But, the question is, do you have to choose one or the other? 

The short answer is: no, you don’t! Botox (Botulinium toxin) works on the muscles underneath the skin, while tretinoin works only within the epidermis layer of the skin itself, so neither interferes with the other. Retinoids work to reverse sun damage, even skin tone and reduce fine lines, but for deeper fine lines, some find that botox is a good supplement to retinoid treatment.

Let’s take a look at how they work.

Anti-wrinkle injections

Botox involves injecting a neurotoxin into specific areas of your face — that might sound scary, but all it does is stop nerve signals travelling to some facial muscles. The muscles can’t contract without these signals, which means your skin moves less, too. This softens the visible wrinkles on your skin and makes them appear less pronounced. It’s most often used to reduce forehead lines, crow’s feet (lines around your eyes), marionette and frown lines, but it won’t have an effect on very fine wrinkles. 

Once you’ve had Botox injections, it can take 7–14 days to see the effects. The affected muscles won’t be able to contract for around 3–6 months — after this time, the signals will return, your facial muscles will begin moving again and any fine lines will need to be treated again. They will, however, become less noticeable with time because your muscles will shrink slightly.

Prescription retinoid skincare

Retinoids are some of the most popular anti-ageing ingredients available right now — that’s because of their fast cell-renewing abilities. After 8–12 weeks of retinoids boosting your cell turnover, you’ll have brighter, tighter skin and visible signs of ageing will start to reverse.

Retinoids are even effective on fine lines and wrinkles caused by sun damage, whereas other treatments — including Botox — won’t treat these specifically. With consistent use, topical retinoids also stimulate both collagen production and blood vessel growth, which also aids anti-ageing and results in a smoother, more supple complexion. 

You may have heard of less powerful retinoids such as retinol and retinal, but at Dermatica, we offer prescription tretinoin and adapalene — which are only available after a consultation with a dermatology expert. 

How to combine retinoids and Botox

There are a few simple safety measures we’d recommend if you’re going to be using tretinoin alongside Botox injections. 

First, we’d advise you to inform your practitioner that you use tretinoin — you should always be asked to provide information about your current treatments before undergoing any cosmetic procedure. This is especially important if you’ve just started your treatment and are experiencing irritation, dryness or any other side effects. 

Your practitioner may give you aftercare instructions, such as not touching or massaging injected areas — as a general rule, we’d recommend not using your Dermatica treatment for 7 days before and after any cosmetic procedure. 

If you’re concerned about the visible signs of ageing, it’s easier and more affordable to start with a prescription anti-ageing treatment. If you find that this doesn’t work for you at first, remember that it can be stopped or adjusted at any time with a clinical consultation. 

After finding the right formula for you, you may decide to supplement your treatment with Botox. Just keep in mind that you should continue using tretinoin after your procedure, as soon as it’s safe to do so. This will continue to reverse fine lines caused by sun damage and increase your cell renewal, too, resulting in a smoother, more even complexion. 

Interested in trying a prescription anti-ageing treatment? Start a free dermatology consultation today.

The post Ask a Derm: Can I Use Botox® Alongside Tretinoin? appeared first on SkinLab.

There are many potential causes of acne, including everything from your genes to everyday stress, but essentially, spots occur when pores are blocked with natural skin oils (sebum) and dead skin. Breakouts can also be triggered by an acne-causing bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes, which just so happens to thrive in oily environments. 

Noticing a pattern? Skin oils play a big part in the development of acne — and hot, humid weather provides the perfect conditions for increased oil, sweat and sebum. That’s why, even if you have a naturally dry skin type, the summer months can lead to spots.

Thankfully, our dermatology experts are on hand to help with plenty of tips to prevent breakouts, all season long. 

Keep cleansing

Washing your face after sweating can help remove the extra oil from your skin before it clogs your pores. We’d recommend using a gentle cleanser for this — our own cleansing gel is formulated to work alongside the active ingredients in any other acne treatments you’re using, and it’s super-hydrating, too. 

Let your skin breathe

An easy way to help keep body acne at bay in warm weather is making smart clothing choices. Avoid tight clothing and synthetic fibres — natural fabrics, like lightweight cotton or linen, are more breathable and absorb sweat, rather than allowing it to stay on your skin. If you’re going to be spending sunny days at the pool, in the sea or playing sports, make sure to change out of any clothing soaked with chlorine, saltwater or sweat as soon as you can, too. 

Read your SPF label

SPF obviously prevents sun damage, but did you know it can help reduce inflammation and redness, too? You should use one every day in your morning skincare routine and reapply it at least every two hours — especially if you’re sweating in the sun, or going in water. If you have oily skin, make sure you look for products labelled ‘oil free’, or ‘non-comedogenic’ (that means it’s specially formulated to avoid pore blockages.)

Stick to an acne treatment

If you haven’t already, why not try a customised Dermatica acne treatment to target your skin’s exact needs? Our powerful prescription ingredients are safe to use in summer, so there’s no need to hit pause on your skincare routine during the sunny months — just remember to wear an SPF every day, all year round!

Shower regularly

Make sure you’re thoroughly showering your body regularly to wash away any sweat, dirt and sunscreen that builds up during the day. Remember, we want pores to be clean and unblocked to prevent spots from forming! It’s a fine balance, though — don’t overdo it, as this can inflame acne-prone skin. Cleanse your face with a gentle wash no more than twice a day, or three times if you’ve exercised.

Don’t skip moisturiser

It’s a common misconception that moisturising makes acne worse. A lack of hydration can cause your skin barrier to become inflamed, which can contribute to spots. Try applying a layer of lightweight moisturiser over your face, morning and night, to keep your skin hydrated.

Remember, if you’re a Dermatica customer, you can speak to our dermatology team about breakouts, any time. Just head to your dashboard, or contact us here.

The post How To Beat Summer Breakouts appeared first on SkinLab.

For skincare to be effective, several factors need to be in place. In this post, we’ll look at one of the most important aspects of any skincare routine: how to layer your products, or what order to apply them in. There are lots of different opinions out there on what order, when and how to apply products. We’ll be breaking down the science behind our suggestions so you can make an informed decision on how to layer your own routine.

Before we look at layering…

We mentioned that you need to get a few things in order before your skincare products start working for you. Firstly, you need the right products for your skin. Sure, everyone you know may be excited about a new moisturiser or a cool cleansing hack, but that doesn’t mean it will work for you. Pick your products according to your skin’s needs – ideally, get a dermatology specialist’s input, so you know you’re going in the right direction.

For sensitive skin, we recommend looking for products without any essential oil or perfumes, as these are known irritants.

For dry skin, we recommend choosing a light cleanser, and moisturisers that are especially developed to provide extra hydration — look out for ingredients like ceramides and pro vitamin B5. Hyaluronic acid serums are also helpful for hydrating the skin, and can be used with your Dermatica treatment.

For oily skin, it’s best to seek out lightweight, non comedogenic moisturisers and sunscreens, and avoid products that feature lanolin, shea butter or coconut oil, all of which can clog up oily skin.

Next, you should try to limit the number of products you use; this will vary depending on your skin type, but it’s important to remember that when it comes to skincare, less is normally more. Using too many products can strip the skin and damage its moisture barrier; plus, the use of multiple actives at once can cause harmful reactions (Vitamin C with acids is a no-no, for example, as is mixing retinoids with targeted acne treatments like salicylic acid). Basically, if you think you’re overwhelmed by a 30-step regimen, imagine how your poor skin feels! Taking it back to basics sometimes gives your skin a chance to rest and regenerate. Once your skin evens out and gets used to your treatment, you can slowly add other products back into your routine if you want to, but be patient and don’t add everything back in at once. Slow and steady wins the race!

That being said, it is important to stick to a simple routine, morning and night, to make sure your products get the chance to work for you. By sticking to it, you’re improving your skin’s health; and once you’ve got your perfect products, (whether you’ve found two or three, or you’re sticking to a ten-step programme) layering them properly is absolutely essential.

Let’s talk layering

The number one rule of any skincare routine is to start with a cleanse. In the morning, you cleanse to rid your skin of the sweat and bacteria that builds up overnight, whereas in the evening, you’re getting rid of everything from your makeup to the dirt and oil we pick up from pollution. If you don’t start by cleansing the skin, the rest of your routine will be unable to penetrate these layers of particles, and the subsequent products you apply won’t benefit you; instead, you might even find they cause skin issues like acne and irritation to arise.

Active ingredients should be applied after you cleanse so that they can effectively reach your skin; so, if you have any blemishes, a spot treatment containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide can be used prior to the rest of your products. After that, a great rule of thumb is to go by how thick your treatments are – thinnest first, building up – so light, silky serums go before thicker night creams, for example. 

When it comes to applying retinoids, there are benefits to applying them at various points in your routine. Some dermatologists recommend applying them straight after you cleanse; others say you can wait until after you moisturise. A couple of things are certain, however: you should apply them to dry skin, as moisture enables the retinoid to penetrate deeper which can cause irritation; and you should incorporate them at night, as retinoids like tretinoin are broken down and become less effective when exposed to sunlight.  

So, what does a good routine look like?

Once you’ve established a routine, what you do in the morning and evening will probably look a little different. Here’s what we recommend.

Good morning!

• Start with a gentle cleanse. Pat your skin dry and wait for 3-5 minutes before moving on to the next step.
• Once your skin is clean, it’s time to apply your chosen active products. 
• Following up with moisturiser is important — even if your skin is oily, it still needs some moisturising TLC.
• Always finish off your morning routine with an SPF of at least 30, and reapply throughout the day if needed. 

Goodnight

• Time to cleanse again! Gently wash away all of the day’s impurities, and just as you did in the morning, pat dry. If you prefer, you can also double cleanse — we recommend using two different types of cleanser to do this, especially if you’ve worn make up.
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• Next, you’re using targeted products, dab them onto your problem areas; if you favour retinoids, they can be applied now, to carefully dried skin. Some sensitive skin types find they prefer to moisturise before this step, which creates a ‘buffer’ between skin and actives.
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• Last of all, apply a simple, humectant-rich moisturiser – our Ultralight formula contains hyaluronic acid and panthenol which both aid in moisture retention, leaving your skin soft and plump.

Feeling confident? You should do – a great skincare routine is as easy as 1, 2, 3 (cleanse, actives, moisturise!). Complete a consultation today and we’ll personalise products to your skin’s needs.

The post How To Layer Your Skincare Products appeared first on SkinLab.