Pregnancy is normally a time when you are radiating with excitement, yes? But when your pregnancy complexion doesn’t always reflect that inner joy it can dampen your spirits.

Worry not, for most you will find that these skin issues resolve themselves following the birth of your baby.  Here are some of the most common skin problems women encounter during pregnancy—and what you can do about them.

Skin Sensitivity

Go easier on your skin now that you’re pregnant. You might get red more easily if you use a facial scrub, your normal facial might verge on painful, and the perfumed lotion you wear might irritate your skin (and make you nauseated, but that’s a different story). That’s why many mums-to-be switch to unscented products and start choosing products that do not contain harsh chemicals, preservatives and fragrances. “You certainly don’t want anything causing micro-tears on your skin,” says Sue Ibrahim, our dermatology nurse consultant.  “The more cuts and wounds on your skin, the easier it is for chemicals to be absorbed into your bloodstream. Ingredients to stay away from in soaps and body washes include sodium laureth sulphate, parabens and fragrance.” These ingredients aren’t just potential irritants—some say they could pose health risks to baby. We say believe it, because (not surprisingly) a lot of products aren’t tested directly on pregnant women. If you are using prescription topicals on your face you need to tell your doctor that you are pregnant as most prescription creams are not licensed for use during pregnancy either. At Elan Medical Skin Clinic we advise our patients to use our Elan Medical DermaCalm range during pregnancy, because they are free from fragrances and preservatives. They also contain mild anti-inflammatory ingredients that can soothe irritated skin.

Acne breakouts during pregnancy

During pregnancy your hormones are all over the place, and that might mean pimples like you had when you were a teenager. The cruel joke, of course, is that many of the treatments that are prescribed for acne cannot be used during pregnancy. Prescription medications like Tetracyclines, Isotretinoin (Roacutane(R)) and the anti-androgen hormone therapies are definite no-nos. And the jury’s out on over-the-counter creams, since they haven’t been tested specifically on pregnant women (yup, you find that a lot with products). Ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can be absorbed into the bloodstream, so they’re not worth the risk either. “You can safely use lactic acid and biosulfur to treat acne,” Sue Ibrahim says. Don’t touch, pick or squeeze pimples— just wash with a mild cleanser twice a day. “A lot of women find Acne Phototherapy beneficial during pregnancy and it is perfectly safe for both you and the baby.

Sun Sensitivity

Sorry, mums-to-be, but “pregnancy glow” does not refer to a bronzed, sun-kissed complexion. You should actually try to stay out of the sun as much as you can while you’re pregnant. That’s because your surging hormones make you susceptible to dark patches on your skin—known as melasma, or the ‘mask of pregnancy’, which is triggered by sun exposure. So pull out the big floppy hat, find a beach umbrella and be diligent about wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day. If you are unlucky and do get Melasma during pregnancy it may resolve on its own following the birth of your baby, if not then you will need the help of a dermatologist I’m afraid.

Stretch marks

Now you’ve got another big skin concern: stretch marks. Anytime someone’s body grows quickly, they’re at risk for stretch marks, so the fact that baby is growing exponentially in there puts you right in the high-risk zone. Of course, not every mum-to-be gets stretch marks. “For most people, whether or not they get stretch marks has to do with genetic predisposition,” says Sue Ibrahim. But you can do your best to head them off by gently exfoliating and thoroughly moisturising your belly, boobs, stomach, hips and thighs as much as you can. As for what moisturizer to use, it’s hard to make a recommendation. “A lot of products make claims,” Sue Ibrahim says. “Some may help but aren’t really proven to prevent stretch marks.” If you are left with troublesome stretch marks following the birth of you baby, it is worth looking into the skin tightening treatments we offer at Elan Medical Skin Clinic.

Skin rashes during pregnancy

If you’ve got red, itchy skin, it’s important not to ignore it. Itchy feet and hands could be a sign of cholestasis of pregnancy, a scary complication that can cause liver problems for baby. Your doctor can do a simple blood test to make sure that’s not causing your rash. Another common pregnancy rash is PUPPP (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy), which often starts in the abdomen and spreads from there. PUPPP is actually harmless to baby, but it will be completely aggravating for you. Book in for a Dermatology Consultation if you are concerned.

Ageing skin is one of the most common concerns that we see at Elan Medical Skin Clinic. If all those expensive serums and cosmetic creams did what they claim to do then why do the women that use these products still complain that their skin is dry, dull, blotchy and wrinkled?

Let’s understand what causes ageing skin

Many things cause our skin to age. Some things we cannot do anything about; others we can influence. One thing that we cannot change is the natural ageing process. It plays a key role. With time, we all get visible lines on our face. It is natural for our face to lose some of its youthful fullness. We notice our skin becoming thinner and drier. Our genes largely control when these changes occur. The medical term for this type of ageing is “intrinsic ageing.”

We can influence another type of ageing that affects our skin. Our environment and lifestyle choices can cause our skin to age prematurely. The medical term for this type of ageing is “extrinsic ageing.”

• The sun – UVA and UVB rays are present 365 days per year. USA rays can penetrate through four inches of glass. So think about this when you are sitting next to a window in the office or driving in your car.
• Smoking –  I know, we are all told how smoking is bad for your health but smoking greatly speeds up how quickly skin ages. It causes wrinkles and a dull, sallow complexion. Why, because the toxins in cigarette smoke replace the oxygen content of your blood.
• Alcohol – Alcohol is rough on the skin. It dehydrates the skin, and in time, damages the skin. This can make us look older. So drink alcohol in moderation and for every alcoholic drink, drink two glasses of water. This will help to re-hydrate you.
• Unhealthy diet – Findings from a few studies suggest that eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables may help prevent damage that leads to premature skin ageing. Findings from research studies also suggest that a diet containing lots of sugar or other refined carbohydrates can accelerate ageing.
• Lack of exercise – Findings from a few studies suggest that moderate exercise can improve circulation and boost the immune system. This, in turn, may give the skin a more-youthful appearance.
• Over Moisturising – Believe it or not, over moisturising the skin will send your skin cells to sleep. When your skin is slightly dry, your skin cells react by producing more collagen. If you over moisturise the skin, you will be inhibiting your own collagen production. Use a sunscreen in the morning instead! Mind you, it needs to be a UVB and UVA Sunscreen of at least factor 30 for it to really protect your skin.
• Skin Scrubs –  Scrubbing your skin clean can irritate your skin. Irritating your skin accelerates skin ageing process. Gentle washing helps to remove pollution, makeup, and other substances without irritating your skin. Some anti-ageing products prescribed by a dermatologist may burn or sting. When using a prescription anti-ageing product, this can be okay.

Even people who already have signs of premature skin ageing can benefit from making lifestyle changes. By protecting your skin from the sun, you give it a chance to repair some of the damage. Smokers who stop often notice that their skin looks healthier. By taking some preventive actions, we can slow the effects that this type of ageing has on our skin.

There is so much conflicting advice out there

If signs of ageing skin bother you, you may ask a beauty therapist for advice. However, this may result in you spending a lot of money on treatments and cosmetic creams that make no difference to your skin at all.  Why not consult a dermatologist instead? Yes, you will have to pay for a consultation, but you may end up spending a lot less money in the long run. Why? Because prescription skincare contains the right amount of active ingredients that are designed to penetrate deeper into the skin. New treatments and less-invasive procedures for smoothing wrinkles, tightening skin, and improving one’s complexion are giving many people younger-looking skin.

If you are worried about the effects the ageing process is having on your skin, then why not book in to see Sue Ibrahim. With over thirty years working within the medical and cosmetic dermatology sector, Sue has helped thousands of women and men improve the texture and appearance of their skin. Her professional but friendly approach is well known throughout the industry. Sue will never sell you any treatment that you do not need. As a Nurse Consultant in Dermatology she has won a number of industry awards and constantly receives a string of positive reviews about the treatment and service she provides.

Book your consultation today!

 

In a mid-air emergency, we are always told to fit our own oxygen mask first. This is to ensure we are able to help our loved ones in a calm, considerate and efficient manner – whilst being able to breathe ourselves!

It may sound selfish but it is absolutely essential – and not just in a life or death situation. If our own wellbeing isn’t being cared for, our ability to give our love to others is diminished, says nurse consultant in dermatology, Sue Ibrahim.

If we are dealing with a skin condition on top of all of life’s other stresses and strains, chances are the skin condition will worsen if it is ignored or put to the bottom of our list of things to sort. Does this sound familiar?

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Our skin is the largest organ of our body, with a total area of about 20 square feet. It protects us from microbes and the elements, helps regulate our body temperature and permits the sensations of touch, heat and cold.

Twenty square feet is a lot of area for things to go wrong, imperfections to show, maintenance to cover. But don’t fear, our nurse consultant in dermatology, Sue Ibrahim at Elan Medical Skin Clinic in Rayleigh, Essex has your skin covered!

We take exercise to improve our heart. We keep our brains active. We check our diet to ensure our digestive organs stay fit. But our skin often takes the brunt of external and internal abuse.

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Find out more about PRP skin rejuvenation and Silhouette Soft thread lifting at our open evening

You and a friend are welcome to join our lovely team at Elan Medical Skin Clinic in Essex for an informal social evening on October 31^st 4pm – 8pm.

Our Open Evening is an ideal opportunity for you to meet Sue Ibrahim and her team and have a chat with our new award-winning GP, Dr Alex Tran and Amy, our laser therapist.

You will be able to find out more about our new, highly effective facial rejuvenation treatments, PRP stem cell injection therapy and Silhouette Soft Thread Lifting.

There will also be a free prize draw to win a selection of our exclusive DermaActive products.

There’s no need to book – we look forward to seeing you at our intimate and cosy Rayleigh skin clinic.

Soften wrinkles, smooth your skin’s texture and tone, and promote the growth of collagen with Platelet Rich Plasma skin therapy at Elan Medical Skin Clinics in Rayleigh, Essex and central London.

PRP skin therapy is the latest rejuvenation technique to be added to our comprehensive list of facial treatments. As well as skin rejuvenation, PRP stem cell injection therapy is ideal for curbing hair loss and treating osteoarthritis of the shoulder, knee and ankle joints.

We are delighted to introduce our experienced, award-winning practitioner who will be performing PRP therapy at Elan Medical Skin Clinic. Dr Alex Tran has been a GP for 17 years and over the last five years he has developed a keen interest in aesthetic medicine.

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Silhouette Soft thread lifting at Elan Medical Skin Clinics in Essex and central London offers transformational, natural results – without the surgery, scars or time off work. This facial rejuvenation technique is non-surgical, minimally invasive and redefines your facial contours immediately and with lasting results.

Treatment reduces the appearance of sagging around the jaw line and is ideal for men and women looking for a safe, convenient alternative to traditional facelift surgery. You will enjoy subtle changes around your eyebrows, cheeks, jaw line neck and facial contours and the Silhouette Soft thread lifting treatment is carried out by our fully qualified, award-winning GP, Dr Alex Tran.

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Sue Ibrahim, our medical director and nurse consultant in dermatology, has more than 30 years’ experience in dermatology and 20 in skin treatments. This makes her an ideal person to talk to if you would like to improve the appearance of your nose.

Noses can cause people to feel very embarrassed about their appearance. Many can dislike the shape of their nose, its appearance due to threat veins, warts or nasal lumps or even skin thickening.

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Being able to smile without embarrassment is wonderful. A lovely, confident smile lights up our faces, opens doors in our love lives and careers and is actually good for us as it floods our bodies with happy hormones.

If you would like to improve your smile, look no further than Elan Medical Skin Clinics in central London and Rayleigh, Essex.

Perfect your pout

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Our eyes say so much about us. They reveal our happiness, sorrow, physical wellbeing and sometimes our age. How many times has the morning after a boozy night been given away by our puffy, red eyes?! And where do we concentrate most of our make-up techniques and beauty products?

Get a helping hand to ensure your eyes look radiant and rejuvenated from Elan Medical Skin Clinics in central London and Essex. Our resident skin expert, Sue Ibrahim has more than 30 years’ experience in dermatology and more than 20 in wrinkle reducing injections and dermal fillers.

Smooth laughter lines

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