Latest

Take the Nail Test

We often talk about how important good nutrition is to the appearance of your skin, but studying your nails can also reveal a lot about your general health. Your nails are one of the first places a lack of nutrients will be apparent, so keeping a close eye on them will help you recognise what your diet could be missing. (see also our nutritional advice pages)

Have a look at the table below to take our nail test, and find out how to improve your diet.

Condition	May indicate a lack of:	Things to include in your diet:
Dry Cuticles	Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Protein	VITAMIN C can be found in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. Good sources include peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, oranges and kiwi fruit. FOLIC ACID is found in broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, peas, chickpeas and brown rice PROTEIN is found in meat and fish, as well as cereals, dairy products, nuts, lentils, pulses and some vegetables
White Bands Across Nails	Protein	See above
Dryness and Brittleness	Vitamin A	VITAMIN A is found in cheese, eggs, oily fish (such as mackerel), milk, fortified margarine and yoghurt.
Fragility	Vitamin B	VITAMIN B is found in a variety of foods including pork, chicken, turkey, cod, bread, whole cereals (such as oatmeal, wheatgerm and rice), eggs, vegetables, soya beans, peanuts, milk, potatoes and some fortified breakfast cereals
Horizontal and Vertical Ridges	Vitamin B	See above
Excessive Dryness	Vitamin B12	VITAMIN B12 is found in meat, salmon, cod, milk, cheese, eggs, yeast extract, and some fortified breakfast cereals.
Rounded and Curved Nail Ends	Vitamin B12	See above
Darkened Nails	Vitamin B12	See above
Spoon Nails	Iron	IRON is found in liver, meat, beans, nuts, dried fruit (such as dried apricots), whole grains (such as brown rice), fortified breakfast cereals, soybean flour and most dark green leafy vegetables (such as watercress and curly kale).
Vertical Ridges	Iron	See above
White Spots in Nails	Zinc	ZINC is found in meat, shellfish, milk and dairy foods such as cheese, bread, and cereal products such as wheatgerm.
Fungus Under and Around Nails	Lactobacilli (Friendly Bacteria)	LACTOBACILLI can be found in probiotics, such as drinks and yoghurts.
Splitting Nails	Hydrochloric Acid	HYDROCHLORIC ACID production can be stimulated with cayenne pepper or vinegar, and is helped Vitamin B Complex and Folic Acid

Fascinating isn't it?

Botox Babes - Take Part in Our Poll

Last week, Radio 1 reported on the rising number of 20-somethings choosing Botox as a preventative measure against lines and wrinkles.

We were shocked by the drastic measures these young women are going to before they've even started to develop wrinkles.

We've certainly noticed an increased number of enquiries from young women wanting to halt the ageing process early. While Botox isn't dangerous when performed by a medical professional, at £200 every four months, it is a costly alternative to anti-ageing creams.

The worry posed by the BBC report was that young women will shun the expense of a trained professional for a cheaper alternative. We've expressed our concern in the past at the number of untrained nurses and therapists offering the injections, and young women looking for budget Botox could be putting themselves in real danger. Clients risk bruising and an uneven application if they choose Botox from an unregulated clinic or salon.

We want to know what you think - Should 20-somethings have Botox to prevent lines and wrinkles later in life? Vote now on our homepage.

Men - Use Protection

This year, we're urging men to drop the machismo when it comes to taking care of their skin this summer.

Men need to take more care than women to protect their skin from the sun's dangerous rays, as the genetic make-up of their skin leaves them much more susceptible to damage.

While the rise of the 'metrosexual' means that many more men are embracing skincare routines, there are still too few who are really doing what it takes to help prevent premature ageing caused by sun exposure.

It's clear to us from the large number of men coming to our clinics that men's skincare motivations often lie with seeking a quick fix to their appearance rather than taking care of their skin in the long term.

We want to encourage men to take a longer-lasting approach to their skin care routine, to ensure they prevent ageing as early as possible while protecting their skin from diseases associated with sun exposure.

Last year in the UK, 1002 men and 775 women died as a result of melanoma, which not only indicates men's reluctance to protect themselves from the suns rays, but also the vast difference in the skin of men and women.

Men's skin carries fewer anti-oxidants than women's, and these are essential when dealing with the oxidisation that occurs when the immune system reacts to UV radiation. It is essential that in addition to using sun protection, men must also take steps to increase the number of anti-oxidants in their skin. This can be achieved by altering diet to include anti-oxidant foods, using an anti-oxidant rich cream or taking dietary supplements.

We recommend DermaQuest Skin Therapy anti-oxidant creams.

No Nip and Tuck in 2008

A successful start to 2008 has left us in no doubt that our industry is in for a positive year, despite dire predictions for the economy as a whole.

A recent Mintel report states that 472,000 non surgical procedures were carried out nationwide in 2007, and our figures for January lead us to believe that this is set to rise again this year.

We saw a 20% rise on last January's figures across our three clinics with a 40% increase in enquiries overall.

This suggests that, despite the consumer credit crunch, the quest to maintain youth and beauty cannot be halted.

The Mintel report identifies that non-surgical clinics are benefiting from the programme-led nature of their treatment plans, which is an approach we have always used here at SkinGenesis. Our clients return to the clinic on a regular basis, with treatments building up gradually in order to achieve long lasting results within the skin.

Unlike cosmetic surgery, our treatments require no down time and so can be carried out in under an hour.

We've noticed that people are becoming much more aware of the great choice they have in cosmetic treatments, and that they are frequently choosing less invasive treatments over cosmetic surgery. Consumers are definitely becoming much savvier, and are extensively researching their options before making their final decision.

To help you make that choice we offer a free consultation to anyone considering having treatments with us, so if you want to learn more please give us a call.

Women are from Venus, and Men from Mars?

IT'S CERTAINLY TRUE OF THEIR SKIN!

60,000 men and 34,0000 women were diagnosed with melanoma in 2007, and while this emphasises the need for all of us to use adequate sun protection, it also highlights the huge difference between men and womens skin.

Although some of this increased damage is due to lifestyle choices and the fact that men are often less stringent when applying sunscreen, there is also an underlying difference in the skins structure which can leave men more susceptible to sun damage. Mens skin cells tend to carry fewer anti-oxidants than womens, and these are essential in helping the skin deal with these UV rays. As mens skin can't oxidise this radiation as effectively as womens, they are more prone to suffering sun damage and melanoma.

On a superficial level, testosterone means mens skin is thicker, hairier and darker than womens, and produces a lot more oil. It also has a thicker dermis, and so is more resistant to fine lines and wrinkles than womens skin. Women on the other hand have more subcutaneous fat which gives them their womanly curves, both on their bodies and in the shape of their faces.

Although women might bemoan the fact that they are more prone to wrinkles, what this really highlights is that by recognising how our skin is different both men and women can tailor their skincare routine for the best results. Have a look at some of our tips for how to keep your skin in the best condition, whether you are male or female:

SKINCARE FOR MEN

- Use an anti-oxidant serum to compensate for lower levels within the skin.

- Use a gentle enzyme cleanser to deal with oily skin. Not cleaning the skin will leave it prone to breakouts, but cleaning to aggressively will leave it dry and dehydrated so make sure you take the middle ground.

Products: Dermaquest Skin Therapy Daily Enzyme Cleanser and Anti-oxidant serum

SKINCARE FOR WOMEN

- Collagen and hyaluronic acid will keep the skin hydrated, and give resistance to fine lines and wrinkles.

Products: Dermaquest Skin Therapy C-lipoic Cleanser, Peptide Mobiliser, B5 serum, Revive Moisturiser