In The News
Address
Fontmell Clinic
West Street,
Fontmell Magna
Shaftesbury,
Dorset.
SP7 0PS
Country Child Magazine Spring 2015.
Laser Quest – Hair removal
As Spring begins to appear on the horizon so many pleasant thoughts leap to mind – sunshine (oh sunshine!), fresh air, al fresco dining and beaches to name a few. But sometimes a less appealing thought is dusting off the swimwear, cut off shorts and summer skirts, because we all know what that means- hair removal! It is a universally acknowledged fact that hair removal can be a real faff, especially in the summer. Many people even find that they get painful, unsightly ingrown hairs or rashes from waxing, shaving and hair removal creams. I have always suffered from this and it has been a repeated source of annoyance for me since I was a teenager. When I heard about laser hair removal I decided to investigate the treatment as a possibility for myself.
I was very pleasantly surprised to find that my nearest clinic where laser hair removal was available wasn’t a long drive away but nestled in the village of Fontmell. The Fontmell Clinic, who’s customers travel from Dorset,Somerset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and as far afield as London, offered this and many other services so I booked a free consultation to find out more about the treatment and the clinic.
My initial consultation was with Shin Tollfree a friendly and experienced nurse who put me immediately at ease and fully explained the treatment to me. I would need between 4 and 6 session with a minimum of 5 weeks in between treatments. Hair removal can only be done on hair that has pigment (ie not blonde or white). After finding out about my history and checking my skin was suitable Shin did a test on a small area to make sure she had the correct settings and then as there were no contraindications I was able to have my first session straight away which I was very pleased about. I’ll be honest, the sensation of the laser can be slightly uncomfortable – similar to the flicking of an elastic band against the skin but this is offset by anesthetic creams and the laser also delivers an ice cold blast to further numb any sensation. The Laser that they use at The Fontmell Clinic is the YAG laser which is x times stronger than an IPL laser which means that usually less sessions are needed.
I began to notice a difference after the first session and each session the hair regrowth is less and less. You can continue to shave and use hair removal creams in between sessions. After the first treatment I noticed a significant reduction in ingrowing hairs and hair regrowth. Now almost at the end of the treatment I very rarely get them and my hair regrowth has decreased significantly. It has made such a difference to my confidence as the appearance of my skin has changed so dramatically and personally I feel it was a very worthwhile investment.
There is a large variety of other treatments offered at the clinic by their highly qualified staff Shin Tollfree and Dr Geoff Lewis. The clinic manager Nikki is incredibly helpful and I have been impressed by the consistently friendly and professional approach and of course their experience and extensive knowledge of the treatments. I am a busy working mum I found the team were very flexible with appointment times which is a real bonus when you are navigating work and school runs! There are many treatments available at The Fontmell Clinic, including their very popular SkinCeutical Salicylic Peel which minimizes the appearance of surface lines, smooths rough skin texture and aids in clearing acne. If you are considering one of the treatments they offer I would highly recommenced getting in touch with them and having a chat. You can be sure of honest, knowledgeable and something advice. I am very glad I went ahead with the treatment and am looking forward to the visiting the beach with a lot less trepidation this year!
Blackmore Vale Magazine February 2015
Acne relief available at Fontmell Clinic
The surface of our skin, especially the face, suffers wear and tear from environmental and hormonal factors and requires routine maintenance. Chemical exfoliation peels are considered to be one of the most popular, effective methods of rejuvenating the skin. Using a controlled chemical reaction, chemical peels diminish the appearance of fine lines, improve skin tone, and shrink blood vessels and pores, resulting in a clear, smooth and younger-looking complexion. They soften fine lines, treat acne scars and improve skin’s texture, imperfections and discolouration by removing damaged outer layers to expose the younger-looking skin underneath with often excellent results.
If you suffer from acne, the SkinCeuticals salicylic peels really do make a difference. Fontmell Clinic recommends a course of six peels at weekly intervals.
The Micropeel 30 glycolic peel is a chemical exfoliation using 30 per cent glycolic acid, to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation, laxity, dullness, and skin imperfections in a series of four to six procedures at two weekly intervals.
What causes acne?
Hormones
For the majority of acne sufferers, outbreaks begin at puberty because the body begins to produce hormones called androgens. These hormones cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge, which is a natural part of the body’s development but for acne sufferers these glands are overstimulated. Androgens are also responsible for acne flare-ups associated with the menstrual cycle and, on occasion, pregnancy.
Oily skin
When the sebaceous gland is stimulated by androgens, it produces extra sebum (oil). Sebum mixes with common skin bacteria and dead skin cells that have been shed from the lining of the follicle. While this process is normal, the presence of extra sebum in the follicle increases the chances of clogging and can cause acne. Stress levels have also affected sebum production and can increase severity of acne.
Bacteria
The bacterium Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes for short) are present on all skins and are part of the skins natural sebum maintenance system. Once a follicle is plugged, P. acnes bacteria multiply rapidly, creating the chemical reaction we know as inflammation in the follicle and surrounding skin.
Inflammation
When you are exposed to unwanted bacteria, your immune system sends in an army of white blood cells to attack. This is why pimples can be red, swollen and painful. The inflammatory response is different for everyone, but studies have shown that it is especially strong in adult women.
Dr Lewis at Fontmell Clinic offers a free initial consultation to discuss the condition, your history and available treatment options.
It may be that with active acne a course of antibiotics is initially necessary. Red scars can be removed using the V Beam Perfecta laser, ideal for pigment removal.
Call Nikki on 01747 812718 for further details or to make an appointment.
Blackmore Vale Magazine January 2018
Microneedling
Micro needling – ouch! Why would I want that?!
Dr Molly Anderson
We have been offering Dermapen micro needling treatments at the Fontmell Clinic since June but not everyone knows what this is – including my own sister! Here I explain to her why I love it…
Kitty: Ok, so please explain to me why I would want lots of little needles jabbed into my face?
Molly: Don’t panic. It’s nothing scary. Basically, as we age we lose collagen – the wonderful stuff that makes our skin look smooth and plump. Micro needling works by creating light trauma to the skin, which then stimulates the production of collagen and elastin therefore improving the look and texture of our skin.
K: Is this a completely new treatment or am I just way behind the times?
M: The idea of needling may have been around for hundreds, even thousands, of years, starting with ancient Chinese, Indian and Egyptian health practices. However, needling for cosmetic and medical purposes is relatively new. In 2004 the first dermal roller was introduced. Dermapen came on the scene about four years ago and is a more technologically advanced process.
It has evolved over that time and we use the dermapen3, which is the latest and most advanced professional model.
K: So, how does it work exactly?
M: It is a pen shaped device with a disposable tip, which has lots of little needles. It moves quickly up and down as you glide across the skin – creating that micro trauma that we talked about earlier. The vertical needle insertion reduces pain and unwanted damage and the small size of the tip means the dermapen can treat hard to reach areas such as those around the eyes and nose.
The little punctures can also act as micro-channels to help products used on the skin penetrate more deeply for an increased effect.
K: But doesn’t it hurt?
M: It really isn’t that bad. Because the tip moves up and down so fast it is more of a buzzing sensation on the skin.
K: What can it help with? I could do with a bit of a skin boost. Oh, and I have a scar on my back from where I had a mole removed – could it help this?
M: Micro needling can be used to treat fine lines, wrinkles, scarring from acne, surgery or trauma, stretch mark, pigmentation… and more!
You will start seeing results after the first treatment but courses are usually 4-6 treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart.
I like that the dermapen treats the whole face so there are no areas that are “done” or “not done”. The results are natural and glowing.
K: How would it fit into my overall beauty regimen?
M: It works best alongside an effective skin care regime (though we might need to discuss vitamin C, AHAs and retinol another day…) – so get your skin prepped first ideally.
There is minimal downtime but you may have some facial redness for 12 – 48 hours following treatments, so I wouldn’t suggest you have it done right before a big party or event.
It is best to wait several days before or after injections for fine lines and wrinkles but the treatments do compliment each other, and can work really well alongside facial peels also.
K: Sounds great! Can I have a voucher for Christmas please?!
M: Oh, go on then…!
Great skin can have a huge impact on our self-confidence. At the Fontmell Clinic we offer a variety of clinic and home based treatments that can really make a difference to how you look and feel. It’s not “one size fits all” so please come and see us to talk about a personalised care plan. We offer a free initial consultation. And, of course, gift vouchers for Christmas..!
Dermapen treatments start at £150.
Dr Molly Anderson is a GP with a special interest in skin and women’s health.
Call Nikki on 01747 812718 for further details or to make an appointment.