As we get older, we have to deal with a number of skin appearance problems that go along with the ageing process; perhaps one of the least discussed and most overlooked issue is that of sagging jowls involving the face. These are the fleshy areas of loose skin that hang beneath the lower jawline, which disrupt the definition of the face, making a person look and feel older.

The cause for sagging jowls.

As we age, our skin loses the vital proteins, collagen and elastin, which keeps the skin firm and smooth. Generally, our skin produces collagen more slowly as we age but in fact stops producing elastin in our early twenties.. With the loss of these proteins, gravity starts to affect the firmness of our skin, pulling down on it and worsening that sagging look.

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

Apart from a surgical facelift which is a highly invasive procedure and takes weeks to heal, there are now a number of non-surgical treatments that can be just as effective with minimal down-time.

One such procedure is that of micro-needling using the latest Dermapen device; this involves creating a number of tiny pin-pricks in the skin (done after numbing the face with local anaesthetic cream). The procedure stimulates the fibroblast cells in the dermis to produce collagen which then tightens the skin and improves its looseness.

For maximum benefit we recommend treatment sessions every six weeks for about three to five episodes. Once the treatments are complete, you should notice a significant improvement of your skin as well as a tightening around the jawline. The results may last up to two years depending on your skin type but subsequent top-up treatments are likely to extend this period.

A further option that gives excellent and immediate results is using what is called “the polydiaxonone (PDO) threadlift” procedure. This involves inserting specially designed sutures into the deeper layers of the skin using a blunt cannula device. This is carried out under local anaesthetic to make it a pain-free experience. The threads are coated with a collagen stimulator (Profilo) which enhances the production of collagen, strengthening the structure and tightening the surface pores making the skin much smoother with a natural glow. The results tend to last for about three years but again intermittent top-up treatments can significantly extend the duration of its effectiveness.

Here at “The Chelmsford Skin Clinic” we are happy to discuss your individual preferences and we will give you unbiased advice and guidance with regards to your options. The Dermapen treatments are carried by our expertly trained Skin Therapist (Chloe) and the PDO thread treatments are done by our resident and highly trained aesthetic GP (Dr Waseem Ahmed).

Forehead lines (wrinkles) develop as we get older and become more pronounced. The main cause of these lines is a progressive reduction in the level of collagen and elastin in the skin as we age. These proteins are responsible for maintaining the healthy structure of elasticity and hydration in the skin. A number of factors, apart from ageing, are also responsible for the development of these unsightly wrinkles. Lifestyle and environmental factors such as smoking, alcohol, pollution and exposure to sunlight all contribute to the early appearance of these furrows.

Preventative measures such as having a good skincare routine and the use of an effective moisturizer with SPF helps to maintain hydration and protects the skin from harmful UV radiation.

At “The Chelmsford Skin Clinic” we stock a full range of the world renowned “Dermalogica products “ that are excellent at improving and maintaining skin hydration. In addition we also offer a number of physical treatments that are used to target forehead lines without the need for any invasive surgery. We are able to offer a full range of treatments which includes Allergan Injections, medical grade skin peels, micro-needling using the latest “Dermapen device”, microdermabrasion, PDO thread lifts and the new “Vycross” range of Juvaderm fillers to create a natural but enhanced appearance. We will give you a free consultation with our Skin Therapist (Chloe) or our own resident medical practitioner (Dr. Waseem Ahmed) who will discuss your concerns and tailor an individualized treatment plan for you. We pride ourselves on offering unbiased information and advice without any compulsion to proceed.

Skin tags (known medically as fibro-epithelial polyps) are very common, harmless growths that can develop on any area of the body which is covered by skin. They appear as bits of flesh-coloured tissue (typically 2– 5mm in size) that project from the surrounding skin on a narrow stalk. 

The most common areas for skin tags are the neck, armpits and eyelids and they typically occur where skin rubs against itself or clothing. Although tags are generally acquired (not present at birth) and may occur in anyone, they are much more common in middle age onwards. They are also more common during pregnancy and develop as part of the hormonal changes. Tags are essentially harmless and do not have to be treated unless they are bothersome; they can usually be easily removed even during or after pregnancy by our resident doctor.

There is no evidence that removing a skin tag will cause more tags to grow. In reality, some people are simply more prone to developing skin tags and these can be removed periodically. Skin tags are completely benign and generally don’t become cancerous if left untreated.

Skin tags generally cause no physical pain or discomfort but they can become quite sore if they are repeatedly irritated against clothing or jewellery. Cosmetic removal for their unsightly appearance is the most common reason they are removed.

Usually small tags may be removed easily and painlessly using some local anaesthesia (injected Lidocaine) prior to removal. They do not usually require any sutures unless they are quite large or have a broad base. Our resident GP (Dr Waseem Ahmed) is able to carry out the whole procedure at “The Chelmsford Skin Clinic.

Acne is a common skin condition that often starts in adolescence/ puberty and affects both males and females. Although 25% of people may well escape this unpleasant phase, they may remain susceptible to developing it in later life or during pregnancy. During adolescence a surge of male hormones (Testosterone) produced by the adrenal glands stimulates the sebaceous glands under the skin to produce an oily secretion (sebum).

These glands connect to the surface of the skin by small canals and open as pores. The oily sebum produced by these glands also carries dead skin cells to the surface. Skin cells and the sebum clump together to form a plug at the base of a hair follicle; this causes a blockage at these skin pores. As the plug gets infected with bacteria and more sebum gets trapped under the skin this leads to the formation of inflamed pimples.

Various over the counter treatments are available for the treatment of acne and many people do try these initially. So what can we do at “The Chelmsford Skin Clinic to help you improve your skin?

It is now widely accepted that using mild skin peels will help remove the dead layer of skin from the epidermis which in turn will reduce the risk of debris blocking your pores. Similarly, by using crystal clear microdermabrasion we can exfoliate the superficial layer of the epidermis and improve the health of the skin surface and minimize the risk of acne scarring.

Tips to help you look after your skin if you suffer with acne:

Wash your face about twice each day using a specialist cleanser available from “The Chelmsford Skin Clinic”. We stock a number of products which are matched by our expert to your skin type and condition.

Do not try to burst spots. You may push the infection further down, thus spreading the infection. Popping spots also makes scarring more likely.

If you have to get rid of a pimple for some event, such as a wedding, or public speaking occasions, ask one of our specialists to treat it for you.

Keep your hands clean, wash them regularly especially before touching your face. This includes before applying lotions, creams or makeup

Glasses should regularly be cleaned. They will collect sebum and skin residue

Don’t go to sleep with makeup on – we stock two varieties of precleanse to remove your makeup prior to skin cleansing.

These are tiny blood vessels, which can appear over any area of the skin surface but often are more prominent over sun exposed regions; these largely result from the enlargement of “feeder blood vessels” in the deep dermis which become more prominent as we age. Thread veins can appear during and after pregnancy due to the physiological changes involved with weight gain. Some people call them ‘broken veins’ but their proper name is telangiectasia. Unfortunately smoking and excessive alcohol can also lead to poor skin health as the result of a relative hypoxia (deficiency of oxygen) in the tissues. The skin cells respond by creating these small unsightly vessels close to the skin surface. Unfortunately, thread veins do not usually disappear without some sort of physical treatment and various techniques are now available to deal with them.

Here at “The Chelmsford Skin Clinic” we offer the latest radio frequency technology using the “Vein Away” machine to eradicate these unsightly lesions from any affected area. Although a single treatment may result in a good outcome, usually a number of sessions may be necessary to treat a larger area.

Facial wrinkles typically start occurring during the late twenties and develop through the remainder of our lives. Wrinkles appear as the body’s ability to produce good quality collagen and hyaluronic acid (a naturally occurring substance in the skin) diminishes. Additionally, skin quality decreases as a result of textural changes, enlarged pores and skin volume loss. Celtic and Caucasian skin types are particularly affected.

These are dictated by our genetics, and therefore cannot be controlled (i.e. ethnicity and genes).