Why treatments come last: inside our 4-Step Beauty Programme™
At Skinfresh, treatments are step four of four. Here is the thinking behind the order, in Dr Frances's own approach.
Most clinics start with the treatment menu. We start somewhere else entirely, and it is the reason our results hold.
Step one: lifestyle
Sleep, exercise and a personalised diet come first. Be in bed and asleep by 10.30pm; if sleep is difficult, ask us about melatonin, which supports sleep and has antioxidant properties. Exercise regularly so your tissues get the oxygen they need, and eat a variety of colourful vegetables so your skin gets its antioxidants from the inside.
Step two: biochemistry and hormones
Your skin is the largest organ of your body, so it makes logical as well as scientific sense for your nutrition, biochemistry and hormones to be accurate and balanced. Our nurses often blood-test patients who come to us with acne, rosacea or melasma, because we regularly find deficiencies we can correct: vitamin D, B12, iron and zinc are the most common. An underactive thyroid is often missed and can sit behind acne and stubborn pigmentation.
Step three: personalised skincare
Morning: an antioxidant serum, followed by a sunblock moisturiser. Evening: a vitamin A derived serum or cream, with a night cream containing antioxidants. Exfoliate twice weekly, before your shower.
Step four: treatments, last
Medically supervised, our nurses recommend what is right for your concerns, what suits you, and what you can afford over a suitable time frame. We know the value of combining treatments for better results. And we will often advise you not to have more treatments when we do not think you would benefit from them. That honesty is the whole point of the order.