We Ask Dr Helen Marsden What Springtime Means for Our Skin

What condition is our skin in following the winter months?

Winter can be harsh and incredibly drying on the skin. The air outside is cold, so we increase the heating inside. The impact of both on our skin is that many of us are suffering with dryness, flaking and redness. And that’s before we add a bit of maskne into the mix!

The most common thing I hear at the moment is that people are tired of looking tired and are fed up with a dull, lacklustre and dehydrated complexion. Healthy, radiant skin is on everyone’s wish list right now.

How would you say the added pressures of lockdown has impacted that?

We know that the repeated release of the stress hormone, cortisol, can accelerate the ageing process. Over the last year, most people have had increased stress levels. According to a recent survey, almost 4 million women feel that the pandemic has aged them by at least 5 years, resulting in more people than ever before now considering aesthetic treatments for the first time.

Blemishes – Vitamin A is often applied to the skin in the form of retinol. Retinol stimulates skin cell turnover and regeneration As a result, it’s great for correcting blemishes and blotchiness associated with problematic skin.

Moisturiser – as the weather warms up, our skin will require less moisture and so there’ll be less need for oil-based products. So reassess which moisturiser you’re using too.

Sun Protection – Probably the most vital step – and the most overlooked – is the use of SPF to protect the skin. Adequate SPF is needed to prevent pigmentation and reduce the signs of ageing caused by UV exposure. SPF 30 is enough over the winter months, but spring and summer require an SPF of 50 to properly protect the skin. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that SPF isn’t required if the weather is cloudy or if the temperature isn’t warm. It is most definitely required.

What are your most popular treatments around this time of year?

Profhilo bookings are currently very popular. Profhilo is an injectable treatment that stimulates the body’s own collagen and elastin.

I’ve been providing profhilo treatment for years now but it seems to have taken the country by storm recently. I’ve noticed it on chat shows and in beauty magazines, with a lot of celebrity endorsement. And rightly so – it’s a fabulous product for tightening, brightening and rejuvenating the face and neck, as well as other areas of the body.

Another popular treatment is WOW fusion, which is a combination of micro needling and mesotherapy with a hyper-personalised skincare cocktail tailored to suit the individual’s skin care issues or concerns. This is great for brightening the skin and can be used to help dullness, redness, acne and signs of ageing. It can also be combined with prescription-only products for further treatment options. The post-WOW glow looks and feels great!

What are your top products for achieving glowing Spring skin?

pHformula’s EXFO cleanse – a gentle exfoliating cleanser removing the need for exfoliators and toners. It contains active products to loosen and remove impurities any dead skin cells, and is suitable for all skin types. A real hero product.

Synergy-6 – a lightly tinted moisturiser, suitable for all skin types and colours, and with SPF 50. This provides super moisturisation, a lovely glow and optimal skin protection. It feels amazing on the skin and can be used on its own or under makeup.

Teoxane’s Perfect Skin Refiner – this is a rich, overnight renewal cream containing glycolic acid for exfoliation, resurfacing and skin renewal whilst you sleep.

Skinade is a wonderful skincare drink, with high doses of marine collagen and packed with vitamins to treat your skin from within. It gives amazing results and almost everyone continues to use it after trying it.