Acne skin

Acne

What is Acne?

Acne is a collection of red, puss filled spots most commonly seen on the face, chest and back areas. Acne is a build up of bacteria in a hair follicle produced by the increase of oil in the sebaceous gland. Acne can be sore and itchy and is most commonly associated with puberty. However this does not mean adults cannot suffer from this also. There is a possibility acne can be bought on later in life.

What causes acne?

There are many causes of acne and no one element effects everyone the same, therefore it is important to look at the following causes and decipher which could be the cause. The following could cause acne:

• -       Puberty
• -       Imbalance in hormones
• -       Genetics
• -       Some medications
• -       Pregnancy

Treatments for acne?

Advanced vitamin skin treatment – An electrical facial that uses high doses of vitamins A and C which is pushed into the skin using electrical and sonic currents. For severe acne a course of 6-10 treatments over 3-4 months is advised for the best results. Facials can then be done every 4-6 weeks to help maintain the improved skin.

Products for acne?

Environ have created a range specifically for acne skin. The following products help to reduce acne and smoothen skin:

• -       B-Active Sebutone – A medium strength toner that contains lactic acid to help smoothen skin and improve hydration.
• -       B-Active Sebuwash – A foaming gel cleanser that removes excess oil and environmental debris without drying the skin.   
• -       B-Active Sebuprep – A mineral oil passed pre-cleanser essential to deep cleaning and to help remove excess oil and environmental debris
• -       B-Active sebumasque – A clay based masque which helps to absorb surface oils and can be used as a micro-exfoliant.
• -       B-Active Sebugel-A – A product that contains a low concentrate of vitamins a to help reduce redness
• -     B-Active Sebuspot – Helps to assist in soothing spots by reducing swelling and redness.
• -       AVST 1 – A daily moisturiser that contains vitamins A, C and antioxidants to help improve all skin conditions 

              

Why have a manicure?

Manicures are beneficial for a multitude of reasons and we all deserve a treat once in a while.

The aim of a manicure is to help improve the appearance and health of the hands by performing different steps.  These steps are

• -         Soak – Helps to soften the cuticles and clean the hands in preparation of the manicure
• -         Scrub – Helps to improve the texture of the ski by gently exfoliating away the dryness.
• -         File – Helps to create a nice shape to the free edge
• -         Cuticle work – Pushes the cuticles back and removes any excess cuticle to help improve the skin around the nail and prevent hang nails.
• -         Masque – Used to help deeply hydrate the hand and nails
• -         Massage – Aids in helping with circulation and can reduce symptoms of arthritis.
• -         Polish – Applied to help strengthen the nail and improve the general appearance of the nail.
• -         Cuticle oil – An oil used to help hydrate cuticles and improve skin around the nail bed
• -         Hand cream – Deeply hydrates to help soften the skin on the hands.

All these steps are provided in our one hour manicure and this month we have an extra special offer for you!

A full hour manicure with a free upgrade to shellac! 

Call 01908 567766 to book

(T&Cs offers valid until 31st November 2015 any bookings made after this date will be charged in full, Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.)

What is Environ Skin care?

What is Environ skin care?

Environ skin care is a range of products and treatments created to greatly increase the appearance and health of the skin. It helps to combat skin concerns by enhancing the growth of skin cells by pumping large quantities of vitamins into the skin.

Environ is a South African product that was created by a plastic surgeon called Dr. Des Fernandez. He created the product to help reduce scaring, redness and bruising for his patients. He discovered the products helped all skin concerns and also helped to prevent skin cancer. His research led him to create skin treatment facials and products to be used together to improve the skin from a medical and cosmetic point of view.

Most of our skin concerns are caused by the lack of vitamins in the skin. We deplete these natural vitamins everyday due to the food we eat, drinks, pollution, smoking and from the sun’s harmful rays. Environ works to combat against these free radicals by pushing the vitamins into the skin and providing a layer of protection.

A combination of products and treatments are used to help enhance the skin at a quick rate resulting in brilliant results in a short amount of time. It is important to use both methods to really help battle skin concerns.

The facials use electrical currents and sound waves to help the product penetrate the skin 4000 times more than your standard relaxing facials. Who could resist that?

Over the next few months we will look at different skin concerns, the treatments available for this concern and the products you should be using at home.

For more information on our facials call 01908 567766 

Why choose seated chair massage?

Why choose seated chair massage?

Seated chair massage treatment is a lovely treatment that is provided in a seated position instead of lying down. It can be provided over or under the clothes depending on the client’s preference.

Seated chair massage is beneficial as it works to help relieve stress and makes you feel much calmer and more relaxed. It is also a more comfortable solution to those clients who find it difficult to lie down.

Seated massage is best suited to pregnant women, those who find it difficult to lie flat and people who suffer from vertigo and low blood pressure.

This means we are able to offer all clients a massage that suits their specific needs! So pop in for a relaxing seated massage and walk away feeling wonderfully pampered.

-  -    Jodie 

     01908567766

What is Aromatherapy?

What is Aromatherapy Massage?

Aromatherapy is a relaxing and healing therapy where different oil blends are used to treat different concerns.  After you have had an aromatherapy treatment it is best to let the oils soak into your skin throughout the day as this will help to prolong the massages effect.  

Aromatherapy can help to combat stress and aid in relaxation. Different oils provide different benefits. For example:

-Eucalyptus can help to boost moral for someone feeling unwell or low.

-Lavender will help balance the body and leave you will be left feeling much calmer.

-Lemon is uplifting and can help with anxiety.

When using these oils they are blended with grapeseed oil as this prevents any allergies and helps to soak the oils into the skin

Aromatherapy is a great treatment to have as it will help you to feel more grounded and much better within yourself.

Aromatherapy massage is suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Some oils need to be avoided during this treatment so make sure you let your therapist know! 

To Book in for Aromatherapy massage call us on 01908 567766 or book online at www.alchemytherapycentre.com

Dehydration - Why do I need to drink?

Although the warmer weather seems to have deserted us lately its still important to stay hydrated particularly whilst exercising.  There are plenty of marathons, half marathons, triathlons and cycling events coming up and I know a lot of my clients are in training, and despite the cooler temperatures it is still important to be aware of the dangers of dehydration.

Dehydration happens when your body loses more fluid than you take in.  When the normal water content of your body is reduced, it upsets the balance of minerals (salts and sugar) in your body, which affects the way it functions. Everyone is at risk from dehydration and despite making you feel thirsty, light headed and sometimes nauseous it is also one of the causes of muscle cramps, especially in athletes.

In the early stages of dehydration you start to feel thirsty, this is your brains early warning system.  Don’t fight that thought, take on fluids as soon as you can.  It is recommended by the Food Standards Agency that you drink six to eight glasses of anything other than alcohol each day to stay hydrated.  If you ignore your brains early warning, the next step is often headaches, lethargy and the inability to concentrate.  Most people reach for the paracetamol, or stimulants like caffeine, but this just masks the problem.  Try the “turgor test” pinch the skin on the back of your hand and if it doesn’t ping back immediately it’s a sign of moderate dehydration.  Now is the time to reach for the isotonic drinks!  Remember that you don’t just lose fluids when you sweat, you lose electrolytes, such as salt, too.  You can make your own isotonic drink by adding a pinch of salt to a glass of fruit squash, or drinking flat cola and eating salty crisps is recommended by doctors as a quick fix to moderate dehydration.

So don’t forget to take water with you on your training runs, stock up on gels, isotonic drinks or at least some salt, and if you feel thirsty, don’t ignore your brain, drink something!

Teenage and Adult Acne. How we can help deplete it?

We all get a bit paranoid when we get a spot before a big night out or just before a holiday especially if its on the end of our nose making us look like Rudolph! But some of us suffer from very bad acne and this not only makes us self concious but it can be very uncomfortable too! There are ways we can diminish acne without aggressive tablets prescribed by the doctors. 

Why does acne occur?

Acne occurs from the over production of oil in the pores of the skin. The oil blocks the pores which prevents natural oils from flowing out. Bacteria thrives on these oils and causes a reaction which leads to an infection. The white pus you see on a spot is the white blood cells coming along to remove the bacteria and heal the spot. Squeezing white heads causes the pore to break inside and removes the white blood cells that are there to fix it. When a spot bleeds it means the pore has burst and blood is seeping into other surrounding pores underneath the skin. So leave white heads alone! 

Medical prescribed acne tablets

Roaccutane is a medically prescribed acne tablet that doctors will prescribe to treat acne. Though these are great for diminishing spots fast it can cause long term damage to the skin. Roaccutane reduces the skins natural oil production meaning spots are unable to grow under the skins surface. Whilst this sounds like the perfect solution roaccutane causes many problems. 

Roaccutane decreases the size of the pores making the skin thicker and stopping oil from being produced! Now we all know that some oil is good for the skin and removing it completely can cause long term side effects. Firstly roaccutane thickens the skin causing it to become rough which leads to more severe acne scarring and pitting and this damage can sometimes be irreversible.

Common side effects of roaccutane are dry skin, dry, cracked and sore lips, dry eyes, muscular and joint pain, headaches, anaemia, blood in urine, mood changes, depression, anxiety, depletion of white blood cells and increased liver enzymes. 

Though some find roaccutane a great cause for removing spots we believe it is an unnecessary way to treat acne. 

 

How can we help?

Three steps are taken to diminish acne. These are: 

- Normalising oil production

- Normalising cells 

- Removing bad bacteria

Products for topical use are used to help remove spots on the surface of the skin. These products are:

- Environ Sebuwash- A foaming skin wash that removes excess oils without drying the skin. 

- Environ Sebutone- A medium strength toner that helps to smooth and hydrate the skin which is perfect for reducing acne scarring.

- Environ Sebumasque- A clay based Masque that helps to absorb excess oils. Should be used once a week.

- Environ AVST- A moisturiser that works on a step program starting on a level one to introduce vitamin A to the skin. Helps to rebalance the moisture of the skin.

- AVST Body oil- For those who suffer with really bad acne, body oil can be used on the face to remove spots as a moisturiser. Once this has depleted spots you can then swap straight onto AVST to continue moisturising the skin. 

Having regular facials once or twice a month can drastically improve the skin. Our Environ Electronic facials use sound waves and electrical pulses to push products deeper into the skin all the way down to the base layer to treat healthy skin cells before they reach the top! 

For advice or to book a treatment give us a call on 01908 567766 or book online via our website.  www.alchemytherapycentre.com

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