Looking good with Ilia Georgiou

Teenagers have enough problems so helping relieve spotty skin should be a priority
YOU WOULD think teenagers had enough to deal with: their hormones are all over the place, they have the pressure of doing well at school, they have to assert their place among friends and perhaps even have a mother who drives them potty.

A teenager’s sense of self is not usually terribly well developed, therefore confidence is not always very high. They compare themselves, and their looks, to imagined better-looking friends, celebrities and the impossibly perfect looking computer-enhanced images of models in glossy magazines. Some teenagers sail through these transitional years smoothly and confidently. However many teenagers break out in pimples, spots, blackheads or the more troublesome acne.

If blackheads and pimples are the problem there is no need to panic and rush to the dermatologist. Here are some useful tips to keep skin fairly clear and smooth:

1. The first, and absolutely critical thing, to advice the teenager is never to touch their face except when washing or applying a product and never to pick or squeeze spots.
2. Use a cleansing wash or gel morning and evening. Try Jurlique, Lancôme, Guinot or Christian Dior washes for oily skin.
3. Apply a balancing serum or spot gel to spotty areas such as Darphin’s or Guinot’s (for milder cases) morning and evening after washing. If face has dry and pimple and blackhead free areas a moisturiser can be used which is light and water based such as Nivea oil free (available from supermarkets) or Estee Lauder Hydra Complete.
4. One a week apply a clay mask only on blackheads or pimply areas. Try Lancome’s white clay mask (or buy Kaolin and Fuller’s Earth clays from the chemist in the UK if you go, and make your own clay mask with water). Leave to dry for 15 minutes and rinse off with warm water then apply balancing serum to oily areas.
5. Visit the beauty therapist and have a Hydradermie facial treatment. This treatment is wonderful. It will deep cleanse the pores, help to balance and clear the skin, fade scars and speed up healing and clearing of spots. There are no greasy products involved, just specialised gels and light products, which will not overstimulate or clog skin. One a month should be enough, or if the complexion is quite spotty over the cheeks and chin or there is mild to moderate acne present, up to three maybe needed over a six to eight week period.

It is better to try and improve the general condition and texture of skin and then if there is a more severe or systemic problem, such as acne spots that will not shift, it may be wise to address the problem by visiting a dermatologist, homeopath and/or food intolerance specialist or nutritionist.

I believe that a beauty therapist should not try to do a dermatologist’s job and vice versa, because their specialties lie in separate contexts. If the teenager’s acne is inflamed, red and very infected or sore then the skin needs to be treated very gently and not have anything abrasive or irritating applied to it and in this case a visit to the dermatologist is definitely recommended. Another thing to remember is not to make a big deal out of acne. Careless comments can deeply affect the teenagers’ confidence and going on about it will make them feel worse. Teenagers should remember that acne will not last forever, it is treatable and if you know a good beauty therapist she can really help improve the problem with the help of a dermatologist in the case of more severe acne.

If needed, a non-oily concealer can be used very sparingly, using freshly washed hands on very red areas only. The point is to slightly take down the red look of spots and not to try to mask the face and make it look flawless, as that will just enhance the appearance of bumps and look like there is lots of make-up on the skin. Try Estee Lauder’s ‘disappear’ smoothing concealer, which dries to a mat finish and comes in three shades. You may have to buy two shades and mix them together to get just the right one.

We must not overlook the fact that a teenager should eat a healthy, balanced diet including vegetables and fruit and plenty of mineral water and avoid oily and sugary foods and fizzy drinks.

l Jurlique: Tel: 22 315555, 99 548338. Limassol: 25 814844. Guinot: Tel: 99 548338, 22 354313. Beauty therapists performing hydradermie facial treatment: 99 548338, 99 684231. Estee Lauder, Christian Dior and Lancôme available at Beauty Line and selected department stores.