Local Geelong Editor and Stylist Deni Todorovic and their First Foray into Cosmetic Injectables. 

"I had always been a little bit nervous (read: scared) about Botox. My earliest memories around hearing about injectables, was always a whisper from a friend or someone admitting to having it after a few wines. It would go on to sit in my mind as something people considered a dirty little secret. However, over the years, I've seen first hand the 'veil lift' when it comes to Botox. Especially with the exposure I had to the beauty world during my time at Cosmo. I saw it go from something that was whispered about for fear of being judged, to something that's discussed as casually as a hair cut over a soy latte. The way I see it, our bodies/faces are our own and therefore we have the freedom to do with them whatever we please. So with that in mind, I've thought about getting a little 'tox for about 6 months now. I've always loved the lines of age and character in my parents faces and also in my own, as the years have gone on. However in the last 9 months especially, I've seen just how wonderfully fresh and natural, the result can be and so my interest begun. 

When I began working with Luminosity Skin Clinic, the best in town for a reason - my criteria was less is more, fresh and fabulous. I wanted to still be, look and feel expressive. Its a huge part of who I am and I actually love some of my frown lines, especially the ones between my brows. The ones above however and around the corners of my eyes, I was eager to have smoothed out. So in the wonderful hands of the master that is Chelsea, my Botox journey  begun. 

3 and a half weeks since my first appointment, my face continues to look fresher as each day goes on. Chelsea was very conservative with our first appointment and the amount administered into my forehead especially. The ‘crows feet’ around my eyes are now completely non-existent, in their place is fresh smooth, wrinkle free skin. On my second check up appointment, Chelsea and I both agreed we could do with a little more up top, so I’m really looking forward to see how those results unfold over the next week. 

The whole experience was made so effortless, safe, comfortable and really quite wonderful. I’m excited to continue this journey with Chelsea & the Luminosity team."

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Sugar and Dairy are Contributing to your Acne

It’s been a controversial issue but now new evidence from a recent study proves that acne is made worse by sugary and fatty foods.

Results from a large study compared the diet of almost 15,000 adults aged 25 and over (outside the typical age of those experiencing), with both the presence and absence of acne.

“The results of our study appear to support the hypothesis that the Western diet (rich in animal products and fatty and sugary foods) is associated with the presence of acne in adulthood”, the French researchers said in JAMA Dermatology.

According to their analysis, researchers found diets high in dairy and refined sugars increased the likelihood of current acne by 50%. To add, diets high in sugary carbonated drinks increased the risk by 18% and a high dairy milk intake was associated with a 12% increased likelihood of having the inflammatory skin condition.

It has long been speculated that a western diet of diary and refined sugars negatively impacts the health of the skin. Now the confirmation of such increased probability in suffering acne when living off a poor diet, it’s important to ensure individuals suffering acne practice considered consumption.

What you eat is of utmost importance when it comes to your skin, and especially when it comes to those dealing with acne and congestion.

Our skin experts will always look at acne as a condition holistically, and will assess each client’s lifestyle, diet and topical products to determine triggers of the inflammatory skin concern.

If you’re experiencing signs of acne, book in for a bulk-billed consultation with our resident GP, Dr Kath Reynolds, and take your first step to great skin.

Reference
JAMA Dermatol. Doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2020.1602
JAMA Dermatol. Doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2020.1601

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Still suffering from blemish-prone skin but feel that you're too old to be getting spots? It's a problem more common than you think -  many women are diagnosed with some form of acne during their adult lives.

Finding the right treatment or advice can be tricky...do you obsess over keeping your skin clean? What skincare should you use? Which skin treatment is going to be the right one for you? Laser, Peels or Facials.... the list can be quite extensive so we suggest you engage an expert to help tailor a skin plan specifically for your needs.

Our team of experts includes Dr Kath Reynolds and skin technicians Jill, both work together to ensure the best possible outcome is achieved.

To book your consultation call 5221 7676 or book here

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Geelong's Acne Experts

Have you ever had a zit so big, it could have its own postcode? Or a huge blinder that could be mistaken for your twin?

Jill Mullan B.HlthSc who is one of our experts in skin has a few squeezing tips for you;

"Hi Girls,
There are all sorts of reasons why we get pimples, and coming from a family of "excited squeezers" I have come to recognise that not all should be squeezed.

There are so many myths out there regarding pimple popping I thought we would get right into the heart of the matter.

Does popping a pimple make it better or worse?
At first glance, that zit you have has a number of traits including compromised skin shedding, blockage of the pores and inflammation.

So given these circumstances, what will happen after you pop the zit?
Well, you will create a mess and after that your skin will need to start the repair process.
Wounds heal in a series of steps. The bleeding must stop, inflammation starts to dis-infect the area, this inflammation causes more cells will grow to replace the damaged ones and then finally the skin will begin to renew itself.
So, when you squeeze a zit, you immediately trigger more of the traits of acne, which include inflammation. Not only this but squeezing affects multiple pores located next to you target pimple to pop.

This leads us to another cause of acne..
Premature breaking of a pore that is con-gested with excess oils and proteins. Busting such a pore promotes the inflamma-tion response to remove the oils and proteins from surrounding tissues. Yes, this means more zits!

What we call the pustule is actually keeping the bacteria nice and contained.. When you puncture the pimple's outer skin, the bacterial infection oozes out. If the bacteria contained in that pus lands inside other pores, it can lead to more pimples.
There's another risk.
Poke, pick, prick, and prod a pimple, and you can force the de-bris and bacteria even deeper into your skin. You may also introduce new kinds of bacteria from your finger into the zit. That can cause the pimple to become more red, inflamed, swollen and infected, and may even lead to permanent scarring.
Bottom line... It's best to let a pimple run through its life span.
Left alone, a blemish will heal itself in 3 to 7 days. Popped improperly, it can linger for weeks or even lead to scarring.

How Pros Pop Pimples
Dermatologists and well-trained aestheticians know how to pop a pimple safely. They wear gloves and lance a pimple with a sterile needle, then remove the contents with an instrument called a comedone extractor.
So, popping a pimple is best left to the pros. But let's face it. Sometimes, it can be tough to resist the temptation to squeeze the pus out of that bright red zit on your cheek, chin, or nose."

Call Luminosity today on (03) 5221 7676 for a free consult, or book online on your skin or to talk about your acne concerns.

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WHY ARE MY HANDS SO DRY?

It's no surprise that due to the more-frequent-than-usual hand washing and use of sanitiser in the time of Coronavirus, the skin of our hands has been compromised. 

When treating hands that are feeling dry, dehydrated and cracked due to the cooler weather and excessive hand-washing/sanitising our Medical Director, Dr Kath Reynolds suggests the below points;

1. Hand sanitiser is a better choice than soap & water when it comes to dry hands, but soap & water is more effective in warding off potential pathogens and viral infection control.
A good middle ground is a hand wash that contains moisturising ingredients such as shea butter or essential oils.

2. After washing, a good hand barrier cream is necessary. Applied after each washing or sanitising, this product will nourish and replenish the natural oils and moisture to the skin, while providing a shield from any environmental factors.
You will be able to find a good barrier cream at your local chemist of supermarket.

3. An oral supplement that will help with dry & damaged hands is Vitamin B3. We are big advocates for Vitamin B3 (also known as Niacinamide) for the regenerative and healing properties it provides the skin. Both applied topically and orally, Vitamin B is necessary to aid skin in winter.

If you're experiencing more severe skin issues to the hands such as dermatitis and eczema please book a consultation with Kath who is able to prescribe topical ointments to speed up recovery.

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