Using the Visia Skin Scan to assess your skin condition following summer sun exposure

Arleta Szymanska – October 2020

I absolutely love Summer because it allows me to spend more time outdoors, enjoying the beautiful weather and longer days, dressed up in a maxi dress and flip flops, holding my classic Magnum ice cream, but sunny days don’t last forever, so it is now the perfect time to reinvigorate our skin.

As an Aesthetic Therapist autumn is the most exciting time from my professional point of view. This is the time when all aesthetic and skincare facial treatments really start as people focus on recovery and maintenance after summer.

Having enjoyed the summer our skin is usually in a condition that requires more intensive treatments. The most common conditions that we are seeing in our clinic are:

• pigmentation
• sun damage
• active acne
• dry and dehydrated skin
• increased and more visible signs of ageing

Sun exposure or rather UVB rays help with vitamin D3 synthesis. Vitamin D is often called the “sunshine vitamin” because it is produced by our skin in response to sunlight. Vitamin D regulates the absorption of calcium and phosphorus which are important for healthy growth and development of bones and teeth. It also boosts our immune system function and just makes us feel better.

UVB rays also increase the production of melanin in our skin resulting in a lovely looking tan or unattractive and uneven pigmentations. Tanned skin is our body’s response to sunlight and used protect the DNA in the skin cells.

You might think why does our body need to protect the DNA of the skin cells? Research shows that UV exposure causes 80-90% of premature skin ageing.

UVB rays cause our skin to burn and will also cause direct damage to cellular DNA which can lead to skin disorders including cancer. UVA rays are responsible for oxidative stress and free radical formation which is also responsible for cellular DNA damage.

Cellular DNA is like the software for our cells. It contains the instructions to construct other components of the cells such as proteins, which is necessary for the cells to perform all of their functions.

So what happens when the skin’s DNA is damaged? Well, the cells cannot perform their normal function which can lead to sun-damaged, skin cancer, keratosis, pigmentation, degradation of collagen and elastin, and disrupted hydrolipid barrier. Therefore it is so important to use high UVA/UVB protection throughout the whole of the year not only in the summer.

This might sound like quantum physics but in simple words what does it mean for our skin? It means dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles, sagging skin, discoloration, hyperpigmentation, sun spots, premature aging of the skin, acne, and irritation.

At Berkshire Aesthetics we use Visia Skin Scan System which can reveal sun-induced skin damage before it is visible to the human eye. From personal experience, I can confirm it is a really powerful and eye-opening session that you are not going to forget!

To treat the results of UV damage we have to take a personal approach for each patient as there is no one size fits all treatments. It also depends on skin type, skin condition, and lifestyle.

During your consultation with the Visia Skin Scan, we can discuss all the options and reveal the pros and cons of each treatment to make sure we choose the best option for you such as:

1. Medical Grade Skin Care
2. Chemical Skin Peels
3. HydraFacial
4. M22 IPL
5. Nd:Yag Q- Switch Laser
6. ResurFX
7. Mesotherapy
8. Microneedling SkinPen
9. Forma Radiofrequency

Why not book a skincare consultation and digital skin analysis with me. I will be able to show you the health of your skin and create a bespoke treatment plan just for you.