Total Approach to Skin Health

Total Approach to Skin Health Total Approach to Skin Health (TASH360)

Our practice brings you a team of specialists all united by

27/03/2026

Welcome back to our A–Z of Skincare series ✨
Where we uncover the ingredients that quietly make a big difference.

E is for EGCG.
Short for epigallocatechin gallate (a powerful compound found in green tea), EGCG may be a small addition to your routine, but it delivers impressive results.

This beautiful little ingredient helps to:
• Calm inflammation and redness
• Protect the skin with strong antioxidant support
• Support acne-prone skin by reducing excess oil activity
• Defend against environmental stressors that can age the skin

Lightweight, soothing and effective, EGCG proves that sometimes the smallest ingredients do the most powerful work.

Have you spotted EGCG in your skincare before? Let us know below 👇

20/03/2026

It’s Friday and you know what that means… Welcome back to our A–Z of Skincare series ✨

Breaking down skincare ingredients so you can better understand what your skin is asking for.
D is for D-Panthenol.
Also known as provitamin B5, D-panthenol is a gentle ingredient known for its soothing and hydrating properties. It works to:
• Help the skin retain moisture
• Calm irritation and visible redness
• Support the skin’s natural recovery process
• Improve softness and overall skin comfort

You’ll often find D-panthenol in formulas designed for sensitive, dehydrated or stressed skin, thanks to its ability to comfort and replenish the skin.

Looking to boost hydration and calm your skin? D-panthenol is an ingredient to keep an eye on.

Save this post to remember your A–Z of skincare and follow along as we move to the next ingredient ✨

13/03/2026

Welcome back to our A–Z of Skincare series ✨
Where we simplify skincare ingredients so you can build a routine that truly works for your skin.
C is for Vitamin C.

Known as one of skincare’s most loved antioxidants, vitamin C helps protect and visibly improve the skin by:
• Brightening dull or tired-looking skin
• Supporting collagen for firmer-looking skin
• Helping fade pigmentation and post-acne marks
• Protecting against daily environmental stressors
With consistent use, skin appears more radiant, even-toned and healthy.
Want brighter, more luminous skin? Vitamin C might be the ingredient your routine is missing.
Tell us in the comments, have you added vitamin C to your routine yet?✨

04/03/2026

Welcome back to our A–Z of Skincare series ✨

We’re unpacking powerful ingredients one letter at a time — so you can feel confident about what’s in your routine.

B is for Benzoyl Peroxide.

A gold-standard ingredient for acne-prone skin, benzoyl peroxide works by:
• Killing acne-causing bacteria (C. acnes)
• Reducing active breakouts, especially red, sore pimples
• Helping keep pores clearer (mild comedolytic action)
• Calming inflammation to speed up visible improvement

It’s especially effective for inflammatory acne, making it a go-to when breakouts need targeted, clinically proven action. You’ll often see early improvement within a couple of weeks, with best results building over 6–8 weeks of consistent use.

Understanding your ingredients is the first step to clearer skin.
See you at C 🤍

24/02/2026

Welcome to our brand new series… The A–Z of Skincare ✨

We’re breaking down powerful ingredients, one letter at a time, so you can understand exactly what you’re putting on your skin and why it works.

A is for Azelaic Acid.

With just 10% azelaic acid, this multitasking ingredient is a game-changer for acne-prone skin. It helps to:
• Calm inflammation and redness
• Unclog pores
• Reduce acne-causing bacteria
• Fade post-acne marks over time

Gentle yet effective, it supports clearer, smoother, more balanced skin, without stripping your barrier.

Stay tuned as we move through the alphabet and simplify skincare together 🤍

For me, skincare starts with understanding the skin, not trends. As a dermatologist and scientist, my focus has always b...
10/02/2026

For me, skincare starts with understanding the skin, not trends. As a dermatologist and scientist, my focus has always been on respecting skin biology, protecting the barrier and using science to support long-term skin health.

root4 is a reflection of that philosophy, created with intention and care.💚

09/02/2026

When will I see results?

This is always the big question when I start my patients on a new product.

Let me start off with a disclaimer: these timelines are a HUGE generalisation and everyone’s skin is different and will respond differently to different actives. I always urge my patients to give any new product at least a skin cell turnover cycle time (6-8 weeks) to really see whether you’re benefiting from a new product.

To confuse issues further – different actives will have different timelines depending on what you’re trying to treat: you’ll see a response from an acne topical far faster than one for pigmentation. If you’re looking for anti-ageing benefits – you’ll need to be even more patient – making new collagen takes longer than dampening down inflammation in acne! This makes sense right?

So while the ‘general rule’ is that:
In 2 weeks you’ll FEEL it
In 4 weeks you’ll SEE it
In 8 weeks you’ll HEAR it

This varies wildly from ingredient to ingredient + from person to person:

Hyaluronic acid for example can improve hydration in 15 minutes! Longerterm use has shown improvement in fine lines + wrinkles in 8 weeks

Hydroxy acids can also show a fast result giving an instant glow: But peak effects on acne/ pigmentation + ageing is much longer: a 10% glycolic acid has been shown in studies to improve acne after 6-12 weeks while 2% salicylic acid reduces acne in 2-12 weeks + pigmentation with 20% glycolic acid has been shown to lighten in 6-12 weeks.

Retinoids (eg retinol/ prescription tretinoin) improves acne in 4-12 weeks; pigmentation in 24 weeks and wrinkles in 12-24 weeks.

Peptides can also take 2-3 months to impact wrinkles
Niacinamide works a little faster impacting oil control in 2-6 weeks/ redness in 4 weeks + pigmentation in 4 weeks.

The bottom line? Be patient and be consistent!

How patient are you when it comes to a new skincare product?

AI is rapidly reshaping dermatology, offering new tools for early detection, imaging precision and long-term skin tracki...
12/12/2025

AI is rapidly reshaping dermatology, offering new tools for early detection, imaging precision and long-term skin tracking. But as Dr Vanessa Lapiner explains in A2 Aesthetic and Anti-Ageing Magazine, technology can only support clinical expertise, not replace it. Context, experience and human insight remain central to accurate diagnosis and ethical patient care. This balance between innovation and medical judgement is where the real future of skin health lies.

08/12/2025

Ever wonder how long skincare really takes to work?
The truth is, every skin is different and there’s no overnight transformation. Hydration can show results quickly, but rebuilding collagen takes time.
It’s not just about the ingredients; it’s about consistency, patience, and your daily habits.
Think of it like watering a plant. Moisture comes fast, growth takes time. Stay patient and stay consistent. Your skin will thank you.

01/12/2025

Choosing the right sunscreen can be tricky, but it starts with knowing your skin type. Oily or acne-prone? Go for a lightweight, non-comedogenic fluid. Dry skin? Choose a moisturizing cream. Sensitive or rosacea-prone? Stick to fragrance-free mineral formulas.

If you struggle with pigmentation, look for mineral sunscreens with iron oxide. And for skin of colour, a universal tint helps avoid a white cast.

Do sunscreen labels still confuse you?

20/11/2025

My husband used to tease me that he could treat my patients because all dermatologists recommend are steroid creams! When I was still a registrar on call, he used to pretend to answer my call phone and would answer ‘apply Dovate’ to any query asked.

Is this true? Are steroids the answer to most skin issues?

Absolutely not and even when steroids ARE indicated, you need to know what strength and formulation to use depending on what part of the body you are treating.

Topical corticosteroids (TCS) are available in different strengths, or potencies: mildly potent, moderately potent, potent and very potent. Your derm will decide on the correct strength for you on the basis of the nature of your condition, your age and the area of your body being treated.

While TCS can be prescribed for inflammatory conditions on the face (eczema/ psoriasis/ allergic contact dermatitis for example) – derms will get a little antsy about using stronger potency TCS (such as Dovate) particularly around the eye area:

Why:

It can cause:

• Cataracts or glaucoma
• Skin thinning and atropy
• Skin fragility
• Easy bruising
• Telangiectasias (broken capillaries)
• Collagen breakdown
• Stretchmarks
• Increased risk of spread of infections eg impetigo or herpes
• Rebound worsening of the pre-existing condition unless the • • • corticosteroid is weaned down appropriately and slowly
• Perioral dermatitis
• A rosacea flare
• Acne
So what do we suggest? If you’re going to use a corticosteroid on the face – do so under the supervision of your derm: Advantan can be used to get quick control which we will then wean down to a 1% hydrocortisone such as biocort/ mylocort. But even better are the calcineurin inhibitors (protopic or elidel) or Staquis do not carry any of the risks associated with TCS on the face.

Have you ever had any complications from using a TCS on your face? I once admitted a child with cataracts from TCS use + have never forgotten that lesson!

Sun’s Out, Remedies In!🌞 Discover the gentle power of natural solutions to soothe and heal sunburned skin. ••••••• ...
10/01/2024

Sun’s Out, Remedies In!🌞 Discover the gentle power of natural solutions to soothe and heal sunburned skin.


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Address

94 Regent Road, Piazza Da Luz, Second Floor
Cape Town
8005

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+27214348503

Website

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