Organic therapies for anti-ageing
Written in association with:
Dentist
Published: 25/09/2019
Edited by: Cal Murphy
Ageing. It's something that affects us all. However, that doesn’t stop us from trying to fight the signs of ageing from appearing on our bodies. Rather than introducing man-made chemicals or toxins into our bodies, are there organic options for anti-ageing treatment?
Leading dental implant surgeon and facial aesthetics expert, Dr Haidar Hassan, is here to explain how targeting our own biological factors can help fight off the passing of time.
The quest for younger-looking skin
We are learning more and more about the biological processes involved in ageing and at the same time, new techniques are constantly being developed to slow down or reverse these processes.
Cosmetic techniques developed over the years include:
Deep chemical peels Laser resurfacing
Anti-ageing treatments like these are safe when performed by trained medical professionals, and have become commonplace, although they vary in how effective and invasive they are.
The way they work is to essentially injure the outer layer of the skin (epidermis), causing an inflammatory reaction in the lower layer (dermis). This causes new collagen and skin to be produced. However, there are several drawbacks to damaging the skin’s surface, including:
The skin needs time to recover Increase risks of post-procedural complications Increases sensitivity to sun damage
Automated percutaneous collagen induction therapy (PCI)
PCI, or medical microneedling, causes targeted micro-trauma by inserting tiny, sterile needles into the upper and mid layers of the skin. These pin-pricks stimulate a wave of healing across the skin, with cells producing fresh collagen to repair the miniscule injuries, while doing minimal damage to the epidermis. This speeds up recovery time, with most patients ready to resume normal activity the following day. It also reduces the odds of complications post-treatment.
Platelet-rich concentrates (PRC)
Platelets are an important component of our blood plasma, which assist the healing process. By isolating this organic resource, we can create platelet-rich concentrates (PRCs) to be used in anti-ageing therapy, either alone, or in conjunction with another treatment. PRC is thought to stimulate the production of collagen, elastin, anti-inflammatory factors and several other regenerative components from certain skin cells. It also contains growth factors, which help to accelerate recovery.
PCI + PRC = Better organic bang for your buck
Some of these rejuvenating treatments work especially well in combination. The two aforementioned treatments, PCI and PRCs seem to have a significantly greater anti-ageing effect when used together, resulting in their growing popularity.
Other advantages include:
Both are non-invasive. They are considered more natural approaches than some of the alternatives. They carry little to no risk of allergic reactions They are safe when used with patients of any skin tone, with no risk of affecting pigmentation. Both are relatively inexpensive compared to invasive treatment.
However, the effects of the treatment do not appear instantly. A series of treatments, usually a few weeks apart, are necessary to achieve the desired result. The skin needs to be given time to rejuvenate.
For more information on organic rejuvenating treatments or to book an appointment, visit Dr Haidar Hassan's Top Doctors profile today.