Health & Beauty: Laser treatment could be the way to beat sun-damaged skin

THEY say money makes the world go around, and in the beauty industry the wheels of commerce are helped along nicely by a succession of new trends. At the moment, it’s skin tone correcting creams and those of us of a certain age are contemplating our complexions a bit more intently than usual.

These pricey potions claim to address hyper-pigmentation over a period of weeks.

However, there are speedier methods of evening out your skin tone.

I visited the Sk:n clinic for a consultation with lead nurse Sally Gray, as I’d noticed some freckle-like marks on the side of my face. She explained that these were sun spots. As the name suggests, the main cause is sun damage and you’re likely to find them on your hands, face, shoulders, arms and forehead.

Don’t think that because you live in dreich Scotland you’ll avoid them. Experts say we should slap on at least SPF30 throughout the year to protect our skin from such assaults, no matter where we live.

I’m worried I’ll have my head turned by the wealth of treatments this clinic offers, such as Botox and face peels, but my consultation focuses on my current concerns, with Gray answering all of my questions.

I return a few weeks later to see Mr Al-Nakib, who examines the three areas of my face in question and describes the process he will undertake, making me feel comfortable about the procedure, before he sets to work.

I feel a slight prickling sensation as the laser makes contact with my skin, but the experience is over in 15 minutes. At first the patches appear white, then red. Then they begin to resemble small blisters, but, as it’s only the epidermis that has been lasered, the areas don’t become particularly scabbed.

I’m working that afternoon and am keen for them to be disguised so Mr Al-Nakib applies medical tape followed by some of my foundation. Grand.

It’s recommended the areas are left uncovered to encourage healing, so after a couple of days I go au naturale and am feeling unselfconscious until I have a couple of girlfriends round. Myra arrives: “What are those marks on your neck?” I remind her about the laser treatment. My next guest appears and a similar conversation follows. They say they hadn’t noticed them before but conclude that these marks are rather unsightly. Hey ho. Back on with the neck scarf.

Still, the marks heal quickly. Only a week after treatment, one area is just pink skin and after a fortnight two have all but disappeared. Sadly, the third is little affected and reappears. It’s a reminder there are no guarantees. And as spots are caused by sun exposure, they could come back. Oh well. I love the results and I will enjoy them while they last.

CLAIRE HAY

• Sk:n, 91 Hanover Street, Edinburgh (0844 800 0317); 48/50 Gordon Street, Glasgow (0844 669 7542), www.skn clinics.co.uk