BLEMISHES – IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE COVER-UP

We are talking about skin blemishes – it’s not all about the cover up of spots, at least not entirely. In my mind there is a fundamental difference between a blemish and acne, and that is a blemish is generally a temporary spot that comes up and goes without too much impact. Acne, while it is the technical term for ‘spots’ generally,  it is generally considered a condition which affects the skin’s hair follicles and oil glands.  A blemish, or spot, is a symptom of acne. In my clinic I treat those who are bothered by the occasional blemish, usually as part of a more overall skin care pathway, but I relish the chance to really help those with more chronic, problematic issues rather than the occasional blemish. Don’t get me wrong.  Both can be upsetting and tricky to deal with and where they mostly occur on the face or chest they are generally visible to the ‘owner’ of said spot, and to others looking at them. The occasional blemish which appears as a result of hormonal disruption or the odd blocked pore holds less likelihood of psychological impact (although this is not always the case) than a face which is covered in a multitude of issues such as blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules or cysts, all of which can present in varying colours and sizes. The impact of this can be profound, and can affect many aspects of a persons’ life, including relationships, friendships, social life and employment. When you get any of these issues, they can be treated with a bit of cover-up and a topical application to reduce the time of impact, whereas a more serious skin condition needs more focused attention and a programme of treatment, advice and support to tackle it longer term.  You need to make sure that you prevent scarring and infection and treat the underlying cause of the skin condition as well as topically dealing with the symptoms. There are many treatments which I am able to offer in clinic such as chemical peels which will work within the skin to balance oiliness, reduce acne breakouts, prevent dryness and generally improve skin for acne sufferers.  But for the moment, whilst we are on lockdown, the AlumierMD products are able to start the work for us whilst I can’t get my hands on your skin.  

Skin care and health

“Skincare is not superficial because it is healthcare.  When you have beautiful skin it is a sign that you have a healthy body and mind”.  Dr Murad. And this is where I get excited.  My clinic is not a place where you get a superficial, one-off treatment.  I want to know about you as a person.  How are you physically?  Are you on medications?  Do you exercise? What is your environment like? These are all essential for me to be able to treat you properly. Our online skin consultations are as in-depth as our in-clinic ones. There are some things I can’t do, but we are finding that we can do quite a lot. Skincare isn’t just about a load of pretty bottles and sweet smelling lotions.  It’s about understanding the person who has come to you for help and meeting their needs with a bespoke prescription for their skin and educating them so they can manage themselves longterm.    It isn’t about concealer and it’s not all about the cover-up.