Tis the season of dry skin for Brits

As the countdown to Christmas begins, many of us are preparing our homes for the colder months ahead as we layer up, and turn up our indoor heating. Whilst the temperature has dropped drastically in recent weeks, you may have also found that your skin has become drier, or irritated. With the combination of exposure to cold outdoor air, dry indoor heat, decreased humidity levels, and a harsher winter wind it is likely that your skin has been zapped of essential moistures. Research from the National Library of Medicine explain this, as we have fewer lipids in our skin barrier, subjecting us to dryness and itchiness.

Cosmetic innovators, Uvence, found in their landmark research that 22% of the nation feel that their skin during the winter months causes them to look five years older. Equally, almost half of Brits agree that the winter weather makes their skin less able to recover from damage. Dr Olivier Amar, leading cosmetic surgeon and CMO of Uvence, suggests that treatment ought to be preventative rather than retrospective, by gradually introducing naturally-based remedies to combat dull, tired-looking skin.

While the idea of pre-emptive treatments is often associated with baby Botox, in which patients start with small doses to stop the wrinkles from appearing in the first place, there are now a plethora of new-age treatments designed to maintain a youthful look from the outset. Many of these are more naturally based, ranging from PRP to Uvence, as 6 million Brits are mindful of introducing unnatural substances into their body.

Dr Olivier Amar, leading cosmetic surgeon and CMO of Uvence, is keen to discuss the following:

Why patients are taking pre-emptive measures with cosmetics, rather than after the fact
What cosmetic treatments are set to boom in 2022
How the cosmetic arena has diversified in the wake of the pandemic
What treatments have been most popular over the past year
Dr Olivier Amar, leading cosmetic surgeon and CMO of Uvence, discusses how our skin concerns shift according to changing external environments:

“We should be taking care of our skin all year round, but giving some extra care and attention during the winter is a popular and pragmatic approach. However, while pre-emptive rather than retrospective cosmetic treatments can be an effective way to maintain a refreshed appearance, too much too fast can age you. Every patient is different – which is why I always recommend a bespoke plan – it is important to take a slow and steady approach with any cosmetic procedure.

Having said this, skin issues are likely to improve over time, and while it is understandable that many people will want to address their concerns using cosmetic treatments, I would advise to wait until you know this is the best option for you. There are many alternative options out there aside from cosmetic treatments, and doing your research will help you to identify what avenue is most suited.

Now, patients often look for naturally based answers to their skin concerns. Uvence is one example of a regenerative treatment, which cryogenically preserves purified extracts of a patient’s own fat tissue for reinjection in the form of a ‘biofiller’. In other words, although our bodies are naturally equipped with the resources needed to slow the ageing process, it doesn’t always have enough of them to be effective. Taking fat cells from other areas of the body, such as the stomach, and redistributing them to areas that are in need of rejuvenation therefore maximises the body’s natural ability to slow ageing.”