How to Prepare Your Skin for a Treatment

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Why Should I Prepare My Skin?


All treatments give better results when your skin is prepared. As the saying goes, a good house cannot be built on a weak foundation. By preparing our skin, we reduce our healing time as well as the risk of Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH). Healthy, hydrated skin responds better to treatments.

 

How Should I Prepare My Skin?

You should start using:

  • AHA or BHA cleanser to aid exfoliation to provide a smooth base for treatment
  • A serum with Hyaluronic Acid to ensure our skin is at it’s optimal hydration levels
  • For deeper peels or skin types prone to pigmentation, a Tyrosinase Inhibitor
  • Broad Spectrum SPF

Follow the advice from your Skincare Practitioner for the minimum amount of time you should prep your skin.

With all skin peels we recommend you prepare your skin 2-6 weeks before, depending on your skin type and which peel you are having.

Stronger peels like Modified Jessner and TCA require 4-6 weeks of prepping whilst our lighter peels only require 2-4 weeks. Darker skin types require the longer end of the scale due to the higher risks of hyperpigmentation.

Cosmeceuticals To Prepare Your Skin

Cosmeceuticals are different from regular cosmetics as they are:

  • Higher strength
  • Medical grade formulations
  • Extensively clinically tested and researched
  • Able to penetrate deeper in the skin

 


AHAs and BHAs

AHAs vs BHAs

AHAs are Alpha Hydroxy Acids, whilst BHAs are Beta Hydroxy Acids. They are products that chemically exfoliate the skin. They do this by breaking down the glue between skin cells so they can be sloughed off. AHAs and BHAs are found in exfoliating products, often for anti ageing, pigmentation and acne.

By removing this build up of dead skin cells, we provide a better base for a skin peel to work. We will see a better result when treating skin conditions like pigmentation and acne when preparing our skin with active ingredients.

Dermaquest

Peptide Glyco Cleanser

Combining 15% Glycolic acid with Lactic acid and peptides, this treatment cleanser exfoliates and smoothes skin, refining fine lines and wrinkles.

Dermaquest Peptide Glyco Cleanser

Dermaquest Dermaclear Cleanser

An antibacterial cleanser with Mandelic acid to reduce and prevent breakouts.

Dermaquest DermaClear Cleanser

Dermaquest Dermaclear BHA Cleanser

A treatment cleanser with 2% Salicylic Acid to prevent and treat acne.


Sun protection SPF

How to Build a Skincare Regime- SPF

SPF, meaning Sun Protection Factor, are products that protect our skin from UV rays. If you expose your skin unprotected to UV rays you can cause; burning, hyperpigmentation, inflammation and damage to collagen fibres. We recommend a ‘physical’ SPF. This is an SPF made from mineral ingredients. Physical SPFs reflect UV rays from the skin.

Zinc Oxide is the most protective mineral ingredient, it is important to ensure there is a high amount present in the SPF. The closer it appears to the top on the ingredients list, the higher the amount of Zinc Oxide in the product.

It is also important your SPF is broad spectrum. This means it provides protection against UVA and UVB rays. Many SPFs protect from UVB only. All of our SPFs have broad spectrum protection. It is important to use an SPF everyday, especially after skin treatments as skin can be more sensitive to UV rays temporarily.

Heliocare 360 Mineral SPF50

Broad spectrum, full protection SPF with mineral/physical protection filters. Zinc Oxide and added Fernblock to protect against UVA, UVB, Infra Red, Blue Light (HEV) and Visible Light whilst repairing sun damage. It is non comedogenic, so won’t block pores. This SPF provides a tinted colour with a matte finish.

Heliocare 360 Mineral Fluid SPF 50

Hyaluronic Acid

Ingredient Focus- Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid serums hydrate our skin. It is found naturally throughout our body tissues and organs. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, this means it can hold and draw moisture. Think of it as a sponge, it can hold 1000x it’s own weight in water. It’s role in skincare is to draw moisture to keep our skin cells hydrated. Healthy hydrated skin experiences less downtime.


Dermaquest Advanced B5 Hydrating Serum

With 40% of the product comprising of Sodium Hyaluronate (a form of Hyaluronic acid) combined with Panthenol (Vitamin B5), this serum plumps and hydrates.

 

B5 Hydrating Serum

SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Serum

Deeply hydrates the skin, enhances skin softness, firmness and elasticity. Thinner consistency than Dermaquest B5.

Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Serum


SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator

This 2 in 1 product hydrates and exfoliates. Combines Hyaluronic Acid with Kombucha (enzyme). Used every day for 8 weeks, it is the equivalent of a skin peel.

Skinceuticals Retexturing Activator


SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel

Think of it as a hydrator for sensitive skin. Added cucumber and thyme to calm and soothe.


Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)

Ingredient Focus- Niacinamide

Niacinamide has a lot of amazing advantages to being used in skincare. It can repair and reinforce our skin barrier, great for compromised skins before a peel. It also fades hyperpigmentation and regulates sebum (oil) production.

Dermaquest B3 Youth Serum

Repairs skins natural barrier as well as environmental damage, this firming and hydrating serum; evens skin tone and reduces sebum production. If you have a compromised skin, opting to prep with B3 serum as your hydrator is ideal.

Dermaquest B3 Youth Serum


Tyrosinase Inhibitors

How Can I Reduce My Pigmentation?

Tyrosinase is an enzyme that stimulates melanin production. Melanin is the pigment in our skin. Hyperpigmentation occurs when melanin production is uneven, over producing in some areas- often caused by hormones and sun damage. Tyrosinase Inhibitors block the enzyme Tyrosinase and so disrupts melanin production. Often paired with ingredients to fade hyperpigmentation patches.

Dermaquest SkinBrite Serum

Combining Lactic Acid, plant stem cell Madonna Lily and peptide Melanostatine 5 to help fade dark patches and prevent further hyperpigmentation from forming.

Dermaquest SkinBrite Serum


Retinol

Ingredient Focus- Retinol

Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A. As a topical product it encourages skin renewal. By stimulating skin to renew, dead skin cells are sloughed away, revealing a smoother skin. It is important to stop Retinol 1 week before and after treatments as it can cause side effects.

Obagi Retinol 0.5/1.0

During your consultation we can advise which strength you should use. Using Retinol in your skincare regime smoothes and refines skin whilst stimulating collagen production to reduce lines and wrinkles. With added jojoba oil and shea butter to promote firmness. Used on an acneic skin, it prevents dead skin from clogging pores. This will prevent pore blockages which result in breakouts.

Obagi Retinol 1%

Skin Prep Kits

Dermaquest provide skin kits for skin preparation. These kits last 6 weeks and are great because all the products you need can be purchased as travel size.

 

Dermaquest Acne Management Kit

Daily use will regulate oil production, treat and prevent further breakouts whilst keeping skin hydrated.

Dermaquest Acne Management Kit

Dermaquest Age Defense Kit

Peptide Glyco Cleanser will gently resurface skin whilst B5 provides skin hydration. This is ideal for mature skins as Nourishing Peptide Rich will stimulate collagen production whilst firming skin.

Dermaquest Age Defense Kit

Dermaquest Essentials Kit

Boosting skin hydration, this kit is suitable for all skin types. It also acts as a good recovery kit after skin treatments.

Dermaquest Essentials Kit

Dermaquest Pigment Control Kit

Ideal for helping to fade pigmentation. This kit is best before any stronger skin peels to reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation. Tyrosinase Inhibitors are needed before Modified Jessners and TCA peels.

Dermaquest Pigment Control Kit

Dermaquest Radiant Skin Kit

This brightening skin kit includes antioxidants to prevent environmental damage whilst keeping our skin hydrated.

Dermaquest Radiant Skin Kit

 

Skin Treatments at Home to Prepare

You can prepare your skin further by having an at home facial treatment. These normally have active ingredients so shouldn’t be carried out closer than one week before your in clinic treatment.

Anti-Ageing Growth Factor Facial Kit

Dermaquest Mini Pumpkin Mask

Book an Online Consultation for advice on prepping your skin before your in clinic treatment.