How to age less
WE ALL WANT TO LOOK YOUTHFUL, BUT WHY HAVE SURGERY WHEN SOFTER OPTIONS CAN BE JUST AS EFFECTIVE – AND MUCH CHEAPER? DR AAMER KHAN AND SKIN CARE SPECIALIST LESLEY REYNOLDS ARGUE IT OUT IN THE PAGES OF BEST...
From unloved tattoos to pesky hairs, we can often be plagued with unwanted woes. Is a clinic the best route, or can you find your solution in a bottle? Husband and wife Dr Aamer and Lesley debate the best methods for getting the body you want…
A DECADE AGO, I HAD A TATTOO ON THE TOP OF MY ARM, WHICH I’VE REGRETTED EVER SINCE. I’M 60 NEXT YEAR AND I FEEL WOULD VERY LOVE SELF-CONSCIOUS TO GET IT REMOVED! ABOUT IT. Janet, Portsmouth
DR AAMER SAYS:
Tattoo removal can be a long, painful process, depending on the colour, inks used, age, size and if it was done by hand (as opposed to professionally, with a tattoo gun). You will need a consultation first, to check your medical history and suitability for treatment. Laser is usually the best removal method, using short bursts of a high-intensity light beam to shatter the ink pigments and break up the tattoo. You may need up to six sessions, six to eight weeks apart – it can take months. There will be some redness afterwards, but the end result is permanent. Have a test patch at least 24 hours prior to your first treatment. Expect to pay £80-£120 per session. It is vital to see an expert to prevent scarring.
LESLEY SAYS:
You will save a lot of time, money and pain if you simply use a good concealer to cover it. Go to a specialist make-up expert at one of the department stores or try Vichy Dermablend SOS Concealer Stick, £15. The brand is the market leader in corrective make-up. It provides the most complete, naturallooking coverage that is waterproof, smudge-resistant and long-lasting (up to eight hours). It comes in a range of colours but try to use natural light to achieve the best match and apply a powder afterwards to set it. THE SKIN ON MY CHIN IS VERY HAIRY. I KEEP WAXING IT, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO TO GET RID OF THE HAIRS? Pat, Glamorgan
DR AAMER SAYS:
Lumecca IPL – Intense Pulsed Light – is the best clinical treatment to reduce facial hair permanently. It feels like an elastic band being pinged against your skin. As the laser pulses over the treatment area it delivers light energy, which travels through the skin and is absorbed by the hair follicles. Hairs present at the time of treatment will fall out and future growth will be impaired. It is not suitable for dark skins and must be carried out by an experienced doctor or therapist as in the wrong hands, the light can burn the skin. After IPL it is important to wear a sunblock to prevent pigmentation. A course of three is best, from £90 per treatment.
LESLEY SAYS:
Threading is a popular alternative to waxing, and the hair doesn’t grow back stubbly, either. A fine cotton thread is tied very tightly around each hair, which is then pulled out at the root. Although not a permanent removal system, it does weaken hair regrowth. A 30-minute treatment costs around £10, but varies on location.
MY HAIR IS VERY THIN AND MY SCALP IS SHOWING THROUGH. I’VE TRIED VOLUME SHAMPOOS, BUT THEY’VE NOT IMPROVED THINGS MUCH. IS THERE A HAIR TREATMENT THAT CAN BOOST VOLUME? Brenda, Bognor
DR AAMER SAYS:
A woman’s hair goes through a number of changes, especially during and after the menopause, and it’s estimated thinning hair affects more than half of all women over 50. Older hair is naturally thinner and a lack of oestrogen, along with diet, stress and low vitamin D levels, can affect hair growth and texture. First, get a check-up with your doctor to make sure you are in good, general health. You could also try boosting hair density with PRP Therapy. Growth factors from your own blood are injected into the hair follicles, stimulating them and improving the number of hairs per follicle. Local anaesthetic cream can be applied to the skin and the treatment takes around 45 minutes. As your own blood is used, there are very few risks or side effects; possibly bruising at the treatment site. Usually up to three treatments, two to four weeks apart, yield best results. From £750 per
treatment.
LESLEY SAYS:
There are various products useful to disguise hair loss. Mane Hair Thickener Spray, £17, adds body and disguises scalp see-through. It is made from a cosmetic powder and available in different colours. It sticks to the roots of the hair, giving the illusion of thicker tresses. It will last until you wash it out. Hormonal treatments and medication like Minoxidil, which works by stimulating blood flow to the hair follicle, can also be prescribed to help thinning hair (check with your doctor first). Over-the-counter treatments include Regaine For Women (£25.95 for a month’s supply). High-protein (meat and eggs), low-fat and low-carb foods are best for hair health. Boost your intake of vitamin B (wholegrains and pulses, or take a supplement with biotin), vitamin C (fresh fruit and veg) and iron. Reduce salt intake, too. Researchers found cutting salt intake can lessen hair loss by as much as 60 per cent. Thickening products can help boost volume. Nanogen Thickening Treatment Shampoo, £8.99, contains peptides to plump and volumise. Finally, treat your locks with love. Avoid overuse of heated hair appliances, over-chemically processing hair and anything that pulls on the roots, such as tight
up-hairstyles.