She was later selected for a prestigious fellowship in cutaneous oncology at the world-renowned St John’s Institute of Dermatology and maintains an active interest in skin cancer research today.
Today we caught up with Dr Justine Kluk and she gave us some invaluable advice about skincare and skincare mainenance so we hope you enjoy this Q&A as much as we did.
1. What is the best method for maintaining healthy skin?
Develop a simple skincare routine and stick to it. The best time to start this is in your teens or twenties as this sets you up with good skincare practices for the rest of your life. You can always add to this and adjust it depending on your skin's needs over time. As well as a cleanser and moisturiser, don't forget to include a sun protection product as part of your daily routine.
2. How do we know what our skin type is?
Skin can be dry, oily, combination or normal. Dry skin can be flaky, rough, red or sensitive. Oily skin tends to get shiny within a few hours of waking up and may get worse throughout the course of the day. Combination skin is where you may be dry in some areas and oily in others e.g. the T zone (forehead, nose and chin).
3. How do we know what products are right for our skin type?
The best way to figure this out is to look at product labelling. This indicates whether a product is better suited to dry, oily, combination or normal skin. People with normal skin are usually able to use most skincare products without any issues.
4. What products should we avoid using on our skin?
This depends very much on the individual person and their skin type. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Reassuringly, all skincare products that go to market have to undergo rigorous scientific testing to ensure that they are safe and effective for you to use. If, however, you know that you always react to a particular ingredient e.g. a fragrance or preservative, or indeed if you are allergic to any of these, it is important to carefully read the product labelling before purchasing. If you are in any doubt, a Consultant Dermatologist can do allergy testing to confirm this.
5. What can we do to avoid blemishes?
Keep your skincare routine simple, don't overload your skin by using too many products and, as already discussed, make sure the products are appropriate for your skin type. Cleansing your skin morning and evening and washing your face as soon as possible after exercise can also prevent congestion and clogged pores.
6. What is the best way to treat a blemish?
Whatever you do, don't pick, squeeze or scratch it. Toothpaste is also a bad option! Face masks can be really helpful at drawing out impurities and there are also specific anti-blemish products that you can dab onto affected areas once or twice a day.
7. How often should we exfoliate our skin?
Gentle exfoliation once or twice a week is sufficient for most people. People with oily skin or blackheads may benefit from doing it more often, but take extra care if you have sensitive skin or breakouts as vigorous exfoliation can sometimes aggravate these.
8. If a product is more expensive does that mean that it is better?
Not at all. Sometimes this is just because the packaging is more expensive!
9. How long should we try a product before we should expect to see results?
You need to use a product regularly for a few weeks before you can expect to see noticeable results. I normally try products for 6-8 weeks before making a decision about whether I continue to use it longer term. Of course if you react to a product, you should stop it earlier.
10. Is there a skincare routine that fits in with a busy lifestyle?
Skincare routines can be incredibly quick if you narrow them down to a few key products morning and night. I would start with a cleanser and moisturiser twice daily. I would then tend to layer a sun protection product over my morning moisturiser to protect against the risks of skin cancer and premature skin ageing. All of this takes no more than a couple of minutes. You could then also add an exfoliating product and/ or a mask once or twice a week at night on top of this if desired.
More information about Dr Justine Kluk" and to book any of her services go to: www.drjustinekluk.com