• Fine Lines and Wrinkle treatments are done via Laser Skin Tightening.
• The energy of the long-pulse Nd:Yag is delivered deep into the dermis 3-4 mm from the surface.
• The aim is to improve skin laxity by collagen contraction.
• This method has been scientifically proven to produce collagen which triggers the skin to rebuild itself.
• It can also cause toning of skin and pore size reduction.
• Bulk heating with sufficient depth has been shown to improve the appearance of the skin in terms of skin tightening & wrinkle reduction.
• The treatment is comfortable with no downtime.

• Men and women aged 30-60 are ideal candidates.
• Anyone who desires firmer more youthful looking skin.
• Clients who have realistic expectations, this is not a substitute for surgery but more appropriate for people who are showing mild to moderate signs of ageing.
• Anyone in their late 20’s who wants to start preventing the early signs of ageing.

• Clients with extreme skin laxity are not suitable for this procedure; this is not an alternative to surgery. It’s for those patients not yet ready for surgery.
• Women who are pregnant.
• Clients who are taking photosensitive medications.
• Cancer
• Anyone dark skinned above a Skin Type 4.
• Sun tan/use of sun beds and fake tan
• Healing disorders such as those caused by Diabetes Mellitus and lupus
• History of Keloid scarring
• Recent use of Roacutane
• Immune, lymphatic system disorders

• Prior to the treatment, you must first undergo a consultation where details about your medical history are obtained in order to confirm suitability. Before proceeding, you will be asked to sign a consent form and undergo a test patch.

• The treatment area is cleansed with a pre-laser cleanser.
• The area is marked out with a white pencil.
• A paint brush feathering technique is used to apply heat very quickly to the skin.
• Each individual area will be treated until the whole area has been treated.
• The temperature of the skin will be checked after each small section has been treated to ensure that it has reached a temperature of 4-43 degrees.
• Once the whole area has been treated the whole process is repeated for the second time.
• The treatment is finished off with a massage using an anti ageing serum and the application of sun protection cream.

• You will feel the heat from the Laser as it heats up the dermis. However, all our clients tolerate the treatment well.
• You will experience a similar feeling to a very mild sunburn after the treatment for a very short time.

• The procedure is considered very safe; it does not remove or burn any skin.
• There is no downtime with this treatment and is considered a lunch-time procedure.
• Your skin will be photo-sensitive after the treatment, therefore it  is important to protect the skin from sun exposure.

• It is imperative one uses SPF 50 or above to protect the Skin from having further Sun damage, as well as Hyper- and Hypo-pigmentation.
• Makeup should not be applied whilst the skin is inflamed and/or swollen. We highly recommend using Mineral Makeup or Blemish Balm cream immediately after the treatment.
• Sauna and Swimming pools should be avoided for a week.
• Drink plenty of water at least 2 litres a day.
• To increase collagen production apply pure vitamin C on the skin.
• Additional products may be advised by the Laser Technician.

• A typical treatment session is approximately 40 minutes depending on the size of the area to be treated.

• Not painful – procedure does not require anaesthetic or cooling – Patients describe the procedure as pain free, comfortable and relaxing.
• No downtime – lunchtime treatment.

• The Laser Skin Tightening treatment will reduce the appearance of Lines and Wrinkles, however this will only treat the ones that are there at the time of the treatment. To prevent further occurrences please see the next question.

• There are several things that can be done to help prevent further Lines and Wrinkles forming:
  1.  Sun Protection Cream: The Sun is the number 1 collagen destroyer. Using a Sun protection cream daily to protect against UVA and UVB rays is paramount. We recommend using SPF 50 or above.
  2. Stop Smoking: Free radicals cause abnormal proteins in the body. One puff of a cigarette caused ten thousand trillion free radicals. These bind our proteins and fats, and cause tissue damage.
  3. Reduce Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol ravages the underlying tissue, reducing the alcohol intake will result in less fatigued skin.

Drinking plenty of water/Moisturising: Moisturised and hydrated skin is more elastic, allowing the skin to take more damage before forming lines and wrinkles.

• At least 90% of the age-associated cosmetic problems, known as photo-aging of the skin, are due to excessive sun exposure.
• Changes in the skin due to sun exposure include:
  • Wrinkling of the skin
  • Sagging of the skin
  • Discolouration of the skin
  • Presence of multiple pigmented spots
  • Think skin
  • Telangiectasia
  • Hypo-pigmentation(light patches of skin colour)
• One of the first visible signs of sunlight radiation damage is erythema, redness of the skin. It can appear 2-6 hours after sun exposure. It can last for hours or up to several days.
• The intensity of the redness is a good indication of the severity of the damage to the skin inflicted by the sun.
• Just a few minutes of sun exposure each day over the years can cause changes to the skin in terms of ageing. This is why it’s so important to sue sun protection before stepping out.

UVA and UVB rays

UVB Rays Burn You!

• UVB rays: sunburn is associated with shorter UVB rays. UVB is the main cause of skin reddening and sunburn.
• Only penetrates upper epidermal layer of the skin and is more prevalent on sunny days.
• It can lead to thicker more leathery skin.
• UVB rays do not significantly penetrate glass.

UVA Rays Age You!

• UVA rays: this longer ultraviolet wavelength can penetrate the skin and damage connective tissue at deeper levels. Even if the skin surface feels cool. UVA rays penetrate more deeply than UVB rays
• UVA rays are the main culprit of skin ageing and wrinkling.

UVA and UVB sun rays are unaffected by clouds and rain, which means they affect the skin all year round. This is why we recommend all our client to use suitable sunscreen protection all year round come rain or shine!.

• Shiny wet skin absorbs more light than dry, dull skin since the index of refraction is closer to air. There are less scattering and more penetration. So using oil on the skin before sunbathing greatly increases the amount of sunlight absorbed by the skin without any benefit of protection. The use of these products on the skin is very much like using a frying oil to transfer the heat from the stove to the meat.

Sun Protection Creams

• Sun protection creams play an important role in reducing the harmful effects of the sun. The sunscreen should protect you against both UVA and UVB rays.

What does the SPF number mean?

• SPF stands for ‘Sun Protection Factor’. The higher the SPF number the more sunburn protection the product provides.

How to apply sunscreen?

To get the full effectiveness the product should be applied in an adequate amount liberally all over the face. If you are visibly exposed to the sun the product should be reapplied every few hours.

Step by step application guide:

• Thoroughly cleanse the skin
• Apply an antioxidant serum to the face (if you use one).
• Apply your heliocare sunscreen – remember all the heliocare sunscreen range contain moisturisers – so you don’t need a separate moisturise in the daytime.
• If using a separate moisturiser, wait a suitable time for the cream to absorb into the skin then apply the sunscreen.
• Make sure the sunscreen is applied liberally covering all areas including behind the ears, nose, between brows and under the chin and neck.
• Wait till the sunscreen is absorbed then apply your foundation, if needed, preferably on with at least SPF 15.
• Remember to reapply sunscreen or SPF every 3-4 hours if spending long periods of time in the sun.

If you purchase our SPF tinted heliocare sun cream, you won’t have to bother with a separate moisturiser or foundation.

The deep wrinkles, age spots, and leathery skin indicate premature aging caused by years of unprotected exposure to the sun.

What about Vitamin D?

• Many people ask the question ‘If I use sun protection creams will I still get enough vitamin D’?

What is Vitamin D?

• Most of our Vitamin D is made in our skin on exposure to sunlight. About 90% of Vitamin D comes from sun exposure and the rest come from what we eat.

The importance of Vitamin

• Lack of vitamin D can lead to weakening and softening of the bones. In children it can lead to rickets.
  • With the present knowledge about biology, the only known benefit from UV light on the skin is Vitamin D. it is best to ingest Vitamin D orally and minimise sun exposure for the sole purpose of tanning.
  • You can never totally avoid the sun (unless you are Nicole Kidman who walks around with an umbrella everywhere).  You can enjoy activities in the sun; just protect yourself with a good spf.
  • Clothing remains the best protection.

So can you stay safe in the sun and still get enough Vitamin D?

• A recent study has shown that you can make Vitamin D whilst you are wearing sunscreen.
• The study carried out by Dr Antony Young at the st Johns Institute of Dermatology in Kings College London:
• In this study, the participant had an increased level of Vitamin D despite the use of sunscreens. So the use of sunscreens still allows the body to produce significant amounts of vitamin D from sunlight exposure.
• No sunscreen offers 100% protection. Sunscreens filter out UVB light.
• The skin around the face and eyes is thinner than other areas of the body therefore it should be protected. Also this small area does not contribute much to Vitamin D production. It is therefore very important to protect the face area as it is at a higher risk of photo damage and ageing.

Foods rich in Vitamin D

• Increase your dietary Vitamin D. Fish oil and fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, sardines, mackerel contains the highest amounts of naturally occurring Vitamin D.
• Eggs are another food that contains Vitamin D in small amounts. Eating one egg daily will provide you with 10% of your recommended daily needs.
• You can also get Vitamin D by taking supplements. Your body get the most of the vitamins and minerals it needs from the foods that you eat. However, there are only a few foods that naturally contain Vitamin D, so it’s almost impossible to get what your body needs from just food.  So taking a supplement is an effective way to get the Vitamin D your body needs.

Skin colour and Vitamin D

• The paler your skin the more it will produce Vitamin D.
• The darker your skin the more melanin you have. Melanin protects against skin damage from too much UVB exposure. With less UVB penetrating the skin the less Vitamin D is produced each minute.

How much do our daily clothes protect us from the sun?

• The clothing we wear offers some protection against the sun. You don’t really get sunburn on areas that are covered. Most fabrics disrupt UV radiation to some degree.
• If you are spending long periods of time outside it is recommended that you protect yourself by wearing sensible clothing.  So why do so many of us go bare when it’s hot?
• Clothing is the first line of defence against the suns harmful rays. It’s better to cover skin with loose clothing than to go bare.
• It’s a widely accepted fact that thick clothing in dark colours provides the greatest protection from the Sun and that the opposite is also true, thin clothing in light colours provides the least protection.
• Choosing the correct wardrobe is paramount. Here a few tricks to getting the most out of your current wardrobe:
  • Dark colours – the darker the fabric the better the protection as the clothing absorbs the light it won’t be reflected on you;
  • Dry Clothing – wet clothes reflect and in some cases amplify light;
  • Cover up – wear full length outfits, no material = no protection;
  • Tighter weaves – sheer clothing provide little to no less protection.
  • Polyester clothing – better than pure cotton, as it stretches less, wicks moisture/sweat and typically has tighter weaves.
  • Hat/hood or Scarf – cover the head in a light material to keep the head cool, but with a dark border to prevent reflections onto the face.
• Wearing dark clothes with tight weaves won’t be easy, especially in the summer when it will count the most; wearing loosely fitting clothes should make it more bearable.
• For the truly Sun protection conscious, Sun protective clothing is a great option.  It provides the necessary sun protection and is definitely a worthy investment for protection from harmful UV rays.
• Coolibar is a website where you can purchase UPF clothing. They also sell excellent swimwear for kids to protect them from sunburn. The clothing blocks 98% of UVA and UVB rays.

So what exactly is UPF Clothing?

• Its Ultraviolet Protective Fabric Clothing intentionally designed to provide maximum Sun protection whilst remaining comfortable. UPF clothing uses certain dyes and chemicals to block UVA and UVB rays. Sun protection creams are rated by sun protection factor (SPF) and textiles are rated by ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). A fabric rating of 50 means that only 1/50th of the suns UV rays will pass through. This gives you significantly high protection blocking out 98% of the sun’s rays.

So should you wear UPF clothing?

“Even your best sunscreens should not be your primary defence against the sun”. (Leanne Brown).

• The secret to protecting your skin without burning is to wear UPF clothing.
• But there are certain individuals who really need UPF clothing.
  • Fair skinned individuals with sensitive skin
  • Young children, they have very delicate skin
  • People who spend a lot of time in the sun, water sports, swimming outdoors (reflective surfaces).
  • However the amount of protection regular clothing provides is limited.
  • What you probably didn’t know is that our typical summer clothes provide us with about UPF 6 whilst good Sun protective clothing has UPF20 or more.
• When you are wearing UPF clothing you know you are getting high protection from sun’s harmful rays.