In partnership with SA’s top medical aesthetic companies
Paler complexion types are not only more vulnerable under the sun, they show signs of damage and premature ageing much more commonly. Best we know how to care for them, then.
One of skin science’s most important universal truths is that the fairer your complexion, the more premature damage you are likely to see, especially in sunny ZA, where it’s practically impossible to avoid exposure to excess UV rays.
The amount of melanin you have in your skin is directly proportional to the amount of natural protection your complexion has. So Skin Types 4 to 6 (Mediterranean to Black, which do not burn generally under the sun) are less vulnerable, while Skin Types 1 to 3 (your “Scottish” redhead with freckles who burns easily, up to the fair person who can tan but can also burn) is prone to the skin ageing visible as lines and wrinkles, loss of radiance, coarsening of the complexion, as well as loss of elasticity and skin plumpness, not to mention patchy pigmentation.
Find out where you are on the scale here.
The good news is that your skin has never had a better chance than now to prevent and correct all these signs.
Top priority is prevention and protection from sun damage with sensible sun habits the use of good medical aesthetic skin care containing ingredients that prevent and even reverse skin damage, such as antioxidants, effective peptides and growth factors, tyrosinase inhibitors, hydrating hyaluronic acid, etc., and – crucially important – effective sun protection from reputable medical aesthetic brands such as NeoStrata, Lamelle and Obagi.
Despite all our precautions – after all, how can we resist being outdoors in our beautiful country? – it’s almost inevitable that we will see some sun damage on our complexions, in which case, early intervention is highly advisable as it will give better results, be less costly and give you healthy, beautiful skin for longer.
The leading edge
For skin types 1 to 3, it’s important to put yourself in the hands of reputable, skilled medical aesthetic professionals – both skincare therapists and aesthetic doctors – who will use a combined treatment approach, which is your most successful strategy for dealing with premature skin ageing:
- Smooth lines and plump up areas with lost volume with injectables such as Dysport and Fillers.
- Regular skin conditioning and texture improvement with treatments such as chemical peels and Dermapen skin needling, which stimulates collagen.
- Excess pigmentation aka melasma needs to be assessed to determine the cause of the pigmentation (either through sun damage, or under hormonal influence from the contraceptive pill, pregnancy, menopause, thyroid imbalances etc.). Establishing the cause of your pigmentation, as well as your skin type, is vital before any treatment as this determines which treatment should be used. Once this has been established, treatments such as Fraxel Dual, Limelight Pulsed light therapy, chemical peels (most skins from Type 1 to 3 can have superficial and medium depth peels, depending on their personal make-up), Dermapen skin needling, Laser Genesis, or a combination of these, can be done to treat pigmentation.
As with all active treatments and light therapies, especially to prevent melasma recurring, you are strongly advised to combine these with appropriate home-use skincare treatments and high-level UVA and UVB protective sunscreen.
For people with pigmentation issues, use of treatments that prevent stimulation of new excess pigment forming is essential alongside your in-salon treatment. We recommend products from Neostrata, Obagi, Heliocare and Lamelle.
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