HARVENSPECIALISTSHARVENSPECIALISTSSelect a service to read about what it involves, how it is approached and what to expect.
Acne happens when pores become blocked with oil and dead skin, followed by bacteria and inflammation. It can show up as blackheads, whiteheads, red bumps or deep, painful cysts on the face, back and chest. Hormones, some medicines, cosmetics and family history all play a part.
The doctor grades how severe the acne is, looks for triggers such as hormonal factors or the products you are using, and builds a plan around your skin. This may include creams or gels, tablets where needed, a simple skin-care routine and, in some cases, procedures such as peels.
Acne treatment takes weeks to show results, so a follow-up is planned to adjust things. Treating early and steadily lowers the chance of scarring. Please avoid picking or squeezing spots, as this often leaves marks.
Ask about this at your consultation →Acne can leave flat dark marks and true scars such as pits or rolling depressions. They are different problems and need different treatment, so the first step is identifying which type you have.
Dark marks often fade with sun protection and topical treatment. Textured scars may be treated with procedures such as microneedling, peels or lasers, sometimes in combination over a course of sessions. Any active acne is brought under control first so new scars do not form.
Improvement is gradual and usually partial rather than complete. Most plans involve several sessions spaced weeks apart, some temporary redness or flaking, and careful sun protection afterwards.
Ask about this at your consultation →Pigmentation appears when skin makes extra melanin. Common causes are sun exposure, inflammation after acne or rashes, hormonal changes, certain medicines and some skin conditions. Because the cause decides the treatment, finding it matters.
The doctor looks at the pattern, depth and your skin type before choosing treatment. Options include sunscreen, topical lightening agents, peels and, selectively, lasers. Care is taken because the wrong treatment can darken pigmentation, especially in deeper skin tones.
Pigmentation fades over months, not days. Daily sunscreen is the most important part of treatment, and patches can return if the sun is not controlled.
Ask about this at your consultation →Melasma causes symmetrical patches, usually on the cheeks, forehead, nose and upper lip. Sun and heat, hormones (including pregnancy and some contraceptives) and genetics are the usual triggers. It is more common in women and in people with medium to deeper skin tones.
The aim is steady control. The plan usually combines strict sun and heat protection, a suitable sunscreen, topical treatments and, where appropriate, gentle procedures. Aggressive treatment can make melasma worse, so it is introduced cautiously.
Melasma is a long-term condition that can flare again. Improvement is gradual, and a maintenance routine is usually needed to hold the results.
Ask about this at your consultation →Sensitive skin burns, stings, itches or turns red in response to products, weather, heat or stress. It can reflect a weakened skin barrier or an underlying condition such as rosacea, eczema or a contact allergy.
The doctor looks for the cause, then simplifies your routine to a few gentle products and repairs the skin barrier with suitable moisturisers. New products are introduced one at a time, with a patch test first. If a condition such as rosacea is found, it is treated directly.
Often the first advice is to do less: fewer products, no harsh scrubs, lukewarm water. Skin usually settles over a few weeks once irritants are removed.
Ask about this at your consultation →Eczema and other forms of dermatitis cause dry, itchy, red and sometimes cracked or weeping skin. They tend to be long-term, with flare-ups and quieter spells. Soaps, fabrics, sweat, allergens and stress are common triggers.
Treatment rests on regular moisturising to protect the skin barrier, short courses of anti-inflammatory treatment during flares, and identifying and avoiding your triggers. Itching and its effect on sleep are treated as part of the plan.
Eczema can usually be kept well controlled, though not always cured. A daily routine matters more than occasional treatment. Hot showers and harsh soaps tend to make it worse.
Ask about this at your consultation →Psoriasis is a long-term, immune-related skin condition that causes thick, scaly plaques, commonly on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back. It can also affect nails. It is not contagious.
Treatment depends on how much skin is affected and where. Many people are managed with topical treatments; more extensive or stubborn psoriasis may need other medicines. The doctor also asks about joint pain and stiffness, since psoriasis can be linked to joint problems.
Psoriasis is controlled rather than cured, and regular follow-up helps keep it quiet. Stress, infections and some medicines can trigger flares. Tell the doctor if your joints ache or feel stiff.
Ask about this at your consultation →Skin allergies include hives (urticaria), contact allergy to cosmetics, metals or plants, rashes caused by medicines, and allergic eczema. The cause is not always obvious at first.
The doctor takes a careful history of what you have eaten, taken, touched or applied, examines the skin and advises avoidance of likely triggers along with medicines to settle the reaction. Further tests are suggested where appropriate.
Most reactions settle with the right treatment, though finding a trigger can take time. Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or any difficulty breathing, is an emergency and needs immediate hospital care.
Ask about this at your consultation →Warts are caused by a viral infection of the skin and can spread. Skin tags are small, soft, harmless growths that often appear in skin folds, on the neck or under the arms.
The doctor first confirms the diagnosis, since some growths need a different approach. Depending on the lesion, removal may use freezing (cryotherapy), cautery or medicated treatment. Please do not cut or burn them at home.
Procedures are short. A small scab forms and heals in days to a couple of weeks. Warts can return and sometimes need more than one session. Any growth that bleeds, changes quickly or looks unusual should be checked.
Ask about this at your consultation →Fungal infections cause itchy, scaly, often ring-shaped patches, most commonly in skin folds, the groin, body and feet. They are especially common in warm, humid weather and can spread between family members.
The diagnosis is confirmed by examination and, when needed, a simple skin scraping. Treatment uses antifungal creams or tablets. The doctor will also advise against using steroid creams bought over the counter, which can make infections worse and harder to treat.
Finish the full course even when the skin looks clear, otherwise the infection can return. Keep skin dry, wash towels and clothes separately and in hot water, and avoid sharing them.
Ask about this at your consultation →A chemical peel applies a carefully chosen acid to the skin to lift away the surface layer and encourage fresh skin to form. Peels range from light, with little downtime, to deeper ones.
The doctor chooses the type and strength of the peel based on your skin type, your concern and the season. You may be asked to prepare the skin beforehand and to stop certain products. A course of peels is usually more effective than a single one.
Expect tingling during the peel, followed by redness and fine flaking for a few days. Sunscreen is essential afterwards. Peels are not suitable for everyone, so tell the doctor about your medicines, recent sun exposure and any history of cold sores.
Ask about this at your consultation →Lasers use focused light energy to treat concerns such as pigmentation, scars, texture and some vascular marks. Different lasers work in different ways, and your skin type strongly influences which is safe and effective.
After assessment, the doctor explains whether laser is the right choice, which type, how many sessions you may need and what results are realistic. A test spot may be done first.
You may notice redness and warmth afterwards. Sun avoidance and sunscreen are important to protect treated skin. Most concerns need a course of sessions, and results build over time.
Ask about this at your consultation →Laser hair reduction uses light that is absorbed by the pigment in hair, damaging the follicle so that less hair grows back. It works best on dark, coarse hair. It reduces hair growth rather than promising permanent removal.
The doctor checks your hair, skin type and, where there is unusual hair growth, whether a hormonal cause should be looked at. Sessions are spaced according to the area being treated.
Most people need a course of several sessions, with occasional top-ups afterwards. Shave the area before your visit, avoid waxing or plucking between sessions, and keep the area out of the sun.
Ask about this at your consultation →Rejuvenation is not one treatment but a plan to improve glow, texture and tone using a mix of medical skin care and procedures such as peels, microneedling or lasers.
The doctor starts with the basics, such as sun protection, a suitable routine and treating any underlying skin condition, then adds procedures where they will help. Goals are discussed openly so expectations are realistic.
Results are gradual and natural looking rather than dramatic. A maintenance routine helps keep the improvement.
Ask about this at your consultation →Microneedling uses a device with very fine needles to create tiny channels in the skin. This prompts the skin to repair itself and build collagen, and is commonly used for acne scars and rough texture.
A numbing cream is applied first, and sterile, single-use needle tips are used. The depth is set to suit the area and the concern. The doctor checks whether it is safe for you, including your medicines and any history of cold sores or scarring.
Redness similar to mild sunburn is common for a day or two, followed by dryness. Avoid makeup for the first day and use sunscreen. A course of sessions is usual.
Ask about this at your consultation →Skin ageing comes from the sun, genetics and lifestyle. It shows as fine lines, uneven tone, dryness and loss of firmness.
The foundation is daily sun protection and a routine suited to your skin. The doctor may then suggest treatments such as peels, microneedling or lasers. The aim is to look rested and natural, not changed.
Starting early is easier than correcting later. Results build gradually and depend on how consistently you look after your skin.
Ask about this at your consultation →Yes. The doctor needs to see your skin, understand your concern and check which options are safe for you.
No. Results depend on the condition, your skin and how closely the plan is followed.
Sometimes. The doctor will advise after examining you.
No procedure is. Benefits, risks, alternatives and aftercare are explained before you decide.