A Dermal Therapist Answers Your Skin Questions, from Hormonal Breakouts to Treatment Recovery
June 17 | 5 minute read
Words by Izzy Wight
Tempted to dabble in a little PDRN, or liaise with some laser? To help demystify the science behind advanced skincare, we opened the doors to our MECCA Aesthetica skin clinic on the top floor of MECCA Bourke Street, and co-opted one our certified Dermal Therapists, Georgia, to answer all your questions.
Scroll on for an expert’s opinion on hormonal breakouts, pigmentation, post-treatment recovery and more.
What’s the best treatment for pigmentation, and how many sessions should I book in for?
“It really depends on the type of pigmentation and what’s causing it,” Georgia explains. “At MECCA Aesthetica, we like to take an 80/20 approach to skin health. That means 80 percent of the work happens at home through a consistent skincare routine, while 20 percent comes from in-clinic treatments. When the two work together, we see really impressive results.”
She recommends starting with a VISIA Skin Analysis, which involves taking high-resolution facial images that look beyond the surface of your skin to assess the level and extent of the pigmentation (as well as well as fine lines and wrinkles, UV damage, pores, texture and more). The results of your analysis then inform the treatment protocol your Dermal Therapist recommends.
“It’s a weird analogy, but it’s kind of like peeling back the layers of an onion... your treatment plan depends on how deeply the pigmentation sits within your skin.”
I thought my skin would settle down as I got older, but I'm still getting breakouts as an adult! What can I change in my routine?
In her 10 years as a dermal clinician, Georgia has learnt adult acne is far more common than people realise – “We just don’t talk about it in the same way we do teenage acne, which is so unfortunate,” she says. She explains in the case of hormonal breakouts, MECCA Aesthetica will often consult with The Melbourne Apothecary (located on the Ground Floor at MECCA Bourke Street) to identify other factors that may be affecting the skin.
“We really try to determine the specific triggers that might be causing breakouts to crop up. It’s about treating... the blemishes but also the root cause. Again, the best starting point would be a Customised Clinical Level 1 Treatment, because we can really tailor it specifically to your skin,” Georgia explains. “From there, we’ll determine a method of approach to figure out those causes and then treat the [appearance of] scarring afterwards too.”
“When somebody comes in for a treatment with us, they will always leave with a full aftercare protocol and skincare [regimen],” Georgia explains. “And we encourage clients to reach out to the clinic if any questions pop up, because we know it’s a lot of information in a short amount of time.”
Most importantly, Georgia emphasises keeping skincare simple and gentle in the days following your treatment: “Avoid harsh actives and opt for ultra-hydrating, soothing formulas instead. After about three days, we can look at starting to reintroduce gentle actives like vitamin C or tranexamic acid, before adding acids and retinols back in from about day five to seven.”
Many customers don’t realise the range of clinical skincare brands available at MECCA Aesthetica, Georgia explains. From cult French brand Biologique Recherche to ZO Skin Health, developed by renowned US dermatologist Dr Zein Obagi, these formulas are exclusively available via qualified skincare professionals.
“What sets them apart is the level of expertise and education that comes with them,” Georgia explains, adding that their advanced ingredient profiles allow clients to achieve “even better results alongside our in-clinic treatments”.
Take your skin to the next level at MECCA Aesthetica, located on the top level of MECCA Bourke Street. Book now.
