St John Clinic newsletter April 2020
I hope that this finds you well, that you are getting through these challenging times, and that you are able to find some positives during this period.
Most of us will find ourselves poorer in financial terms, but perhaps richer in many other ways. We have had to slow right down; we have the time to communicate more with family and friends and we have perhaps used this unusual time to get on with those tasks that usually don’t get done.
On a wider scale, touchingly, there has been a national outpouring of empathy towards our fellow human beings. There is the sense that we are all in this together and we must all help one another to get through this time as best we can.
I’d like to reassure you that I’ll be returning to work as soon as I possibly can. My intention is to hold longer clinics each day in order to accommodate the inevitable increased workload. Extra precautionary measures will probably still need to be put in place and I’ll inform you about these once we receive further guidelines from the government.
Lumigan – eyelash/eyebrow enhancement
(Note: we continue to send orders out as usual during this time)
I am including more vials per month to help ensure that you don’t run out of product before the month is up, ie:
- 1 month: 6 vials (£45)
- 2 months: 12 vials (£85)
- 6 months: 36 vials (£170)
I am in regular touch with a consultant ophthalmologist colleague regarding the safety and efficacy of this product. I just want to mention a few points that many of you raise:
1 Each plastic vial should last 5 days. There is unlikely to be a loss of efficacy over those 5 days. Store in a dark, cool place (no need to refrigerate).
2 You should replace the lid each day to minimise the chance of infection.
3 Applicator brushes should be replaced regularly to minimise infection (particularly for contact lens wearers).
In general terms, we do not throw away mascara and eyeliner pencils after single use and the use of Lumigan is, I reason, no more likely to encourage an infection (ie. conjunctivitis) than these make-up products. However, in the interests of preserving sterility, it is best that you secure the lid on the vial each day and that you replace applicator brushes regularly.
Obagi medical skincare – use this time of self-isolation to re-start your regime
(We can send orders out to you during this time)
The best medical skincare contains ingredients that can cause initial side-effects, eg. irritation, redness, peeling. These settle down over the initial weeks and will result in your skin eventually looking noticeably clearer and more youthful; pigment patches should fade and large pores will shrink.
Now is a good time to re-start a regime that will really make a difference. Please note the importance of using SPF (at least 30) as your skin will be more vulnerable to sunlight.
My own personal regime, using Obagi Nuderm products, is simple and consists of only 5 products:
a.m.
- Obagi cleanser (200ml/£50)
- Vitamin C 20% serum (30ml/£120)
- Obagi exfoderm (57g/£85)
p.m.
- Obagi cleanser (as above)
- Tretinoin 0.05% (30g/£60)
- Elastiderm eye cream (15g/£100)
Those with pigmentation problems should add Obagi 3/5 (57g – containing 4% hydroquinione) to this regime.
Should you need guidance as to which products are best for you, please let me know a suitable time to call you to run through a regime which is personalised for you.
Prices are also on my website: http://www.stjohnclinic.co.uk
I wish you all the best and really look forward to seeing you again.
With all best wishes,
Lady St John of Bletso MBChB MRCOG
Dr Helen St John
dr@stjohnclinic.co.uk
020 8946 9694
www.stjohnclinic.co.uk