About the Fitzpatrick scale

Ever found yourself at the makeup counter confused and trying to figure your perfect shade without looking too yellow or 1000 shades of grey?

We won’t be able to tell you what shade to select today but we can try to make it a little easier by knowing your Fitzpatrick skin type. A system designed to help classify your sun exposure reaction and precautions to take.

Developed in 1975, the system classifies skin type according to the amount of pigment your skin has and your skin’s reaction to sun exposure. This information can help predict your overall risk of sun damage and risk to skin cancer as well as guide you on what treatments are best suited for your skin type.

Please note that your skin type colour has nothing to do with how dry or oily ones skin is, that’s a whole other conversation for another day.

Ready to learn some more? Let’s get going babes!

What are the different skin types?

The correlation between skin color and response to UV exposure is related to the chemistry of melanin. Two types of melanin exist in skin: eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin is a dark pigment, which may be either brown or black; pheomelanin is lighter, and may be red, pink or yellow in color.

These two forms differ in how they react to UV radiation. Eumelanin absorbs UV light, thereby providing a mild sun protection effect. Pheomelanin, on the other hand, responds to UV radiation by triggering a state of oxidation that worsens the damage caused to skin.

The ratio between these two types of melanin will determine a person’s skin color and sensitivity to sun exposure. Skin types I–III are characterized by light skin and a high likelihood of sun damage due to the high concentration of pheomelanin where Types IV–VI have higher eumelanin content, and therefore have skin that is darker and more resistant to sun exposure.

The below is a subjective study based on past reactions and trends across the skin types, you might find yourself in 1 or 2 categories. (Thought we supposed to make this easier right?)

Fitzpatrick skin type 1

• Skin color (before sun exposure): Ivory• Eye color: Light blue, light gray, or light green• Natural hair color: Red or light blonde• Sun reaction: Skin always freckles, always burns and peels, and never tans

Fitzpatrick skin type 2

• Skin color (before sun exposure): Fair or pale• Eye color: Blue, gray, or green• Natural hair color: Blonde• Sun reaction: Skin usually freckles, burns and peels often, and rarely tans

Fitzpatrick skin type 3

• Skin color (before sun exposure): Fair to beige, with golden undertones• Eye color: Hazel or light brown• Natural hair color: Dark blonde or light brown• Sun reaction: Skin might freckle, burns on occasion, and sometimes tans

Fitzpatrick skin type 4

• Skin color (before sun exposure): Olive or light brown• Eye color: Dark brown• Natural hair color: Dark brown• Sun reaction: Doesn’t really freckle, burns rarely, and tans often

Fitzpatrick skin type 5

• Skin color (before sun exposure): Dark brown• Eye color: Dark brown to black• Natural hair color: Dark brown to black• Sun reaction: Rarely freckles, almost never burns, and always tans

Fitzpatrick skin type 6

• Skin color (before sun exposure): Deeply pigmented dark brown to darkest brown• Eye color: Brownish black• Natural hair color: Black• Sun reaction: Never freckles, never burns, and always tans darklyWhat this means for your skin type.

No matter your skin type (the new discovered you) everyone should apply sunscreen daily to receive maximum protection. We at The Laser Beautique have listed a few of our ultimate favourite ones as well as a few other goodies.

Types 1 and 2

If your skin type is 1 or 2, you have a high risk of: • Sun damage • Skin aging from sun exposure • Melanoma and other skin cancers

You should follow these tips to protect your skin:

• Must have product; Optiphi Protect the Canvas. You can purchase this product online click here
• Limit your sun exposure and seek shade whenever you’re out in the sun.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to protect your head and face.
• Wear UV-blocking sunglasses. (Snob Milano eyewear is our favourite! The brand has an awsome 2 in 1 optical with a ziess lense clip on) click here to see all stockists in South Africa https://www.snobmilanosa.co.za/stockists)
• Check your skin from head to toe each month.
• Have an annual skin check-up with a doctor.
• Regular Laser Beautique Technology facials will prevent any skin damage from darkening. We recomend a combination of diffferent technology facials which will penetrate different layers of your skin and initiate collagen and elastin production. We recommend facials such as peels and micro needling, near infrared, radio frequency, HIFU, which are super safe and effective at treating acne, pigment issues, scarring, fine lines, wrinkles, lifting, tightening and eventoning. Its important to mention that it may take more than 6 months of treatments but when your dealing with the skin on your face ‘slow and steady wins the race’.
• You can combine an active nightly skincare regime with Retin A to keep skin young and flawless from blemishes, our favourite is Optiphi Intense Retinol A. Precaution: Ease into the product by introducing it into your routine 2x weekly, once your skin has gotten stronger you can include it into your nightly routine every second night. Over active use will sensitise your skin for irritation and over exposure. These products are also available online. Visit https://the-laser-beautique.myshopify.com/collections/optiphi
• By combing your in-house treatments with a good at home skin care you will stimulate collagen, speed up wound healing and cell turnover and break down scar tissue to brighten and smooth out the tone and texture of your skin.

Types 3 to 6

If your skin is type 3 to 6, you unfortunately still have some risk of skin cancer from sun exposure, especially if you’ve used an indoor tanning bed.

You should still use sun protection even though your risk is lower than people with type 1 or 2 skin.

If not treated correctly and safely any in house or home care products could further cause permanent damage.

For maximum protection, you should follow these tips:

• Limit your sun exposure.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to protect your head and face.
• Wear UV-blocking sunglasses. (We simply love Snob Milano eyewear. Its our favourite! The brand has an awsome 2 in 1 optical with a ziess lense clip on) click here to see all stockists in South Africa https://www.snobmilanosa.co.za/stockists)
• Wear protective clothing if you plan to be in direct sunlight for extended periods.
• Wear Nimue’s Award winning SPF 40 daily.
• Check your skin from head to toe each month. Pay careful attention to any strange growths.
• Have an annual skin check-up with your dermatologist.
• Regular Laser Beautique Technology facials will prevent any skin damage from darkening. Our favourite combination is micro needling and CoolClear. Micro needling allows for a controlled pain free injury which allows deeper penetration of your active serums and moisturisers followed by CoolClear a powerful blend of Hyaluronic and Vit CE and Folic acid to assist in providing your skin an even texture and tone and improve overall complexion.
• Take care with peels, a light 30% will be enough for your skin to successfully remove dead skin cells and allow pigmented skin to lighten. Going higher than 50% puts you at risk for burns and further pigmented skin.
• Avoid intense pulsed light (IPL) or Fraxel, these are very strong high heat treatments that would further put heat on the skin that already as a propensity to pigment and will likely only worsen the problem at hand like pigmentation, scaring or loss of elasticity.
• If not consulted correctly, a peel which is too strong or laser treatment which is not suitable for darker skin types will result in post-inflammatory pigmentation. Who would want that? Not us thank you!
• Avoid any harsh ‘quick fix’ treatments like hydroquinone which is known to bleach the skin in all the wrong ways causing further damage to your skin than before.

What about laser hair removal for different skin types?

The Fitzpatrick skin scale plays a very important role in determining the type of laser and strength of such laser to treat your skin type and hair type, successfully and without any damage.

Lasers have come a long way from initially only being able to treat skin types 1 -3 as the risk with higher skin types were to risky. Today ALL skin types can be safely and effectively treated with right technology and training.

However, in many countries lasers are not regulated and there are people in the field practising without licenses or are not qualified therapist and offering the treatment of all sorts of laser treatments which are cheap and nasty.

There is a quote which is very true “the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”

Establishments that offer cheap laser usually have purchased cheap devices, leaving the market to wonder why the established practises are so expensive. When it comes to lasering, The Laser Beautique takes this matter very seriously, ensuring that all aestheticians are trained up and qualified as well as using the best technology to give clients the best results possible as safely and as effectively as possible. This is not an area you want to skimp on as the damage, if done, is usually permanent.

By using the Fitzpatrick skin scale your quailed Beautique aesthetician is able to establish an estimate of how many sessions of laser hair removal you will require and at what intensity the treatment will need to be performed at.

Ladies and gents, if you have any questions. Please follow founder of the Beautique Brands Tzvia Hermann AKA Laser Lady. You can send any questions and view all advise and guidence straight from our source!

The Laser Beautique is proud to launch their very own BeauCleanse device! This multi-functional face cleansing machine is especially handy during this time. We are all wearing masks and most are experiencing different skin issues. Some don’t want to go out for their regular deep cleanse facial. Bring TLB in clinic treatments to the comfort of your own home! Combine this fabulous device with one of our Optiphi, Nimue or RegimA DIY facial kits or DIY peels and your skin will feel and look fantastic.

If you want to get fancy, get yourself a BeauRejuve too! You can then even give yourself a technology facial in the comfort of your own home! You can even watch your favourite programe while you are spoiling your skin. Combination treatment is always best! We recommend to keep alternating different technology facials to treat different layers of your skin and to avoid your skin getting “immuned” or used to treatments. We love the quote “Great things never came from comfort zones”, its so true, for just about everything, even for skin!

Remember, as we age, our skin produces less collagen and our elastin fibres start to unbundle. This is why our skin starts to form fine lines, wrinkles and even start to sag in certain areas. To kickstart your skin to produce more collagen and to get your skin to reknit your elastin fibres or react in any way in which you want it to, you need to shake things up! You need to get your skin out of its comfort zone. This is why we LOVE technology facials. Technology facials at The Laser Beautique all involve a controlled injury in some way or the other. Don’t fret though. Our facials are mostly pain-free, if not entirely pain-free, they are totally bearable. For example, Near Infrared gradually warms up the skin and tricks your skin into believing its been burnt. Your brain then sends messages to your skin to send reinforcements, produce collagen and to reknit elastin. The result is, ironed out, tighter, younger looking and glowing skin! This is an amazing treatment for those fine lines or that crepey skin.

If you haven’t yet watched Skin Decisions, we highly recommend! It’s a great show by plastic surgeon Sheila Nazarian and renowned aesthetician, Nurse Jamie. You can catch this new series on Netflix. Note how in every episode, combination treatments are used.

So ladies and gents, get rid of your old facial sponges or that electrical facial brush that is most probably full of bacteria and get yourself a BeauCleanse!

BeauCleanse is easy to clean, gel plates rotate in opposite direction to give a deep cleanse and exfoliation. Gently, yet deeply, cleanses away dirt, oil, makeup, pollutants, and toxins through the oscillating, pore-tightening action. It leaves skin smoother and purer, while reducing the appearance of pores while you enjoy an energizing facial massage.

This nifty device comes with 2 different detachable silicone heads which are anti-microbial which is just what you need. It comes with a 3rd head which is similar to those electrical brush heads. We don’t even use this. We just not fans. We do recommend that you don’t keep the cleanser in one spot for too long or cleanse over the same area too many times, especially in the first week of using your BeauCleanse as this device is powerful. You need to ease your skin into this powerful cleansing action or you could leave your skin feeling a little sensitive.

To purchase your very own BeauBrand devices click here.

We bet you clicked on this blog because you either feel like you have the worst skin in the world, you hide out and you desperate to find a reputable professional to help treat it and keep it at bay for good – are we right? If not, you probably have a friend or family member who you have watched suffering from acne or backne? Either way, stress no more! Let us get you understanding exactly what acne is about, why and how you or your BFF can clear and prevent future acne and scarring. Get yourself a cup of tea, relax and take this all in.

First Things First: What the heck is acne?

Did you know that acne is one of the most common skin conditions in adults and teens around the world? Acne is defined as a chronic, inflammatory condition on the skin that causes pimples and spots to appear on your face, neck, chest, back, and upper arms. Acne usually appears during puberty but there are a select few that are suffering from this condition throughout puberty going into adulthood.

Acne is a condition that affects the oil glands that are attached to your hair follicles in your skin, which produces a substance called sebum. When a pimple appears, this is when the pore where your hair follicles are situated are blocked and the sebum cannot escape the hair follicle.

A combination of our sweat, hair, dead skin cells, and oil creates a plug that will, later on, cause swelling and inflammation caused by bacteria.

This bacteria is known as Propionibacterium acnes, it lives on our skin and is the contributor to acne formation. But not all bacteria are bad for our skin, some help to have a pimple-free skin. Who knew!

But there are a few other triggers that can cause acne other than this bacteria. Hormonal factors, stress, greasy cosmetics, menstruation, and some medications containing androgen are merely a few factors.

Variations and Types of Acne:

We all know there are different types of acne but did you know that there are different levels or variations of severity? There are different grades of Acne! From your more common forms like having blackheads and whiteheads to cystic severe acne!

These variations would be better to understand and characterized when you can identify what’s on your skin. So the following are types of Acne:

Blackheads:

Also known as Open Comedones, this is a pore that is clogged by oil (sebum) and dead skin cell on the surface of the skin but it’s not covered in a layer of skin. The reasoning behind it’s dark or black appearance is because the oil and dead skin cell solution has reached oxygen that will in return oxidize it, turning it black.

Whiteheads:

Also known as Closed Comedones, this is the same as a blackhead but the only difference is is that it is covered by a layer of skin, giving it a white appears that is slightly protruding from the skin.

Blackheads and Whiteheads are also known as non-inflammatory acne. Meaning they do not cause any swelling or inflammation on the skin.

Pimples that are usually red and swollen are known as inflammatory acne. Although oil and dead skin cells contribute to inflammatory acne, bacteria can also cause clogging in our pores. Bacteria can cause further infection much deeper in the skin, resulting in painful and red acne. Forms of inflammatory acne are listed below:

Papules:

Papulespinkish

Pustules:

Pustulesinflammation

Nodules:

Unlike papules and pustules, nodules occur deeper underneath the skin. They occur when further irritation and infection take place causing them to grow larger. Because they are deeper underneath the skin they are typically more difficult to treat at home. Prescription medication is usually necessary for the treatment of nodules.

Cysts:

Cystsdead skin cells

Whatever you do, RESIST the URGE to POP PIMPLES! Especially inflammatory ones!

Grades and Severity of Acne:

Now that we know the different types of acne it makes it easier to classify the severity and under what grade of acne it falls under.

Grade 1 Acne:

Grade one acne is considered the mildest form of the four stages. It is usually composed of blackheads and whiteheads and a few papules. This form of a breakout is usually occasional, like going to an exam or interview.

Grade 2 Acne:

Grade two acne is known as a moderate form of Acne. Moderate acne usually is a combination of blackheads, whiteheads, papules, and pustules. Apart from the usual areas like our T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), moderate acne occurs anywhere on the face.

Grade 3 Acne:

Grade three acne is a severe form of acne. It consists of a lot more papules and pustules that are tightly packed together that can merge and create a bigger papule or pustule. This form of acne can cause scarring even though you have not touched or tired squeezing the pus out.

Grade 4 Acne:

Grade four acne is one of the worst forms of acne. It may consist of cysts and nodules that appear deeper in the skin than our usual forms of acne. Scarring is very common when it comes to cysts and nodules, it is best to seek medical help from a dermatologist when approached with this form of acne.

OUCH!

Treatment and Product Recommendations:

We know now what the ins and outs are of different kinds of acne, but the question remains: How do we treat acne?

We would recommend you pop into your closest Laser Beautique clinic and see one of our professional aesthetician. A skin consultation is free of charge! A consultation will include a plan of action, tailor-made for you and your concerns. The plan of action will include a series of acne peels or treatments coupled up with homecare products.

Before you go anywhere, we got to give you a few options of treatments and products we recommend!

Products:

At the Laser Beautique we are proud to say that we stock the very best products! Just to name them all: Opitphi, Nimue and RegimA

Below we will give you a prescription from each brand. This will include treatments and products that will help you through your journey to bright and clear skin. All 3 brands are cosmeceuticals. What are cosmeceuticals? Cosmeceuticals are the marriage of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Think: antiodidant plus lipstick or retinol plus face serum voile…its magic!

Optphi:

With Optphi we aim to create true skin rejuvenation through the use of optimal concentration of active ingredients used in synergy with one another to allow for positive homeostatic influence (PHI) on a cellular level. The brand is a focused range with niche products, which target specific skin concerns such as barrier impairment, and discomfort associated with redness and inflammation.

Optiphi Products Both Active and Classic:

• Facial Cleanser – 7 in one product including a spot treatment
• Muslin Cloth
• Ageless Active Gel – calming serum
• Moisture Control Light – day and night moisturizer
• Protect the Canvas – Sun Protection
• Refine Foliant
• Clarity Serum

Optiphi Treatments:

• Glycolic Acid Peels 25%
• Glycolic Acid Peel 30%
• Hydrate and Repair Classic Facial

Nimue

The Nimue brands makes use of Phytoceutical ingredients (plant-derived) and Biotechnology (lab synthesized) to give you a fusionist brand. It is considered a Derma-cosmeceutical, in other words:

Derma = Dermal improvement

Cosme = Cosmetics

Ceutical = Pharmaceutical like benefits

Not only will this brand prevent irritation, but it will also re-educate, hydrate, heal, and restructure your skin.

Nimue products can help treat acne from grades 1 to 3! First of all, we need to get you using the Nimue homecare products for at least 4 – 6 weeks before we can book you in for a professional treatment, reason being that we need to prep your skin beforehand.

Nimue Product we would recommend are:

• Cleansing Gel – used morning and night. Remove cleanser with lukewarm water and gauze.
• Conditioner – Superior rejuvenation product – it is not a TONER. Spray onto gauze and wipe over skin.
• Nimue Day – a moisturizer that can be used for drier, problematic skin.
• Purifier – moisturizer used at night and as a spot treatment during the day.
• Moisturiser Lite – can be an alternative moisturizer for both morning and night when the skin is more sensitive or oil.
• Exfoliating Enzyme – used 2-3 times a week to help detach dead skin cells.
• Sun C SPF 40 – light-weight sun protection.

Keep in mind that not all products will be recommended. Products will be prescribed to you according to your skin.

Nimue Treatments we would book you in for after you have been on the homecare products are:

• Active Rejuvenating Treatment
• Therapeutic Treatment
• Deep Cleanse Treatment
• 35% Glycolic Treatment
• 7.5% TCA Treatment
• Nimue SRC Problematic Treatment
• Detoxifying Treatment

Do keep in mind that the treatment plan might not require all the mentioned treatments. Every person has different needs and enquires about different treatment plans for those needs.

RegimA:

RegimA addresses individual skin issues with active ingredients that target each contributing factor and to normalize every skin function, to achieve equilibrium by influencing factors to bring the skin to optimal health.

RegimA Products:

• Derma Zest Cleanser + Toner – natural skin toning effect, reducing oil production
• Daily Intelligent Sebum-Solver – help reduce oil production and is mattifying
• Acne Attack Recue Serum – reduces pore size and minimizing blackhead appearance.
• Rejuvoderm – night maintenance and natural exfoliator

RegimA Treatments:

• Power Peel 30
• Power Peel 50
• Acne Attack Masque – this is a peel
• Rapid-Rejuvo Masque – this is a peel

Words on encouragement

Don’t let acne take over your life and try not to worry! – This is probably the most difficult of all. Learning that acne doesn’t define you, is super important! The less you worry about your skin, the less you stress, the quicker we can help you clear things up! All you need to do is get into a routine and be consistent.

At the end of the day, you will deal with your acne. You will take back control. Acne is very common and although it can make you feel horrendous, it shouldn’t stop you doing the things you love and it certainly should not stop you enjoying life. Visit out website www.thelaserbeautique.co.za or call us on 0860 850 851. Book your free skin assessment. You have noting to lose!