TOP MODEL UK 2010 is almost upon us! With the glamorous finals being held this weekend in London, we have everything crossed for our gorgeous acne treatment client, Naomi Heap, who, as you will know, is one of the contenders for the ultimate prize in British fashion modelling.

Naturally Naomi is very excited, and this definitely showed as she came to SkinGenesis in Chester for her final acne treatment before the competition. With a radiant glow and beaming smile, Naomi gave us her latest update before the final:

“The competition has come around so quickly and I have had a very busy couple of weeks preparing for it! We received the tickets for all my family to be there with me, to enjoy the show and provide that all important moral support.

“My mum and her partner will be coming along, as well as my two sisters and brother and we’ll be staying in the very swanky Hilton Metropole in London. My Dad will also be coming along with his partner, as well as my grandparents, aunty and cousin – so it’s a real family affair and I feel so lucky to have everyone behind me encouraging me.

“The event is black tie so we have hired the James Bond Tux for my brother and my mum’s partner, while us girls have spent hours shopping for our perfect dresses to ensure that we look a million dollars on the night! I will be wearing a navy blue fitted dress, accessorised with beautiful elegant peacock feathers, which contrast with the colour very well. I just want everything to be perfect!

“And speaking of perfect, I couldn’t be happier with the texture and clarity of my skin. Six months ago, my skin was covered with acne, and I really can’t believe how effective the acne treatments have been at SkinGenesis. When I look back at where I was then and compare it with where I am now, the difference is unbelievable. I am so much more confident and feel satisfied that my skin is clear enough to be able to compete with the other girls in the competition. There’s no reason why acne should hold you back, as there are acne treatments out there that can help. It’s just about taking the initial plunge, just liked I did, and I haven’t looked back.

“Deborah and the team at SkinGenesis are amazing, and I can’t thank them enough for what they have done for me and my career. I would recommend them to anyone.

“Anyway, I’m going to book in for my last few beauty treatments before the competition – wish me luck, and I will be back here next week to let you know how I got on in the big city!”

There’s still time to vote for Naomi in the text vote campaign and help contribute towards CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA, the official Top Model UK charity.

Simply text ‘Model 77’ to 88010.

Each text vote costs £1 per vote + standard network charges and ALL profits from the Text Vote campaign will go directly to the Top Model UK 2010 CHILDREN with LEUKAEMIA fundraising. An award will be presented to the highest scoring recipient of votes in each of the three categories.

To find out how we can help you overcome your acne problems, call any of our friendly clinics and we’ll be happy to help.

Chester Clinic                 01244 853802

Leeds Clinic                   0113 244 8999

Manchester Clinic           0161 831 7007

Find out the results of Top Model UK here next week – including the winners of the Bare Skin Awards!

These days it's not often that a new magazine comes on the market.

Advertising revenues are down and many people now first go to the internet for their news and information, especially when researching skin rejuvenation treatments.  Image Cheshire is a new magazine that bucks this trend, and their first issue features SkinGenesis!

For some time now Peter has been a regular contributor to a national magazine called Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetics Magazine in his capacity as a Laser/ IPL treatment expert.  He writes expert answers to readers' questions and we often reproduce these in the skin treatment blog on our website (tag 'Skin Treatment Expert Answers').
 
Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetics Magazine has been a success and the publishers have now launched the regional spin-off called "Image Cheshire".

This has coincided happily with the opening of the new clinic in Mollington, Chester, and we were of course delighted when they said they would like to announce this in the news section and also run a feature on SkinGenesis in the main body of the magazine.  

The feature makes the point that recent resarch backs up the SkinGenesis philosophy that the quality of a person's skin - texture and tone - says as much about their age as visible wrinkles (or lack of them) do - hence why we specialise in skin rejuvenation.   

We have always maintained that anyone considering botox or fillers, or even surgery, should always do as much as they can to improve their skin texture and tone before deciding whether they need anything more invasive (and expensive!).  

Often they find that the skin rejuvenation treatments, like SkinGym,  give them what they want - just for people to comment "Wow, you look well" knowing they really mean you look great for your age! - and they are very grateful to have found such an easy and natural solution to the whole anti ageing question.

I hope you like the Image Cheshire article.

An enterprising Indian underwear manufacturer has found a way to incorporate oil from the native Neem tree with basil leaves and silver threads in its latest range of undergarments.  The claim is that wearing these items will smooth your skin and protect against infection.  So no need for cellulite treatment then!

Neem is a type of hardwood that is know for its soothing properties and is known in India as the Divine Tree. It has some credentials for being effective in skin treatments to reduce irritation and is thought to also be able to fight against the  lumps and wrinkles of cellulite.

Made organically, the company owner is naturally enthusiatic about the potential of his garments.  He is developing a range of attractive underwear for the western market as only t shirts and shorts are currently available.

As yet, no details when they might be available in the UK, but if anyone tries them, let me know how you get on!

The countdown really has commenced for the UK’s biggest professional model search finals and with only three weeks to go, we find out what Chester’s top model, Naomi Heap, has been up to:

Naomi said: “This week I have been so busy with the preparations for TOP MODEL UK, I’ve barely had time to think! The pressure is really mounting now, but I find that the key is to keep calm and not get too stressed out! So that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.

“I had a very enjoyable acne treatment this week with Deborah at SkinGenesis’ Chester clinic. I had another microdermabrasion treatment, which always really effectively settles all the dead skin cells and prevents the pores from becoming blocked. This prevents spots or blemishes developing on my face – not what I need with just three weeks to go. I have also been busy using the at-home skin care products that SkinGenesis gave me, which have really improved the texture and tone of my skin over the last few months.

“Since starting the skin treatments and looking at where I am now, my confidence has soared, which is obviously really important in the fashion industry.

“The organisers of TOP MODEL UK also set out quite stringent lifestyle plans for us in the run-up to the finals, so that by the time the judging takes place, we all give ourselves the best possible chances of winning.

“I’ve been paying very close attention to my beauty regime. I exfoliate and moisturise my body and face regularly to ensure that my skin remains radiant and glowing. And we were also advised to maintain a healthy diet because whatever is happening on the inside always shows on the outside. My meals for the last few months have involved lots of fresh fruit and vegetables to make sure that my skin and body are getting all the vital nutrients that are needed to look fabulous.

“I also enjoyed a bit of pampering this week by having a manicure with the girls at SkinGenesis. I had bio-sculpt gel nails applied and will maintain the manicure in the run up to the competition to keep them in tip-top condition.”

 See also:

Vote for Naomi - Please!

Fashion Model Skin Treatment Diaries: 5 Weeks to go

SkinGenesis Supports Chester Finalist In National Model Search - Feb 10

Read Naomi’s updates every Friday.

Peter sometimes gets asked for expert comment and here's the latest example, done as a Q & A, for a student who is writing an article on the effects of smoking on the skin, and how skin rejuvenation can help:

Q: What effect does smoking and other lifestyle habits have on the skin?

A: Smoking will have quite a serious effect on skin, especially female skin which is thinner than male skin and consequently more prone to the visible effects of smoking and environmental damage.

Smoking has several effects on the skin. The first and most damaging is the carbon monoxide in the blood. Carbon monoxide is damaging to most organisms and skin cells are no exception. The carbon monoxide will also constrict the capillaries that feed nutrients to the skin so that it is less able to sustain cell renewal. 

Finally cigarette smoke contains lots of rather nasty chemicals (used to effect taste and to keep them burning) which have a rather pernicious effect on skin cells. There are some other nasty side effects of smoking on the skin but there are no good side effects.

There is no doubt that cigarette smoke is especially destructive to female skin. Smoking ranks with UV exposure as the most damaging thing you can do to your skin and the visible effects of both are normally very noticeable from the mid thirties onwards.
 
 
Q: Do you think women are unaware of the damage they are doing to their looks? 

A: Most women start smoking young, perhaps as young as their teens and their skin is sufficiently robust at an early age to cope with damage from smoking. Unfortunately this means most have formed a life long addiction before their looks deteriorate and they appreciate the association between their smoking habit and skin condition. By the time they notice their thin skin is lined and needs wrinkle treatment, their addiction is too powerful for most of them to give up smoking even when they are aware of the damage it is causing.
 
 
Q: How could a skin assessment show the evidence of damage caused my smoking? 

A: Most smoking damage is easily visible. In chronic cases the skin will sag having lost most of its elasticity and the skin will have sufficient lines and wrinkle to give it a crepey appearance. The first signs are wrinkles where there is muscle movement for instance around the eyes and mouth; this develops further to pronounced lines on the upper lip (smokers lines) and hollow cheeks. Eventually the wrinkles spread over the whole face as the production of collagen and elastin fails to keep pace with the damage caused by smoking. 
 
 
Q: What message would SkinGenesis send out to women smokers with regards to their skin?

A:  There are very few alternatives to giving up smoking. If a woman is serious about her skin then she must give up smoking however it would be wrong to say that smokers cannot help there skin. If a woman cannot quit the weed she should cut down as much as possible.

Cutting down is not just a question of smoking fewer cigarettes it involves smoking less of them. The last half of a cigarette is far more destructive than the first half to the extent that 5 completely smoked cigarettes will cause far more damage than 10 half smoked cigarettes. Smokers should also have a diet very rich in anti-oxidants to help mop up the free radicals associated with smoking that cause so much destruction.
 
 
Q: If damage has already been caused by smoking, is it reversible? 

A: This is the good news. If someone gives up smoking, adopts a very healthy lifestyle and embarks on a remedial skin care regime their skin will radically improve in a few months. Some skin clinics such as ours (SkinGenesis) have developed highly intensive skin rejuvenation programs (e.g.  SkinGym™) which combine nutrition, home care and intensive in-clinic treatments which are remarkably effective in undoing the effects of sun-damage and smoking.

We're getting behind local girl, Naomi Heap, in her bid to win Top Model UK in London in March.  Naomi, from Blacon, is already something of a local celebrity as she won the title 'Miss Chester' at the end of last year.

Like most teenagers, Naomi hasn't been able to keep her skin clear of spots and she was told this could affect her chances at the Top Model UK finals.  We're delighted that she came to SkinGenesis for a free consultation, and skin analysis, to find out what could be done and we quickly had her started on one of our acne treatment programmes.

We also offered to help her market herself locally because a very worthwhile charity - Children with Leukaemia - will benefit if we can get lots of people involved.  All people need to do is to text 'MODEL 77' to 88010 before 13th March and that will record as a vote for Naomi.  The texts cost £1 + standard network charges, but remember that ALL profits from the text vote campaign will go the Children with Leukaemia fundraising.

Naomi is a lovely girl and deserves to do well in the competition.  I do hope you can help me 'spread the word' and encourage people to support local girl Naomi and a very worthwhile charity.

With 5 weeks to go until the glitzy grand finale of the much anticipated national Top Model UK competition in London, for which we are sponsoring the ‘Bare Skin Award’, we are following finalist and former Miss Chester, Naomi Heap, as she prepares for what could be her big break in the fashion industry.

Sitting waiting for her next skin treatment in our prestigious Chester clinic in Mollington, Naomi talked us through how she got involved in Top Model UK, and why she approached SkinGenesis to help her prepare for the big city:

“I can’t believe the competition is only five weeks away – there is so much to do before the final, but I’m really looking forward to the event.

“I got involved by signing up to audition in London, which I was really excited about. However as the audition got closer I became unwell, which temporarily caused my skin to breakout into spots quite badly. It really knocked my confidence and I even contemplated not going to the audition, as I couldn’t see how I would ever be considered for the final.

“With the encouragement of my Mum, I regained some courage and simply explained to the judges that my problem skin was due to a recent temporary illness and that some medication prescribed by my doctor was helping to clear up my skin. Fortunately I made it through on the condition that I sort my skin out.

“This is my dream, so that’s exactly what I set out to do.

“As you can imagine, in such a competitive industry, it’s vital that you have great skin. After searching on the internet for an affordable skin specialist, I approached SkinGenesis as they offered exactly what I was looking for – effective adult acne treatments. The medication I was on helped, but it didn’t achieve half as much I wanted it to, and progress was slow, so I booked in for a consultation with Deborah, the clinic manager in Chester.

“She put together a bespoke skin treatment package that would treat both my remaining active acne, as well as the existing scars caused from previous blemishes. We started off with an Expert Skin Analysis, which determined my skin type, moisture content, sun damage and pH, which have helped me choose the right products for my skin. I have since undergone several courses of Microdermabrasion to get rid of all the dead skin cells and avoid further breakouts, as well as one IPL treatment.

“I have also received a gentle vitamin C skin peel, which has benefitted my skin dramatically. I was a bit of a tan-fan in my younger years and used the sunbeds quite a lot!

“All in all I am very happy with the progress we’ve made. By the time the competition comes around, I’m very confident that my skin will be as perfect as it possibly could be.

“I’m really grateful of the help and support I am receiving from the team at SkinGenesis and I have been recommending them to all of my friends! I would definitely recommend it to anyone considering a career in modelling.

“I’m having a microdermabrasion treatment in a moment, but I will be back next week with an update on my competition preparations.”

We'll be keeping track of  Naomi’s progress. These first images were taken before her very first treatment.

Read Naomi’s updates every Friday.

We've been giving a lot of thought to how we can offer a truly memorable prize to the winners of the Bare Skin Awards we are sponsoring at the Top Model UK finals in London.

Talking to our friends and contacts we've been delighted by their interest and keeness to get involved and one who deserves special mention is Andrew Collier of Andrew Collier Photography. 

We've known Andrew for some time and have already commissioned some pix that now hang on the walls of the Chester clinic. If you're in the market for contemporary portrait photography and excellent service why not try Andrew? (info@andrewcollierphotography.co.uk)

But we're truly delighted that he has stepped in with a wonderful offer of a photo shoot for each of the 3 Bare Skin winners.  One of Andrew's specialities is natural light photography and this is ideal for capturing beautiful skin tone and texture.  We're anticipating the pictures will be stunning.

We've long realised that even skin tone and texture are vital attributes of youthful skin and have focused many of our treatments around these goals.  For pigmentation we have intense pulsed light and Dermamelan, and for a smooth texture a course of microdermabrasion or chemical peels will work wonders.

Recently there has been a study that has demonstrated that uneven skin tone is just as much a 'tell tale' as wrinkles for giving away someone's age.  But media attention, and anti ageing skin care product marketing, is often focused on wrinkles. We want to redress the balance so the Bare Skin Awards have been born!

We are attending the Top Model UK finals in London in March to make the awards to the models with the best skin tone and natural skin clarity - for this is indeed where true beauty lies. We're hoping this will catch on and there will be a raising of awareness that anyone concerned about the visible signs of ageing should first pay attention to their skin tone and texture before considering wrinkle injections, e.g.Botox, or even facelift surgery. 

Our experience is that if you take  this approach, simple skin treatments are often enough, and there's no need to opt for the more expensive and risky procedures.   We're on a mission!

What do you think?

What makes us think 'that person looks old'?  Is it really a few visible wrinkles, as the makers of Botox and countless beauty products would have us believe, or could it be something else?

New research reported in the Daily Telegraph last month has revealed that it's actually skin tone that gives away one's age and not wrinkles alone.  The scientists, Dr. Bernard Fink, evolutionary psychologist at the University of Goettingham, Germany, and Dr. Paul Matts, research fellow at Procter & Gamble,carried out a study that concentrated on skin tone as a predictor of age and found it highly significant even when there isn't a wrinkle in sight.

“In a young, healthy face, the only contrast is due to the features – the mouth, nose and eyes – but as you age, you acquire concentrations of haemoglobin and melanin, and shadows due to lines and wrinkles, and it is this contrast that gives a major cue to our perception of age,” Dr. Matts says. So the ageing process makes our skin tone uneven and it is this that gives the game away as to our likely age. “Like it or not, if you walk into a room full of people, your eyes will focus on the face with the most even skin coloration,” he goes on to say. 

The SkinGenesis philosophy towards our clients has always been to improve the quality and tone of their skin, through microdermabrasion, chemical peels or IPL (intense pulsed light), before considering more invasive options such as botox and dermal fillers.  This would also be our recommendation to anyone considering a face lift. 

Often our non-surgical treatments are enough to knock years off their visible appearance and so they never go onto the more invasive (and much more expensive) procedures.  After all, what's the problem with the odd wrinkle if you have a vibrant, healthy skin?  So the results of the study were not such a surprise to us and we are pleased that the SkinGenesis philosophy has been endorsed.  

It's now clear what the most important part of your daily skin care routine is - and this is something we've been saying for years - and that is to always use products with built in sun protection.  Of course, you should also limit your exposure to the sun.  By doing so you will avoid the cumulative damage to the skin that always shows itself as uneven skin tone.  

In Dr Matts words: "When people are going for cosmetic procedures, they might fix one aspect, but research shows you have to take both into account – which may explain some of the strange sights in Hollywood. […] I’m not talking about time on the beach, this is the stuff of life. Skin never forgets – chronic sun damage is cumulative. If you are interested in looking good for your age and having a blemish-free complexion, moderating sun damage is the biggest thing you can do – through changing your behavior and using sun cream with an SPF of at least 15 and both UVA and UVB protection,” the expert adds.