Skincare, the multi-billion dollar market has new enhancements and promises of miracle treatments for everything from fine lines and wrinkles to rectifying sun damage and thinning hair. No experts ourselves, we enlisted the help of Dr Wanda Alemao, Consultant Dermatologist, American Mission Hospital, one of the island’s premier experts when it comes to everything dermatology.
“Aesthetic dermatology”, says Dr Wanda, “ is all the rage. Treatments that are all about enhancing your natural beauty. Sometimes called cosmetic treatments, they are non-invasive, painless and require no downtime. They come in many forms including injectable and topical treatments. Here are my top four treatments that are not just good for your skin but also for your self-esteem.”
Skin Boosters
These are like glass skin in a shot – a new class of injectables which hydrate, smooth, and firm your skin without adding fullness thus avoiding the very-obvious pillow-face that comes courtesy of Botox. And this is the reason they are gaining in popularity even with those under 30.
These are tiny ‘sprinklings’ of hyaluronic acid delivered into the top layers of the skin, intended to replenish hydration, improve light reflection, and smooth the canvas of the skin, without changing the structure of the face. For many this treatment represents a missing link to the fountain of youth. It works on your skin from within- giving it more hydration and building up collagen. Some of the boosters have antioxidants like niacinamide and glutathione which work on pigmentation giving you glowing skin. Niacinamide constricts the oil secretion making the skin look smoother and more radiant.
Vampire Facial
You probably conjure up images of Kim Kardashian when I say vampire facial. And perhaps your decision to get or avoid this treatment depends on your feelings about Kim K. However, it has been 10 years since she tried this facial and the fact that its popularity is yet to die down speaks volumes about its benefits.
To put it simply, a vampire facial stimulates collagen production in your skin through a combination of microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from your own blood. Microneedling actually triggers your body’s wound-healing process to encourage new collagen production (aka the essence of good skin).
Basically, some blood is drawn from your arm, then spun with a centrifuge to separate the plasma and platelets that contain your own growth factors platelet-rich plasma (PRP). That PRP is then ‘microneedled’ into the skin and applied on top of the micro-wounds to help stimulate your collagen even more. This helps boost collagen production, brighten your overall skin tone, get rid of minor acne scars, fade hyperpigmentation, and tighten your skin.
PRP FOR HAIR LOSS
PRP for hair thinning and hair fall has proven to be quite effective. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) when injected into the area to be treated it restores blood flow, new cell growth and tissue regeneration. Platelets, when injected deep into the scalp, may stimulate a specialised population of cells named dermal papilla cells, which play an important role in hair growth. The plasma promotes growth, can kickstart follicular activity and result in new hair growth. However, it requires at least 2-3 sessions to see results. While this may not be as effective as hair weaving, it been proven to improve the quantity and quality of hair by increasing the thickness of the hair fibre.
At King Hamad American Mission Hospital, we perform the procedure after doing an initial blood test and according to the requirements vitamins are prescribed and advised at least three sessions of PRP, one month apart. At our hospital, we mix the PRP with biotin for optimum results. Most of my patients love this treatment as they feel I have a very gentle touch while administering the treatment.
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound
This treatment is done for skin tightening but is non-invasive and is as effective as a facelift. Targetted on the face and neck – you can see a marked 20 per cent improvement in the skin in these areas. It works by causing microthermal injuries and coagulation which boost collagen formation making the skin tighter and firmer without going under the knife.
