Skincare v injectables. Which path should you take?

The aesthetics industry has grown hugely over recent years with new clinics springing up, a multitude of new products being developed and many new treatments being launched. Whilst consumer choice is always healthy, it can also sometimes be confusing when there is too much and when products are heavily marketed.  

The recent rise in injectable treatments is a good example, with Botox and dermal fillers becoming highly desired and often requested. Injectables certainly need to have their place in patient treatment programmes, but as the marketing and promotion of injectables has increased, skincare has perhaps been left behind, often to the patient’s detriment. 

At Illuminate we frequently see patients who ask for dermal fillers, thinking that this treatment will be the cure-all for their skin.  But if their skin is, for example, sun-damaged and leathery, no amount of filler will solve this problem.   

A good skincare programme on the other hand can, and once you have rejuvenated smooth, healthy skin, then injectables may be a great treatment option to help showcase it, giving it the support structure that it needs to look its best and that may have been lost over time.  

Dr Sophie comments: “If I had to pick one over the other, I would pick good skincare over injectables in most situations. But it is important to get the right advice, based on your own individual condition, and equally important to be using the right skincare products for your skin type and condition. Using the wrong products or overuse of skincare products, some of which can be very active, can do more harm than good, so always book a skin assessment and full patient consultation with an expert, before deciding which treatment path to do down. ” 

Disclaimer: Please be aware that results and benefits may vary from patient to patient taking into consideration factors such as age, lifestyle and medical history.