Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes white patches to develop on the skin. The areas that are affected have little or no melanin. Melanin is a dye-like substance that is produced by specialised skin cells called melanocytes. This gives the skin its colour and protects it from the sun's rays.

Where does vitiligo occur?

Vitiligo can affect any area of your skin, but it most commonly occurs on areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun, such as your face, neck and hands.

Vitiligo is more noticeable in people whose skin is dark or tanned. The condition varies from person to person and for some people, they only get a few small, white patches while other people get bigger white patches. These white patches are usually permanent.

How common is vitiligo? 

It is estimated that about 1 in 100 people develop vitiligo. It usually starts to appear at around 20 years of age, although it can occur at any age. Men and women are both equally affected, as are people of different ethnicities. 

It is not clear what causes vitiligo. It is not infectious and you cannot catch it from contact with someone who has it. The white patches caused by vitiligo are usually permanent, although there are treatment options to improve the appearance of your skin. 

Treatments 

Combination treatments, such as phototherapy and medication, give the best results. In some cases, treatment may restore the pigment to your patches but the effect does not usually last.

At the Claudia McGloin Clinic, we use Platelet Rich Plasma to treat vitiligo. Other options are camouflage make up and concealers to cover up the white patches, and it can help you live a normal life. 

For more information on vitiligo and procedures we offer, please visit the clinic website www.claudiamcgloinclinic.com or call the clinic direct on 0719140728 

Finalist for Blog Awards Ireland 2017

The Claudia McGloin Clinic and Skin Secrets Blog have both made it to the final of the Blog Awards Ireland 2017.

We are absolutely delighted and cannot wait until 5th October 🥂🎉🥂

Blog Awards Ireland 2017 Longlist

Absolutely delighted & overwhelmed that both Skin Secrets and Claudia McGloin Clinic Blogs have made the longlist for the V by Very Blog Awards Ireland 2017  💜

Super proud of my newest baby Skin Secrets as it's only 8 months old 💜

Mrs2Be Brides Choice Awards 2017 Finalist

Absolutely delighted and honoured that the Claudia McGloin Clinic is a finalist for the Mrs2Be Brides Choice Awards 2017 for Best Wedding Related Service 💜

Thank you so much to all our amazing brides that voted for us and chose us to help achieve Picture Perfect Wedding Day Skin 💜

#claudiamcgloinclinic #mrs2bebrideschoiceaward #weddingskin #sligo

Campbell de Morgan

Campbell de Morgan also known as cherry angiomas or blood spots are benign skin growths made up of blood vessels. 

They are bright red and can appear anywhere on the body, but are mostly found on the torso. They range in size from a pinhead to a quarter inch in diameter but are painless. 

What Causes Campbell de Morgan Spots?

Nobody knows for sure what causes them but they may be hereditary and related to hormonal changes. They can affect both men and women and can form in late 30's/40's.

How Are Campbell de Morgan Spots Diagnosed?

A medical professional will usually make a diagnosis just by looking at the spots. While cherry angiomas are non-cancerous, it’s important to make sure you’re not dealing with something more serious. I would recommend having a medical professional check them out if you have red spots or angiomas that bleed, that are painful or itch a lot, or that seem to be changing in colour and shape.

How Are Campbell de Morgan Angiomas Treated?

In many cases, no treatment is necessary. However, sometimes the angiomas bleed frequently, or can they stick out from the skin and may catch on clothing that can cause injury and bleeding. If people are concerned about how the spots affect their appearance, especially if there are several of them and if they occur in a highly visible place, like on the face they may want to have them treated. 

Cherry angiomas are usually removed via some sort of minor surgical procedure, such as excision (shaving off the spot), electrocautery (burning off the spot) or cryosurgery (freezing off the spot with liquid nitrogen). Sometimes laser therapy is used instead to remove these spots. Removing multiple angiomas may take longer and cause more discomfort than just removing a single angioma.

Your medical practitioner will assess and discuss their recommended procedure best suited for you based on the location and number of spots you have, as well as any other medical concerns you may have. 

At the Claudia McGloin Clinic, we use Diathermy to treat Campbell de Morgan. For more details or to make an appointment for a consultation, please contact the clinic direct on 0719140728 or visit the website www.claudiamcgloinclinic.com 

RSVP Wedding Awards 2017

The Claudia McGloin Clinic are delighted to be included in the RSVP Wedding Awards 2017 in the Best for Beauty in Ireland category. 

Quoted in Aesthetic Medicine Journal

Claudia McGloin was quoted in July/August 2017 edition of Aesthetic Medicine Journal. 

The piece entitled Blood Works focused on Platelet Rich Plasma kits and procedures. Claudia was quoted for using Dracula Therapy alongside Dr Daniel Sister. 

Milia

Milia are small, 1-2mm pearly white sub epidermal keratin filled cysts on the skin. They are most commonly found on the skin around the cheeks, nose, eyes, eyelids, forehead and chest. Milia are very common in newborn babies but can affect people of any age. 

What are the types of Milia and what causes them?

There are several different types of Milia. They occur when the skins ability to naturally shed and exfoliate is impaired. 

• Neonatal Milia. These are Milia that are seen in young babies soon after they are born. They are very common and are usually found around the nose area but may also occur on the scalp, cheeks, upper body and inside the mouth. They are thought to arise from sweat glands that aren't fully developed or mature. Around half of all babies develop Neonatal Milia. In fact, because they are so common, they are actually considered as normal in newborn babies.
• Primary Milia. These are Milia that can occur in both children and adults.
• Secondary Milia. These are Milia that develop in an area of skin, anywhere on the body, that has previously been damaged or injured. For example, after a burn or a blistering rash. The Milia develop as the skin heals and it is thought that damage to the sweat glands may be an underlying cause. Secondary Milia also sometimes develop after certain skin creams have been used - for example, corticosteroid skin creams.
• Milia en plaque. Milia of this type are extremely rare. The Milia develop on an inflamed, raised patch of skin known as a plaque which may be several centimetres across. The cause for Milia en plaque is not fully understood. It usually occurs behind the ears, on an eyelid, or on the cheeks or jaw area. This type of Milia tends to particularly affect middle-aged women.
• Multiple eruptive milia. The Milia appear in crops, or patches of Milia that develop over a period of weeks or months. The crops usually appear on the face, the upper arms and the upper trunk. Milia of this type are also extremely rare.

Treatment for Milia

Milia are harmless. In babies, they clear up after a few weeks however, in some adults, Milia can persist for months or sometimes longer. Secondary Milia are sometimes permanent. Because they normally clear by themselves, Milia do not usually need any treatment. Some people find milia unsightly and so opt for treatment. Milia may be removed using a fine needle and then squeezing, or pricking, out the contents. No anaesthetic is needed. It is not recommended to squeeze or try to treat Milia yourself. This can lead to skin damage and scarring or infection.

If Milia become very widespread and persistent, various other treatments may be suggested, usually by a skin specialist. They include:

• Cryotherapy: a type of treatment that freezes skin lesions. Where a patch of skin has changed in appearance, it is known as a skin lesion.
• Laser treatment.
• Dermabrasion: a procedure that removes the topmost layers of the affected skin.
• Chemical peeling: a treatment where a chemical is applied to the face to burn off skin lesions.
• Advanced Electrolysis: a treatment that pierces the Milia with a needle & uses an electric current to break up the Milia. 

In the rare type of milia called milia en plaque, certain creams such as isotretinoin or tretinoin are sometimes suggested as treatment, or the antibiotic tablet, minocycline.

Contact the Claudia McGloin Clinic on 0719140728 for more information. 

Clinic Opening Times

The Claudia McGloin Clinic is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 5pm. 

Late evening appointments are available subject to availability. 

For more information on the clinic visit www.claudiamcgloinclinic.com or call the clinic direct on 071 9140728.

Interview for Up and Running on Ocean FM

Claudia McGloin was recently interviewed by Claire Ronan for Up and Running on Ocean FM. 

The interview can be heard by clicking on the link below:

https://www.oceanfm.ie/2017/07/15/up-and-running-with-claire-ronan-23/

What is Keratosis Pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris is a common condition where the skin is rough and bumpy. It looks as if the skin is covered in permanent goose pimples.

Keratosis pilaris most commonly affects the back of the upper arms, and sometimes the buttocks and the front of the thighs. Less often, the forearms and upper back may be affected.

How it affects the skin

The patches of affected skin will be covered in tiny spiky bumps, which may be white, red or skin-coloured. This spotting looks like "chicken skin" and the skin feels rough, like sandpaper.

In some people, the skin itches and there may be inflammation and pinkness around the bumps. The skin tends to improve in summer and get worse during winter months or dry conditions.

Who's affected

Keratosis pilaris is very common, affecting up to one in three people. It can affect people of all ages but typically starts during childhood, although it can sometimes occur in babies, and gets worse in adolescence, around puberty. 

Keratosis pilaris sometimes improves after puberty, and may even disappear in adulthood, although many adults still have the condition in their 40s and 50s.

What causes keratosis pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris is hereditary and occurs when too much keratin builds up in the skin's hair follicles. Keratin is a protein found in the tough outer layer of skin, which causes the surface of the skin to thicken, hence the name "keratosis".

The excess keratin blocks the hair follicles with plugs of hard, rough skin. The tiny plugs widen the pores, giving the skin a spotty appearance. It's often associated with other dry skin conditions, such as eczema. 

Treating keratosis pilaris

There's little that can be done to treat keratosis pilaris, and it often gets better on its own without treatment. However, if it's bothering you, the following measures may help improve your rash:

• use cleansers rather than soap – ordinary soap may dry your skin out and make the condition worse
• moisturise your skin when it's dry – creams containing salicylic acid, lactic acid or urea are thought to be the most effective
• gently rub the skin with an exfoliating foam pad or pumice stone to exfoliate the rough skin – be careful not to scrub too hard and rub off layers of skin
• take lukewarm showers rather than hot baths
  

You can also seek advice from a medical Skin specialist about treatments available such as:

• creams containing retinol, which is derived from vitamin A
• chemical peels
• microdermabrasion 
  

For more information contact the Claudia McGloin Clinic on 0719140728. 

Keratosis Pilaris Skin Secrets

Skin Secrets monthly column is out in this weeks The Sligo Champion Newspaper 💜💜💜

The topic is Keratosis Pilaris which affects 1 in 3 people. 

For more information please contact the Claudia McGloin Clinic on 071 9140728. 

Skin Tags

Skin tags are soft, small skin-coloured benign growths on the skin that develop in both men and women.

Skin tags, medically known as acrochordons, are usually a few millimetres in size but some can grow as big as 5cm.

They are commonly found on the neck, under the arms, around the groin or under the breasts. They can also grow on the eyelids or under the folds of the buttocks. 

Why skin tags occur? 

Anyone can develop skin tags and some people are prone to developing them for no apparent reason. It is thought that skin tags grow where skin rubs against skin or clothing. 

Skin tags are harmless and don't usually cause pain or discomfort but people may consider having skin tags removed if they're affecting their self-esteem, or if they catch on clothing or jewellery and bleed. 

Skin tags can fall off on their own if the tissue has twisted and has died from a lack of blood supply but it is not recommended to try to remove these yourself!

Skin tag or wart?

Skin tags can resemble a wart. Here's how to tell if you've a skin tag. 

Compared to warts, skin tags are:

• smooth and soft (warts tend to be rougher with an irregular surface) 
• knobbly and hang off the skin (warts are usually slightly raised or flat) 
• not contagious (warts spread very easily, so a sudden outbreak or cluster of growths is more likely to be warts)

Removing skin tags

If you have a skin tag that's causing problems, speak with a skin specialist. 

Skin tags can easily be burnt or frozen off in a similar way to how warts are removed. They can also be surgically removed and removed using diathermy. 

For more details on Skin Tags and removal contact the Claudia McGloin Clinic. 

Please vote for us 💜💜💜

We would be grateful if you could vote for us for Best Cosmetic Clinic at The Irish Hair & Beauty Awards 2017.

The link is below:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/The2ndIrishHairandBeautyAwards2017

Thank you all so much for your support...Means a lot 💜💜💜

 

#claudiamcgloinclinic #sligo #irishhairandbeautyawards2017

Sugar ages the skin!

Happy Easter 🐣 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news while you're all tucking into your chocolate BUT...

Eating too much sugar over time ages the skin, making it dull and more prone to wrinkles. This is due to a process called glycation. 

Eat chocolate in moderation & cut out sugars where you can e.g. In teas/coffees and on breakfast cereals. 

#skinsecrets #antiaging #wrinkles

Facial Thread Veins

THREAD VEINS otherwise known as Spider Veins, Broken Veins, Venous Flares, Broken Capillaries or Surface Veins are extremely common. Telangiectasia, the medical term are red or purple in colour and are visible on the skins surface. They can appear in clusters or as individual veins and are usually about 1-2mm. They are also Genetic and effect both men and women. 

Facial Thread Veins are usually found around the nose but can spread up onto the cheeks. These are very different to the Thread Veins that are found on the legs. 

Although they are called Thread Veins they are Dilated Capillary Networks from your Arteries (Arteries take blood from the heart to the rest of the body and Veins return blood to the heart). The blood inside them is more oxygenated and therefore appear brighter red in colour.

Facial skin tends to be much more sensitive than the skin on the legs, and is also exposed to daily elements like sun and wind. Facial Thread Veins can also be triggered by extremes of temperatures and are often a consequence of Rosacea. 

Effective treatment for Facial Thread Veins can usually be achieved by using one of the following treatments:

• Advanced Electrolysis
• Intense Pulse Light (IPL)
• Laser

All of these treatments work by using heat to destroy the Blood Vessel. Injecting vessels on the face is NOT recommended! 

Thread Veins are generally harmless, but can, on rare occasions, be a symptom of other vascular issues. If you do happen to notice any thread veins, it's advisable to contact a medical professional with experience in skin conditions. 

For more details contact the Claudia McGloin Clinic on 0719140728 or visit the website www.claudiamcgloinclinic.com

Vitamin C and your Skin

Now that we are coming into spring and the weathers starting to improve, it's time to tackle our winter skin. Many will have noticed that their skin looks tired, dull and lack lustre. This is no surprise after winter weather, fires, heaters and air conditioning.

One of the best ways to tackle dull, tired and lack lustre skin is to add a Vitamin C serum into your daily skin routine. Easy peasy! 

Vitamin C can help to firm and brighten the skin while also evening out uneven skin tone and fading sun spots. 

 

New You by Claudia McGloin has a Professional Strength Vitamin C Serum called C-10. Use daily as part of your skincare routine.

This advanced signature C-10 serum used scientific and evidence based formulas, offering daily antioxidant protection. C-10 contains stabilised L-ascorbic acid which is a form of Vitamin C which is easily absorbed by the skin for greater potency. 

C-10 is one of 8 signature skincare products in the New You by Claudia McGloin Clinic range. 

This range was a finalist for Best Professional Skincare at the My Face My Body Awards in November 2016 in London. 

For more information on New You by Claudia McGloin, contact the Claudia McGloin Clinic direct on 0719140728 or email claudia@claudiamcgloinclinic.com 

Visit our website www.claudiamcgloinclinic.com for more details on all our procedures including our 4 New You by Claudia McGloin Bespoke Signature Facials. 

Lip Lite Augmentation

Our signature Lip Lite Augmentation is a Less IS More enhancement to create the Perfect Pout that looks natural 💋💉💋

 

For more information on Dermal Lip Fillers contact the Claudia McGloin Clinic by calling 0719140728 or emailing claudia@claudiamcgloinclinic.com 💜💜💜

#claudiamcgloinclinic #sligo #lipliteaugmentation #lipfillers

Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are long, thin streaks or lines that can develop on the surface of the skin and are a form of scarring. Stretch marks are very common and can affect both men and women. Stretch marks cannot be prevented but there are a few tips that can be followed in order to reduce their development.

Stretch marks are medically referred to are Stria or Striae or Striae Gravidarum during pregnancy. Stretch marks don't look alike. They vary depending on how long y...ou've had them, what caused them, the location on your body and the skin type you have.

Areas most often affected by stretch marks are:
* abdomen
* buttocks
* thighs
* arms
* breasts
* shoulders

Anyone can get stretch marks but they tend to affect women more than men with around 9 out of 10 women getting stretch marks during pregnancy. It's estimated that around 7 in 10 women and 4 in 10 men develop stretch marks during puberty.

Stretch marks occur when the skin is stretched extensively over a short period of time. The rapid stretching causes the Dermis (middle layer of skin) to break in places allowing the deeper skin layers to show through forming stretch marks.

The dermis is made up of strong, interconnected fibres that enable your skin to stretch as your body grows. If for example your abdomen grows rapidly over a short period, the fibres can become thin and over stretched and some may break. At that point where the skin fibres break, tiny tears develop which allow the blood vessels below to show through. This is why stretch marks are often red or purple when they first appear.

When the blood vessels eventually contract, the pale coloured fat underneath your skin will be visible and your stretch marks will change to a silvery white colour.

Stretch marks can occur:
* during pregnancy
* as a result of weight gain
* during puberty
* family history
* underlying health conditions
* prolonged medications

Symptoms of stretch marks
Before developing stretch marks the affected skin will become thin, flattened and thin. The area may also feel itchy. Stretch marks often appear slightly raised and may feel wrinkly before eventually flattening out. As the lines become flatter they will start to fade and will change colour. Stretch marks can appear in patches of parallel lines on your body. It can take years to fade and become less noticeable.

At the Claudia McGloin Clinic, we have successfully treated stretch marks using a couple of procedures. For more information call the call direct on 0719140728

Rosacea - The Curse of the Celts!

Rosacea is a common chronic skin condition that mainly affects the face. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 10 people will suffer from it but many are unaware that they have it. The first sign of Rosacea is often facial flushing. It commonly affects people with fair skin and can affect both men and women. It can occur at any age but typically is noticeable at the age of 30.

People with Rosacea may also experience spots, papules and pustules, persistent redness of their skin. Small blood vessels in the skin can become visible. In the most severe cases, the skin can thicken and enlarge, usually on and around the nose and some people can ecperience eye irritation.

The exact cause of Rosacea is unknown but several triggers have been identified that may make the symptoms worse in some people. These can vary from person to person. These include:

* exposure to sunlight

* stress

* cold weather

* hot drinks

* alcohol

* eating certain foods, such as spicy foods

* dermodex folliculorum (microscopic mite)

There is no cure for Rosacea, but treatments are available to control the symptoms. Treatments for Rosacea include:

* Making lifestyle changes, such as avoiding possible triggers

* Wearing sunscreen can be a good way of controlling the symptoms of facial flushing

* Creams and gels

* Metronidazole

* Azelaic acid

* Antibiotics

* Visible blood vessels associated with Rosacea are known as Telangiectasia. Treatment for Telangiectasia will usually require a referral to a skin specialist.

* IPL treatment

* It may be possible to disguise patches of persistent red skin using specially designed 'camouflage' make-up

* Colonic Hydrotherapy

* Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

For more information on Rosacea and treatments available, contact the Claudia McGloin Clinic by calling 071 9140728 or send an email to Claudia@claudiamcgloinclinic.com