TCA Peel step by step

What is a chelated TCA ?

Traditional Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) is applied to the skin in a liquid form, incorrect use of this liquid can provoke unwanted damage to the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin. Chelated TCA is combined with a product called silica; found within clay this makes it much safer to work with. Chelating the TCA prevents rapid penetration of the acid molecules into the dermal layer of the skin, instead it attracts ions with the skin cells.

What does a chelated TCA treat ?

• increases collagen production by stimulating the healing process 
• improves tone & texture of the skin 
• reduce small open pores
• reduce fine lines & wrinkles
• reduce thickening of the skin

Step 1 

The skin is thoroughly cleansed with a glycolic acid cleanser.

This ensures any dirt, debris or make-up is removed from the skin. 

Step 2

An Alpha Beta Complex gel, containing glycolic and salicylic acid is applied to the skin.

This is left on the skin for only a few minutes, until there is visible erythema (redness).

The gel is then removed with damp gauze swabs.

Step 3

The chelated TCA is applied to the skin using a fan brush, even coverage is important.

The TCA is left on the skin for 2 minutes.

The client will begin to feel heat on the surface of their skin, this can become intense heat and a fan will be used if necessary.

The product is gently removed from the skin using damp gauze swabs.

Ice cold compress are the applied to the skin and left for several minutes to reduce the heat.

Step 4

After the skin has cooled and no longer feels warm finishing products are applied to the skin. These products are  to protect the skin form UV damage and to stop any transdermal water loss occurring.

Over the next few days the skin will begin to feel tight and will darken in colour.

Around 5 days later the skin wil begin to peel this can occur for up to 7-10 days.

It is essential that a specific home care is followed.



https://www.elements.org.uk/category/anti-ageing-treatments/chemical-skin-peels/tca-salicylic-acid-peel/285/dermaquest-tca-7-sal

Salicylic Acid.......... beat the breakouts !

Salicylic acid is used very successfully to treat acne and acne induced inflammation. It is the only acid that has the ability to break through the excess oil that sits on the surface of the skin.

Salicylic acid works like a whirlwind cleaning out the pores, forcing any dirt, debris or bacteria to the surface of the skin.

This is the part to remember it gets worse before it gets better, anything that is under the surface of the skin, whether that be a build up of oil, bacteria, dirt or skin cells has to come out in order for the break out to go.

As well as cleaning out our pores Salicylic Acid suppresses the activity of enzymes that cause inflammation, in turn reducing the redness and irritation of the skin.

Salicylic products should not be used everyday as they can be quite drying on the skin and cause a ‘flaking’ effect. When treating spots and breakouts apply the product directly to the area, when used to reduce oil a small amount can be applied to the whole face (max of twice a week).

Salicylic Acid is also used by professionals to treat acne in the form of skin resurfacers or skin peels, these treatments are more intense than at home products: they can feel warm/hot on the skin and may cause you to peel or flake afterwards. However a course of treatments can successfully banish unwanted acne!

Now before you rush out to buy some there a few things to remember:

·      Although some products advertise that they contain Salicylic Acid, you need to consider the percentage of Salicylic within them. In order to for there to be enough active acid, there should be between 2% and 5% salicylic within the product.

·      Salicylic Acid is a derivative of aspirin, therefore anyone with an allergy to aspirin should avoid  use.

·      Salicylic acid should not be used when pregnant.

·      Always use a sunscreen in combination with any acid, this will prevent any sun damage/pigmentation occurring.

For advice on what products to use with this ingredient …. Just ask   

The Vampire Facelift

Ok so we all saw the beautiful Kim Kardashion looking like an extra from a hollywood horror movie, but the treatment that she had is far from as drastic as it looks.

The vampire facelift or Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) is not just some Hollywood gimmick, but a successful treatment not only used in aesthetics, but also used to treat sport injuries, the infamous tiger woods is a fan.

Why??

I understand the worries that people have when it comes to having traditional injectable treatments like Botox and fillers, after all we are putting a 'product' into our bodies. The beauty of PRP is that the product is YOURS, it's your blood! Think about what your blood does, without it you wouldn't be alive. Amongst many other duties your blood carries platelets, platelets once activated release growth factors, it is these growth factors that make this treatment so successful.

Growth factors are typically released when areas of tissue are damaged, they stimulate the healing process. This process consists of stimulating fibroblast cells along with collagen and elastin fibres which are responsible for giving the skin strength and elastic properties.

By introducing these platelets into the skin the healing process is stimulated with minimal trauma being caused. In short we are forcing the stimulation of collagen and elastin.

What happens??

A sample of your blood is taken which is then placed in a centrifuge, this process is to separate the different components of your blood, isolating the platelets into the plasma.

The platelets are then introduced to the skin through several modalities, superficial injections, deep transdermal injections, mesotherapy and micro needling.

The results begin to appear within a few weeks, which include:

Reducing fine lines & wrinkles
Strengthening thinning skin
Stimulating collagen production
Revitalising dull lifeless skin
Smoothing skin tone and texture

Recipe for the PERFECT self tan

Ingredients

• 1 bottle of ST Tropez  Bronzing Mousse 
• 1 bottle of ST Tropez Tan Optimiser Body Polish
• 1 tanning applicator mitt
• 1 Bottle of ST Tropez Body Moisturiser 

( these ingredients will make more than one perfect tan)

Cooking time 4-6 hours

Serves 1 perfect Bronzed Goddess

Step 1

Apply the Body polish over the entire body and massage vigorously, the exfoliating beads will buff away any dry, dead skin cells. Remove the body polish in the bath or shower.

Step 2

Dry off, tie your hair up so that it is off of both your face and body. Apply the Body Moisturiser to any dry areas of skin, including hands, feet, knees and elbows. This will stop excess tan developing in these areas.

Step 3 

Applying the tan. Standing in as little clothing as possible apply one pump of your tanning mousse onto the mitt. Starting at your foot apply the tan in a vertical upwards movement towards the thigh. The tan has a guide colour so you can see exactly where you are applying. Apply more product if needed and without leaving a gap apply another vertical stripe stripe next to the previous. Using this Stripe method cover the whole body. Apply tan to your back is the trickiest part however not impossible, don't worry too much about the 'stripes' in this area just make sure it has all been covered with the guide colour, all will be fine when washed off.

I always apply a second coat in the same way to ensure even coverage. Patchy or streaky tans only occur when areas of skin have been completely missed.

Step 4

Development. As the tan develops it will begin to look patchy, don't panic! This is just the excess on the surface. The tan takes between 4-6 hours to develop, although if you don't mind a little tan on your bed sheets sleeping in it works a treat. The longer the tan develops the darker it will be.

Step 5
 Its now time to reveal your handy work. Rinse the excess tan off in the shower or a quick bath. Do not rub dry but pat yourself dry. Once your dry apply a thin layer of the Body Moisturiser and Bronzed Goddess has been achieved!

Chemical Skin Resurfacers ... The future of facials?

The word chemical always makes treatments seem worse than what they are, when were talking about resurfacers the 'chemical' does not refer to the ingredient itself but to how it works. A chemical resurfacer is the opposite to mechanical resurfacers such as microdermabrasion, mechanical resurfacers consist of an abrasive tool or product to remove dead skin cells from the surface of our skin this can include facial exfoliating products that contain rough beads. They buff away dead skin cells and work in a similar way to sand paper.

Chemical resurfacers work by using acids, many of which are plant derivatives. When applied to the skin they break the chemical bonds between old cells working like a PAC man breaking down the surface layers, at the same time stimulating cell renewal.

Chemical resurfacers can feel quite irritating on the skin but this generally only lasts for around 5-10 minutes, the irritation is definitely worth it for the results. Not only do the acids used in these treatments exfoliate the skin they also treat skin concerns for example, salicylic acid cuts through oil cleaning out pores and reducing acne breakouts, lactic acid hydrates whilst lighting and brightening the skin, kojic acid reduces pigmentation.

There are many different acids used within resurfacers, this means that treatment courses can be tailored to suit your specific skin needs and more importantly get the results that you want!

Gone are days of fluffy facials chemical resurfacers will be at the top of everyone's list for a skin pick me up .

Give your skin a drink !

In weather like this don't forget your skin needs a drink too!

The quickest way to hydrate your skin is by using a product containing Hyaluronic Acid.

Hyaluronic Acid has the ability to hold a thousand times its own weight in water, the water that it holds is then used to hydrate our skin. Because water is used so rapidly within the body it depletes from the skin very quickly, Hyaluronic Acid ensures that the water stays within the skin and is not lost, turning your skin from a shrivelled up raisin to a juicy grape.

Dehydration within the skin not only gives it a dull & sallow appearance but also contributes to fine lines, especially around the eye area. Moisturisers typically work on the surface dead skin cells and do not deposit ingredients where we want them in the dermal layer of the skin (where all the living cells are),

To give your skin a boost try Dermaquest's Advance B5 serum, it contains 40% Hyaluronic Acid and will give your skin the pick me up it needs. Every skin types needs hydration so this product is suitable for all from ageing skin to acne breakouts!

Glyco Creamy Cleanser... Love !

This is a product that I think I'll be using for the rest of my life. Don'tthink of this product as just a cleanser but as a daily treatment.

This cleanser contains 15% glycolic acid and works like a PAC man on theskin eating away at old dead skin cells, dirt and debris leaving behind radiantglowing skin.

Glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliatior , meaning that it has no beads toscratch the surface of the skin like mechanical exfoliatiors.

If you want glowing skin use this product every evening, apply a 5 pencepiece amount and work into the skin, leave for 3mins (to do its magic) thenrinse with damp cotton pads.

Environ Hydrating Oil Capsules

Ok so I'm going to be honest and say I was a little sceptical at first asusually 'capsules' are a little gimmicky and contain very little product,however environ proved me wrong. I was initially drawn to these capsules fortheir ingredients, anything with vitamin A excites me.

Im going to write a post on the most potent ingredients and how they workwhich will give you a better idea of what vitamin A does, but for the moment itstimulates cell renewal which in turn, sloughs off old dead skin cells, improvesthe tone and texture of skin, helps to regulate acne and can even reducepigment. All of these results leave your skin radiant and glowing.

There are many products on the high street which claim to contain vitamin A(also called retinol), although they have such a little amount that there isnot enough to penetrate the layers of the skin. Environ has a higher amount ofactive ingredient which means you really do get what you pay for.

Anyway back to the capsules, as well as the stimulation from the vitamin Athe capsules also hydrate the skin and help to fight free radicals that attackthe surface of the skin. When I opened my first capsule I was pleasantlysurprised at the amount of product inside, much more than inside some otherbrands. I had already cleansed my skin with a glycolic cleanser and applied thecapsule all over even having enough product to use on my neck.

The product was silky, light and easily absorbed into my skin iteven smelt lovely which is always a bonus. Then I went to bed.

The morning saw me wake to a lovely silky smooth skin and one happycustomer.  Environ provided a product that did what it said on the pot, ithydrated my skin giving it with a healthy glow, banishing dull dry patches.

I was so impressed we have actually started to use it in clinic after ourclients have had treatments such as Dermaroller or LED light therapy.

Cleansing : Why Bother??

You could be using the worlds most expensive, amazing products but if youhaven't cleansed first it's wasted on old dead skin cells, dirt and bacteria.Our skin has layers and layers of old dead skin that are constantly beingreplaced and forced to shed, this is what gives your skin that dull sallowappearance, cleansing will help to reduce this. Skin also has lots of bacteriaon its surface; these are also known as porphrins and contribute to oily acneprone skin.

As I said in my previous post face wipes and soap and not beneficial toclean your face with, in most cases they dry out the skin and cause more layersof old dried out skin cells and often leave behind the bacteria.

There are many different types of cleansers, some better than others, themost common forms are milk cleansers or washes (some washes are soap) a basicjudgement can be made on how the cleanser leaves yours skin feeling immediatelyafter use. If after use your skin feels tight and 'squeaky clean' then thiscleanser is more than likely to stringent for your skin, this can also happenwith alcohol toners. A cleanser should leave a silky film on the surface ofyour skin; it should not feel like your skin is screaming for a moisturiser.

When cleansing always remove the cleanser with a clean face cloth or dampcotton pads, this will ensure the skin is thoroughly cleaned. To get maximumresults 'double cleanse' the first cleanse is to remove surface dirt andmake-up and the second is a deep cleanse.

Now your ready to apply the next product in your routine.

Want more advise on what type of cleanser to use .... just ask, leave me acomment and ill get back to you