Our Journal
Stay up-to-date with all the latest clinic news and articles here on our journal…
Why Obagi is genuinely the best medical-grade skincare brand — especially for pigmentation, acne and post-inflammatory marks (PIH)
If you’ve ever tried to “DIY” your way out of hyperpigmentation, acne or stubborn post-acne marks with over-the-counter skincare, you’ll know the pattern: you buy the trending serum, you see a tiny improvement, then your skin stalls… or gets irritated and you’re back to square one.
This is exactly where medical-grade skincare earns its reputation and where Obagi stands out.
3 min read
Why I’m Telling Patients to Sell Their Omnilux and CurrentBody LED Masks and Choose the cheaper STYLPRO Instead
LED light therapy has gone mainstream. What was once confined to medical clinics is now firmly in the at-home skincare space, and understandably so. When used correctly, LED therapy can improve acne, reduce inflammation, support collagen production, and enhance overall skin health.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth I’ve been having more and more conversations about in clinic:
Not all LED masks are created equal and most patients have been sold on the wrong metric.
3 min read
Can You Just Put Your HRT Oestrogen Cream on Your Face?
It’s one of the most common questions we hear from women in their 40s and 50s, often whispered, occasionally joked about, and frequently Googled late at night:
“Can I just put my HRT oestrogen cream on my face?”
After all, if oestrogen loss affects skin quality, collagen, and facial ageing… surely applying it directly makes sense?
The answer is not as simple as it sounds.
4 min read
Skin Tag Removal in Hale, Altrincham at a doctor-led award winning clinic
A skin tag might be tiny, but if it catches on clothing, rubs under jewellery, bleeds after shaving, or makes you feel self-conscious in photos, it can quickly become a daily nuisance. That’s why we offer professional skin tag removal as part of our doctor-led services, using a safe and precise method designed to minimise discomfort and support a clean, tidy heal.
4 min read
The Power of Peptides in Skincare: Science, Benefits & Top Products
Peptides have rapidly become one of the most discussed ingredients in modern skincare. But beyond the buzzword hype, what does science actually say about peptides, how they benefit your skin, and which products deliver meaningful results?
In this blog, I’ll break down the evidence, explain how peptides work on a cellular level, and highlight some expert-worthy peptide formulations, including scientific data and clinically respected products you may consider for your routine.
3 min read
Collagen Banking Explained: The Long-Game Approach to Ageing Well
“Collagen banking” has become one of the most talked-about terms in modern aesthetics. But what does it actually mean. Can you really “bank” collagen?
In truth, collagen banking isn’t about freezing your face in time or hoarding collagen for later use. It’s about preserving what you have and stimulating new collagen production in a sustainable, evidence-based way, so your skin stays resilient and supported for decades to come.
3 min read
Why The Perfect Peel® Is the Perfect Reset for 2026
If your skin is feeling dull, uneven, or tired after the festive season, The Perfect Peel® can be a brilliant way to reset your skin for 2026.
3 min read
Glycation: Is Sugar Ageing Your Skin?
Does eating sugar directly age your face? The honest answer is: glycation is real and relevant to skin ageing, but the “sugar = instant wrinkles” narrative is over-simplified. The strongest evidence is mechanistic (how glycation changes skin), with supportive observational human data. Direct cause-and-effect studies in real-world diets are limited.
Let’s break down what we do know.
3 min read
The Best Moisturisers in 2026 for Healthy, Glowing Skin
This guide explains what makes a moisturiser genuinely “good”, how to choose one for your skin type, and where Obagi fits in because it’s one of the ranges I frequently see patients do well with when they need reliable hydration without guesswork.
3 min read
The Mental Load Women Carry — And Why Aesthetic Treatments Can Be an Act of Self-Preservation
There’s an invisible burden many women carry every day not just in their minds, but on their skin, posture, expression.
It’s called the mental load: the often unspoken, constantly shifting responsibility of organising, caring, doing, for family, home, work, relationships, and more.
Over time, this load shows up in subtle physical signs: stress lines, dull or uneven skin tone, fatigue under the eyes, tight facial muscles.
3 min read
Skincare Resolutions That Actually Work (Without Overhauling Your Whole Life)
Every January I see the same pattern in clinic: people feel motivated, buy five new “miracle” products, start exfoliating more, add a strong retinoid… and by February their skin is dry, irritated, breaking out, or suddenly “sensitive”.
So here’s a different approach: skincare resolutions you can actually keep.
Simple, realistic, and rooted in what your skin truly needs.
Why “Looking Tired” Isn’t a Personal Failing — And How Modern Aesthetic Medicine Supports Women
“Looking tired” is not a character flaw. It’s not a lack of effort, discipline, or self-care. For many women in Hale, Altrincham, and across South Manchester, it’s a completely understandable response to real life: demanding jobs, caregiving, perimenopause, poor sleep, stress, screens, and the mental load of keeping everything moving.
This blog explore this further.
4 min read
What an Aesthetic Consultation Should Feel Like (And Why Many Women Walk Away From Bad Ones)
“I felt rushed.”
“I didn’t feel listened to.”
“It felt salesy.”
“I felt silly for asking questions.”
“They told me what I needed before asking what I wanted.”
An aesthetic consultation isn’t just a gateway to treatment. It’s a medical interaction that involves identity, self-esteem, trust, and consent. When done badly, it can feel exposing or dismissive. When done well, it can feel grounding, empowering, and surprisingly relieving even if you don’t go ahead with anything.
This blog explores what a good aesthetic consultation should feel like, why so many women walk away from poor ones, and how an ethical, doctor-led approach creates a completely different experience.
4 min read
Is It Vanity or Self-Respect? The Psychology Behind Skin Rejuvenation Treatments
If you’ve ever hovered over the “Book now” button for a skin consultation and then talked yourself out of it with ‘am I just being vain?’ shouldn’t I just accept myself?’
You’re not alone.
In clinic, I hear versions of this all the time from women across Hale, Altrincham, and South Manchester: accomplished, caring, busy women who are not chasing perfection BUT they just want their face to match how they feel on the inside.
Here’s the truth: for many women, skin rejuvenation treatments aren’t about vanity. They’re about self-respect, self-trust, and choice.
Are LED Face Masks Worth It in 2026? A Doctor’s Guide to At-Home LED Therapy (and the Spec Most People Miss)
Home LED face masks are everywhere again for christmas presents, and I’m not mad about it. When they’re good, they’re one of the most evidence-backed “do-it-at-home” devices we have in aesthetics.
But here’s the part that makes most viral posts a bit… incomplete:
Wavelength matters, yes. But your results are usually decided by the “dose” your skin actually receives — and that comes down to irradiance (power density), fit, and treatment time.
3 min read
Exciting News: We are now official Obagi Ambassadors!!
We’re thrilled to share that we are now official Obagi Ambassadors and I want to explain what that actually means for you and your skin.
As a doctor-led, family-run aesthetic clinic in Hale, I’ve always been very selective about the brands we partner with. Becoming an Obagi Ambassador isn’t just a logo on the wall; it’s a reflection of our ongoing commitment to evidence-based skincare, safety, and real, long-term results for our patients.
2 min read
Medical-Grade Skincare in Altrincham: What It Is and Why It’s Worth It
“I’ve tried everything… nothing is working.”
Often, their real issue isn’t their skin but it’s the products they’ve been using.
Medical-grade skincare offers something that high-street products cannot…
3 min read
Why I Don’t Recommend At-Home Microneedling with a Derma Roller
Microneedling is one of my favourite in-clinic treatments when it’s done properly. It can help soften fine lines, improve acne scarring and give the skin a healthier, tighter, more luminous look and it’s hugely popular with my patients in Hale, Altrincham.
So if I love microneedling in clinic… why am I not a fan of at-home microneedling with derma rollers or DIY pens?
Short answer: because I see the complications.
This isn’t about judging anyone who’s bought a roller online or followed a TikTok trend (honestly, you’re far from alone). It’s about explaining, in calm, evidence-based language, why I don’t recommend at-home microneedling, and why I prefer to keep it as a doctor-led, in-clinic treatment only.
4 min read
How Alcohol Is Influencing Your Skin This Christmas (Without the Lecture!)
December in Hale, Altrincham and South Manchester usually means one thing: fizz is flowing. Work dos, Christmas markets, family catch-ups, New Year’s Eve… it all adds up. And just so we’re clear from the start:
I’m not here to tell you not to drink. I genuinely love a couple of fizzy wines too.
What I am here to do, as a doctor and aesthetic practitioner, is help you understand how alcohol is influencing your skin over the festive period – so you can make informed choices, be a bit kinder to yourself, and know how to support your skin if you do enjoy a drink.
4 min read
Best Solutions for Dry Skin This Winter and how to rescue your skin with Obagi skincare and skin boosters
Cold wind outside + central heating inside = tight, itchy, flaky, sometimes sore skin. Hands crack, faces look dull, and your usual skincare “just doesn’t touch the sides”.
The good news: with the right combination of home care, medical-grade moisturisers (like Obagi) and, where appropriate, in-clinic skin boosters, you can get your hydration back and keep your skin comfortable all winter long.
4 min read