My neck lines are prominent and with age, they seem to have become more deeply ingrained. I’ve tried many serums and creams, but none of them work. Any advice?
There are many reasons why neck lines could look more ingrained, including weight gain, sun exposure and saggy skin. My advice is that you apply a sunscreen every day to delay sun-induced collagen loss – this would help with saggy skin.
You can also try tightening treatments like Thermage or Ulthera – both usually have minimal or no downtime – after which you could go for renewal lasers. You might also want to follow up with softer fillers to boost moisture content and improve skin texture – these will, however, result in multiple needle marks and you will need a few sessions.
Maintain the results with moisturisers with SPF, and avoid stressing the neck muscles further as this will cause your neck area to look old and lined.
Although I do not use oil-based skincare on my eye area, I have milia seeds there. My beautician removed some successfully with a needle, but they resurfaced a few months later. Are milia seeds hereditary (my mum and aunts also have them) and can they be removed permanently?
Milia seeds are actually keratin trapped under the skin surface and can be caused by many factors, including genetics, constant rubbing of the skin, long-term sun damage and skin sensitivity to resurfacing procedures like microdermabrasion.
Preventative measures include avoiding products that can thin your skin, cutting down on abrasive treatments and minimising friction when removing makeup.
Treatments to remove milia seeds include using a sterile needle to pick out the contents, medication such as topical retinoids and laser or radiowave ablation.
In cases whereby milia seeds are caused by genetic factors, the above methods will only remove them, not prevent their formation.
After epilating my bikini line, the pores where the hair follicles were removed looked dark. How can I brighten up my skin again?
Try products with brightening ingredients like vitamin C, arbutin, niacinamide, liquorice extract and low concentrations of alpha hydroxy acids. In future, apply an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory hydrocortisone cream for one to two days immediately after you have epilated. This will help to reduce the degree of inflammation and thus, prevent hyperpigmentation.
Opting for a more permanent hair removal method (like Intense Pulsed Light treatment) can also lower the risk of ingrown hairs, which cause post-epilatory inflammation and hyperpigmentation.
Image: Showbit.com
This story was first published in HerWorld Magazine June 2014.
Hate having troublesome skin problems? Here are 3 quick ways to get rid of whiteheads and milia seeds!
