What can Heliocare skin care products treat?

Exposure to sun and its damaging UV rays is one of the most common causes of skin ageing. This appears in the form of fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation and breaks down collagen and elastin which makes the skin saggier and less elastic. 

Heliocare 360° products are designed to provide your clients with daily sun protection to protect skin health, combat the common signs of ageing and help to prevent further damage.

This guide will provide you with everything you need to know about how Heliocare skin care products work, and how to help your clients choose the right products.

Want to know more? Click the links below: 

• The common causes of premature skin ageing and how to prevent them 
• The importance of sun protection for clients having skin treatments 
• Pigmentation and how to prevent and treat it

The common causes of premature skin ageing and how to prevent them 

Ageing is inevitable and one of the first places to show it is our skin, particularly on our faces. Dry skin, fine lines and wrinkles are the most common signs of ageing and can affect many client’s self-confidence. Premature skin ageing can happen as a result of many lifestyle factors and behaviours. These can be changed and skin care routines can help to slow down signs of ageing and prevent further signs from appearing. 

As we age, our skin cell turnover slows down and we produce less collagen and elastin. This is when fine lines and wrinkles start to appear, and our skin loses its luminosity.

However, there are a number of causes of premature skin ageing that your clients should be aware of and steps they can take to prevent skin ageing or slow the effects down. 

The cause: Smoking 
The result: Toxins expose the skin to oxidative stress which breaks down elasticity and can limit the amount of oxygen skin receives which results in wrinkles or sagging skin. 
The prevention: Break the habit! 

The cause: Sun Exposure 
The result: This is one of the most common signs of premature skin ageing as the sun’s rays damage the skin by causing oxidative stress, breaking down collagen and damaging skin cell DNA among other things. This results in impaired skin health, lines and wrinkles, patches of pigmentation and a thickening of the skin.
The prevention: Wear high-level broad spectrum protection daily.

The cause: Diet 
The result: A diet high in sugar and refined carbs can damage skin over time. In addition, alcohol and caffeine dehydrate the skin, causing it to sag and lose its shape. 
The prevention: Eat a well balanced diet 

The cause: The Environment 
The result: Environmental pollutants can cause damage to the skin which can trigger pigmentation and wrinkles. 
The prevention: Protect skin with a well-balanced skincare routine, rich in anti-oxidants.

The importance of sun protection for clients having skin treatments 

Sun protection is recommended all year round to maintain healthy skin but it is particularly important for your clients after they have received cosmetic procedures. 

Why is sun protection important after treatments? 

The key reason sun protection is vital for your clients after any cosmetic treatment is that many of them leave the skin in a sensitive and vulnerable state.

Many popular cosmetic treatments result in controlled trauma to the skin. This prompts the skin to heal itself which rejuvenates the skin, leaving it looking brighter and smoother. During this process, skin is highly sensitive and more prone to damage from the sun. 

Sun exposure can cause damage to the skin after treatment and affect the results of the treatment. Without protection in place, the skin will experience damage that can harm it’s health and appearance. It also increases the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) in the treated area. 

The Heliocare 360° range is designed for use by everyone so there are products to suit every skin type and all ages. It provides a high level of skin protection at the surface and from within, helping to manage the risk of PIH and keep skin healthy – essential post aesthetic procedures. 
Heliocare products contain Fernblock, a unique extract of the tropical fern Polypodium leucotomos. This aquatic fern evolved to adapt to life on land by developing natural protective mechanisms against solar radiation. This natural power is harnessed to protect the skin against damage caused by UVA, UVB, visible light and infrared-A.

Fernblock is clinically proven to:

• Protect our skin’s immune system^1,2,3,4
• Neutralise harmful free radicals^5,6
• Prevent hyperpigmentation^7,8
• Prevent and repair DNA damage^10,11
• Prevent photo-ageing^12,13,14

Pigmentation and how to prevent and treat it 

Pigmentation (also known as hyperpigmentation) is darker areas of the skin. Pigmentation is common and affects all skin types. It occurs when skin produces more melanin than usual and the excess pigment is deposited deep within the skin, giving it a darker look than the skin around it. 

Types of pigmentation 

There are different types of pigmentation that it’s important to be aware of before you can treat it effectively. 

Melasma 

Melasma is commonly caused by hormonal changes and can often develop in pregnancy. It can appear on most areas of the body but is commonly on the stomach or the face. 

Age spots 

Age spots occur as a result of excess sun exposure over time. This pigmentation appears as spots on the areas most commonly exposed to the sun such as forehead, around the eyes and on the rest of the face and neck. 

Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)

This happens as a result of injury or inflammation to the skin such as acne lesions or eczema. It can also occur after a number of cosmetic procedures – a particular risk for those with darker skin.

The common causes of pigmentation 

There are a number of different causes of pigmentation. Advising your clients on how they can protect their skin and prevent pigmentation from occurring or to improve it’s appearance can help them to prevent damage in the future. 

• Sun damage – The sun’s rays are highly damaging to skin and this damage can often appear in the form of age spots. Sunlight exposure triggers the production of melanin which is what protects the skin from further damage. However, excessive sun exposure can exacerbate this and hyperpigmentation can become darker and more prominent. 
• Ageing – as we age, the cells that create melanin, melanocytes, decline. But the ones that remain can become overactive and produce concentrated patches of pigmentation.
• Hormones – a combination of hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, as well as exposure to sunlight can increase the risk of hyperpigmentation. 

How to prevent pigmentation caused by sun damage 

There are a number of precautions you can advise your clients to take to help prevent pigmentation caused by sun damage in the future. 

• Wear high-level, broad spectrum SPF every day
• Wear clothing or hats that block sunlight 
• Avoid the sun when it’s at its strongest
• Avoid using sunbeds 

How can you help your clients treat pigmentation?

The good news for your clients is that pigmentation can be treated. There are a number of products that can be used to reduce pigmentation and prevent further damage for occurring. 

Look out for products with the following ingredients to help treat pigmentation effectively: 

Retinoids 

Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives and can reduce the appearance of pigmentation by speeding up natural skin cell turnover. 

L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) 

Vitamin C is a very potent antioxidant that is known for its skin brightening and anti-ageing capabilities that neutralise free radicals and limit the damage caused by excessive sun exposure. 

When looking for effective daily-use SPF, there are also ingredients that can help to prevent and manage pigmentation caused by sun damage. Every Heliocare product contains:

Fernblock 

A supercharged, fern derived antioxidant that fights and neutralises free radicals in the skin. It is backed by significant clinical data and is the result of years of research and development. 

Mineral and non-mineral filters 

The optimum combination of mineral and non-mineral filters protect the skin at the surface from UVA to UVB. Every Heliocare product offers at least SPF50 protection. 

DNA Repair Enzymes 

DNA Repair Enzymes for the skin repair the nucleus and mitochondria of DNA and can reduce free radical damage. 

References:
¹ Torricelli P, et al. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2017;33(3):156-63.
² Middelkamp-Hup MA, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;51(6):910-8. 
³ Capote R, et al. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2006;82(3):173-9.
⁴ Middelkamp-Hup MA, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;50(1):41-9.
⁵ Inhibition of ultraviolet-induced formulation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, erythema and photosensitization by Polypodium leucotomos. Gonzalez & Pathak. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 1996;12:45-56.
⁶ Fernblock Prevents Dermal Cell Damage Induced by Visible and Infrared A Radiation. Zamarrón, Lorrio, González and Juarranz. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 2250.
⁷ Goh CL, et al. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2018;11(3):14-9.
⁸ Mohammad TF, Lim HW et al. Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit. Presentations SOCS & Society of  Photomedicine, AAD 2016.
⁹ Torricelli P, et al. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2017;33(3):156-63.
¹⁰ Middelkamp-Hup MA, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;51(6):910-8. 
¹¹ Zattra E, et al. Am J Pathol. 2009;175(5):1952-61.
¹² Alonso-Lebrero JL, et al. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2003;70(1):31-7.
¹³ Phillips N, et al. Arch Dermatol Res. 2009;301(7):487-95.
¹⁴ Zamarron A, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 ;19(8). pii: E2250.