AQ Skin Solutions was developed by Dr Ahmed Al-Qahtani, Professor, scientist and immunologist, Dr. Al-Qahtani. AQ Skin Solutions products are based on Growth Factors (GF) – cells that are found within our own body – to repair and renew ageing and damaged skin. As we age, we lose collagen and elastin and our skin becomes thinner and lines and wrinkles are formed. Growth Factors are essential to regulate cell renewal to keep skin healthy and hair strong. They help to increase the production of collagen and elastin and regular topical application has been shown to improve skin texture and slow…
Do you need supplements for your skin? Dr Johanna Ward explains why a well balanced diet isn’t enough these days. The British public spend around £700 million on dietary vitamins and supplements each year, so Brits clearly love supplements. But do they really work or can we get all of the nutrients we need for great skin from a well balanced diet? I will endeavour to answer these questions in this blog and address how certain supplements can benefit your skin and give you a metabolic tune up. A BIT OF THE SCIENCE All cells in our bodies need a…
Do you really need a DNA test to tailor you a skincare regime? Dr A. Bolin investigates. We’ve all heard of a paternity testing – the DNA test used to check if your father really is indeed your biological father. And it seems the sky is the limit when it comes t applying these tests with targeted DNA tests now being touted for everything from family ancestry, fitness and nutrition and even dating. But, when it come to skin, what can these quite pricey tests tells us and is that information really worth any more than an good chat with a skincare…
Are your skin care products undergoing a revolution? With all this talk about latest scientific research and cutting edge patented technology are today’s products really any different? Self-confessed skeptic, Dr Haran Sivapalan, finds out. For thousands of years, people have covered themselves with various substances in an effort to prevent dry skin. As far back as 150AD, the Ancient Roman physician Galen mixed molten beeswax with olive oil and rose water – and was credited as the inventor of the first cold cream. Galen’s concoction likely worked because the rose water hydrated the skin, while the beeswax and olive oil…
Vitamin A is a ‘must have’ in your anti-aging skincare arsenal but there are a lot of different types and they aren’t all born equal. Dr Hannah Sweilam explains. There’s a lot of talk about vitamin A or retinoid creams in anti-aging these days and for good reasons. Retinoid creams are scientifically proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. But buyer beware, the retinoid family is a large one. It includes tretinoin (Retin-A), the prescription only version, and its over-the-counter-cousins, retinol (pure vitamin A) and retinyl palmitate, to name a few. And to complicate things further, they all vary in their effectiveness,…
What is Rejuvenation Mesotherapy? Since its invention as a medical procedure in the 1950s, mesotherapy has become a popular cosmetic treatment for facial rejuvenation, particularly across Europe. Mesotherapy is a drug delivery technique that involves hundreds of tiny injections into the subcutaneous layer of the skin instead of one large injection into the blood stream. When used for skin rejuvenation, a cocktail of vitamins and other small molecules is injected in 0.01 mL doses across the target area. Mesotherapy is controversial as a lack of regulations means that many practitioners use formulations of vitamins not approved for injection. Organisations…
What are Vampire or Dracula facelifts or facials? The Vampire or Dracula Facelift is a procedure which involves drawing a small amount of your own blood to obtain platelet-rich plasma (PRP) which is then injected back into the face to boost collagen and plump up the skin. In the case of the Vampire facial, made famous by Kim Kardashian, micro-needles are used instead of injections. The micro-needles, make a multitude of small punctures allowing the PRP to penetrate the skin barrier. PRP therapy was developed in the 1970s to help with wound healing after surgery and went onto be used for sports…
Can collagen drinks really make a difference to your skin? Dr Haran Sivapalan takes a look at the research behind these expensive little shots. In Greek mythology, Eos, the goddess of dawn, asked Zeus to give her lover Tithonus the gift of immortality. Somewhat forgetfully, she neglected to request that her lover also receive the gift of eternal youth. Over time, Tithonus continued to live, but his muscles became weaker, his skin grew wrinkled and less supple; it began to sag. Despite immortality, Tithonus’ body and its largest organ, the skin, continued to undergo the process of aging. Skin aging…
It’s said gold was part of Cleopatra’s arsenal of beauty tools, but can a pot of face cream containing this precious metal really help your skin? Eitan Benson finds out. It’s alluring isn’t it, the idea that smearing a shiny golden cream on your face will transfer to your skin the same luxurious perfection that elemental gold seems to radiate. That this rare element, so revered throughout history, so singular in its uses in science, engineering, medicine – and mysticism – would have abilities to revitalise skin, remove wrinkles, eradicate spots, correct sun damage, to name but a handful of…
What is Microdermabrasion? Microdermabrasion is a skin rejuvenating procedure where the top layers of skin are gently ‘sanded’ to reveal smoother layers underneath. Known as the ‘lunchtime peel’, the procedure is quick and has minimal side-effects. It is said to help reduce wrinkles, acne scarring and age spots, leaving skin looking smoother, revived and fresh. Developed in Italy in 1985, microdermabrasion is a treatment where the skin is ‘sanded’ using a machine which blasts it with tiny crystals. The handheld machine should be operated by a trained skin professional, dermatologist or plastic surgeon, who slowly passes it over the treatment…
