Skin care is big business, from miracle moisturises to expensive chemical peels that promise to take at least 10 years off your face.
As women we are told it is never too early to start thinking about an anti-ageing skin care routine and it’s not just the fairer sex investing in the hype.
For aesthetic nurse specialist Karen Urquhart, expensive moisturiser isn’t worth the fancy packaging it comes with and she provides a wide range of treatments at Temple Medical in Aberdeen.
The key focus is on problem solving skin care which can help re-hydrate and protect skin from further sun damage and also eliminate problems with acne.
More than half of women over the age of 25 have acne flare ups alongside oily skin, and the clinic stocks various products, many of which are medically graded.
Having not yet hit my thirties, I was perhaps rather arrogant in the belief that my skin needed little help to look young and fresh with wrinkles still a long way off.
Not taking my make-up off before bed, sunburn on holiday, and almost never drinking enough water were all skin care sins I cockily committed, partly in the belief that payback time is years in the future . . . right?
Following a skin care analysis at Temple medical, I was sadly in the dark no longer and it would seem my skin has already suffered from my continual abuse.
The analysis includes a full assessment of your skin’s condition whilst specialist imaging reveals sun damage, dehydration, and fine lines in all their glory.
I was also rated for redness and the potential for wrinkles, and let’s say I didn’t come top of the class.
Karen asked about my general skin care regime alongside lifestyle factors, and although I don’t smoke – my problem areas were shown up in detailed black and white glory.
Thankfully Karen had some kind words of reassurance and wisdom.
“I was a practise nurse specialising in chronic diseases before I qualified with aesthetic nursing in 2010, you can’t get perfect skin overnight,” she said.
“It’s amazing how many people I see with acne and I love helping patients to achieve better skin, it’s great to see the results and the difference it can make to their lives.
“It is possible to stimulate skin cells to work properly again but good skin care takes place over months as opposed to weeks.”
The key problem with my skin, Karen said, was dehydration, creating the appearance of very fine lines on my forehead which were scarily visible once Karen zoomed in.
Particularly dark spots on my face revealed sun damage, which has been partly caused by not wearing any protection day in, day out.
I was originally proud of my cleanse and tone regime, before Karen informed me that my toner in was in fact stripping away the top layer of skin cells.
“It’s amazing how many people tell me that they use a cleanse and polish routine which is particularly popular at the moment, but they’re finding that they’re still experiencing problems with their skin,” she said.
“Often their skin is left really dry and even quite sore because a lot of cleansers are too harsh and the majority of moisturises are actually unnecessary.
“The best way to deal with issues such as blackheads is to exfoliate, a lot of adults still get blackheads in the T zone area and some people are more prone to break outs.
“I think it’s very easy to buy into the skin care industry but you need to truly understand your skin instead of wasting money on expensive products.”
After initially feeling horrified by the images of my skin, I’ve come to the realisation that knowledge is power.
Drinking more water is now on the cards while my collection of creams have been relegated to the back of the bathroom cupboard.
All the make-up in the world can’t hide bad skin, and it’s never too early to start a new regime.
For more info on Temple Medical, visit
http://www.templemedical.co.uk/
KAREN’S TOP SKINCARE TIPS
If you only put one product on your skin, make sure it’s a broad spectrum sunscreen – one with a high UVA rating and SPF of 30-50.
Wear broad spectrum sunscreen every day – even in winter when it’s cloudy.
You don’t have to load your skin with lots of products – you just have to make sure you have the right kind of ingredients for your skin.
Facial wipes may be easy and convenient but they are really bad for your skin. They just rub your make up around your face, don’t cleanse it and then you’re left with a thin layer of product that can irritate your skin. Use a cloth such as Jane Iredale’s Magic Mitt with your cleanser instead.
See a specialist who can analyse your skin and advise on a skincare routine to suit you – skincare doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to work.