Colour Me Beautiful

By: Dr Barbara Kubicka
Created on 08th October 2010

Art and science

As well as training for my medical degree, I also obtained a postgraduate qualification in interior design and it was the urge to combine these twin passions for art and medicine that led me to embark on a career in aesthetic medicine.

As a cosmetic doctor, I have found that my artistic eye has been of great benefit in bringing out the best in my clients.

My vision

I always look at my clients as a work of art. As we all know the creation of any piece of art starts from well prepared material, whether its canvas or marble. In aesthetic medicine the starting point is the skin.

Without good preparation none of the cosmetic procedures would bring good results. It is not easy as different skin types have different needs that have to be addressed with different approaches.

An innovative approach to assessing patients

At the first assessment, I usually divide clients into certain groups based on colours. These colours represent their different skin problems and needs:

Blue/grey = dry, tired skin
Red = rosacea, sensitive,vasoactive skin
Yellow/brown = sun damaged,hyperpigmented skin
White = very dry, atopic skin as well as oily, acne

The importance of good skincare

Before embarking on more invasive procedures, I always start with skincare. I usually advise about three or four different products – always a cleanser, day cream and night cream, and then the fourth product depends on their specific skin needs.

This could be a brightening product, a calming serum or one for rejuvenation. The white group has a specially designed line of products as their skin needs are so specialist.

For the second part of their tailored skincare plan I usually start with glycolic peels of increasing strength. They give good results without downtime, however for the more severe cases this might not be enough.

For these clients, the glycolic peels will prepare the skin before we embark on more invasive treatments, such as laser skin resurfacing, medical microneedling or deep chemical peels.

The skincare programme is rarely used in isolation from other aesthetic treatments like dermal fillers or muscle relaxant injections, but I view it as the best introduction to these procedures. It’s how you get optimal results.

The products I recommend to my clients are from the NeoStrata range. It was established in 1988 by the two scientists who’d discovered the benefits of Alpha Hydroxyacids or AHAs in the late 1960s.

What sets this brand apart in my eyes is that the scientists behind this range are continuing to develop and discover new ingredients which make their products cutting edge.

These are physician-dispensed products that you can’t buy over the counter. They revitalise the complexion, improve the visible signs of ageing and can treat dermatological conditions such as acne and dry skin.