They appear when the capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in the body, are put under too much pressure and become permanently dilated, giving them an angry red appearance which shows through the skin.

Factors which can contribute to their development include excessive alcohol, smoking, being overweight, rigorous exercise, sun exposure, washing with very hot or cold water, diet, pregnancy and ageing, among many other causes.

Treatment of thread veins on the face

Thread vein treatment on the face is performed using electrolysis. The aesthetic practitioner will first examine your skin to determine its general condition, before commencing treatment of the affected area.

A very fine probe will be placed just under the surface of your skin, into the capillary to be treated, and a gentle current will be passed through, along with a small amount of heat to seal off (or cauterise) the capillary. This process is repeated for each individual capillary requiring treatment.

Treatment can be completed in one session, however follow up sessions may be required on a larger area, or if the thread veins are more resistant to treatment.

Recovery after thread vein treatment

Immediately after your thread veins have been treated, they will ‘blanch’ and no longer be visible. However, over the course of the next couple of days, small scabs will form on the surface of the skin where they used to be.

For the first few days you should keep the treated area dry and avoid touching it as far as possible, in order to prevent the scabs being removed before healing is complete. You can cleanse the area with dry antiseptic powder, but steer clear of water and liquid or gel cleansers.

After about 5-6 days, the scabs will naturally fall off, leaving fresh ‘baby’ skin underneath. You should use sunscreen to protect the skin.

You can expect full recovery after approximately 2 weeks, at which time you will attend a follow-up appointment to determine if any further treatment is needed.

If you’re bothered by facial thread veins and would like to be rid of them in time for summer, drop us an email to info@aurora-skin-clinics.co.uk or give us a call on 01844 211777 and we’ll arrange a free consultation.

Having been approved as a treatment for the condition in 2010, the medical watchdog NICE is now weighing up whether Botox should be funded for certain NHS patients.

Migraines bring misery to around 700,000 people in the UK, with symptoms including nausea, light sensitivity, visual disturbances, tingling sensations and muscle weakness, alongside severe tension headaches.

How does Botox help?

While it’s not known exactly how Botox works to alleviate chronic migraines, it is thought to be either a result of easing tension in the muscles, or by blocking the signals that transmit pain.

If it is decided to go ahead and offer it on the NHS, the treatment will be preventative, requiring regular injections every 12 weeks on an ongoing basis. It will cost the NHS an estimated £349.40 per patient, per treatment.

This adds to the ever-growing list of applications that have been found for Botox injections in recent years. Though some of these aren’t yet medically approved, Botox has also been found to help with the following:

• Treating ‘gummy’ smiles
• Breast uplift
• Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
• Treating enlarged prostate
• Overactive bladder

While we don’t offer Botox to treat migraines at Aurora Skin Clinics, we do offer it in its more traditional guise as a wrinkle treatment, as well as for treating excessive sweating.

If you’d like more information about Botox injections, give us a call on 01844 211777 or drop us an email to info@aurora-skin-clinics.co.uk.

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At its most acute, acne can leave the skin with pitted scars, or ‘pockmarks’, which remain even after the condition has cleared, leading to self-consciousness and a real lack of confidence for those affected.

Dermal fillers injected into these indented scars can help to plump them up, giving the skin a more even surface and restoring its smooth appearance – and, most importantly, helping people to feel more confident about the way they look.

What exactly is dermal filler?

Fillers can be made from a variety of medical grade substances, but the most popular, and the one used in all of our fillers at Aurora Skin Clinics, is hyaluronic acid. This is a naturally occurring acid which is produced by the body, which means there is minimal risk of any adverse reaction when it is introduced into the skin.

There are different brands and strengths of filler available, which means the aesthetic practitioner will always carry out a careful assessment of an individual’s skin to decide on the most appropriate filler before commencing treatment.

How long do the results of treatment with dermal fillers last?

While fillers aren’t a permanent one-off “cure” for acne scarring, they do offer an immediate and long-lasting improvement in the skin. Results typically last around 9-12 months, depending on the individual. Thereafter, treatment can be performed whenever a top-up is needed.

If you’d like more information on scar treatment with dermal fillers, or any of the other non-surgical skin treatments on offer at Aurora Skin Clinics, give us a call on 01844 211777 or drop us an email to info@aurora-skin-clinics.co.uk.

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It works by rolling very fine precision needles across the surface of the skin. These needles penetrate the skin to a depth of roughly 1.5mm, which kickstarts the body’s natural defences and encourages it to repair the skin by producing more collagen.

The results are seen gradually, with improvements becoming more noticeable over the 6 weeks following treatment. It is recommended that you have 3 individual treatments to get the most benefit.

What can the Dermaroller be used to treat?

The Dermaroller can be used to improve:

• Sun damaged skin – both on the face and décolletage
• Acne scars
• Stretch marks
• Ageing skin – facial lines and wrinkles

Does Dermaroller treatment hurt?

We must admit that a needle-mounted roller is never going to be as relaxing as a facial! The roller needs to get right into the skin to work, so you will feel a bit of discomfort.

However, the treatment is by no means unbearable, and your face will be numbed with anaesthetic cream beforehand to make you as comfortable as possible.

Many of the ladies and gents who work at Aurora Skin Clinics have actually had the treatment themselves, so it can’t be too bad!

And besides, those 20 or so minutes of discomfort will be nothing but a distant memory when you see how great your skin looks for months afterwards.

If you’d like more information about Dermaroller treatment and how it could improve your skin, give us a call on 01844 211777 or drop us an email to info@aurora-skin-clinics.co.uk.

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More at home in a Spar than a spa, I’ve never been one for pampering, make up, dresses or any of those sorts of things that women are supposed to like. But, on the 23rd April 2012, I started a new job at Aurora Clinics and everything changed…

Having been taken on to write content for the website, my manager decided that in order to sound like I know what I’m talking about, I needed to experience some procedures first hand. So one afternoon, I was beckoned into a treatment room.

In there were three lovely smiley ladies, and all of them looked like they’d done this before, which was a good start. I filled out a medical questionnaire and was told to lay on a couch, where I was given a headband to put on to make me look like a 1970s tennis player.

One of the ladies wrapped a towel around my shoulders (for reasons that will become clear later on), had a good look at my face, and then it was time to start.

A chemical peel begins…

The first thing she did was apply cleansing lotion to my face, using both hands and massaging as she went. In all honesty, this was so relaxing that she could probably have pulled out a chainsaw next and I’d have laid there and let her get on with it.

Once the cleanse was done, it was time for the first chemical peel. She started with a low concentration solution first to see how my skin took to it, applying it carefully all over my face with a soft brush. She told me I might start feeling a bit of heat, and held a small fan over my face so the cool air would minimise any discomfort.

In fact, the solution felt completely fine, with no real heat at all, so I relaxed and enjoyed the nice breeze for a couple of minutes while she talked to me.

I was told my skin was taking it well (i.e. not too much reddening), so I was a suitable candidate for a stronger peel. It was time to take it up a notch.

Now for a stronger peel

Immediately when she started to apply the more concentrated solution, I could feel the difference. My face began to heat up right away, starting gradually then gaining in intensity. It peaked with a feeling I could best describe as sunburn-esque – quite hot and a little bit stingy.

It wasn’t the hottest I’d ever felt, but it definitely felt like I was glowing – and the solution was clearly doing something. This time, I was glad of the cooling fan.

After a little while, some strips of soft gauze were soaked in cool water and applied to my face. Then a small amount more cool water was poured over them to bathe my face (hence the towel wrapped around my shoulders), and this felt absolutely lovely.

Once all the solution had been rinsed off, my face was patted dry with a soft towel, and my peel was complete.

…And a microdermabrasion to finish

Now it was time for my microdermabrasion. This felt exactly like a small hoover being passed over my skin, which is essentially what it is! That may not sound relaxing to you, but it really was.

If you can imagine hoovering the curtains, her technique was just like that, gently pulling my skin taut with one hand while she passed the tube over my skin with the other. I could happily have laid there all afternoon.

When she was satisfied she had treated my whole face, she sat me up and showed me to the mirror. I was blotchy, but I’d survived!

My verdict

I really didn’t know what to expect from my treatment, but have to say I’ve been completely won over.

The ladies were excellent at reassuring me at every step, so I always felt like I was in safe hands. Though I was a little nervous about the skin peel, they made sure to keep asking how it was feeling, and talked me through the stronger peel so that I knew exactly what to expect, as well as letting me know how my skin was reacting at every stage. And the microdermabrasion felt absolutely wonderful.

It takes a few treatments to get the most noticeable results, but in the first couple of days after my session, my skin felt smoother and cleaner than it had in ages – and I received several comments about my skin looking glowy and radiant.

I can honestly say I’d have these treatments again in a heartbeat, and now I know exactly what to expect, I can’t wait to jump on the treatment couch again!

To find out more about the microdermabrasion treatments and chemical skin peels on offer at Aurora clinics, give us a call on 01844 211777 or drop us an email to info@aurora-skin-clinics.co.uk.

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The week is part of a wider campaign which runs every year from April to September, aiming to raise awareness of skin cancer through encouraging people to self-examine for early warning signs, and educating people about the risks associated with excessive tanning.

Though as a nation we’re more aware of the risks of suntanning than ever before, it’s an alarming fact that cases of malignant melanoma among 15-34 year olds have been steadily rising since the 1970s, and they’re still going up.

Cancer Research UK attributes this rise partly to the fact that suntans became fashionable in the 1970s, with the rise of package holidays. And more recently, TV programmes like The Only Way is Essex have helped to maintain the suntan’s status as a must-have fashion accessory.

But it’s not only basking in the sun that takes a toll on the skin. Simply being outside exposes your skin to potentially harmful UVA and UVB rays. It’s easy to think you’re safe when the weather is cold and drizzly, but it’s important to remember that even though it can’t be seen, the sun is still there. Which means it’s still exerting an influence on your skin.

So how can you protect yourself? The best way to guarantee yourself maximum protection from sun damage is to wear a good sunscreen every day, rain or shine.

Slap on the sun cream

The Heliocare range available from Aurora Skin Clinics is specially formulated using patented technology to offer advanced protection against both UVA and UVB rays – UVA rays being responsible for premature ageing, and UVB rays causing sunburn which can lead to skin cancer.

Designed to be worn every day over moisturiser, Heliocare is available in a range of SPFs and formulations to suit your individual skin type, lifestyle and the time of year. The range also includes tinted sun creams and gels to give you a golden glow, and oral supplements to help protect your skin from within.

Though it’s possible to reverse some of the visible signs of sun damage using skin peels, microdermabrasion and wrinkle reducing injections, as the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. So look after your skin – it’s the only one you’ve got. And if you really must have a tan, fake it!

If you’d like to start taking care of your skin with the Heliocare sun protection range, call 01844 211777 for more information, or visit our cosmeceuticals page.

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Take for example the price for getting a full wrinkle reducing treatment to 3 normal areas, namely the brow frown lines between your eyes, the cross lines in your forehead and crow’s feet area, which will usually cost around £250 to £300. Other skin clinic prices maybe lesser but you have to be careful as this might not cover all 3 areas.

There are even skin clinic prices for a wrinkle treatment that cost for only £50, yet if you thoroughly check their offer, it just include one outer eye area; which is a rare scenario where a patient would want to have only one eye area to be treated.

You need to be wary about clinics or medical practitioners who offer really cheap prices for their skin treatment services because it might not be worth your money once you see the unsatisfying results and sometimes, infections that come with it due to lack of expertise from the practitioner or the low quality of the solutions and equipments the clinic is using for their procedures. Always compare and study the skin clinic prices offered in many areas around UK so you will avoid getting confused and for you to get treatment result that is truly worth what you paid for

The reason why patients who already obtained the procedure for eliminating wrinkles are wishing to get additional treatments is due to the fact that they are really worried about looking old and yet not having the power to stop it; thus they relay on the assistance of wrinkle treatment procedures to eliminate those signs of aging. Also, in order to maintain the wonderful effects on the anti-wrinkle injection, it’s advised that they need to acquire the treatment recurrently.

According to a research conducted by Dr Carter Singh, who is based at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, it’s revealed that:

• More than 50% of those who uses wrinkle therapy shows lack of control on the natural ageing process.
• More than 40% shows the habitual cause for getting more wrinkle treatment procedures.
• More than 50% of those individuals who acquired anti-wrinkle injections shared that they also feel youthful, instead of only appearing younger.

Yet above all of the mentioned reasons, the main cause why a lot of people are getting wrinkle treatment is due to the fact that it’s inexpensive, safe and shows successful result after just 3 days of obtaining the non-surgical skin treatment.

Almost all people, except for pregnant women and those with active case of acne, can have dermal fillers treatment to be able to acquire the benefits this non-surgical procedure brings to different body parts which require correction. The benefits of getting hyaluronic acid filler include improvement on the appearance of wrinkles and also in replacing lost volumes on the skin which is due to aging, weight issues and other factors that causes the skin to sag.

There are different areas of the body that needs the application of dermal fillers such as the face nasolabial lines which come between the nose and the mouth that usually indicates early signs of aging if we lose our fat pads beneath our cheeks, resulting for the skin to go downwards and create a really deep gap in that area. If hyaluronic acid filler is injected on these lines, the creases are filled out and the wonderful result will be visible almost immediately.

As mentioned already, your face is not the only body part that can receive hyaluronic acid fillers. For example, if you have thin lips, a condition medically referred to as oral commissures, wherein the volume on the corner of the mouth have been lost once we get old, can also benefit from the use of fillers to restore the lips natural volume; giving you a more youthful appearance due to having fuller lips once again. Moreover, marionette lines which go between the corners of the lips down towards the jaw that often bring that puppet-like face look, can also be corrected through dermal fillers as it adds extra volume into it and aids in easing out the creases that will result to a more balanced lips appearance.

The use of hyaluronic acid filler injections can also assist in the restoration of lost volumes on the cheeks or if you want to have a more sculptured look on this part of your face. Fortunately, there’s nothing to worry about getting dermal fillers since they are known to be a natural, biodegradable substance that the human body will be able to breakdown somewhat naturally.

When it comes to regaining lost volume on the skin or elimination of wrinkles due to aging and other factors, getting dermal fillers treatment would be ideal. You can fully enjoy the wonder effects of this non-surgical cosmetic procedure one you know the guidelines in aftercare after dermal fillers that will help eliminate the occurrence of bruising. Once you have followed what you need to do to evade swelling following a dermal filler procedure, you’ll surely see amazing and natural-looking results.

In order to avoid the instances of swelling following the procedure, take a look at the following before, during and aftercare after dermal fillers tips:

Before Treatment Care

• A week before getting the procedure, don’t take medications such as NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Aleve, Motrin, etc.), St. John’s Wort, Vitamin E, Multivitamins, Fish Oils, Flaxseed Oils, Omega-3, Gingko, Ginseng, Garlic and Glucosamine.
• When you suffer from recurrent cold sores, contact the skin clinic where you’ll be getting the dermal fillers so they can advise you on what medications to take.
• Eat half of a pineapple the day prior to your treatment since this fruit contains bromelain which is known to help lessen skin bruising. Take note, the pineapple must be fresh; hence don’t consume those canned or frozen ones.
• Avoid alcohol consumption 24 hours before getting the treatment for it causes blood thinning.

Day of Treatment Care

• Once again, eat one quarter of pineapple before you have your dermal fillers injection.
• Consume the final quarter of the pineapple following your treatment.

After Treatment Care

• 30 minutes after getting the injection, apply the arnica gel given to you as part of your aftercare after dermal fillers that will help reduce bruising. Continue the application of the gel for 2 days, putting it 5 times daily.
• Right after the procedure, apply cold compress for 8 hours on the body part which received the treatment as this will lessen swelling.
• Don’t touch (except when putting Arnica gel) the treated body part for at least 6 hours following your dermal fillers injections. After 6 hours, mildly wash the area with water and soap.
• Avoid using certain drugs such as NSAID’s (Ibuprofen, Aleve, Motrin, etc.), St. John’s Wort, Vitamin E (including multivitamins with Vitamin E), Fish Oils, Flaxseed Oils, Omega-3, Gingko, Ginseng, Garlic and Glucosamine for at least two days after getting the fillers.
• Lastly, putting too much pressure on the treated area/s must be avoided for a week.

Overall, bruising of the skin can be avoided if you get your treatment from a certified medical practitioner and when you follow the above aftercare after dermal fillers thoroughly.