Derma Rolling is one of those skincare enigmas that some of us may have been put off by the idea of all those tiny needles pricking our skin. While it doesn't sound too pleasant, the reality is that Derma Rolling is minimally invasive and the effects are so very worthwhile. Microneedling has been around for many years and the benefits are well documented. However, not everyone can afford to visit a Dermatologist or Skincare Clinic to have this procedure done, so hence bring in The Home Version of Microneedling – The Derma Roller. Derma Rolling has gained massive popularity in recent years and more and more people are doing it. So, what’s the hype? Derma Rollers are used for improving pigmentation issues, help reduce acne scars, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and to help make the skin firmer. There are even stories of some people having permanently removed under-eyes bags by use of Derma Rolling. It's one of those treatment you need to do regularly over a period of time to see the results. How Does A Derma Roller Work? When a Derma Roller is rolled over the skin, the short needles on the roller very slightly puncture the skin and create tiny pathways. These minute pathways are similar to a controlled skin injury. These microscopic wounds allow for better product penetration, so you get more out of your chosen skin care. Hygiene As with any aesthetics skin care treatment it is vitally important to keep things hygienic when using the Derma Roller. Even though it’s very slight, the skin is undergoing wound trauma. Keep your Soopa Skin HOCL Rescue Mist handy for the next few days - spray lightly and often to calm and aid recovery. Research has shown HOCL to be effective in speeding recovery after Aesthetic treatments. Evidence suggests HOCL may help minimize wrinkles & fine lines Soopa Skin HOCl Rescue Mist Intensive is a fine spray based on HOCl, a molecule that preserves the skin’s micro-biome, fights alien pathogens and helps with the skin’s natural healing process. Helps reduce the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and bacterial infection - Elements for a Healthy Skin! How to use a Derma Roller at home Properly cleanse and dry your face to prepare it for treatment. Spray your face and surrounding areas to be treated, with Soopa Skin HOCl Rescue Mist and leave to dry naturally. Clean the Derma Roller device by spraying the Soopa Skin HOCl Rescue Mist and allow to dry naturally. Roll the device up and down the forehead, cheeks, and chin without applying too much pressure. Switch to horizontal movements followed by diagonal ones. Once the rolling is complete, spray your skin once again with the Soopa Skin HOCl Rescue Mist. This will ensure that any unwanted germs and pathogens that may be present on the skin are completely destroyed without harming any of your natural microbiome. Apply a hydrating serum. (Avoid serums that contain potentially irritating retinol and vitamin C) Disinfect Derma Roller with the Soopa Skin HOCl Daily Rescue Mist and allow to dry. Once dry, put the device back in the storage container until next time. While using a derma roller, stay clear of the delicate skin close to the eyes and ensure you exercise caution when using the device on sensitive areas such as the nose and upper lip. Ideally you should use your Derma Roller at least 2-3 times a week. While Derma Rollers are effective, please understand that they won’t produce the same kind of results that you would likely get from an Aesthetics clinic offering a professional Microneedling treatment. Written by Dawn Johansson Soopa Skin International

Men’s beards may be dirtier than we think. It’s time to face up to some dirty facts: Your humble beard is a battleground for bacteria. Your hands offer germs a handy transport system. Scratching and fiddling with your hair moves microbes from whatever you’ve been touching, (including the toilet seat) to your face. Two recent studies have shown this. The first study, published in the February 2019 issue of the European Radiology, researchers analysed skin and saliva samples from 18 bearded men of varying ages against fur and saliva samples from 30 dogs. The researchers were looking for colonies of human-pathogenic bacteria in both man and dog – not in an attempt to beard-shame the hirsute masses, but to rather test whether it was safe for humans to use the same MRI scanners that dogs had previously used. In fact, it was the humans that were the dirtier patients. Not only did the men’s beards contain significantly more potentially infectious microbes than the dog’s fur, but men left the scanners more contaminated than the animals! The second study by a Microbiologist in Albuquerque in New Mexico recently found that men’s facial hair can contain as much bacteria as your average toilet seat. Yuk! The Microbiologist, John Golobic from Quest Diagnostics swabbed a group of bearded men and analysed the results to see just how dirty the beards were. Golobic said that some of the men’s facial hair contained bacteria that you would commonly find in a toilet. Now before you run to your bathroom to grab the razor and to start shaving, just remember that bacteria gets onto all sorts of surfaces, including skin. Another research that was published in Journal of Hospital Infection found that growing a beard is not a health hazard. This particular research compared bacterial colonisation on the faces of 408 male health care workers, with and without facial hair. I guess that if we touch a toilet seat that harbours bacteria and then touch or scratch our faces, then it’s probably irrelevant if we have a beard or are clean shaven as the said bacteria is just as comfortable on either host. So it’s fair to say that beards and clean-shaven faces carry a ton of bacteria, most of which is part of our natural microbiome. However we do carry unwanted bacteria too. The disadvantage of having a beard however is that if someone else rubs against that beard for instance, like our partner, then the beard can create tiny little cuts, which can lead to infections like Impetigo. Impetigo is a bacterial infection caused by group A Steptococcus. Classically this produces a pink rash with a honey coloured crust on it. Sharp beard hairs from vigorous kissing for example, can cause little breaks in the skin that then introduce this bacteria into the skin. This can be avoided by cleaning the beard regularly and by also spraying the beard regularly with a gentle Hypochlorous Acid product such as Soopa Skin Daily Rescue Mist. Then there’s the dreaded Beard-Itch. An itchy beard is very common, especially when a person grows a beard for the first time or after a long time of being clean shaven. An itchy beard can be unpleasant and uncomfortable. An itchy beard can occur at any time. It can be caused by many things: Poor hygiene, dry skin, ingrown hairs, excessive grooming using soaps or others products which can irritate the skin. Sometimes beard itch can be a sign of a much deeper issue such as fungal or bacterial infection. Soopa Skin Daily Rescue Mist is a great weapon for itching beards. It helps to alleviate itchiness caused by the conditions above and will be effective in eliminating any yeast, fungal or bacterial infections. Written by Gary Hunt - Soopa Skin International

Do you remember how sore and uncomfortable it was wearing a soiled nappy as a baby simply because you had developed a bad case of nappy rash? Of course you don’t remember, but it still happened nonetheless. We’ve all suffered from nappy rash and though we have no recollection of the pain and irritation, the little Munchkins that we were still had to endure it. And it’s very upsetting for the Moms to hear baby’s anguish and to see the raw red areas of a nappy rash bottom. The main cause of Nappy rash is wearing a wet and dirty nappy for too long. Germs simply love warm and wet environments and sadly nappy rash can develop into a severe infection that doesn’t respond to treatment. Traditional treatment of inflamed nappy rash is to simply wash dirty area and to apply a zinc-based cream to calm the inflamed baby bottom. These creams become messy and have to be wiped away after application. Have you thought about using Soopa Skin HOCL Rescue Mist Daily for baby’s bottom? Being completely harmless to baby, simply spray our Soopa Daily HOCl Rescue Mist to help clean and relieve inflammation redness, reduce and eliminate harmful bacteria. No need to rub in or rinse off, simply leave to dry. Our HOCl mist is so gentle on inflamed skin, is steroid and alcohol free and it may be used as often as required without causing any harm whatsoever and may be sprayed on baby’s most sensitive areas. The Soopa Skin HOCl Rescue Mist will help eliminate bad odour causing germs and will help relieve the sting, pain and itchiness caused by any inflamed nappy rash. For complete peace of mind you can even spray your Muchkin’s dummy and feeding bottles for full disinfectant against unwanted germs. And did you know that there’s approximately 2,400 sprays in each 250ml bottle? A little goes a long way. ELEMENTS FOR A HEALTHY SKIN! Written by Gary Hunt, Soopa Skin International Contact Gary: gary@soopaskin.co.za

It's cold and wintery across the country and many of us are bringing out the hot water bottles again. These pure delights can be a hazard though, and here are a few helpful tips to avoid some nasty hot water burns. Hot water bottles are designed to contain boiling water, which means they need to be handled carefully. When “burping” the air before putting on the cap, be aware the hot water could spray onto your face or chest and cause a serious burn. Be sure to have a layer insulating your delicate skin from the heat of the hot water bottle – never put it directly on your skin. TIP: Never over-fill the bottle and cover with a towel or a special cover before using it. Using water that is too hot can lead to the bottle bursting. TIP: Fill the hot water bottle with warm, not boiling, water and DO NOT completely fill it to the top, leave some space for expansion to prevent any potential ruptures. Hot water bottles are commonly made of rubber or other materials that may cause allergic reactions or sensitivities. TIP: If you are prone to allergies look out for a bottle made of hypoallergenic materials like silicone. After you take your bottle out of storage and prepare for your first winter night, inspect your hot water bottle for any signs of wear and tear, such as cracks, leaks, or damaged stoppers. Tip: Replace your hot water bottle regularly to avoid leakage that can cause a burn. Soopa Skin HOCl Rescue Mist contains HOCl (Hypochlorous Acid) which offers a simple and effective solution for treating minor burns, and can be applied with traditional treatments for increased efficacy and advanced healing. Hypochlorous acid is a natural antimicrobial, with hydrating and anti-biofilm properties that make it an ideal solution for burn treatment. Best of all, as a molecule it strikes a unique combination as it’s as safe as saline but more antimicrobial than most products or chemicals used in wound care today. Think frequency over quantity and spray the affected area lightly and often for best results.

Way back in the 18th century one could not be considered a decent Prussian Officer if the officer’s rank wasn’t matched by the number of facial and body scars. These soldiers wore their scars with immense pride. It was a symbol of great masculinity, bravery and even considered to show that the wearer of these scars had high levels of testosterone. These were real men!! In the real world of today however, scars are mostly earned through nasty accidents, medical surgery or bad skin conditions such as skin cancer, small pox or acne, etc. Psychologists at the University of Liverpool decided to investigate the effects of facial scars by asking 115 women and 64 men to rate the attractiveness of eight strangers of the opposite sex. Half were asked to look at original face shots, while the other half viewed images that had been digitally manipulated to add scars to the cheeks, foreheads and jawlines. The results showed that the scars made no difference to the perceived attractiveness of the women, but the scarred men ranked almost 6% higher in appeal ratings than those with undamaged skin. So there’s science to back up that women with scars are no less attractive than women without and that men with scars have a 6% upswing of attractiveness than those without. Having said all of this, there are some scars that most who have them, would love to see reduced or wish they never had. Let’s take a look at the different types of scars and the effects of Aesthetics Treatments for scar reduction. Also the use of HOCl at the time of injury or medical procedure to help reduce possible wound scars, making them smoother, softer and to even see them possibly fade. Types of Scars A scar is a natural part of the body’s healing process and is a mark left on the skin after a wound or injury has healed. Our scars are with us permanently. Fine-Line Scars These scars are mainly from minor wounds and heal quickly, will gradually fade leaving just a simple fine line or visible mark on the skin. Keloid Scars Keloid scars are thick raised scars which are much larger than the wound that that caused the scar. The Keloid scar usually takes time to appear after the wound injury. Once it appears a Keloid tends to grow slowly for months or even years. Keloids can be hereditary and can run in families. This suggests that some people inherit genes that make them more likely to develop keloids. Hypertrophic Scars A hypertrophic scar is a thick raised scar. It’s an abnormal response to wound healing in which extra connective tissue forms within the original wound area. The result a raised scar. The key visible difference between hypertrophic and keloid scars is the degree of the spread of the scar around the original wound. With hypertrophic scars, the extra connective tissue that forms within the original wound stays within that area. With keloid scars, the extra connective tissue that forms extends beyond the original wound area. Pitted Scars Pitted or sunken scars are often the result of severe acne or chicken pox. As with all scars they are permanent, but pitted scars may be treated so that they fade and improve in appearance. Treatment for Scars Scar treatments vary and depend on the type of scar and how long you have had it, and the scar repair may require a combination of treatment modalities. These treatments can include simple camouflage with a concealer, silicone gels or sheets, corticosteroid injections, Laser therapy, Cryotherapy, Dermal Fillers, skin needling and skin creams. And let’s not forget HOCl (Hypochlorous Acid). HOCl and Scars For wound care and scar management, topical stabilized HOCl (Hypochlorous Acid) offers powerful micro-biocidal and anti-biofilm properties, in addition to potency as a topical wound healing agent. It may offer an alternative to other less desirable wound care measures. HOCl has been shown to be an efficacious and safe therapy for keloid and Hypertrophic scar treatment. Small studies have shown that using HOCl post procedure prevents infection, reduces inflammation and promotes healing by increasing oxygenation of the wound area. Excess inflammation is problematic which can lead to scarring. So HOCl may be effective in reducing scar occurrence and may also result in softer and flatter scars. This is of great importance for any pre and post aesthetics or plastic surgery treatments. The secret is to spray the affected area frequently and lightly. Think frequency over quantity and think Soopa Skin HOCl Rescue Mists

A wise person once said: Á person's immune system is like an English country garden. Imagine a beautiful garden filled with an abundance of colourful flowers of all types, with birds and bees and butterflies and dragonflies and creatures living together in complete peaceful bliss and harmony'. That is exactly the same as our gut microbiome system when it's in a healthy peak condition!! Sadly we all live in a fast-paced world filled with stresses of work to earn money to live. A world where our foods are grown using pesticides and antibiotics and where we've been subjected to and conditioned to eat unhealthy sugar based foods that cause obesity and diabetes in many people. Our health practitioners prescribe us antibiotics often when not required, cortisone products to heal inflamed and unhealthy skin conditions. These all contribute to our body's immune systems' decline into decay! Recent research studies into our body's gut flora systems has shown that up to 90% of all Illness can be reversed simply by having a healthy microbiome system. Approximately 70% of our immune system is housed within our gut, so making sure that our digestive system is in top order can be the key to addressing many of our bodily woes. If we eat "bad foods" it sets off an inflammatory response in which our bodies are literally fighting the foods that we eat!! Antibiotics as an example will wipe out bacteria in the body, including the good ones. It can take months for the body to recover from taking an antibiotic. If the body's immune system is in tip top shape, then there is no need for the likes of an antibiotic. Don't let your gut deteriorate until the English Country Garden looks like a waste land. Feed it well with healthy foods, - Fresh fruit & vegetables, legumes such as black beans and chickpeas, lentils and wild rice, Seeds and nuts, oily fish and healthy fats such as avocado pear, olive oil and coconut oil. The list goes on, but reduce sugar, quit fruit juices and carbonated sugary sodas, lower your alcohol and smoking intake. Get lots of good sleep and plenty of exercise and fresh air. Written by Gary Hunt - Soopa Skin International