At Malvern Dermatology and Medical Laser Clinic, we are interested in the aging process and in utilising a variety of treatments to help preserve your skin, repair damage and reverse some of the changes associated with aging.
Sun damage accounts for most of the changes of visible aging so prevention is the best solution. Always use sunscreen and sun protective clothing when outdoors for prolonged periods. Moisturisers with sunscreen may be adequate to protect you when walking from your car to the office but they are not adequate for protecting you at the beach or if you are intending to work or exercise outdoors for any length of time.
Remember sunscreen for your children. Sunburn in early childhood is more damaging to the skin than sunburn in adulthood.
Your dermatologist can prescribe creams to help repair sun damage and remove actinic keratoses and superficial skin cancers.
Blotchy pigmentation (dyschromia) and redness can be treated with laser to restore clarity to the skin.
Less severe damage and dyschromia may be treated with medical grade peels. We have a range of medical grade peels that are stronger and more effective than those used by beauticians. Our mildest peels have no down time and can be used to ‘refresh’ your skin. Other peels may cause some redness and light peeling that may take 4 to 5 days to settle. Your dermatologist will discuss the appropriate peel for you.
A ‘filler’ can last from nine months to two years depending on the type that is used. Fillers can be topped up before they have completely disappeared to maintain their effect and to increase their longevity. We do not use any permanent fillers at Malvern Dermatology and Medical Laser Clinic as these types of fillers may give rise to permanent and irreversible problems.
Unfortunately, as we age, our facial shape changes. We lose volume in the upper face and the skin sags and the lower face looks heavy and tired. Our dermatologists use hyaluronic acid fillers to help restore facial volume and to support the skin resulting in a fresher, younger look. At Malvern Dermatology and Medical Laser Clinic we only use hyaluronic acid. This is a pure molecule that is found naturally in the skin. It is degraded over time to water.
Anti-wrinkle injection can be used to relax muscles and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. These muscle relaxants are available in a purified form. When injected into certain facial muscles it causes them to relax, and frown lines and expression lines will soften. It does not eradicate wrinkles, but over time wrinkles caused by repetitive facial expressions will become less prominent. Anti-wrinkle injections usually last from three to four months but many patients notice with repeat injections the effects last longer. The most common areas that we treat with anti-wrinkle injections are frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles. Interestingly some patients find the injections reduce headache and migraines due to reduction in muscle tension.
Here at Malvern Dermatology and Medical Laser clinic we are excited to be able to offer a new injectable, Profhilo.
Profhilo is unique. Like most of our fillers Profhilo contains hyaluronic acid. In fact, the concentration of HA in Profhilo is higher than in most fillers.
Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in the skin. It attracts and holds water in the skin, plumping, restoring facial contours, and reducing fine lines. The ability of a ‘filler’ to restore volume or give support to the skin will vary depending on the way the HA molecules are bound and linked to each other. The fillers we use to restore volume and facial shape are cross linked and need to stay where they are injected. Once injected they gradually breakdown.
The HA in Profhilo spreads underneath the skin like a membrane and holds water in the upper layers. It DOES NOT give volume but will make the skin appear more luminous and hydrated. Although this is an excellent objective and outcome, studies have shown that Profhilo does more than hydrate the skin. It is able to stimulate the cells within the dermis resulting in preservation of fatty tissue and slowing down the resorption of bone. It can also stimulate collagen and elastin. These ‘bio modulating’ effects are in fact slowing down all the changes we associate with ageing. It is this unique restorative capability or bio modulatory activity of Profhilo that has garnered such attention and interest.
Profhilo is highly purified, and the absence of additive means it is very safe. The effects on dermal cells and tissues are long lasting.
Nearly anyone who wants to improve their skin is a candidate for Profhilo. It is a safe treatment and can be used in all skin types and colour. Younger patients who have good facial contours and volumes will benefit from Profhilo.
It can also be used to complement other treatments.
Patients who are having fillers to restore facial volume and shape may benefit from Profhilo as it will improve the skin quality and may extend and enhance the effect of the fillers. Those having Pigment Laser, Tixel and Radiofrequency treatments may also benefit from the improvement in skin surface and luminosity.
Profhilo is recommended for those who want to preserve and enhance their skin but do not want or need the volume replacement of other fillers.
Profhilo is injected superficially into the dermis by your dermatologist. There are 10 injection points for the entire face, so the treatments are well tolerated and safe. (Those who are worried about needles can have local anaesthetic cream applied prior to having the injections.)
Two to three treatments are given four weeks apart. Thereafter a top up is recommended every six to twelve months to maintain the results.
No serious adverse events such as vascular occlusion or allergic reactions have been reported. Bruising may occur but is much less common with Profhilo due to the superficial nature of the injections.
Localised swelling may occur and usually resolves within 8 hours on the face and 48 hours on the neck.Dr Cargnello has had over 13 years of experience in using lasers and is one of the laser specialists at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.
At Malvern Dermatology and Medical Laser Clinic we only use properly calibrated, FDA approved medical grade lasers. These lasers are specific for haemoglobin (blood inside surface veins and capillaries) and pigment. When we laser the skin, the laser energy is taken up by surface blood vessels and pigment, so we get good results with little risk of damaging surrounding tissues. Our lasers have inbuilt cooling or are used in conjunction with a Zimmer cooler, which cools and protects the skin whilst minimizing discomfort. Most treatments are completed within ten to fifteen minutes. Some tattoo removal treatments will take less than five minutes to complete. (Much faster than having them done!) Improvement is evident after one treatment but for best results most patients will need two to three treatments. Port wine stains (vascular birth marks) and complex tattoos will require more treatments.
This is a Pulsed dye laser used for the treatment of vascular lesions including port wine lesions and haemangiomas in infants, facial redness from rosacea and other facial vessels.
We have a pathology collection centre on site if you require blood testing prior to treatment. All tissue removed is routinely tested and sent for away for an expert pathologist’s assessment.
Narrowband UVB light treatment is a safe and effective option for a number of skin conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo and eczema. PUVA is used to treat the hands and soles of the feet. Dermatologists at Malvern Dermatology have extensive experience in the use of Narrowband Phototherapy for the treatment of skin disorders. Narrowband phototherapy can reduce the need for steroid creams and tablets. The treatments are safe, convenient and over within minutes. All narrowband treatments at Malvern Dermatology are bulk billed