Ask the dermatologist

 
“My skin is great, but I have a lot of little broken veins on my face. Is there anything I can do?”

Dr Ginny says: “Broken veins on the face can be caused by a number of things, including genetics, sun exposure, hormones, smoking, excess alcohol and age.
The first step is to prevent further damage, so use daily sun protection (SPF 50) and avoid excess alcohol and smoking. The next step is to consider treatment. The best option is a form of laser treatment. Make sure you consult an accredited specialist, ideally a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.”

 
“Please can you share your top tips for combination skin? Anything will help – I’d love to know how much product to use and how often to apply it – plus, is there anything I should avoid?”

Dr Ginny says: “Cleansers are usually fine to use on all types of skin and I like wash-off cleansing products for combination skin. When it comes to other aspects of your skin care regime, I recommend treating the different areas in different ways. It is difficult to expect one product to treat both dry and oily patches. Oily areas (in most people this is the ‘T zone’) do not need a daily moisturiser, so concentrate on treating the dry areas with an effective moisturising regime. If you are prone to pimples in the oily areas, make sure you leave the application of any spot treatments until the end of your regime and then wash your hands.”

 
“Does your skin become used to products, or become resistant to a product’s benefits over time? Is it true that skin can stop feeling the benefits of a product? Should you switch up your skincare regime every now and again?”

Dr Ginny says: “I don’t believe we need to change our skin care regime unless there is a problem. If something suits your skin, stick with it. However, as our skin ages, it can become less responsive to anti-ageing ingredients. Research shows that the skin energy levels fall with time, a process called ‘Skin Fatigue’. Other factors that can reduce the skin’s energy level include UV exposure, stress, smoking and pollution.”

 
“At what age should you start with a daily skincare routine and are there any affordable daily products you’d recommend? Is just using moisturiser enough, or do you need to cleanse and tone daily as well?”

Dr Ginny says: “It is never too early to start a good skincare regime. I recommend thorough cleansing and daily moisturiser with sunscreen from teens. All ages of skin over mid-20s will benefit from using a gentle anti-ageing product. Try to find a product with optimized levels of Niacinamide, my favourite ingredient for anti-ageing. It helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and will visibly fade pigmentation. Moisturisers will work best if used on properly cleansed skin. If you want to skip one stage of the cleanse, tone, moisturise, skip the toner.”

 
“Do you need to use different products at night, or can you use your usual day cream?”

Dr Ginny says: “Day and night products are designed specifically to target the problems our skin faces at these times. Day creams are typically lighter in formulation, so look less shiny and often contain SPF for protection against damaging sunrays. When I need to pack light, when travelling, I usually rely on one product for day and night – but it always contains SPF.”