Skin Concerns

Acne is a common skin condition typically effecting teenagers and young adults. Nearly 85% of people develop acne at some time between the ages of 12-25 years. Up to 20% of women develop mild acne.
Acne develops as a result of blockages of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria in the follicles. These clogged pores result in blackheads or whiteheads, which are often mild but can get infected by bacteria resulting in pus-filled pustules and cysts. The body reacts causing redness and inflammation, which we associate with acne; these can be severe and long lasting and in many cases cause bad acne scarring or hyper-pigmentation on the skins surface.

The exact cause of acne is unknown however several risk factors have been identified: hormonal changes, diet, hereditary – individuals with a family history of acne have greater susceptibility to the disease. The environment – exposure to oils and greases, polluted air and sweat. Stressful lifestyle conditions can also contribute to problematic skin.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Acne

Chemical Peels
Dermalogica Treatments

Treatments for Acne Scarring

Fraxel Dual Laser
Amiea med micro needling
Carboxytherapy
Dermaroller skin needling

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

An actinic keratosis is a rough, scaly patch on your skin that develops from years of exposure to the sun. It’s most commonly found on your face, lips, ears, back of your hands, forearms, scalp or neck.

Also known as a solar keratosis, an actinic keratosis enlarges slowly and usually causes no signs or symptoms other than a patch or small spot on your skin. These patches take years to develop, usually first appearing in people over 40.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Actinic Keratosis

Chemical Peels
Fraxel Dual Laser
Amiea med micro needling

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

Age spots also called liver spots and solar lentigines, are small dark areas on your skin. They vary in size and usually appear on the face, hands, shoulders and arms or areas most exposed to the sun. Age spots are very common in adults older than 50, but younger people can get them too, especially if they spend a lot of time in the sun. Age spots can look like cancerous growths, but true age spots are harmless and can be treated.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Age spots 

GentleMax Laser – Laser removal of pigmentation Lesion
Fraxel Dual Laser
Amiea med micro needling
Microdermabrasion

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

An Angioma is a vascular lesion.  It is a benign tumor made up of blood vessels (hemangioma) or lymph vessels known medically as lymphangioma.  Cherry Angiomas are dilated blood vessels and appear on the surface of the skin as small, round bright red tumors. Spider Angiomas are dilated superficial capillaries radiating from a central red dot.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapist will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Angioma 

GentleMax Laser – Laser Vein Removal

It is an inflamed hair shaft (sometimes the pore is filled with pus) caused by a hair follicle growing back under the skin (in-grown hair).  It is commonly associated with regular shaving. It is most commonly found on the beards of black males but also occurs on other areas of the body i.e. legs, pubic area and the scalp. Untreated, in-grown hairs can cause scarring, redness and swelling (its medical term is Pseudofolliculitis Barbae or PFB).

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapist will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Beard Bumps / In-grown hairs (Pseudofolliculitis Barbae or PBF)

GentleMax Laser – Laser Hair removal
Chemical Peels
Microdermabrasion

Treatments for Scarring

Fraxel Dual Laser
Amiea med micro needling
Carboxytherapy
Dermaroller skin needling

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

A bruise is medically referred to as a contusion. A bruise, or contusion, appears on the skin due to trauma. Examples of trauma are a cut or a blow to an area of the body. The injury causes tiny blood vessels called capillaries to burst. Blood gets trapped below the skin’s surface, which causes a bruise. Bruises can occur at any age. Some bruises appear with very little pain and you might not notice them.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Bruising

Carboxytherapy

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

Cellulite is a condition in which the skin has a dimpled, lumpy appearance. It’s sometimes described as having an orange peel texture. It involves fibrous connective cords that bind the skin to the underlying muscle, with the fat lying between. As fat cells accumulate, they push up against the skin, while the long, tough cords pull down. This creates an uneven surface or dimpling.

Cellulite is much more common in women than in men. In fact, between 80 and 90 percent of women may experience cellulite at some point in their lives. This is because women’s fat is typically distributed in the thighs, hips and buttocks — common areas for cellulite.

Cellulite is classified by the following scale of degrees:

• 0 degree: no alteration in the skin surface
• 1^stdegree: no alteration in the skin surface at rest, but alterations are present during muscular contraction of the affected area or by the pinch test
• 2^nddegree: alterations to the skin surface are visible with the patient standing, with relaxed muscles and without the use of any manipulation
• 3^rd degree: same alterations as seen in 2^nd degree, plus raised areas and nodules

Causes of Cellulite

The causes of cellulite are not well understood, but there are several theories that have been put forth as explanations. Among these are:

1. Hormonal factors – hormones play an important role in cellulite development. Many believe estrogen, insulin, noradrenaline, thyroid hormones and prolactin are part of the cellulite production process.

2. Genetics – certain genes are required for cellulite development. Genes may predispose an individual to particular characteristics associated with cellulite, such as gender, race, slow metabolism, distribution of fat just underneath the skin, and circulatory insufficiency.

3. Diet – people who eat too much fat, carbohydrates, or salt and too little fiber are likely to have greater amounts of cellulite.

4. Lifestyle factors – cellulite may be more prevalent in smokers, those who do not exercise, and those who sit or stand in one position for long periods of time.

5. Clothing – underwear with tight elastic across the buttocks (limiting blood flow) may contribute to the formation of cellulite

Tips to improve Cellulite

1. Load up on anti-oxidants
   Include plenty of antioxidant-rich foods in your diet, such as berries, red and orange fruits, citrus fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants are your number one defense against free radicals, which cause damage to skin cells and can contribute to cellulite formation.

2. Go green
   Drinking green tea can help reduce the signs of cellulite. Green tea has been found to be effective for increasing energy expenditure and assisting with weight loss. It is also a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent free radical damage. Drink about three cups of green tea a day.

3. Healthy fats
   Replace saturated fats with healthy omega-3 fats such as flaxseed, fish oils and nuts. These help with blood circulation. Poor circulation reduces the body’s ability to deliver nutrients to skin cells, causing them to clump together, which can compound cellulite problems.

4. Exercise
   Regular exercise is vital. It burns calories to reduce fat, boosts circulation and can help disguise cellulite by increasing muscle tone under the skin. Exercise also improves lymphatic drainage, which carries toxins away from cells. If drainage is sluggish it will contribute to cellulite.

5. Cut out toxins
   A build-up of toxins in the body can affect the dermis and contribute to cellulite formation. Remove or limit toxins such as tobacco, alcohol, coffee and heavily processed foods containing high levels of sugar and chemical additives. Make sure you drink plenty of water.

6. Use herbs
   Try herbs. Dandelion leaf tea helps reduce fluid retention, as well as helping to flush toxins from the body. You can also use dandelion leaves in salads or fresh juices. Ginkgo biloba, a herbal preparation from the dried leaves of the ginkgo tree, helps boost circulation.

7. Skin care
   There are two actions needed to improve the appearance of cellulite. First you need to increase micro- circulation to help reduce water retention, flush out toxins and increase skin firmness. Secondly, you need to mega-moisturise to increase the elasticity of your skin so it sits flatter, smoother and less lumpy looking. Most cellulite creams only do one of these functions. Mama Mio’s Shrink To Fit does both and is beloved by thousands of women because it actually makes a visible lasting difference.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Cellulite

Synergie AMS
Carboxy Therapy

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

Chlaosma is characterized by the occurrence of extensive brown patches usually in asymmetric distribution over the cheeks, forehead and occasionally on the upper lip and neck.

It is most often seen in women during pregnancy (melasma gravidarum or “mask of pregnancy”), at meno-pause, and while taking oral contraceptives. It occasionally occurs in women who are not pregnant or taking oral contraceptives, as well as in men. A similar pattern of facial hyperpigmentation may be associated with chronic liver disease known as Addison’s disease.

It is more prevalent in darker-complexioned individuals though persons of any race can be affected due to the intense sun exposure in South Africa.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Chloasma / Melasma

Fraxel Dual laser
Chemical Peels
Microdermabrasion
Amiea med micro needling

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

Periorbital dark circles are a result of the thin layer of skin below your eyes showing the blood vessels and the blood they contain more clearly than anywhere else on your body. The skin around your eyelids, called periorbital skin, is on average about 0.5 mm thick compared to an average of about 2 mm thick on most of the rest of your body. Those dark bluish circles are (usually) just the result of light being reflected back off of the blood vessels just below the surface.

As we age, our skin loses its elasticity and ability to regenerate and as a result, it becomes thinner. This is why elderly people will have rather prominent periorbital dark circles regardless of how much they sleep. As are those who are genetically predisposed to having thinner skin below the eyes. Other causes are poor diet, stress, nasal congestion, chronic sinusitis, allergies, hormonal changes or certain drugs.

Another problem associated with periorbital dark circles is periorbital puffiness, also known as bags below your eyes. This could be caused by fluid buildup below the eyes, either due to illness, allergies or simply excessive salt consumption, which can result in the body retaining more fluid than usual. This can place increased pressure on the skin and blood vessels around the eyes which can force blood vessels closer to the surface of the skin, making dark circles appear more prominent. Eye puffiness can also simply be a result of old age.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Dark circles under eyes and puffiness

Fraxel Dual laser
Carboxytherapy
Micro needling
PRP Treatment
Injectable Filler

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra (also known as DPN) is a skin condition common in dark skins, characterized by small brown or black ‘mole’ or ‘wart’- like growths that are found on the skin around the cheekbones and eyes. These dark spots may also be found on other areas of the face, neck, chest, and back. Some people with DPN have a few, isolated spots while others have hundreds of spots. The spots may be flat or hang off the skin like a skin tag.

These spots are neither cancerous nor medically concerning, but they may be itchy, irritating, or cosmetically undesired. They are often referred to as ‘moles’ but they are not true moles by definition. Women are more likely to develop this condition than men. The spots generally appear after puberty and grow in size and number with age.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

A double chin is defined as the layer of subcutaneous fat around the neck that sags down and creates a wrinkle, making the person appear to have a second chin. It is most common on people who are elderly or obese. A person of average weight can bear a double chin as well, depending on their bone structure, amount of loose skin, and amount of fat cells in that region. It is more visible when the bottom jaw is lowered or the head is tilted down.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Double Chin

Ultherapy
Coolsculpting
Carboxytherapy
Lipolysis

As you age, the tissue structures and muscles supporting your eyelids weaken. The skin may start to sag, and fat that is normally confined to the area around the eye (orbit) can move into the area below your eyes and form the baggy appearance. Also, the space below your eyes can accumulate fluid, making the under-eye area appear puffy or swollen. Several factors that can lead to this, including:

• Fluid retention due to changes in weather (for example, hot, humid days), hormone levels or eating salty foods
• Not getting enough sleep
• Allergies or dermatitis, especially if puffiness is accompanied by redness and itching
• Heredity — under-eye bags can run in families

Bags under eyes are usually a cosmetic concern and rarely a sign of a serious underlying medical condition

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Eye Bags

Fraxel Dual laser
Carboxytherapy
Injectable Filler

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

Folliculitis is a common skin condition in which inflammation occurs with the hair follicle. At first it may look like small red bumps or white-headed pimples around hair follicles. You can have folliculitis on any part of your body that has hair. But it is most common on the beard area, arms, back, buttocks, and legs. It’s usually caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. Shaving, wearing clothes that rub the skin or any other irritation and damage to the hair follicles may lead to folliculitis. Follicles may also become blocked or irritated by sweat, machine oils, or makeup. This condition isn’t life threatening, but it can be itchy, sore and embarrassing. Severe infections can cause permanent hair loss and scarring.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Folliculitis / In-grown Hairs

GentleMax Laser – Laser Hair removal
Chemical Peels
Microdermabrasion

Treatments for Scarring

Fraxel Dual Laser
Amiea med micro needling
Carboxytherapy
Dermaroller skin needling

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition in which a person sweats excessively and unpredictably. People with hyperhidrosis may sweat even when the temperature is cool or when they are at rest.

Sweating helps the body stay cool. In most cases, it is perfectly natural. People sweat more in warm temperatures, when they exercise, or in response to situations that make them nervous, angry, embarrassed or afraid. Excessive sweating occurs without such triggers. People with hyperhidrosis appear to have overactive sweat glands. The uncontrollable sweating can lead to significant discomfort, both physical and emotional.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our Dermatologists or Aesthetic Doctors will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Hyperhidrosis

Botox

Hyperpigmentation is when the skin appears dark, blotchy, and uneven in colour. It affects women and men of all ethnic groups, and features areas of darkened skin. Although it is most common in middle age and beyond, hyperpigmentation can also be seen in much younger clients. Directly caused by either overactive melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin (melanotic hyperpigmentation), or a proliferation of the melanocytes themselves (melanocytotic hyperpigmentation), hyperpigmentation presents no medical threat. However, it can sometimes be a symptom of disease or illness. What’s more, individuals with facial hyperpigmentation may become so concerned with the aesthetic implications of the condition that depression and anxiety may ensue. Thus, the condition deserves serious attention, including a diligent approach to skin analysis coupled with a willingness to apply creative treatment approaches.

Causes of hyperpigmentation

Genetic makeup: Although almost everyone has the same amount of melanocytes, the amount and size of the melanosomes and melanin particles produced can differ immensely in humans, resulting in the different races of the world.

Exposure to UV radiation: Melanins have photochemical properties, which make them act to protect tissues and organs from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Nearly all the UV energy is transformed into harmless amounts of heat. By this process, the melanin reduces the generation of free radicals to a minimum and so prevents indirect DNA damage, which can produce malignant skin melanomas. Therefore, a suntan is basically the body’s protective response against internal skin damage.

Lentigines: These are commonly known as liver spots or age spots. Although they do become more prevalent with age—they are found on 90% of light-skinned individuals over the age of 60—they are not directly caused by the aging process. Rather, lentigines are related to UV exposure.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH): This occurs following skin injury from acne lesions, psoriasis, burns, friction and even certain professional skin care treatments. It begins to fade as the skin regenerates itself—a process that can take months or more. On the positive side, PIH generally responds well to treatment.

Melasma: This is caused by hormonal fluctuations, common, for example, during pregnancy, with thyroid dysfunction, and through use of birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. It affects an estimated five to six million women in the United States alone and can often be difficult to treat.

Although not considered a main cause, certain illnesses, as well as the use of certain prescription medications, may cause hyperpigmentation.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Hyperpigmentation

GentleMax Laser – Laser Hair removal
Chemical Peels
Microdermabrasion
Fraxel Dual Laser
Amiea med micro needling
Dermaroller skin needling
Dermafrac

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

Keratosis pilaris is a common, harmless skin condition that causes dry, rough patches and tiny bumps, usually on the upper arms, thighs, cheeks or buttocks and look like rough goose bumps. The bumps generally don’t hurt or itch. Keratosis pilaris is often considered a variant of normal skin.

Keratosis pilaris results from the buildup of keratin — a hard protein that protects skin from harmful substances and infection. The keratin forms a scaly plug that blocks the opening of the hair follicle. Usually many plugs form, causing patches of rough, bumpy skin.

Its exact cause is not known but it may occur in association with genetic diseases or with other skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis. Dry skin tends to worsen this condition.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Keratosis Pilaris

Chemical Peels
Fraxel Dual Laser
Microdermabrasion

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

Pores are more prominent when they are dilated, infected, or clogged with oil, making them appear larger than they really are. There are a number of factors that will cause large pores, but of the many, there are three main culprits.

The first one is age. As we age we will naturally lose the elasticity in the surrounding skin that supports the pores, causing pores to appear bigger than they actually are. Secondly, men are more likely to have larger pores compared to women from their genetic makeup and increased oil production. And last but not least, our body uses a substance called Sebum, which naturally hydrates our skin to prevent from drying. This substance however is very oily and individuals who produce more than average will find that oily skin causes larger pores.

While it isn’t possible to permanently “shrink” large pores, there are a number of ways to make them less noticeable.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Large Pores

Chemical Peels
Microdermabrasion
Fraxel Dual Laser
Amiea med micro needling
Dermaroller skin needling

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

Veins caused by broken capillaries or vein membranes. A condition usually associated with standing for long periods, surgery, genetics or poor circulation.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for leg veins 

GentleMax Laser – Laser Vein Removal
Carboxytherapy

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

Lymph drainage is a gentle massage technique that is used to encourage lymphatic flow in the body and indeed improve the body’s lymphatic system as a whole. The lymphatic system protects our bodies from infection and is critical in getting rid of the body’s toxins.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for lymph drainage

Synergie AMS

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

A milium cyst is small, white bump that typically appears on the nose and cheeks. These cysts are often found in groups, and in these cases are called milia. The cysts occur when keratin becomes trapped beneath the surface of the skin. Keratin is a strong protein that is typically found in skin tissues, hair, and nail cells.

Milia can occur in people of all ages, but they’re most common in newborns. They’re typically found on the face, eyelids, and cheeks. Milia are often confused with a condition called Epstein pearls, which involves the appearance of harmless white-yellow cysts on a newborn’s gums and mouth.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Milia

Extracted in Dermalogica Facial
Extracted during a chemical peel treatment
Microdermabrasion

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

Stretch marks [striae distensae] are characterized by wide linear bands of discoloured or wrinkled skin that occurs in areas of collagen damage due to stretching. Striae are usually found on the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, and breasts. Women develop striae more commonly than men, and striae are seen in 90% of pregnant women due to a combination of hormonal factors along with increased stress on the collagen and elastin in the skin. Some studies indicated that striae are a form of scar tissue that forms in response to collagen rupture and elastic fiber changes. Two types of striae are described, newly formed, reddish coloured “striae rubrae” and older, white “striae albae.” The treatment of striae distensae has been challenging and various modalities have been studied. Although striae are thought to be a result of collagen rupture and breakdown during stretching of the skin, until recently, few treatments actually targeted the root cause of the striae formation, the damaged collagen in the dermal layer. Furthermore, laser and light modalities are not safe for individuals with darker skin tones.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for Stretch Marks

Fraxel Dual Laser
Amiea med micro needling
Dermaroller skin needling
Carboxytherapy
Synergie AMS

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.

Telangiectasia is a condition in which widened venules (tiny blood vessels) cause threadlike red lines or patterns on the skin. These patterns, or telangiectases, form gradually and often in clusters. They’re sometimes known as “spider veins” because of their fine and web-like appearance.

Telangiectases are common in areas that are easily seen (lips, nose, eyes and cheeks). They can cause discomfort, and some people find them unattractive. Many people choose to have them removed. Removal is done by causing damage to the vessel and forcing it to collapse or scar. This reduces the appearance of the red marks or patterns on the skin.

Consultation

Consultation with one of our therapists will take place before the appropriate treatment course is recommended.

Treatments for leg veins 

GentleMax Laser – Laser Vein Removal
Carboxytherapy

Skincare Products

Home care products to enhance and maintain skin condition pre and post treatments.