The Special FAQs

Your skin might feel a bit dry and even have a very fine scale to it a few days after starting to use the treatment. This might last in some people up to 6 weeks. Essentially some of the ingredients are exfoliants meaning, the ingredients are doing the job of exfoliating the skin – from inside the pores and on the surface. That’s why I always say there is no need to scrub the skin. The ingredients are effectively doing the scrubbing for you.

Tretinoin can make the skin feel dry at the beginning of use – in the early days it has an irritating and drying effect on the skin. We have formulated the tretinoin to be delivered in a way that immediately provides hydration and an effective moisturising effect. Lots of other retinoids may be in gels – these can be very drying on the skin particularly if they have alcohol in them that too can be drying.

Essentially some of the ingredients are exfoliants meaning, the ingredients are doing the job of exfoliating the skin – from inside the pores and on the surface. That’s why I always say there is no need to scrub the skin. The ingredients are effectively doing the scrubbing for you. I also sometimes say to patients – “think of this a bit like a skin peel except instead of having to take a week of work and have a very red face you are swapping it for a gentle peel, just a bit at a time over 4 weeks.”

In terms of wanting to stop the peeling ideally the idea is to let it run its course. It is expected to happen and will stop by itself as the skin becomes used to the treatment. The skin peeling is the first stage in the brightening of the skin. My main tip is to apply your moisturiser over the top of your KliraSpecial at night (Cetaphil Body Moisturising Cream used on the face / Cerave moisturising cream / La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5).

But remember the basic routine: –

1. Don’t forget your gentle cleanser
2. Cleanse using lukewarm water and fingertips – a very gentle cotton face cloth can be used to gently wipe the skin.
3. Pat the skin until nearly dry
4. Moisturiser onto the skin while it is “nearly dry ‘

NOTE: The peeling should be mild and never associated with any extra weeping, redness or blistering – these would be the much rarer sign more a sign of an allergic reaction to an ingredient in one of the creams of your skincare routine. In this case, all creams should be stopped and contact our Dermatology Nurse Consultant to discuss the potential need for allergy testing.

Here’s the good bit: You don’t need to. The Klira Special contains all the ingredients to exfoliate the skin, right down into the pores. No physical exfoliator or scrubbing agent could achieve that. This gets where it needs to, but in a much gentler way than scrubbing away at your skin.

The first question is… Why do you want to have a facial? All the ingredients you need to maintain healthy glowing skin are in the skin routine prescribed to you. People may want to have a facial for several reasons and here is my take on whether you should continue or not:

1. Relaxing purposes: consider reflexology instead
2. Decongesting the skin: your Klira special is already doing this in a more meaningful way – some traumatic tools used for these types of facials can cause more inflammation and upset the skin routine. Additionally, some of the harsher acids used in these facials can upset the skin barrier and throw your routine out of whack.
3. Fluid retention reduction: carry on with this but ask them to use one of the moisturisers I recommend as the vehicle for the message rather than oils like olive oil which can be more drying on the skin. Consider with Ice Globes.
4. Blackhead removal: No need to continue with this, this is all in your Klira special formulation.
5. Skin Glow: no need to continue with this – this is all in your Klira special and additional treatments might compromise that.

If you are having laser hair removal in the area where you are applying your Klira Special, then you should stop the treatment 3 days before the laser. You can re-start usually the day after treatment. Show the ingredients to your laser provider and they can advise directly. Interestingly, the use of the Klira Special as part of your skincare routine is likely to lead to fewer problems with hyperpigmentation if you are having laser treatment.

Botulinum Toxin and Filler injections are usually completely fine to have, but you should show the ingredients to your practitioner – if they are not sure – let us know but ultimately you should then find a different practitioner (this one doesn’t know enough!).

Yes, you can. But the application of SPF is truly essential. There is no point in subscribing to the Klira routine if you are going to ignore the number one cause of skin ageing…. The sun.

The routine aims to protect the skin and start to repair the damage, so it means that you are generally improving how you protect yourself from the sun. This will be in the form of broad-spectrum SPF 50 and the forms of sun protection methods like hats and clothes. However, being in the sun is a very healthy thing to do, we exercise, and we walk, and we play sports and enjoy the water. All very wholesome and healthy activities to be doing. We can continue to do all these things, but we need to be mindful that each additional piece of UV on the skin will contribute to further damage to the skin.

My motto is to enjoy the sun but ensure you are protected.

SPF needs to be applied properly – 1 teaspoon amount to the face and the neck and it would need to be topped up.

My advice is to NOT have a break if you are going on holiday, apart from a few scenarios. There may be another adjustment you need to make to the routine but continuing with the Klira Special is important. Depending on what type of holiday it is you can then make the following adjustments:

1. Hot and Humid – ensure you top up your SPF during the day and use hats to protect the skin of the face
2. Swimming holidays – wash the face after the swim and apply your SPF – additional moisture might be needed so prepare to add the moisturise moisturiser to eh routine at night
3. Cold Ski holidays – the worst really as you have additional UV exposure with direct and reflective light as well as cold windy environments – this attacks the skin from all sides. Here I would recommend a strong moisturiser – you can see my moisturiser ladder for recommendations. It is important to increase applications of the SPF during the day.
4. Wearing tight goggles or face masks for skiing or diving – recommend stopping the Klira Special for the duration of the holiday
5. Adventure holidays – unable to wash or cleanse properly then you should stop treatment too.

You can most definitely sit in the sun and enjoy the sun if Broad-spectrum SPF 50 is being worn having been properly applied, wide-brimmed hats and the shade are advised. I never recommend anyone to sunbathe, ever in an unprotected way.

Tretinoin is being used to reverse sun damage and promote collagen production in the skin. If you sunbathe you are stopping that process from happening – so there is no point in using the cream. In addition, you will find the skin is less protected from UV.

The short answer is NO, it will improve areas of hyperpigmentation. However, if you were to use tretinoin that is too high a dose, too harsh a base or too incorrectly applied then it can cause inflammation that in darker skin types could lead to an increase in pigmentation. All these things have been considered for you in terms of your SkinSize so as long as you put on as we advise then this should be a problem for you.

Retinols and tretinoin are different and the percentage strengths are not easily correlated. I have developed a system for gentle onboarding of the tretinoin to your skin, so it is better that you start on the lower strength. However, if you have been using tretinoin on your skin then we can start on the higher dose.

This should not happen as we have developed the system to avoid anyone getting to that stage. If how, ever it did happen then, of course, we can reduce the strength.

You can but do let us know which one it is so we can thoroughly vet the ingredients for chemicals that might interfere or cause problems with the system – sometimes chemicals can interact and cause changes on the skin that have undesirable effects.

You can, but do let us know which one it is so we can thoroughly vet the ingredients for chemicals that might interfere or cause problems with the system – sometimes chemicals can interact and cause changes on the skin that have undesirable effects.

I have a screen ladder of sunscreen I recommend your skin size – we just work through these step by step until we find the right one for you. About 20% of people need to make a change – so we work through these until we find the one that you are super excited to use every day.

A difference will be noted in the skin quickly but it’s not usually the difference you want to see…. Most people experience a bit of dryness and irritation in the short term, and you must ride through this for about 6 weeks – this is normal I often due to patients – just “Lend me your Skin” so I can get you past the 6 weeks.

When I first started using retinoids it took about 3 months to get established – with the Klira formula it should take about 4-6 weeks to get over the introduction, and start to see a positive difference in the skin at around 12 weeks. For fine lines and wrinkles, this is about 9 months.

New collagen takes time, it is NOT an overnight experience.

No, 2 pumps from the Klira dispenser gives exactly the right amount for your skin type – spread it thinner.

Yes, you can – I don’t advise this from the very beginning it is best to understand the process first, but once you are established then yes, you can start to apply to the skin around the eyes.

We wriggle around at night a lot, and rub our faces at might a lot without realising – likely you have moved some of the creams to this area – if this continues try putting on some moisturising cream to the eye area before you apply the Klira Special.

Yes, you can – I don’t advise this from the very beginning it is best to understand the process first, but once you are established then yes, you can start to apply to the skin on your chest and hands.

The routine has been developed to ensure maximum efficacy and comfort to the skin, to try and make skin health changes. Ideally, you don’t need to do anything else in your routine unless we suggest it to you. If you are using other creams, then do let us know.You can but do let us know which one it is so we can thoroughly vet the ingredients for chemicals that might interfere for cause problems with the system – sometimes chemicals can interact and cause changes on the skin that can have undesirable effects.

No, you don’t need to do this. There is no need for additional retinoid in your routine.

The cream is made up to suit your skin type. We know the active medical ingredients work best in a cream rather than a gel and that is the format we deliver this in. The cream base is made up to your skin type with the magic proportions that support and nourish the skin barrier.

Base ingredients contain: Aloe, Glycerine, Hyaluronic acid, Cholesterol, Squalene.

The medical ingredients include:

Azelaic Acid:
Azelaic acid is a compound found in wheat, rye and barley that can help treat acne, perioral dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, hyperpigmentation and rosacea because it soothes inflammation. Azelaic acid treats sunspots and melasma because it blocks the production of “abnormal pigmentation”. Much of the research” on topical azelaic acid is for prescription-strength formulas with 15- to 20-per cent concentrations. While lower-grade options are generally found in over-the-counter preparations. Azelaic acid is also a tyrosinase inhibitor, meaning it can prevent hyperpigmentation because it interferes with melanin production. It’s anti-inflammatory for acne and its anti-pigment because it blocks tyrosinase. Azelaic acid is an antibacterial antioxidant that decongests clogged pores.

Tretinoin:
A form of acidic vitamin A, that has been classified as a drug or medicine, was first discovered in the ’60s by Dr Albert Kligman. It was first used to treat severe acne and later discovered as an effective solution to treat wrinkles and ageing skin, it penetrates the outer keratinocytes of the epidermis, causing a reaction to remove the dead superficial cells sitting on the surface, increasing the blood flow in the skin and thus, increasing the rate of new epidermal cell replication and collagen formation. This process allows for a healthier, less wrinkled appearance…Retinoids essentially make it more difficult for comedones to form, and the P acne bacteria become less prolific due to oxygen exposure of pores Tretinoin has been found to significantly lessen acne. It has significantly been shown to:

1. Reduced fine lines and wrinkles
2. Reduced inflammation related to acne
3. Decreased hyperpigmentation
4. Improved texture of the skin
5. Increased collagen synthesis

The cream is developed to make the skin less dry and more hydrated, so it is designed to help that problem for the long term.

The cream is developed to make the skin less oily and congested so it is designed to help that problem for the long term.

Retinoids are the group of Vitamin A creams that are used to treat the skin – there are multiple derivatives of this but the important thing to know is that they are NOT all the same. The difference tends to be those you can buy over the counter in the form of retinol, retinal and retinaldehyde etc, these must work to be converted by the skin into the active molecule. Even then by the end of the conversion, they are being delivered at much lower doses to the skin. RETINOL AND TRETINOIN MAY BE FROM THE SAME FAMILY BUT RETINOL IS LESS POWERFUL.

Retinols have a naturally weaker effect and are found in over-the-counter creams broadly known as cosmeceuticals. Retinols can still be effective, but the results won’t be as stark and will take much longer to appear if they do.

Retinols are easier chemicals for large companies to distribute at scale – but that easiness is sacrificed for the effectiveness that tretinoin can deliver.

That said, they’re very accessible, and you don’t need a prescription. That said if you want to induce a meaningful measurable difference in the skin that is more than hype tretinoin is the way to do this, and as most dermatologists whom you speak to are on some type of topical retinoid regimen.

Yes, you can.

Not while you are pregnant, but you can when you are breastfeeding if it is off the breast area.

You can use your regular foundation.