Skin doctors

NOWADAYS, patients can often combine a visit to see their GP with a trip to an in-house pharmacy. Patients are also getting used to going to their local NHS surgery to see a private physiotherapist or podiatrist.

Now, in a move which puts the Blacketts Medical Practice in Bondgate, Darlington, ahead of other GP surgeries in the town, family doctors have launched their own skin and laser clinic, offering a range of what they call “medical aesthetic” treatments.

Owned and run by experienced GPs, the new Blacketts Skin and Laser Clinic aims to offer a high quality private service which can compete with other commercial clinics in the area.

Equipped with a brand new Lumenis M22 Intense Pulsed Light machine and a YAG Laser, the new centre can tackle everything from hair removal to skin rejuvenation and from removing unsightly facial and leg veins to correcting signs of sun damage and other skin imperfections.

Dr Andrew Michie, who jointly owns the new clinic with his colleague Dr Jenny Steel, says: “There are two reasons we think it is a good idea that this service is being offered by fully qualified doctors: you need to know what you are doing, and some of these procedures are potentially dangerous.”

Dr Michie says he and his colleague were both concerned that some aesthetic work was being done by people who were not medically qualified. “We know of environments where treatment using Intense Pulsed Light therapy is being carried out by non-medical people and we have concerns about that.”

The GP says he also had worries that IPL was being used to treat moles which are not benign and which should really be referred to an NHS consultant dermatologist or plastic surgeon. “We have been clinically trained to recognise if a skin lesion or mole is benign or should be referred onwards for treatments,”

he says.

Dr Steel, who is hoping that the new service will appeal to men as well as women, adds: “We already do minor surgery here and it seemed to be a natural progression to provide an additional service for patients.”

She expects there will be a demand for a process called microdermabrasion, which can improve the appearance of skin and combat a range of conditions from lines, wrinkles and furrows to scarring, acne and excessive pigmentation. “You can come for a one-off treatment which will make your skin feel and appear more youthful,” she says.

The process involves coating the skin with natural salt, which acts as an abrasive, which removes the top layer of dead cells from the surface of the skin. The therapist then massages an anti-ageing cream into the skin using ultrasound.

“Because we are doctors, we are able to deal with the more medical, dermatological side of thing,” says Dr Steel. “We will be able to tackle some of the more difficult forms of hair removal, for example. We will also be able to help people with the skin condition Rosacea by reducing the redness.”

■ To contact Blacketts Skin & Laser Clinic ring 01325-347267 or visit blackettsskinandlaserclinic.co.uk

Gingerbread woman

LAILA Rouass, who played doctor Maya Lahan in BBC One series Spooks, says: “Coping with a tempestuous, dangerous romance with a spy is nothing compared to handling a determined little girl!”

The 39-year-old actress is a single parent.

“It makes me more aware of my health. I think, ‘if anything happens to me, who will be there for my daughter?’ And she’s my priority.”

Laila turned to single-parent charity Gingerbread in the aftermath of her marriage break-up and was so impressed by its support she became one of its ambassadors.

She hopes to help change the negative image of single parents and explains: “It’s hard not be affected by the stereotyping that goes on. There’s this idea that the norm is someone who deliberately gets pregnant, has at least a couple of children by different fathers and is waiting for a council flat.

“But the majority of single parents are actually people who, like me, never imagined they’d be bringing up children alone, but who’ve perhaps gone through divorce, been widowed, or don’t have partners for a whole variety of reasons. They’re strong, capable people doing the best for their children, coping and bringing them up brilliantly.”

Laila is 5ft 4in, weighs around eight stone, has never dieted and lives on a home-cooked diet of fresh foods high in protein and lots of vegetables. Four times a year she detoxes for a week at a time eating only raw food and drinking fruit and vegetable juices, as recommended and explained in the book 7lbs In 7 Days – Super Juice Diet by health expert Jason Vale.

Laila admits: “My weaknesses are chocolate, and chips and gravy – but I try to ensure they’re occasional treats. Although I’m too busy for gym sessions I walk regularly, and whizzing around looking after my little girl’s a pretty good way of staying trim.”

Combining a hectic filming schedule for Spooks with her home responsibilities took its toll on her energy levels, until she took natural food supplement Sun Chlorella ‘A’.

Other celebrities such as Beverley Knight and Victoria Beckham are reported to be fans of the superfood which is made up of 60 per cent pure plant protein and a range of essential vitamins.

“I’m delighted as it’s had a wonderful effect not just on my energy but on my skin and nails and made my hair glossy. I just pop the tablets into a fruit or vegetable smoothie every morning and it minimises my snacking urges,” she says.