Under the Skin of Skin Health with Lyndsay

We’ve said it before, and no doubt, we’ll have to say it again. And again, because it’s an essential message to get across: Looking after yourself isn’t selfish. Caring for your skin is NOT vanity. Skin health should be taken seriously.

If you’re a keen quizzer, you’re bound to have been asked – maybe even struggled – to name the largest bodily organ. Liver? Lungs? No. It’s your skin. That’s a fact. A scientific, inescapable, irrefutable FACT. It makes sense to look after it better now, doesn’t it? We’ve talked before about the known self-esteem, confidence, and mental well-being aspects of looking and therefore feeling your best, but this is more. Looking after your skin properly is essential for your PHYSICAL health, too.

What IS the Skin?

Here’s some more useful skin health information, statistics, and potentially surprising facts for you:

• The skin is the largest organ of the human body.
• An average human’s skin weighs 8lb.
• The average surface area would be 22sq feet.
• Skin relies on certain nutrients for health.
• Studies have linked gut imbalances to skin microbiome imbalances and conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and rosacea
• Sixty per cent of the UK population have had – or currently have – a skin condition.
• 20% of all children have eczema.
• 70% of those with skin conditions or scarring report a detrimental effect on their confidence.
• And the big one, as discussed in our last blog: There are at least 100,000 new cases of skin cancer reported EVERY YEAR in the UK alone.

More details on some of these statistics can be found on the British Skin Foundations’s website.

What Does Skin Do?

The skin performs six vital functions for the human body:

1. Provides a protective barrier.
2. Prevents loss of moisture.
3. Reduces harmful effects of UV radiation.
4. Acts as a sensory organ (touch, detects temperature).
5. Helps regulate temperature.
6. An immune organ to detect infections

Now, do you start to see why skin care is SO critical? It’s something we’ve known for a long time and which we’re pretty zealous about teaching. And that’s why it was SO important to find someone just right to join me in clinic. So, if you haven’t already, meet Lyndsay.

Meet Skin Specialist Lyndsay

Lyndsay’s interest in skin began late in high school. Like many of us, she’d plaster makeup on, desperately trying to hide redness and outbreaks. It didn’t help. Then, starting work at the airport, a big chunk of her wages went on all the latest supposed must-have, well-advertised products. That didn’t help, either. Expensive lotions and potions were ditched after a few weeks. Lyndsay longed to understand what she needed for her skin and why.

Despite Lyndsay’s interest and knowledge, short-sighted and misguided careers advisors suggested the beauty therapy and skincare profession wasn’t a good choice, so a career in finance followed. However, Lyndsay continued seeking information on skin and skincare blogs. She also produced her own, as part of her dissertation, all whilst trying to understand why her skin was so sensitive and prone to redness and burst veins. That fascination never faded, so Lyndsay never tires of learning about skin and, more importantly, the science behind it all. Her degree and her academic side come in handy. She’s not interested in products in fancy pots that merely look and smell good. She wants results; proof of why and how skincare products work. The chemistry and formulation of a product are key to this.

Learning All About Skin

As Lyndsay learnt more about skin and suitable skincare products, she began to use peels and micro-needling to ease her skin problems. Furthermore, she realised that her skin problem had a name, rosacea, and what triggered it. For Lyndsay, triggers are excessive heat changes, alcohol (boo) and spicy foods. It’s not all bad, though:

“I still enjoy a drink or an occasional curry, but now I’m armed with the knowledge and experience to minimise and even repair the damage.”
Now, she swears by the superb AlumierMD range:
“I use the Sensi Calm cleanser, which gently removes oils and calms my sensitive skin. Calm-R serum combined with the Ultimate Boost serum protects and soothes my skin, preventing further barrier damage. Add the Moisture Matt Mineral Sunscreen to that, and I’m happy with how my skin looks. Most days, anyway – though as I approach my late thirties, under-eye bags are another matter. Fortunately, when the time comes, I’m in the right place. I know Amy will be able to help.”

Career Goals and Skin Goals

Accountancy to skincare and wellness may appear an unusual career development, but Lyndsay’s work was in schools and hospitals, so along with her own’ in-depth research and knowledge, she was well-equipped. Then, stepping back to help grow her partner’s business, she looked for a new challenge – working from home afforded her time to start officially learning.

“I’d looked into it many times, but it was never the ‘right time’. Babies, exams, job promotions, real life – all took me further away from skin and deeper into finance. But now, I took the leap and enrolled on various regulated, worldwide-acknowledged VTCT facial courses. Then, I spent additional time training on courses with Sandra McCoy Skin, the trainer for Skin Viva Medics.

By 2020, I was well qualified, but successive lockdowns and restrictions decimated the aesthetic and beauty industry. One night last year, I saw Amy’s post on social media. Amy needed someone to work purely on the skin side of things in her clinic. Obviously, with such an excellent reputation, it couldn’t be just ‘anyone’. We’d never met before, but I can guarantee our paths would’ve crossed in the hospital over the years! I sent her my CV, we chatted, and I visited the clinic. The rest is history. Well, except for the bit where I dislocated my knee! Fortunately, I could spend lots of time shadowing Amy in clinic and working behind the scenes until I was back on my feet.

The thing I’ve learnt most from Amy is to know that you are providing the best available advice and recommendations that suit the individuals. None of us is the same; that’s normal. Amy’s attention to detail and the medical knowledge she provides to every patient before proceeding is impressive, and it’s clear that patients feel safe and reassured within the clinic.”

Skin Health; Inner Health, and Happiness

“Now, my favourite treatments to have and to perform are skin peels. Skin peels really target concerns deeper down than products alone can. The range we have in clinic can be customised and adapted in strength. This means each treatment is tailored perfectly to help see the improvement patients want. I love helping to educate patients on their skin needs and the reasons behind their concerns. We’re arming our patients with the knowledge and confidence to look after their skin in the best way possible. It really does make me happy to give them that boost. More importantly, it makes our patients happy, too – and THAT’S what it’s all about.”

That sums it up nicely. Skincare is important. The skin is important. Taking good care of the skin, using the right products, and knowing how to treat skin concerns and skin conditions – all important. VERY important. Being well, mentally and physically, feeling confident and being happy are all just as important, and we’re proud and happy to help make that happen.
Are you ready to feel well? Contact us today.