While most people were baking banana bread and practising their dance moves for Tik Tok videos during the level five lockdown of 2020, Umhlanga aesthetic doctor Parushinee Naidoo used the time to lock down her dream of creating her own medical-grade skin care range.
Naidoo, who is a graduate of the Medical School of the University of Witwatersrand, relied on her extensive clinical experience to develop Skin Solutions Skincare, specifically formulated for South African skins.
The COVID-19 pandemic, the ensuing financial impact and the emergence of new skin-related concerns associated with wearing a face mask for prolonged periods, all were contributing factors to producing the range of products. The range comprises a Rejuvenating Cleansing Gel, Sheer Hydration Lotion, Intensive Moisturising Cream, Clarifying Serum and Cellular Rejuvenating Complex, Advanced Retinol Formulation, Pigmentation Correction Cream and Vitamin C Concentrate.
Effective ingredients in easy-to-use products
“Most of the common conditions that I treat include pigmentation, acne, dehydrated and sun-damaged skin. The Skin Solutions range is dedicated to providing medical-grade products to treat these conditions, giving consumers a product line that is simple to use with an extremely effective ingredient profile,” says Dr Naidoo, who runs her practice also named Skin Solutions in Umhlanga, KZN.
Patients are looking for more reasonably priced options when compared to the current medical-grade skin care options on the market. The increased number of patients presenting with maskne (acne associated with wearing a mask), required a different approach to what was currently available.
“There were an increasing number of patients presenting with a resurgence of their past acne as well as patients presenting for the first time with eczematous and irritated skin from prolonged use of face masks,” she adds.
Addressing maskne with restorative treatments
Naidoo sees the use of facial masks, being part of our daily lives for at least another 12 to 18 months because of the pandemic.
“’This will change the skin conditions that patients will present with, as well as the way we will treat and manage skins. The skin care routine that we use will have to be focused on repairing and maintaining a healthy skin barrier, in order to prevent and treat maskne,” she comments.
As a medical doctor who has pharmacology knowledge and understands which ingredients were most effective in treating specific skin conditions, Naidoo engaged with a cosmetic chemist to identify the best ingredient profile and formulations for the purpose of the products.
She specified the criteria for the formulations to also be paraben- and sulphate-free as well as animal friendly. The formulations were then completed by the cosmetic chemist under stringent protocols to ensure safe, stable yet effective products.
Medical-grade products to optimise skin health
She said, in her experience, many clients were often intimidated or hesitant to use medical-grade products for a number of reasons.
Dr Naidoo explains: “Some people may have experienced an adverse reaction as active ingredients can initially cause mild irritation when first used. However, this improves with time as the skin becomes healthier. These types of products are also not easily accessible as you generally need to purchase them from an aesthetic skin clinic. It is usually more expensive than over the counter products.”
However, she said the benefits of using medical-grade skin care products were significant in improving existing skin care issues, while slowing down the ageing process and should be regarded as an investment into protection against future damage.
The philosophy of Skin Solutions is to help people feel comfortable in their own skin. It is not about beauty but rather about optimising the health of your skin. The reality is that for those with skin issues, medical-grade skin products will prevent a need for aggressive and in most cases more expensive treatments in the future.
Naidoo has balanced natural ingredients such as aloe vera, avocado and citrus with active ingredients such a glycolic acid, lactic acid, retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to produce a range that is nurturing and rejuvenating.
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