skin a chance at a natural recovery.

Struggling with skin problems and natural remedies aren’t working? Speak to one of the Vinci Aesthetics specialist consultants today and begin your journey to clearer skin.

10Feb

When you look after your skin, it has the magical power to transform how you look and how you feel about yourself. Confidence soars through the roof, and you feel on top of the world, literally. If you’re struggling with skin issues such as acne breakouts, hyperpigmentation or dry skin, the answer may be easier than you ever imagined. Just think how magically different your world would be if you could step out of your front door with the feeling you get after a relaxing spa session. Well, it’s all within grasp, that glowing, firm and nourished skin is achievable at home. This quick blog post will let you in on a few skincare secrets to help you get firmer and healthier skin by choosing the right skin firming lotions. Let’s get started.

Giving Your Skin Its Bounce Back

What happens when you pinch the skin on the back of your hand? Does it spring back quickly or it takes time to get back into its normal shape? Your skin contains a protein known as elastin, which gives it its elasticity. Over time, the quantity of elastin in your skin reduces, and the skin loses some of its elasticity. When this happens, the skin stops springing back so fast after a pinch. It’s time to pick the right nourishing lotion to give your skin its bounce back.

Shorter Showers Are Good For Your Skin

We all know how cosy a long, warm shower is, especially on a frosty morning. Many people don’t realise that your skin has an oil or lipid barrier which helps protect it. However, staying in the shower for too long can damage the protective layer.

Damage due to overwashing is easily reversible. Firstly, switch to shorter, cooler and refreshing showers to prevent the warm water from melting the skin’s fat barrier. Secondly, choose a hydrating moisturiser which will restore your skin’s protective power and help it retain moisture. A healthy skin barrier secures your skin from becoming sensitised, prevents redness, irritation and itching, allowing it to carry its protective function.

Eat Well For Beautiful Skin

You are what you eat and drink, after all. Vitamins play an essential role in the health of your body and your skin, too. Increase your protein intake and try eating as much vitamin-rich food as possible. Add salmon, almonds and broccoli to your diet to ensure you’re getting essential micronutrients and minerals to help keep your skin feeling silky-smooth and looking amazing.

Unlock Your Skin’s Potential With Moisturiser

Daily intensive moisturisation is the key that will unlock your skin’s potential to maintain its elasticity and firmness. A good moisturiser not only makes your skin feel softer but also locks in moisture and prevents dry skin. Moisturise twice daily, first in the morning after your shower. Secondly, in the evening with a light moisturiser that keeps working while you get your beauty sleep.

Sun Safety Is An All-Year-Round Mission

Environmental factors are at the forefront of causing skin damage leading to premature ageing. Photo ageing is caused by the UVA component of the sun’s rays; it breaks down collagen and accelerates the formation of wrinkles. With a loss of collagen comes with your skin losing its plumpness and firmness.

Sun awareness is an essential part of a skincare regime. You should ensure you’re wearing sun protection of at least SPF30 in the winter months. In the summer, when the sun is at its hottest, you should look at higher SPF sunscreen and reapply regularly throughout the day.

Most makeup products now contain a level of sun protection, so make sure you read the labels when picking skincare products. Covering up as much as possible and staying out of direct sunlight also significantly protect your skin against premature ageing.

Repair Sun Damage With Aesthetic Treatments

Not everyone is religious with sun protection. Sometimes, you just forget to take along some sunscreen when you head out. Sunspots and hyperpigmentation often result from over-exposure to direct sunshine. There are several procedures which excel at reversing the signs of ageing.

  • Chemical peel treatments can eliminate skin tone issues, giving your skin a smoother and even appearance.
  • Microneedling helps your skin kickstart the production of collagen, firming up the skin and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
  • Microdermabrasion is an alternative to chemical peeling and is mechanical in nature. The treatment involves using tiny crystals to peel away dead layers of skin to reveal fresher, younger-looking skin underneath.

Choosing the correct treatment for you is vital, and seeking the advice of a reputable skin specialist is priceless. Vinci Aesthetics deliver hundreds of treatments each year and offer a free consultation to help get to the root of your skin issue. Get started on your journey to brighter, younger-looking and happier skin by booking your free consultation today.

8Feb

Deep creases around the mouth are often mistaken for signs of ageing. If you prefer your skin to be wrinkle-free, then laughing lines are no laughing matter (excuse the pun). What are laugh lines and are they really as a result of laughing? How can you get rid of laughter lines and do they keep coming back? This article shares a few tips from dermatologists and aestheticians to help understand more about laugh lines and what you can do about them if they are bothering. Let’s get started, shall we…

What Are Laugh Lines And What Causes Them?

You see those vertical lines extending from the sides of your nose, curving around the mouth and often extending to your chin? They are extremely common, so don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Without getting too scientific, there are two types of laugh lines. Namely:

  1. Nasolabial crease – these are the lines that you see between your top lip and the cheeks.
  2. Nasolabial fold – this is the skin or tissue that overhangs the nasolabial crease.

Ageing and lifestyle factors contribute to the appearance and severity of both types of laugh lines. Look at some of your younger photos, and you may see more delicate lines in the areas around your mouth. The creases may deepen with weight gain and poor dental health where the skin loses support from your teeth.

Static vs Dynamic Laugh Lines

It is essential to know if your laugh lines are static or dynamic before seeking treatment. What does this mean? Static laugh lines or wrinkles are the lines that appear when you have a neutral facial expression (your face is not moving due smiling or laughing). Getting early treatment for static lines is vital because they become harder to treat over time.

Dynamic wrinkles are those lines you see with the movement of your face. They appear when you laugh or smile and are as a result of the muscles expanding and contracting. The muscles around your eyes and lips all work together to create the facial expression you make when you blink, laugh or smile.

Treating Laugh Lines with Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers offer excellent treatment to softening laugh lines. Understanding facial anatomy is essential, so you should always go to a doctor with board-certification. If a doctor applies filler in the wrong place, or too much of it, the results may create a puffy appearance. Another way to prevent introducing too much filler is to perform the treatment in small increments and allowing the filler to settle before the next one.

The results of treating laugh lines with dermal filler are almost immediate. Unlike Botox, you don’t have to wait up to a week to see the effects. The single downside of dermal fillers is that they will wear off in under 12 months. Therefore, maintenance treatments are vital to keep laugh lines at bay.

Anti-Wrinkle Injections and Laugh Lines

The eyes’ animation is an inevitable part of your smile or laugh, which always accompanies the mouth’s movement. Creases form as the muscles around the mouth and eyes move, leading to deeper lines over time.

Imagine balling up a sheet of paper and straightening it out over and over. Initially, you’ll smooth out most crinkles, but after a while, the creases remain. This is the same with dynamic laugh wrinkles and any other wrinkle on your face.

Botox works well in the top regions of the face around the eyes, between the eyebrows and the forehead. Within a week, you will be able to see the results and the smoother skin on your face lasts up to six months.

Are There Non-Injectable Options For Laugh Lines

If you’re not sure about injectable treatments or would instead try some at-home options first, dermatologists recommend exfoliation. While exfoliation won’t reduce the appearance of laugh lines, gentle exfoliation can help smooth out your skin’s overall look.

Choose an exfoliator with physical or chemical exfoliants and perform gentle cleansing daily. Alpha hydroxy acids, including glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids, are essential ingredients in exfoliating products, helping with cleansing.

Facial massage is another effective tonic to help tone and strengthen your facial muscles so they can resist the force of gravity better. Massage and exfoliation are holistic therapies that can go a long way to softening wrinkles. The lines will not entirely go away – instead, the massage will help keep your facial muscles and skin taut.

We all love to smile and laugh, but if your laugh lines are causing you distress and you’d like to do something about it, we are here to help. At Vinci Aesthetics, we specialise in offering the best client satisfaction you can hope for. Let us help you soften those laugh lines by giving us a call to book your consultation today.