Skin Ageing

 What is skin ageing?

We are all destined to experience skin ageing. Skin ageing is a degenerative process caused by intrinsic (chronological) and extrinsic (environmental) ageing.  These factors are something most of us can relate to, and contribute to the visible signs of skin ageing:

• A loss of skin firmness and elasticity

• Fine lines and wrinkles

• Sun damage and pigmentation

• Irregular pigmentation and texture

• Large pores

• Dry skin

• Loss of facial volume

Intrinsic Ageing

Unfortunately, intrinsic ageing is something we have little control over. This is because it is a natural process, determined by internal factors and is programmed by our genes.

Extrinsic Ageing

Extrinsic ageing, also known as photo-ageing, is caused by external factors that we are regularly exposed to and can be prevented or minimised.  External elements such as sunlight, pollution, nutritional intake, smoking, stress and lack of sleep are among the most common factors. The single biggest culprit is the sun!

What causes age spots?

Skin ageing is something we will all suffer with as we grow old. It causes the surface layers of our skin (known as the epidermis) to thin, and the number of melanocytes (the pigment producing cells) to decrease. If we have some areas of the skin that are more exposed to the sun, the remaining melanocytes in these areas will increase in size. This leads to our skin appearing thinner and more pale, with large pigmented areas known as age spots, lentigos or liver spots.

What causes skin dryness?

The production of oil slows down, which can cause our skin to become dry, and also our blood vessels become more fragile, which is why we have an increased chance of bruising.

What causes sunken eyes and a ‘skeletal’ appearance?

We will also lose fat under the skin, which becomes evident in areas such as the cheeks, temples, chin, nose and eyes. This is the basis for a more ‘skeletal’ appearance with a loosened skin and sunken eyes.

What causes fine lines and wrinkles?

Collagen and elastin are the fibres that give our skin its structure and the breakdown of these leads to lines, wrinkles and a loss of elasticity resulting in skin sagging.

It’s important to remember that the sun’s harmful rays are the culprit behind many of our skin ageing changes and although these effects can not be completely undone, with the correct skin care and advanced clinical treatments, they can be significantly repaired. Your skin remembers every hour of sun it’s been exposed to, and although the effects don’t show whilst we are young, it’s extremely important to protect your skin throughout your whole life.

 Your treatment is specifically designed for your own individual ageing symptoms and concerns.  Taking these concerns into consideration a precise collection of the latest advanced machines, skin peels, specialist massage techniques and Cosmeceutical skincare products will be combined to deliver dramatic results.

What causes skin ageing?

1. Sun exposure
2. Pollution
3. Stress
4. Smoking
5. Alcohol
6. Inadequate diet and poor fluid intake
7. Sugar

Prevent premature skin ageing

 1.  Protect yourself from the sun:  The sun plays a major role in ageing the skin prematurely.  Use a minimum SPF30 Broad Spectrum sunscreen everyday and reapply every two hours when in the sun.  Wear a hat, protective clothing and sunglasses.  No sunbathing and avoid the sun between the hours of  12am & 4pm .  Use a high strength antioxidant serum containing L’ascorbic acid (vitamin C) daily.

2.   Healthy well balanced diet: Eat a low Glycaemic Index diet rich in fruit and vegetables, lean meat and fish, nuts and seeds and plenty of water.  Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates as these are proven to accelerate the ageing process.

3.     Drink Less alcohol

4.     Smoking rapidly increases the ageing process and leads to a dull, sallow complexion, killing you vitamin C levels.

5.    Sleep on your back or use a silk pillowcase if possible.  Avoid sleeping on your stomach.

6.     Exercise regularly. 

7.     Reduce repetitive facial expressions.  Using the same facial expression over many years leads to the development of permanent wrinkles.  Wearing sunglasses can help prevent the lines caused by squinting.

8.     Get plenty of sleep

9.     Reduce stress

10.  Use an anti-ageing focused skin care regime using advanced cosmeceutical products and have regular clinical facial treatments.  The gold standard active ingredients recommended for an advanced anti-ageing skin care programme are: Retinol, or other vitamin A derivative,  Use an L ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) antioxidant and a good quality sunscreen.

www.nualawoulfe.ie

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SkinCeutical Blemish and Age Serum.

A targeted, oil-free approach to treat adult acne and signs of ageing. This first-to-market acid blend combines 2% dioic acid with an optimal alpha- and beta-hydroxy acid formulation designed to prevent the formation of acne, minimise blemishes, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

• Reduces excess sebum production.
• Reduces acne-causing P. acnes bacteria.
• Reduces blotchiness, blemishes, and evens skin tone.
• Decongests clogged pores.
• Diminishes surface indicators of age.

Many of our clients rave about this product - link  with Blemish and Age wash and Clarifying clay mask to see fantastic results.

www.nualawoulfe.ie

Acne

Acne, is a skin condition commonly associated with teenage years, it is estimated that 80% of us will have acne at some point in our lives.  It will commonly start with adolescence, but many will have acne in their 20s, 30s, and even 40s and 50s,” In some women it can continue throughout their entire life.

Acne which is very often caused by hormones, with increased harmful bacteria, leading to oily skin, blackheads, whiteheads and inflamed spots. The condition is sometimes associated with stress, certain medicines, acne-forming creams and cosmetics or pregnancy.

There are different grades of acne: there are 6 grades of acne;

Grade one – mild: You suffer from occasional red spots, blackheads, whiteheads and mild oiliness, usually on your face.

Grade two – moderate: You have inflamed red sports on the forehead, nose and chin.

Grade three – severe:  You will have inflamed spots are frequent, as are blackheads, whiteheads and skin oiliness.

Grade four – very severe: You have inflamed spots become swollen and painful and can lead to scarring.

Grade five – extremely severe: You have larger, painful red nodules, which go deeper into the skin and are likely to leave scars.

Grade six – most severe: You will in addition to nodules and bumps, you also have burst nodules under the skin result in cysts.

25% of people with acne will never seek a consultation and will use non-prescription products or give up on treatment altogether.

Whilst no single acne treatment works for everyone, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible, particularly if your acne is grade three or four.

Avoid harsh cleansers and toners containing alcohol which will only strip the skin causing the skin to produce even more oil. Look for oil-reducing cleanser; look for over-the-counter treatments with salicylic acid, to exfoliate skin and clear blocked pores, and niacinamide, to reduce oiliness.

If these do not work, you may need a prescription from a doctor. This is particularly important if your acne is getting worse, leaving scars or marks, your skin is making you unhappy or your spots are affecting your social life or work.

We see very good results from Clients using the SkinCeutical Blemish & Age range .

This line addresses the issues of skin ageing prone to breakouts. It is a product line that can be used by teens or adults.

Blemish + Age Defence is a targeted, oil-free approach for ageing skin prone to breakouts. This first-to-market acid blend combines 2% dioic acid with an optimal alpha- and beta-hydroxy acid formulation to reduce the formation of acne and clogged pores, while improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone.

Treatment options include;

Topical applications including gels, lotions and creams featuring ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzyl peroxide, niacinamide, azelaic acid, antibiotics and vitamin A-derived retinoids.

Tablets including oral antibiotics and even the contraceptive pill. Also the diuretic spironolactone, which reduces androgen, a hormone that stimulates the oil glands in the skin. This is shown to be effective but as with all medication there are some side effects.

Finally, you can get an isotretinoin, a vitamin A-derivative, called Roaccutane.

Clinic treatments including jet peel, suction microdermabrasion, chemical peels, LED,laser and intense pulsed light and photodynamic therapy.

Treating acne usually starts with the topical treatments and working up to the most dramatic option, Roaccutane. Like any drug, this has a number of side effects that must be weighed up and monitored; however, it has been shown to be successful in clients whose severe inflammatory acne has not responded to other treatments.

Book a consultation with one of our skin Therapists and they will advise as to what is the best treatment for you.

www.nualawoulfe.ie

The Ageing Process
Up to your mid 20's your skin will keep itself hydrated and youthful looking through this constant process of repair and replenishment. But as you start to get older your skin’s processes don’t work as effectively, which is when your skin begins to show visible signs of ageing.
Your skin begins to show signs of ageing because:

• Your skin produces less elastin and collagen, which keeps your skin smooth and firm.
• The natural process of skin cell renewal begins to slow down, meaning that fewer new cells are produced and the older, dead cells are not shed as frequently.
• Your skin’s natural defences become less effective, allowing reactive oxygen species (also known as free radicals) to damage healthy cells and protein in your skin, such as collagen and elastin.
• The blood supply to your skin can become less efficient, resulting in your skin appearing less vibrant.
• As you age your skin’s natural protection begins to decline, leaving it vulnerable to lasting damage. It produces less and less collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, which causes the skin’s elasticity, firmness and smoothness to be reduced. This eventually results in fine lines and wrinkles forming.
• Skin cells aren’t renewed as regularly and your blood supply can also become less efficient, meaning your skin can begin to look less vibrant and fresh. Your skin’s epidermis also doesn’t retain as much moisture, making it less firm, plump and elastic, which negatively impacts your skin’s tone and texture. This can result in fine lines and wrinkles developing as well as your skin tone becoming sallow and dull.
• Your skin’s natural anti-oxidants can also become less prevalent and less effective leaving your skin vulnerable to damage. Which means that exposure to harmful UV rays in sunlight, also known as photo-damage, as well as unhealthy activities such as smoking, only accelerate your skin’s natural decline.

Photo Damage

Photo-damage to your skin is caused by UV radiation in sunlight. On warm sunny days your skin is most susceptible to UVB radiation, while UVA has a more significant effect on your skin all year round – even when it’s cloudy. The danger with UVA is that it’s not obviously damaging your skin as it doesn’t burn or tan your skin. Instead it causes damage deeper within your skin which prematurely ages it as well as causing additional health problems. Cumulative daily exposure to high levels of visible light and infrared-A can add to this damage.

If you don’t take the right steps to protecting your skin these harmful rays can:

• Break down your skin’s natural defences which work to provide low-level protection from all of these effects.
• Trigger the production of free radicals which damage your skin’s healthy cells and protein.
• Damage the top level of skin (the epidermis), giving it a leathery appearance.
• Affect your skins pigmentation creating irregular dark, brown patches and age spots.
• Damage the DNA in your skin cells, preventing them from functioning properly meaning they can die. In certain cases this can even lead to skin cancer.

All of these factors, both natural and external, contribute to visibly ageing your skin. Because of this it’s essential to use a medical grade, clinically-proven, evidence-based skincare regime that addresses all of the daily challenges that your skin must deal with. Protecting your skin will prevent further damage, while combining it with a carefully selected regime can help rejuvenate and repair a lot of the damage that your skin may have already experienced.

Pigmentation Issues.
Pigmentation complaints cause the uneven darkening of an area of skin. This can appear as brown/age spots which can go on to form keratoses (a scaly growth), and pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions. These conditions are difficult to treat because they affect each of us differently depending on our skin type, and how deep in the skin the pigmentation sits. This often depends on the cause of the issue, which is frequently a combination of factors.

1. Melanocytes in our skin produce melanin as a defence mechanism against radiation caused by the sun. The melanin travels to the surface of the skin to absorb the harmful UV rays. This is the process that, over time, gives us a tan, but within the skin the melanin protects other skin cells, and their DNA, from damage – although this protection is not enough with ongoing exposure to the sun.
2. Not only does radiation directly damage cells in our skin, it causes excessive Reactive Oxygen Species to be produced. This in turn causes additional harm to healthy cells and protein, and stimulate melanocytes. Our natural defences against these ROS decline as we age, so their effects are more prevalent in mature skin.
3. There are several other factors that can also stimulate excessive production of melanin:
4. Hormones can have a significant impact on melanocytes, for example while taking the contraceptive pill or during pregnancy. This disruption can cause a condition called melasma, in which excessive pigmentation appears on the forehead, cheeks and around the mouth.
5. Inflammation or trauma of the skin can also disrupt the melanocytes and cause increases in ROS. This can be associated with acne, folliculitis or laser therapy.
6. Although pigmentation issues commonly effect darker skin types (due to their increased levels of melanin), aged skin can become susceptible to some of the factors described above.

Spots.
Our skin is covered in hair follicles. In a healthy hair follicle the sebaceous gland produces a small amount of sebum, which moves up to the surface of the skin where it acts as a waterproofing agent. The opening of the follicle is wide making it easy for the sebum to exit the follicle .
Spots are caused when the opening to the hair follicle is blocked, closing off oxygen and allowing the sebum to stagnate. This is the early stage of a spot known as a comedone.
This environment allows rapid growth of P. acnes, the bacteria that leads to acne. At this point the hair follicle becomes inflamed and red (a spot) and forms a pustule.

There are several factors than can contribute to cause of spots:

1.Hair follicles can become blocked by excessive sebum on the skin and an accumulation of dead skin cells
2.Some cosmetic products can block hair follicles
3.Hormones can cause an increased production of sebum and an accumulation of dead skin cells at the follicle opening
4.In order to effectively fight spots each stage of the spot development process needs to be tackled.

Skinceutical Blemish & Age Skincare for acne prone skin.

www.nualawoulfe.ie

LED Light Therapy.

Harness the power of L.E.D. and let your skin shine! Suited to most  skin types, light emitting diodes help to correct ageing and damage, reduce skin inflammation, and treat acne and breakouts.


 LED (Light-Emitting Diode) lights were essentially used only for bedside alarm clocks and camera battery alert lights when they were first mass-produced in the 60s, because a combination of low energy and the fact that they could only emit red, green, or yellow light restricted their usability.


Study - Combination blue (415 nm) and red (633 nm) LED phototherapy in the treatment of mild to severe acne vulgaris.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16766484?dopt=Citation

 NASA noticed an increase in plant growth under a certain wavelength of light. They think: if plants, why not skin? NASA began experimenting with LEDs to speed the healing of wounds, because in zero-gravity situations wounds don’t quite heal as fast as they would otherwise. Test results were positive, and research developed into skin cancer treatment and cosmetic arenas. Most commonly, LED lights used in skincare are infrared, amber, red, and blue. Amber purportedly builds new collagen and elastin, red reduces inflammation and promotes circulation, blue destroys acne-causing bacteria, and infrared accelerates skin recovery. The lights are often combined to create an all-in-one experience, but they can also be used exclusively to target certain concerns. LEDs send these light waves deep into the skin, and in the same way plants use chlorophyll to convert sunlight into plant tissue, LEDs can trigger natural intracellular reactions. Meaning your skin responds to the wavelengths—particularly red, in this case—by building, strengthening, and maximizing cellular structure. Red light is also believed to target oil glands to reduce cytokines, which cause inflammation and play a role in chronic acne. In the case of blue light, specific wavelengths stimulate production of oxygen radicals that kill P. Acnes bacteria, all without damaging skin. This is the main attraction for LED treatments: the light doesn’t heat the skin, like Laser or tanning beds, so there is no thermal damage. There is no external damage of any kind, the light does its work on your skin completely painlessly. LED light builds collagen and corrects surface damage like sun damage, wrinkles, and large pores.

Avoid if ;

Pregnant 

Epileptic

on medication -  get medical advice.

Teen Clinic

Teen Clinic

Our teen club has been specially designed for your teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19, giving them the same quality service at a more affordable price.If you're a teen, chances are pretty good that you have some acne. Almost 8 in 10 teens have acne, along with many adults. Scars from acne can seem like double punishment — first you had to deal with the pimples, now you have marks as a reminder. It helps to understand the different kinds of acne so you can figure out what to do about different types of scarring: Acne lesions or pimples happen when the hair follicles (or "pores") on the skin become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. A plugged follicle is the perfect place for bacteria to grow and create the red bumps and pus-filled red bumps known as pimples.

Teen deep cleanse 30 minutes €45

Teen Salicylic peel 45 minutes €65

Teen LED Light Therapy 45 minutes €65

Teen Back treatment 45 Minutes €50

Massages &body scrubs are a great introduction to spa-ing, relaxing you to the point where you forget you even have exams or anything to worry about at all.

Teen body scrub €30

Teen back massage € 35

Teen full body massage or Reflexology or Indian head massage or a little of each therapy for €65

Teen makeup application €30

Teen eye makeup application €20

Teen Manicure €25

Pedicure €35

*We request that a parent or Guardian attends with all teens under 17years.

Call  +353 1 230 0244 or visit www.nualawoulfe.ie to book a treatment.

Glowing skin from within.

Exfoliation helps rejuvenate your skin but if you’re not internally nourished and balanced then you should start here. Not sure if you’re doing everything possible for glowing skin from within?Eat a healthy wholesome colourful diet rich in antioxidants.Drink lots of fresh water.

If you’re not sure about whether or not you can exfoliate with a particular product, test it on your inside wrist area where the skin is especially tender. If the scrub causes irritation, it indicates that it may not be a good choice. If no irritation is experienced, you can safely use that product to exfoliate on a regular basis.
If you are prone to oily skin, you can generally exfoliate two days a week without any ill effects. Obviously, you should skip the exfoliation if your skin feels dry or irritated, or if it looks red and flaky. People with more dry, delicate skin should exfoliate once  a week, ideally with a gentle exfoliating scrub which will not irritate their skin.

Your skin health also plays a factor in how often you should exfoliate. If you suffer from eczema or other skin conditions, you may want to ease back on your exfoliation routine.

What are the benefits of regular face exfoliation?

1. Speed up the process of skin flaking and shedding
2.  Improve your complexion
3.  Make your skin look brighter and feel smoother
4.  Encourage the growth of new skin cells
5.  Increase blood circulation
6.  Brings a glow to your face
7.  Improve skin texture and colour
8.  Remove skin blockages
9.  Allow your face to maintain an adequate amount of oil
10.  Gives the impression of erasing fine lines and wrinkles
11.  Keep your skin clear and healthy looking
12.  Stimulate cellular renewal
13.  Prevent breakouts
14.  Remove toxins from your skin
15.  Skin preparations are absorbed more easily

Exfoliating also reduces fine lines on the skin (which would otherwise ultimately result in wrinkles), helps in boosting the blood circulation and removes the toxins present in the blood. It prepares the skin to better absorb all the benefits of a moisturiser and allows a longer and more even tan.

Acne

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the sebaceous hair follicles. Each follicle contains a tiny hair and multiple sebaceous glands.

Under normal circumstances, sebum, the oily substance made by the sebaceous glands, travels up the hair follicle and out to the skin`s surface. Acne vulgaris is caused by an excessive amount of oil production by the skin, blockage of the openings to the oil producing glands (resulting in tiny blackheads) and also due to a bacterium, Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) which causes inflammation in the blocked glands. These three factors seem to work together in order to produce the red and yellow spots so characteristic of acne.Occasionally these spots can develop into large cysts (so called nodular or cystic acne) which often results in scarring.Although a bacterium is involved, acne cannot be caught from other people.Acne develops on those areas of the skin where sebaceous glands are most numerous: the face, scalp, neck, chest, back, and upper arms and shoulders.

Microdermabrasion helps improve the texture and appearance of the skin using a stream of fine micro particles which partially removes the outermost layer of the skin and stimulates new cell growth.

The Jet peel treatment using a saline solution in conjunction with a powerful jet to deeply exfoliate and cleanse the skin, as well as extracting impurities and hydrating the skin using specific vitamin serums.

LED light Therapy -The use of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), red, yellow and blue light sources for the treatment of acne and for skin rejuvenation.

Home care includes Blemish and Age range from Skinceuticals.