Created on 10th September 2009
As summer draws to a close, whether you ventured overseas or opted for a ‘staycation', chances are you'll be noticing the effects of the sun on your skin. As we age, the visible signs of sun damage become more noticeable and there comes a time when lotions and potions will no longer cut the mustard to repair damaged skin. Cue the LimeLight Facial by Cutera, a revolutionary approach to skin rejuvenation that uses light treatment to improve skin tone and texture with minimal discomfort. Our panel of LimeLight experts are on hand to answer some of the most common questions associated with the treatment:
What exactly is the LimeLight Facial?
Dr Julia Sevi: "The LimeLight Facial is a new non-invasive light-based treatment for skin rejuvenation, designed to reverse the signs of sun damage and ageing which give rise to an uneven dull complexion. It improves skin tone, reducing generalised redness and brown pigmentation, but can also tackle more prominent small veins and brown spots. In addition to the face, neck and décolleté, LimeLight can be used on hands, arms and legs.
"The LimeLight Facial is customized to the patient's skin type and problem area by choosing a specific program which selectively treats the red and/or brown pigmented areas on the skin. During treatment gel is applied to the skin and pulses of light are delivered which cause a gentle pinching sensation due to the heat they produce. It is the heating of the pigmented red or brown cells that produces the therapeutic effect. LimeLight is more comfortable than many other pulsed light devices because it requires only one pass over the skin and the tip that produces the light is cooled for comfort. Treatment usually takes less than an hour, but this does depend on the area being treated."
What do treatments feel like?
Dr Philip Edwards: "Patients will feel a slight pinching on the surface of the skin but it is transient and doesn't require an anaesthetic. LimeLight is extremely effective at targeting age spots and sun damage as well as rosacea. There is no real, effective treatment currently available on the NHS for these skin complaints. It is a quick and effective treatment for these unsightly blemishes and my patients are always extremely pleased with the results."
How many treatments will I need?
Dr Fauzia Khan: "Most of our clients require one to three treatments to see results. Additional treatments are recommended for excessively sun-damaged skin. The LimeLight Facial is ideally useful for treating redness, telangiectasias (tiny veins) or brown spots on any part of your face, neck and décolleté. The procedure can be customized to your skin type to selectively treat the brown and/or red pigmented areas on your skin."
What happens after the treatment, and when will I start to see results?
Marti McDaniel: "We use LimeLight to treat mottled skin or fine veins. We find that the brown spots tend to darken and that skin can redden and appear slightly puffy. This typically lasts a few hours to a day or so. Expect to see improvements in skin complexion between one to three weeks as the darkened spots flake off and fade and the redness decreases. During this time it is very important to moisturise and apply a broad spectrum sun screen to the skin to enhance the rejuvenation process even on cloudy days."
Will the spots and redness reappear over time?
Dr Julia Sevi: "Maintenance is not generally required, although Rosacea can need ongoing treatment. Successfully treated redness, veins and brown spots will not return, but new ones can develop with new sun damage."
CS&AM
Dr Julia Sevi (www.goodhealthcentre.co.uk) specialises in the holistic approach to beauty. Combining state-of-the-art science with natural health philosophy, she aims to treat not only the problem but also the underlying cause. Dr Julia tailors individual packages using combinations of treatments, underpinned by the philosophy that less is more.
Marti McDaniel is a senior aesthetic practitioner at Skin.Quest.uk. (www.skinquestuk.com), and has 35 years experience in the industry, having worked with several top dermatologists and surgeons. Marti is a founding member of the Aesthetic Nurse Forum responsible for setting and managing standards for the Royal College of Nursing.
Dr Philip Edwards is a GP Partner at Everest House Surgery, Hemel Hempstead, and also Medical Director at Ryder Clinic, St Albans (www.ryderclinic.co.uk). A member of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Dr Edwards is involved in practice-based GP training. His specific interests are sports injuries, minor surgery and laser skin treatments.
Dr Fauzia Khan (www.binsinalaser.co.uk) has worked as a specialist dermatologist, cosmetic physician and laser consultant for 15 years. Her research led to the worldwide launch of the first Dark Skin Hair Removal Applicator in 2004. A member of AAD and EADV, she is trained in cosmetic art using lasers, IPL and infrared technology.
