Age spots, often known as liver spots, are an all too visible reminder of the passing of time. They appear in people over 40 although younger people can be affected as well. If you have noticed several flat brown or black spots on your face, hands, arms and shoulders then these are likely to be age spots. 

Age Spots can be removed using Plasma Soft surgery

Causes of age spots

The ageing process is the main reason hence the name. But they also occur from years of exposure to direct sunlight, often as a result of sunbathing or heavy use of sunbeds. Constant exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays changes the colour of skin, turning it to a light or dark brown colour.

This is fine when you are young but as you get older your skin is less effective at regeneration as a result of sun exposure which leads to the formation of age spots. Plus your skin is thinner and more fragile as you age which increases this risk.

Genetics also plays a part. If your parents or a close family member has age spots then you will have inherited this condition.

Apart from genetic factors; if you have fair skin or are a keen sun worshipper then you are more likely to develop this condition. But statistically, anyone can get age spots.

Age spots do not determine your age: what they are is the consequences of years of exposure to the sun, i.e. tanning. So think carefully the next time you decide to bag some rays whilst on holiday.

Symptoms of age spots

These spots are flat, oval shaped objects which are brown, black or even grey in colour. They vary in size and develop in areas which are most exposed to the sun, e.g. hands. They develop on the arms, shoulders, back, chest and neck as single spots or in groups. They are diagnosed during a dermatology consultation using an instrument called a dermatoscope. There are other skin conditions which display symptoms that are very similar to age spots. These include seborrheic keratosis (benign skin growths) and moles. But an examination will rule these out.

Treatment for age spots

These are often an inevitable part of growing older but if you find these unsightly to live with then there are remedies for dealing with these spots. One of the most revolutionary ways of removing these spots is by a dermatology procedure called Plasma Soft Surgery. 

Can you prevent age spots?

If there is a genetic tendency then no but many cases are caused by prolonged exposure to the sun. So reduce your exposure and use a suncream with a high sun protection factor (SPF). Wear a hat and loose, long sleeved tops and trousers to protect your skin from the sun.

Think pale and interesting rather than bronzed and beautiful.

xanthomas are yellowish deposits of fat and cholesterol found under the skin that’s around or on the eyelids.  Xanthomas are not harmful, nor do they cause any pain, but most people do not care for the appearance of these yellow growths around the eyes and often contact us to have them removed.

Xanthomas are harmless but cosmetically unacceptable to many people

Xanthomas – How can they be removed?

Xanthomas can be removed at one of our minor surgery clinics using Plasma Soft Surgery. The procedure is normally carried out under a local anaesthetic to numb the area being treated, so the procedure is not painful but the eyes can be sore and slightly swollen for a few days following treatment. There will also be some crusting over the treated areas which can take around 7 days to subside. By 14 days, the skin has normally healed completely.

How much does Xanthoma removal cost?

You will first need a Dermatology Consultation in order to determine if you are a suitable candidate for treatment using Plasma Soft Surgery. Depending on the number of Xanthomas present treatment costs are from around £350.

Why Elan Medical Skin Clinic?

Elan Medical Skin Clinic is a registered medical clinic, inspected by The Care Quality Commission. We have been established since November 2000 and Sue Ibrahim is well respected in the aesthetic profession due to her 30 years experience in dermatology. Over the years she has won numerous awards for her work and she was one of the first dermatology nurses to train in minor skin surgery at Guys Hospital, some 10 years ago. Why not take a look at the reviews we receive on a daily basis at Elan Medical Skin Clinics.

If you suffer from Xanthomas, contact us today!

Reviews of Elan Medical Skin Clinic

Scroll down to read what clients are saying about Elan Medical Skin Clinic. These reviews are constantly being updated and are not filtered in any way.

The families in Rayleigh, Hockley, Canvey and Southend  have been coming to our clinic for ear piercing for the past 20 years. Why? Because we only ever pierce with 9ct Gold earrings and we are a registered medical clinic. 

We always stock a wide range of 9ct yellow gold and white gold studs at our clinic in Rayleigh. We are happy to pierce children under the age of 18 providing they are accompanied by a parent. We cannot accept letters from parents I’m afraid, as the parent will need to sign the consent form.

There is no evidence behind the claims that ear piercing can help in the treatment of migraines.

There has been a of interest in ear cartilage piercing as a treatment for migraine. As elan Medical Skin clinic is registered medical clinic and there is no evidence that ear piercing works for the treatment of migraines, we do not offer this procedure. The Migraine Trust confirms this in a recent blog post. However, there is a lot of evidence behind Botox treatment for migraine sufferers.

Registered ear piercing in Rayleigh

We are also able to repair torn earlobes from previous piercings.

Torn ear lobe repair

Sugar has no essential nutrients and simply contributes kilojoules.  Dietary Guidelines from the NHS Choices website recommends we limit sugar from our diet as it adds unnecessary calories, and like refined starches, it increases dental decay. However, there is no evidence that a totally sugar-free diet is needed. The World Health Organization advises limiting added sugars to less than 10% of total energy to prevent dental caries, obesity, and chronic disease. NHS Choices recommends that added sugars should be limited to less than 5% of total energy intake as a strategy for preventing excess weight (which is a risk factor for heart disease).

Sugar is the enemy of the skin

There is no scientific support for avoiding fruits and vegetables because of their natural sugar content. These foods also provide dietary fibre (which is nature’s obstacle to over consumption) as well as minerals and vitamins. Research also shows that consumption of fruit and vegetables helps control weight.

Research shows that fructose is problematic only in excess, and the basic problem in most cases is simply the extra kilojoules from a high intake of fructose. Research also shows that anyone who exercises regularly and pre-menopausal women, will be unlikely to have problems with fructose.

Sugar does not fulfil any official definition of ‘addictive’, although once our taste buds become used to sweetness, some people will overindulge in sweet foods.

Sugar or high-glycemic foods quickly convert to sugar. This in turn raises insulin levels and puts unnatural demands on your body to deal with the food you just ate.  Simple carbohydrates, like refined sugar, white bread and soda, cause your insulin levels to spike, which leads to what our skin expert, Sue Ibrahim, states as “Inflammatory responses in the skin”. Inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, resulting in sagging skin and wrinkles. Digested sugar permanently attaches to the collagen in your skin through a process known as glycation. 

Sugars – Acne, insulin resistance, pigmentation and facial hair growth

Aside from increasing the effects of aging, glycation can also exacerbate skin conditions like acne and rosacea. Plus, the more sugar you eat, the more likely it is you’ll develop insulin resistance, which can manifest as excess hair growth (hirsutism) and dark patches on the face, neck and in body creases.

Should I eliminate sugar from my diet altogether?

The most extreme form of a sugar-free diet restricts all foods that contain added sugars as well as fruit and any vegetables that contain natural sugars such as peas, carrots and parsnips. The less extreme form of the diet permits fruit (but not juices) and vegetables and restricts all added sugars, honey and processed foods that contain sugars such as sugar-sweetened drinks, confectionery, sweet snacks, biscuits, cakes, pastries, ice cream and desserts, sweetened yoghurt, most breakfast cereals, sauces, soups and marinades.

Some sugar-free diets claim that sugar is addictive and must be totally eliminated to ‘cure’ the addiction. However, there is no scientific support for avoiding fruits and vegetables because of their natural sugar content. These foods also provide dietary fibre (which is nature’s obstacle to over consumption) as well as minerals and vitamins. Research also shows that consumption of fruit and vegetables helps control weight.

Research shows that fructose is problematic only in excess, and the basic problem in most cases is simply the extra kilojoules from a high intake of fructose. Research also shows that anyone who exercises regularly and pre-menopausal women, will be unlikely to have problems with fructose.

Irritated skin can be an absolute nightmare. It can prevent you from sleeping at night; it can drive you mad during the day. A red, spotty rash doesn’t look too good either.

So what can cause irritated skin?

One of the most common causes of an irritated skin is an allergy on an intolerance to a product, chemical or fabric. The most highly irritating substances can be fragrances, preservatives, detergents, solvents and other industrial chemicals.

Fabrics that can cause skin rashes are latex, rubber, lycra or elastane and even nylon. Metals such as the nikel found in buckles, buttons, watch straps and cheap jewellry can also cause an allergic reaction.

Insect bites and stings as well as other parasite infestations like scabies, cat and dog fleas can also cause allergic reactions.

If you suffer from eczema, any of the above can exacerbate  the condition.

The more you scratch, the more you will itch

At Elan Medical Skin Clinic we can quickly find out what is causing your irritated skin and provide you with effective treatment to alleviate your discomfort within a short while. Our dermatology clinics in Essex and London are easily accessible and our Skin Expert, Sue Ibrahim, has over 30 years experience in dermatology.

So if you need help to diagnose and treat your skin rash, then book a dermatology consultation today. You can even read our clinic reviews and book your consultation online via our Online Booking Portal.

Sue Ibrahim, Elan Medical Skin Clinic’s nurse consultant in dermatology, is keen to outline the facts about the acne drug Roaccutane – and to dispel some of the myths.

Woman talks to skin experts at central London’s Elan Medical Skin Clinic about Roaccutane

Roaccutane is a brand name for the oral drug Isotretinoin, which is closely related to vitamin A. Oral Isotretinoin works in a variety of ways, targeting several of the factors that cause acne and other skin conditions including the production of sebum (an oily substance produced by the skin) and the production of keratin (outer scales of skin) that block the pores of the hair follicle and cause acne.

Read More…

Having worked within the field of cosmetic dermatology and cosmetic injectable treatments for almost twenty years, our medical director, Sue Ibrahim is seeing a sharp increase in the number of botched cosmetic procedures that are being carried out by beauticians, who claim to be ‘qualified’ in Botox and skin fillers.

Let us not forget that Botox is a prescription only medication that can only be prescribed by doctors and nurses with an additional prescribing qualification. This begs the question as to how these beauticians are getting hold of Botox in the first place?

At Elan Medical Skin Clinic we only prescribe medications following a full consultation, including a clinical assessment, diagnoses and discussion of treatment options available, including no treatment at all. We assess the psychological as well as the physical needs of the people in our care. In short, we believe that these treatments are medical procedures not just a beauty treatment.

With a Dermatology Nurse Consultant you know your face is in a safe pair of hands.

In the UK, all doctors must be registered with The General Medical Council and all nurses must be registered with The Nursing and Midwifery Council. As healthcare professionals we are fully accountable to these bodies, which means that if we act inappropriately we risk being ‘struck off’, no longer able to practice. All registered doctors and nurses must, by Law, hold indemnity insurance for the procedure they carry out. They must also provide evidence to their regulatory bodies that they receive on-going professional development.

Beauticians have no regulatory body, they are accountable to no one. They often work un-insured in non-clinical environments. Beauticians do not have the medical background to carry out medical consultations and clinical assessments prior to treatment. In many cases, treatments are undertaken without any discussion of the complications than can occur following treatment and what is worse is that, very often, the beautician is not even aware of the harm that can be caused if products are injected incorrectly.

At Elan Medical Skin Clinic we have an extremely low complication rates but we are constantly updating our medical skills so that if a complication does occur, we recognise it instantly and can prescribe and administer effective remedies instantly. Beauticians can be taught to recognise complications when they occur but they are unable to prescribe and treat these complications. This inevitably causes a delay in remedial treatment, leaving the client, YOU, at risk of further damage.

Elan Medical Skin Clinic is registered with The Care Quality Commission and Sue Ibrahim is also registered with The British Association of Cosmetic Nurses and a regular contributor to The Safetyinbeauty Campaign.

You only have one face, one body, so please think very carefully when choosing where and who to go to for your next cosmetic treatment. And remember, good treatments are never cheap and cheap treatments are never good.