Obagi™ Professional Skin Care

What is the Obagi Nu-Derm system?

The Obagi Nu-Derm system is a unique and revolutionary skin-care regime created by world-renowned dermatologist, Dr. Zein Obagi. It is a range of highly effective, prescription-only formulas which tackle and erase the signs of aging. Unlike any other anti-aging skincare regime on the market, the Obagi Nu-Derm system is scientifically proven, and is the world’s leading professional skincare program. Available only from registered practitioners via prescription, this skincare regime cannot bebought in-store. The Obagi philosophy is about achieving fundamentally healthy skin.

What do you mean by ‘healthy skin’?

The easiest way to visualise truly healthy skin is to look at a child. Their skin is:

• Smooth, due to normal keratinisation
  
• Firm, due to abundant collagen and elastin
• Evenly coloured, due to properly functioning melanocytes
  
• Properly hydrated
  
• Tolerant to external stimuli
  
• Functioning properly

The goal is to achieve healthy skin from the inside out. This requires both active ingredients and an effective delivery system. Most ‘cosmoceuticals’ that claim to be able to ‘turn back the clock’ rely on moisturisers to temporarily plump up skin surface cells to create the illusion of healthier skin. However, as there is no cellular improvement, the skin becomes dependent on these moisturisers.

The Obagi approach is to use potent ingredients and a patented delivery system to ensure these ingredients reach all layers of the skin, and actually repair damaged skin from the bottom up. With Obagi, there is no illusion; skin looks healthier because it IS healthier.

Can an ingredient in a cream really affect skin aging?

Yes. In order to cause an effect, the ingredient must be used, it must be able to penetrate deep into the skin, it must deliver an adequate amount to the specific area at which it works, and then it must induce a biological effect. The trouble in recent years is that we have been so used to seeing adverts for cosmetics that promise the earth and consistently fail to deliver. They make claims based on pseudo-science, and questionable statistics. The basic facts are simple to understand. For any product to genuinely cause an improvement in skin at the cellular level, it must exert a biological effect.

This means that it must be classified as a drug; it must be subjected to appropriate clinical trials to establish that it is safe and that it works, and then it will only be available over the counter from your pharmacist, or on prescription from your doctor. The Obagi Nu-Derm system contains ingredients that are proven to exert a biological effect at the cellular level, and is only available on prescription for this reason.

Is there anything else on the market similar to Nu-Derm?

Put simply, no. There is no other system available anywhere that has the proven benefits of the Nu-Derm program.

How does the Nu-Derm system transform my skin?

It works by a combination of prescription-only ingredients working inside the cell, and from a system of alpha-hydroxy acids, antioxidants, and other components working outside the cell.

What are the prescription ingredients and what do they do?

The 2 biologically active ingredients are Tretinoin (at various strengths) and 4% Hydroquinone.

Tretinoin is a Vitamin A derivative that has a number of benefits to your skin. It stimulates skin cell renewal and increases the rate of skin turnover, it increases both the growth of cells that produce collagen and the amount of collagen they produce, and may even help repair damaged DNA in skin cells. It is one of the very few products that are PROVEN to reverse the effects of sun-damaged and naturally aged skin. Do not confuse tretinoin with the inferior retinyl palmitate, retinols or retinaldehydes. These compounds must undergo a conversion process to turn them into active tretinoin, and are not as reliable or as effective. As we said above – these compounds are relatively easy to buy in a number of cosmetics, so you should not expect them to work as well!

Hydroquinone is the ingredient that reduces uneven skin tone, and lightens areas of darkened skin (such as age spots, freckles, chloasma and melasma). It has been FDA approved for over 40 years and is proven to be both safe and effective. It suppresses overactivity in the cells responsible for producing melanin, and produces a depigmentation in the skin (that comes back when it is stopped).

What are the effects of aging and environmental damage on my skin?

• Skin cell turnover is significantly slowed. This means that old skin cells stay around for longer, and skin looks dry and tired.
  
• The cells at the bottom of your skin produce a more disorganised skin structure that feels rough, bumpy and has uneven tone.
  
• Melanocytes over-produce pigment, but unevenly. This results in age spots, skin mottling and hyperpigmentation.
  
• Damage to collagen and elastin result in weaker connective tissue, and wrinkled, saggy and fragile skin.

How can the Obagi Nu-Derm system help my skin?

• By reducing hyperpigmentation.
  
• By creating a smoother, stronger skin surface.
  
• By correcting excessive skin laxity, lines and wrinkles.
  
• By reducing acne flares.
  
• By promoting and maintaining properly healthy skin.

How do I use it?

The Obagi Nu-Derm is a daily skincare regime, enabling you to get radiant, healthy skin in 18-24 weeks. It works in four basic steps:

1. Prepare – using Cleansers or Foaming Gels (depending on whether your basic skin type is dry or oily), followed by a Toner that corrects skin pH, allowing the other products to penetrate deep into the skin.
   
   
2. Correct – using Clear (to reduce hyperpigmentation in the upper layers of skin) and Exfoderm/Exfoderm Forte (which use alpha-hydroxy acids to exfoliate).
   
   
3. Stimulate – using Tretinoin and Blender (to reduce hyperpigmentation deeper in the skin, and to help carry tretinoin deep into the skin).
   
   
4. Protect – using antioxidants and sunscreens.

The individually tailored regime will take around fifteen minutes to apply once in the morning and again in the evening. Each pack comes with a clear Protocol explaining which product is to be used when. The Protocol is the ‘standard’ version, but it may be that during your consultation, we will make adjustments to the standard protocol depending on your skin type. Do not be alarmed by the number of tubes and creams in your pack – remember that it contains literally every skin care product that you need for the whole of the next four or five months! You will leave the consultation with a clear idea of how it all works, with a leaflet to remind you, and with the knowledge that you can contact us at any time if you’re unsure of anything.

How long will I continue on the regime?

It takes roughly 6 weeks for a skin cell to complete its entire life cycle, working up from the deepest layers of the skin to eventually being shed at the surface. The course of treatment lasts 18 weeks (3 skin cycles).

What problems might I get during the course?

By far and away the most common problems are dryness, redness and peeling. I emphasise this to all my clients – this is NORMAL. It will settle with time, and if it becomes too problematic then there are plenty of tweaks we can make to the protocol to make it easier to tolerate. Other problems that may occur less commonly are acne breakouts, darkening of any areas of pigmentation (which is TEMPORARY) and a transient worsening in appearance of any lines or wrinkles (as a result of skin dryness). Rarely, people may find that they are allergic to one of the ingredients (usually sodium metabisulfite).

Is the system really for me?

Almost certainly, yes. But as with many things in life, it doesn’t come for free! The complete system is not cheap, and requires commitment on your part to use it daily. During the first few weeks, you will almost certainly go a bit red, your skin will feel dry and you will peel. Stay with it. We are only a phone call away, and will advise you whether you may need to make small adjustments to the protocol. But if you can stick with it, the results you will see are difficult to obtain with any other treatment.

How soon will I start to see results?

This is very variable, but you may start to see improvements in the tone and texture of your skin in 1 to 3 weeks, a change in pigmentation within the first month, and a decrease in skin laxity and wrinkles in 12-16 weeks.

My face has become very dry and red during the course. Can I use my favourite moisturiser?

NO! Well, of course, you can, but please be aware that traditional moisturisers actively hinder the process by which the Obagi system works. Please contact us if you feel the dryness is getting too much – it is better to either tweak the protocol to make it more bearable, or there are some specific products that can be used as ‘rescue’ moisturisers without compromising the work that Nu-Derm is doing.

What do I do when I’ve finished the course?

Firstly, congratulate yourself on having made a huge difference to the health of your skin! At this point, there are many options. If you feel your skin still has a little way to go, then we can continue on the course for a bit longer. If you’re happy with the results, then we can step down to a much less intensive ‘maintenance’ program. If you want to go onto to have other treatments such as a peel, IPL or botox, then you can know that because your skin is in great health before you start, you can expect an even more satisfying result.

So it is compatible with other procedures?

The Obagi Nu-Derm system is the ideal preparatory treatment for many other aesthetic procedures. It can safely be used in conjunction with dermal fillers and injectable wrinkle treatments. Studies have shown that patients who have completed the Nu-Derm course and then have botox treatments are much more satisfied with the results than those who have had botox alone. The system produces especially excellent results when combined with a course of Dermaroller™ to freshen, brighten and smooth your complexion. We can talk more about this during your treatment course.

Can I also use my regular skincare products?

For the duration of your Obagi treatment, we strongly recommend that you do not use any other products, as these may affect the end results. However, if you do not wish to continue the Obagi maintenance program, you may resume the use of your previous skincare regime.

Do you stock any of the other Obagi skincare ranges?

Yes. Please contact us by phone or email to discuss your requirements.

This is a very brief outline of the potential benefits of this hugely exciting product. There really is nothing else quite like it. I should point out that I use this myself, so I have personal experience of how well it works, and how to manage the side effects as efficiently as possible. If you would like any other information then please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.