Island Life Magazine Ltd June/July 2011 | Page 121

the beauty doctor Dr Máire Rhatigan of Orchard Cosmetic Clinic, Newport Q. Since the birth of my daughter I have been getting horrible acne spots like a teenager even though I am 34! I never had problems with my skin before so I can’t understand why it is starting now. It is very oily and I get really bad large painful lumps on my chin and cheeks. Can you suggest anything to help. I am desperate. A. You have Adult-Onset Acne which is a lot more common than most people realise and it can be just as distressing as teenage-acne, sometimes leading to depression and social isolation. The cause of acne at this age can be hormone-related often resulting in premenstrual flares. In my experience, both teenage acne and adult acne respond to very similar treatments. The vast majority will respond to high strength Benzoyl Peroxide (BP). The regimen for using BP is very specific and I would recommend that you have supervision by a clinician who provides this treatment when you start. For acne which is associated with oiliness there are fantastic peels in the Enerpeel range which clear oily tendancies beautifully. The worst thing an acne prone skin can be subjected to is excessive manipulation in the form of scrubs, abrasives or microdermabrasion. "Gently does it" if you suffer with acne and remember there are solutions for this problem. Q. I am 50 this year and absolutely terrified of the age changes that are starting to appear on my face. Even after having a good night’s sleep, when I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror I see a tired, worn face. It bothers me because I feel refreshed and ready for the day. I've been thinking about having cosmetic treatments. What would be the safest treatment to start with? A. You won’t be surprised when I tell you that the first thing you need is a consultation with an experienced, cosmetic doctor you feel comfortable talking to. This is a great starting point for getting a really good assessment of your face and an idea of the treatments which would suit you. This consultation is usually free, so you have nothing at all to lose. You will get advice ranging from what you can do at home with skincare to in-clinic injectable line and wrinkle softeners if that is what you need. And of course, you will have the chance to have any further questions answered. This is a Acne Before and after treatment great age for you to take things in hand and becoming 50 need not be a distressing time for you. In my experience, the most satisfying approach for women who are dipping their toe in the water for the first time with regard to cosmetic treatments is to get a carefully thought out yearly anti-ageing treatment plan. In a person with the appearance of ageing as you describe in your question, this would typically consist of home skin care which should include some glycolic and Environ vitamins, injectable wrinkle softeners (1-3 treatments per year), and a skin peel (1 session per year). All this can be done in a gentle, gradual way with results you will be delighted with. HAVE A QUESTION? Authors of published questions receive a £50 voucher for Orchard Cosmetic Clinic. Orchard Cosmetic Clinic 13 Lugley Street, Newport TEL: [phone] EMAIL: [email protected] www.orchardcosmetic.co.uk www.visitislandlife.com 121