SkinFirm Cosmetic Clinic

Skin ageing is so much more complex than collagen loss.

One of the reasons I’ve been enjoying learning about Universkin is the way they look at the skin as a whole, the barrier, inflammation, cellular protection, regeneration, resilience and the structures we want to preserve as we age.

Their Inflamarker P-HC Technology was particularly interesting to learn about because rather than relying on one hero ingredient, different peptides and essential fatty acids have specific roles in supporting how the skin functions.

This is also why understanding the science behind a range is so important to me. I want to know why ingredients have been chosen, how they work together and the research and development that has gone into a formulation, so I can then pass that knowledge on to my clients.

Because good skincare shouldn’t just be about chasing individual ingredients or trends. It should be about understanding what your skin actually needs.

Skin longevity over quick fixes.

A night with Harry Arampatzis, founder of Universkin.

Universkin is a new addition to SkinFirm, so having such an intimate evening with Harry and being able to ask him questions directly was incredibly valuable.

He spoke about the patented technology behind Universkin, the years of work that have gone into developing and perfecting the formulations, and gave us an insight into some of the new products coming into the range.

Understanding the science behind the products I use in clinic is so important to me. I want to understand the research, the technology and why something has been formulated the way it has, not simply what it claims to do.

That knowledge then gets passed on to my clients, so they can understand what they’re putting on their skin, why I’ve chosen it for them and what we’re actually trying to achieve.

Such a valuable night of learning, and lots more to come from Universkin at SkinFirm.

Give it a go guys! Feels great 😂

GLP-1 medications aren’t necessarily “ageing” your face, but rapid weight loss can make changes that were already happening beneath the skin much more noticeable.

And for women in their 40s, 50s and beyond, there can be several things happening at once.

Menopause brings a decline in oestrogen, which affects collagen, elasticity and skin thickness. Normal ageing is already gradually reducing collagen and facial volume. Then add significant or rapid weight loss, and we can lose some of the fat that was previously providing structure and support to the face.

The result can be a sudden change in how the skin looks and feels more laxity, less firmness, changes through the lower face and neck, and a more noticeable loss of facial volume.

This is why we don’t look at “GLP-1 face” as one isolated problem.

It’s often a combination of ageing + hormonal change + volume loss happening at the same time.

From a skin perspective, my focus is on what we can influence: skin quality, collagen, elasticity, hydration and overall skin health.

And that’s where consistency with the right treatments and home care becomes really important.

Clients and clinicians now have access to information that would have been incredibly difficult to find even 10 years ago.

You can photograph a skincare product and have its ingredients explained to you. Compare two products side-by-side. Compare LED masks based on wavelengths, irradiance and treatment times rather than marketing alone. Research different lasers and treatments before you book. And importantly, ask better questions when you come in for a consultation.

AI isn’t always right, and it certainly doesn’t replace an experienced clinician or a proper skin assessment.

But I love that it’s giving clients the tools to become more educated, curious and informed about their own skin.

Terry Dubrow recently described us as the lucky generation to experience AI, and when you think about how much access to information we already have, I can see exactly what he means.

And we’re really only at the beginning.

GLP-1 medications aren’t necessarily “ageing” your face, rapid and significant weight loss can change the structures that were supporting it.

As facial fat reduces, particularly through the cheeks and temples, we can start to see more hollowing, laxity, fine lines and changes in facial contours. Rapid weight loss can also affect collagen, elastin, muscle mass and overall skin quality, so the skin may not retract at the same rate that the volume underneath it is changing.

This is why I prefer to think about supporting the skin throughout the weight-loss journey, rather than waiting until significant laxity has already developed.

The approach will always depend on the individual, but may include:

Laser Genesis to support overall skin health, circulation and collagen stimulation while we work on getting the skin barrier healthy and functioning well.

Skin needling to stimulate the skin’s natural wound-healing response and encourage new collagen production. I generally recommend an initial course of around 3–6 treatments, followed by maintenance approximately every 3 months.

Pearl Fractional as a more intensive resurfacing treatment, usually around once a year, to target skin texture, firmness and collagen remodelling.

And importantly, consistency.

Collagen remodelling is slow. There isn’t one treatment that can replace lost facial fat or completely prevent laxity after substantial weight loss. The aim is to continually support the quality, strength and function of the skin as the face changes.

A thorough consultation is so important because not every person losing weight needs the same treatment plan. Your age, skin quality, amount and speed of weight loss, facial volume loss, lifestyle, nutrition and where you are in your weight-loss journey all matter.

GLP-1 medications can have incredible health benefits. This isn’t about discouraging their use, It’s about understanding the changes that can come with significant weight loss and being proactive about supporting your skin along the way.

Healthy skin first. Collagen stimulation second. Consistency always.

“Ozempic face” isn’t really about Ozempic, it’s about rapid weight loss.

When we lose weight quickly, we don’t get to choose where that volume comes from. The face can lose some of its underlying fat too, particularly through the cheeks, temples and around the mouth.

That sudden reduction in facial volume can make the skin appear looser, flatter or more aged, especially if collagen and elastin have already naturally declined with age.

And this isn’t unique to Ozempic. The same changes can happen with any significant or rapid weight loss.

So rather than blaming the medication, I look at what has actually changed in the skin: volume, collagen, elasticity and overall skin quality.

From a skin perspective, that’s where treatments that support collagen and elastin production can become really valuable.

One of the first things I look at when assessing pigmentation is where the pigment is actually sitting in the skin.

Epidermal pigment sits more superficially and often presents as freckles, sun spots and mottled pigmentation from cumulative UV exposure. This is very different to deeper or hormonally driven pigmentation such as melasma, and it needs to be treated differently.

For suitable epidermal pigment, I love LimeLight IPL because melanin absorbs the light energy. The targeted pigment will often look darker immediately afterwards before gradually lifting and shedding over the following 7–14 days.

The treatment also creates controlled heat within the skin, which can support collagen remodelling and improvements in overall skin quality over a course of treatments.

And an interesting one, if you’ve had IPL before and certain sun spots just haven’t shifted, it doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t be treated. For suitable, well-defined superficial lesions, I can use my Q-switched 532 nm laser to target the pigment more specifically.

This is why I don’t treat all pigmentation with the same device. Depth, type and cause of pigment matter.

What if an ingredient could help skin look firmer and more toned, and the improvements didn’t immediately disappear when you stopped using it?

Meet DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol), an active related to choline that has been studied for its effects on ageing skin.

Research has shown improvements in the appearance of fine lines, forehead lines and overall firmness and interestingly, in one study, some improvements remained during the two weeks after treatment stopped.

A fascinating active to consider when loss of firmness, tone and skin quality are becoming a concern.

Pigmentation after pregnancy is so common but not all pigmentation is the same 🤎

This gorgeous new mum came in concerned about pigmentation that had become more noticeable post-baby. On assessment, I could see that much of what we were looking at was surface-level pigment and sun damage, rather than deeper dermal pigmentation.

She was right on the cusp of being suitable for IPL, but with carefully selected settings, I felt confident we could treat her skin safely and effectively.

Immediately after treatment: minimal heat and beautiful darkening of the surface pigment — exactly the response I wanted to see.

The next day: her skin was already very settled with minimal inflammation, while the pigment had continued to darken nicely.

Over the next 7–14 days, that darkened pigment will gradually lift and lighten as the skin turns over.

This is why a proper skin assessment is so important. Pigmentation isn’t one-size-fits-all, and choosing the right treatment, and the right settings, makes all the difference.

Can’t wait to show you her results 🤎

Individual results and suitability for IPL vary. A consultation and skin assessment are essential before treatment.