Date: 01/03/2016

Author: Ingrid Katz (Pure Aesthetics)

This month we are doing things a little differently and giving you an opportunity to see for yourselves, what we do and how we do it. Every so often I get a painful call for help that I must confess – I love! However, I absolutely, heart wrenchingly hate seeing a client and their skin in complete meltdown mode.

This particular client suffers from severe eczema – on her face mainly, but also across the body. Her face, for obvious reasons, is her primary concern. She has tried everything from home remedies to the severest of medications for this condition. Some have given temporary relief while others have only exacerbated the condition.

Most have only weakened the skin and made it more compromised over the long term. She came into Pure Aesthetics with little faith that she would have positive and lasting results.

The exact cause of Eczema is unknown, but we do know that there are many various influences (both internal and external) that can trigger a reaction in the skin. The primary effects of Eczema are: inflammation, redness, dry skin, flaking and a broken or compromised skin barrier (protective suit of armour to the skin). Treatment should always be focused as a chronic or long-term management programme rather than an immediate quick fix. Medications, such as cortisone, will give temporary, but immediate relief to the skin and may be used in very acute situations.

We looked to a cosmeceutical skin peel range called Optiphi, which we use here at Pure Aesthetics. In this particular case, we were aiming to:

• Reduce inflammation in the skin, thereby calming its dramatic response action
• Repair the barrier, which had been severely compromised resulting in the skin being unable to lock any moisture or nutrients into the skin
• Induce or encourage a cellular turnover action, which aids the removal of old dead skin cells, revealing new, healthier cells.

The client had 6 treatments over 6 weeks and then went onto a monthly maintenance programme of a treatment every 4 weeks. In addition to these in salon treatments, she has been placed onto a simple homecare programme to support the in-salon treatments.

The result, pictured in this newsletter, is after the initial 6 week programme. We see a stronger and healthier skin and a happy client who has started wearing make-up again and is feeling more confident in her appearance. She is now, literally, more comfortable in her own skin!

As mentioned above, a maintenance programme is required to ensure skin health. Flair ups will happen, but we are confident that the skin will be stronger and healthier and so in a position to cope better and recover faster, when these do occur.