Q. I am 38 years old and have been suffering with acne like spots around my mouth and chin. Why is this happening and what can I do to treat it?

A.When we think back to our teenage years there are many things we’d give out right arm to have back. We spend hours in the gym trying desperately to regain our teenage figures, we long for the days when the most important and pressing issues in our lives where which party to go to at weekend and who is the best looking member of New Kids on the Block. One thing we never get nostalgic about is our problem, acned, hormonal skin, but a recent survey by the Acne Support Group found that 15% of women are still affected by acne well beyond their teens.

Adult acne is no different to normal acne; it is only given this term to distinguish sufferers from the teenagers we normally associate with spotty skin. Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that most commonly affects the face, chest and back; and experts believe that acne is caused by sensitivity to the male hormone testosterone. That is not to say that sufferers have more of the male hormone, just that they are more sensitive to testosterone which can trigger acne. The rush of hormones associated with puberty explains why teenagers are prone to acne and why women may be prone to spots around their period.

Hormonal cane is usually characterised by large and painful spots around the jawline and chin, which does sound like the type you describe, but stress, poor diet and unsuitable beauty products can also be contributory factors.

In treating acne it is essential to try and keep the skin as clear as possible. Cleansing and toning the skin morning and evening to remove surface dirt, bacteria and make up is essential and regular exfoliating is a must. Try and avoid a grainy exfoliator if the acne is sore and red, as there is a danger you can scrub to hard and cause inflammation. Instead try a liquid exfoliator such as Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner £25. This product uses alpha hydroxy acid, glycolic acid and salicylic acid to clean the pores and brighten the complexion.

It is also common for sufferers to try and mask the problem with heavy liquid foundations and these can aggravate the skin and block pores. Try using a loose powder foundation such as Clarins Skin Illusion Loose Powder Foundation £28, this will be lighter on the skin and is less likely to cause irritation; available in 6 shades it can be built up to conceal imperfections.

A great salon treatment for deep down cleansing is the Guinot Hydradermie Double Pro, this luxury facial achieves instant results and the benefits can be seen for up to four weeks after treatment. The facial uses galvanic current to penetrate all three layers of the skin and specific intensive treatment gels are used to address the client’s individual concerns. The facial then uses high frequency to sooth and cleanse bacteria from the skin. The facial does include a full skin analysis by your Guinot specialised therapist who can then assess your individual needs and recommend an appropriate treatment plan and homecare products.

All our staff are fully trained to be able to help you with advice and we know that acne other skin conditions can not only affect your appearance but also your self-confidence, so please feel free to visit us as soon as possible so that we can help you find a way forward.

We look forward to seeing you soon and hope that you feel slightly better knowing that this is not an uncommon problem. I prefer your chances of treating your teenage skin aged 38 than I do of my chances of regaining my teenage figured aged……..

Q. My Skin feels really tight in the morning even after I cleanse, tone and moisturise. Why does it feel like this and what can I do to make it feel better?

A. The problem you describe sounds like dehydration, where the skin suffers from a lack of water which can in turn result in a tight feeling as well as a loss of radiance and the appearance of fine dehydration lines, especially on the cheeks.

Dehydration can be caused by a number of factors such as lifestyle, job, health and home care routine, and there are a number of solutions to suggest, including salon treatments and various homecare products.

Clarins and Guinot both have some excellent facial treatments to help combat the effects of dehydration.

Clarins Tri Active Facial can treat three different skin concerns in one luxurious treatment. Targeted products are used to treat the clients individual concerns making each facial bespoke to that client on that day. Specialised exfoliators, oils, serums and masks can be used to replenish the skins moisture balance and leave you feeling indulged and relaxed.

Guinots world renowned Hydradermie facial is an exclusive customised treatment using double inoisation to penetrate the active ingredientsdeep into the skin for optimal results. Loved by celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Coleen Rooney this 1hr 15min facial includes cleansing,  exfoliation,  galvanic, high fequency , facial massage and intense masks to rehydrate and regenerate the skin with deep cleansing effects.

In addition to salon treatments a good homecare routine is essential to take care of your skin on a daily basis and it sounds  like you  already have the building blocks of a healthy routine in place, but there are a few options  to give you skin that extra boost.

It maybe that your current moisturiser is no longer enough for you and a simple change to  a more intense or problem specific product may be suffcient  to ease the symptoms of your probelm. It could also be that the weather has had an adverse impact on the moisture balance of your skin. As we have been locked in the bossom of a seemingly perpectual Narnian winter, your skin may need a targeted treatment for dehydrated in the form of a serum. Serums are a great way to target a specific skin care concern, they act as a boost to the skin as they are packed with active ingredients, delivered in to the skin in smaller moleclues than a regular moisturiser so they are able to penetrate all three layers of the skin, they also aid the absorption of you daily skincare thus boosting it’s performance too.

On a weekly basis the additon of an exfoliator will add radiance by removing dead surface skin cells. This is an integeral step in the cleansing of the skin and promotes celluar regeneration giving a healthy, fresh glow to the skin. Removal of these dead skin cells will mean that you are applying your daily skincare in to healthy new skin, and so directly penetrating the pores.

I hope that this information has been of help to you, please feel free to pop into the salon so we can talk you through some specific products to restore the comfort of your skin, we look forward to looking after you.

Q. I have booked the holiday of a lifetime for this summer. I am desparate to look my best round the pool, but I am quite concious of the visible cellulite on the backs of my legs. Is there anything I can do to reduce it’s appreance before at the begining of September?

A. Firstly, lets put into perspective that 90% of women suffer with cellulite , with at least 56% of them being concerned about it’s appearence, so you are not alone.

There are a number of things you could try to help reduce the appearence of the problem cellulite and improve the condition of the skin. Dry body brushing and regular exfoliation will boost circulation and lympatic drainage as well as skin  texture and condition. In additon to this targeted cellulite treatments are a great weapon in the fight against the dreaded dimples and both our in salon skincare houses, Clarins and Guinot have launched brand new creams in time to have us all beach ready this summer.

Clarins new Body Lift Cellulite Control £36 is an easily absorbed cream-gel which used morning and/or evening in-conjunction with the “Clarins Self Massage Body Contouring Method” makes cellulite 78% less visible after just four weeks, plus 85% of women tested immediatly noticed more hydrated and comfortable skin. This product is a targeted solution to reduce and banish stubborn cellulite, preventing it’s reappearence and the specialised massage technique combines manual pressure and muscular contractionto trap adipose tissue and in doing so helps drain away excess fluid and fat.

Guinot ‘s new wonder product  Minceur Chrono Logic £43.25 works on targeted slimming in just 15 days. A combination of the light serum and the Guinot Cellulite Massager used morning and evening has seen clients loose 1cm from the waistline, 1.1cm from the thigh area and 1.4cm from the hips, with 85.7% of women tested commenting on a noticeable slimmer figure and reduction in the appearance of cellulite.

Unfortunatley as wonderful as both these creams are, they do require us the user to put in some of the work ourselves. Using the treatments alongside a healthy balanced diet and drinking around 2 litres of water a day will help the body process  and eliminate the toxins which help to create cellulite and boost your way to quick and amazing results.

*All statistics provided by Clarins Uk Ltd and Guinot – Mary Cohr Skincare      

Q. I have just started a new job which I am finding quite stressful. I suffer from quite heavy excess sweat in summer and at times when I am nervous. The pressure I am under at the moment, is making this condition quite heavy and I am worried that the sweat shows through my work wear, which is making more stressed. Is there anything I can do, I have tried strong antiperspirants before with no success.

A. Congratulations on your new position! The start of a new job is an exciting time, but can also be highly stressful time and it is totally understandable that the adjustment period you are currently going through would result in increased stress levels, nerves and anxiety. However, the manifestation of this increased pressure in the form of excess sweat, cannot be helping you at this already demanding time.

Hyperhidrosis is the condition of excessive sweat in certain areas of the body, usually the underarms, hands and feet, although it can occur in other areas. If this was a new condition and something that you had never experienced before, with no recognised trigger, then I would recommend a trip to your GP to rule out any underlying medical cause, but as this is something you have a history of suffering with and because we have an identified cause and effect, it is something that we can look to treat with Botox.

Botulinum Toxin A can be injected under the arm (or relevant area) to block neural control of the sweat glands in that area. The brand we use in our clinic is Botox and the effect of a singular treatment can last between 3-9 months.

Botox can conjure up many misguided and negative views, but is it essential to understand that Botox’s original use was purely medically based and that its use in aesthetics came much later down the line. Although this is now how Botox is most commonly known, it is still widely used worldwide by the medical professionals in the treatment of conditions such as chronic migraine, multiple sclerosis, urinary incontinence, depression and many more including hyperhidrosis.

Botox not only has the ability to transform the way we look and feel about ourselves aesthetically, but it can also deliver real results to those suffering with genuine medical conditions and disorders.

If you would like to visit the FAB Clinic for a full, free and in-depth consultation with one of our highly trained medical professional, who will be able to discuss with you a more personal and bespoke treatment plan please call us on 0161 627 1114. We would love to be able to offer you some genuine results so that you can concentrate on this exciting time in your life and career.

Q. I recently bought the Clarins Double Serum after my therapist recommended it. I love it and raved about it so much that a friend of mine bought it too. She bought hers via a cosmetics retailer on the internet for £10 less. When it arrived I had a look at it and it smells completely different to mine. I told her not to use it as it might not be real. What would you recommend.

A. You are absolutely right and have done your friend a service in advising her not to use it.

The purchase of skincare over the internet is a risky business. Unless you are purchasing directly from the manufacturers website you cannot be sure the product is the genuine article and when buying direct from the manufacturer you will still pay their set recommended retail price. What you won’t get the one to one advice and expertise of your beauty consultant like you do in salon. You are just guessing that what sounds nice in the description and has an impressive list of ingredients will be right for you, and you can so very often be wrong, choosing the inappropriate products and then there is a lengthy process to return it, if they will let you do so at all. In the end what have you really saved?

Third party retailers of skincare over the internet are a real threat to your skin, they are not regulated and are generally not selling genuine products. They are in most cases, as you found with your friends product, skilled in recreating the packaging and logos but the products inside could be anything at all and as a result be potentially harmful, causing sensitivity, skin reactions, burns etc. It is also common to find discontinued and out of date products on such sites, I actually found a site selling a product that was discontinued five years ago and at the time of manufacture only had a shelf life of three years, meaning that this product was a minimum of two years out of date. The active ingredients would have broken down and would be useless, a complete waste of money and the potential to cause a reaction.

I would strongly advise that your friend contact the seller and try to return the product, and purchase the product from a registered stockist, where she can be 100% certain that she is getting exactly what she paid for.

As a Clarins Gold Salon we run the Clarins For Me scheme where you can save between 10-20% on Clarins and claim FREE products when you have saved enough points. We also have regular gift with purchase promotions where you receive extra goodies and gifts.

Your skin is too important to take a chance for the sake of a small saving. Remember if something seems too good to be true, then it usually is.

Q. I know you have recently opened a Clinic offering laser hair removal. I have had IPL hair removal in the past but the salon where I was having the treatment closed down and I didn’t get chance to finish the course. I still have hair growth in the area they were treating after 4 sessions. Does laser work for everyone or do you think this is because I didn’t get chance to finish the course? I would really like all the hair removed is this something you can do?

A. Laser hair removal is a fantastic answer to the issue of unwanted and excess hair on the face and body, and when done correctly in a safe and professional environment by a qualified practitioner, the results are amazing.

The laser we have in the FAB Clinic is a Syneron Candela Elos Plus platform which uses a diode laser and radio frequency to safely and effectively cause long term/permanent hair reduction.

The reason you may not have seen the results you were expecting with your previous laser course is due to the type of laser begin used to perform the treatment. Intense Pulse Light (IPL) lasers are designed to work on skin rejuvenation as it is very well absorbed by haemoglobin and pigment. This makes it perfect for treating vascular and pigmented lesions but any hair reduction is merely a side effect of the lasers primary goal. If the hair on the area being treated is dark on a light skin then the IPL will pick up on its pigment, but it may not kill the blood supply to the root and the hair will come back. If you are a skin of colour then the use of IPL may be quite painful as the laser will be absorbed by the pigment in the skin and this can result in burns and hyperpigmentation and have no effect on the hair in the treatment area at all. This will go some way to explaining why your IPL treatment was not effective. This doesn’t mean that you are not responsive to laser hair removal, just that ILP is not the right kind of laser to treat your concern.

The only function of the diode laser which we use in the FAB Clinic is hair removal and as such it is able to treat dark and light hairs, and because it is used in-conjunction with radio frequency to heat, it can also be used safely on all skin types without risk of damage to the skin.

Consultations for treatment are FREE with our fully qualified aestheticians who can guide you through the treatment process, and as treatment protocol is individual to each client, they will be able to manage your personal treatment expectations to create a treatment programme which targets your concerns. Typically 6-8 treatments are necessary to cause permanent hair removal, but lighter hairs can take up to 10 treatments. You will see the most dramatic reduction in hair growth and density in the first three treatments which are generally spaced between 4-6 weeks apart with subsequent treatments then being made when any hair growth reappears.

If you would like to make an appointment for a free consultation and test patch, please call the clinic on 0161 627 1114. We would love to help you achieve your treatment goals, and make this unwanted hair a thing of the past.

Q. I have been using the same cream for the past 6 years and a friend recently told me that it will no longer be working for me. Is she right and what should I do if she is?

A. I’m not sure how your friend got round to telling you that your cream is no longer working for you, but trust a friend to give it to you straight! She is right in a sense but don’t go doing anything rash like throwing your cream away or giving it to this friend (maybe that’s was she was after all along).

We all know the benefits our hair gets from regularly changing our shampoo and the same theory applies to your skin. Continued use of any product will reduce its effectiveness. That is not to say that you won’t get any benefit from it after such sustained use, just that the skin becomes complacent and stops reacting to the cream in the same way. By changing your cream you are forcing the skin to remain alert and respond to the product as it is intended to work. The shock on the new so to say.

It is important when investing in facial moisturisers to make sure that you are using the right cream not only for your skin but also for your lifestyle and the skins needs change throughout the year. In winter we need to support with comfort and protection and in summer we need to hydrate and defend, as well as the year round longing for firmness and wrinkle prevention. So although you are doing the right thing by using a daily moisturiser, you may not be getting the most of the cream you do use.

Guinot creams are designed to be used in families each one to treat a different skin concern, such as dryness, hydration, purifying, anti-aging etc. In each family there is a treatment cream to address the concern, a results maintenance cream, mask and serum. Once you and your therapist have assessed your needs, you start treatment with the treatment cream and then move onto the maintenance cream, if your needs stay the same you then return to the treatment cream, or if your needs change you begin treatment with a new family of creams. Masks and serums can be added as boost to the routine and this way you are getting maximum treatment results. Clarins work in a similar way, by offering creams to treat specific concerns, these are used and then skin is reassessed after completion of the product to see how the skin has changed and reacted. A follow on product can be prescribed or continued use of the existing product can be boosted with the addition of a serum.

The best course of action from here would be to pop down to the salon and let us do a complete skin prescription for you so that the next time you see your friend she can marvel at your glowing skin and not maybe she’ll be taking advice from you in the future.

Q. I am finding that as I get older my skin is becoming dryer and dryer. What can I do to get some moisture back into my skin?

A. It is a naturally occurring phenomenon that as we age our skin becomes rougher, slacker and thinner and cellular renewal slows down. Many factors affect the way in which our skin ages from lifestyle, diet and other personal habits such as drinking and smoking, to good old fashion genetics. Dry skin in later life is common due to a loss of oil glands as we age. Other factors which may cause dryness are not drinking enough water, prolonged exposure to the sun, being in dry air and over use of soaps, antiperspirant and hot baths. With all these contributing factors stacked against us it is vital that we look after our skin in order to keep it feeling soft, supple and comfortable.

So possible causes for the dryness identified, let’s address what can be done to restore the skins equilibrium.

Stage One – Exfoliation is key in the fight against dry skin. Exfoliating the skin regularly sloughs away the dead surface layer of the skin, leaving it bright and revitalised. Clarins offer the beautifully scented Tonic Body Polisher which would be great for your skin. Designed to exfoliate the skin with natural sea salt for ultra-smooth soft and comfortable skin, whilst essential oils of mint, rosemary and geranium promote a feeling of wellbeing and revitalises the senses.

As a result of exfoliating, the freshly exposed healthy skin is able to better absorb “stage two” in the attack on dryness; daily moisturiser.

Daily moisturising with a targeted product for dry skin and aging will also help restore smooth, even and youthful looking skin, and applying to regularly exfoliated skin will ensure that the product is fully absorbed and not just sitting on the surface of the skin. Clarins Renew Plus Body Serum is an age defying concentrate which combines the deeply renewing benefits of pro-retinol (vitamin A) and the hydrating action of water lily extract for skin that looks radiant, fresh and more youthful. Used twice a day, wrinkled skin is progressively smoothed, slacked areas are diminished and skin is continuously moisturised to ensure optimal hydration.

I hope this will help you turn back the clock and restore the comfort of your skin. Should you need any further advice please feel free to call in at the salon and one of our team will be find the best products and treatments for your skin type.

Q. I am attending a wedding abroad later in the summer and although this means guaranteed sunshine for the Bride and Groom, I am very fair skinned and conscious of sun exposure as I suffer from prickly heat. Is there anything I can use to stop the prickly heat so that I won’t be uncomfortable on the day and be immortalised as swollen and spotty on the photographs?

A. Congratulations to the happy couple and fear not there are steps you can take to quell your anxiety regarding the effects of sun exposure and resulting prickly heat.

Prickly heat or Miliaria is a red and itchy rash on the skin  that causes a stinging or prickly feeling. The rash occurs when sweat glands become blocked generally as a result of excessive sweating. This is because bacteria and dead skin cells can collect in the swear glands , trapping the sweat which subsequently bursts out and irritates the skin.

With this in mind a great idea before you go on holiday is to have a full body exfoliation. This treatment eliminates dead surface skin cells and refines skins texture, leaving a fresh glowing skin, ready for your time in the sun.

Whilst you are away a great range to try is the Clarins Suncare Range, which Clarins boast is “the smartest choice you’ll make all summer!”

Clarins suncare products offer advance multi cellular protection. Clarins phyto-sunactyl 2 provides multi cellular protection to prevent aging and preserve the skins natural health and beauty. The complexion contains active ingredients of bobab tree, olive tree, pea, senna tree leaves and plane bark.

Available in three protection factors (very high, high and moderate) depending on the intensity of the sun you will be exposed to. UVA/UVB factors range from 50+ for intense sunshine to 15 for moderate sunshine. The range includes products specifically designed for the face, body, sun sensitivity skins, outdoor sports and children, prices start from £16.

It is the outdoor sports product which has proved a massive hit with prickly heat suffers for years. The UVA/UVB 15 spray is oil free so it doesn’t clog the pores and as it designed for excursion in heat it allows the skin to breathe through it and so reduces the effects of prickly heat.

Other tips to help fight prickly heat are to stay out of the heat for as long as possible, so if there are breaks in the day, between the service and the meal etc. then seek the shade. Also if you can, as much as possible whilst you are away wear loose cotton clothing which tends to let the skin breath more than synthetic fabrics.

It is also important to follow your sun exposure with a good aftersun to repair and renew the skin during the night whist the skin is in its most active natural repair cycle.  So after a hard day by the pool, Clarins aftersun products contain five active ingredients which help to treat and repair skin exposed to the damaging effects of the sun. Sunflower and griffonia seeds help to reduce the appearance of red skin and soothe, safflower seed to stimulate and prolong tanning, mimosa tenviflora protects against the harmful effects of free radicals, stimulate cell renewal and repair  and watermelon extract instantly hydrates.

I hope this helps and I hope you have a fabulous holiday and enjoy your friend’s wedding.