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Are you suffering from Pandemic Droop?

Are you suffering from Pandemic Droop? Don’t worry, help is at hand.

Living through a pandemic has taken its toll on our mental and physical health and some of us have been left feeling unhappy with our appearance.

Independent surveys commissioned by cosmetics companies last year suggested that six million people in the U.K. fear they look at least five years older because of lockdown and blame stress, poor diet, less exercise and sleep, longer working hours, and ‘maskne’.

The term Pandemic Droop has now been coined to cover concerns such as dull skin, wrinkles, dark circles, and sunken hollows, loss of facial fat padding, tech neck, and weight gain.

“Prolonged stress, increased screen time, and fighting back the boredom with food and drink are just some of the reasons why many are emerging from the pandemic looking far from fresh-faced,” explains Harley Street aesthetics expert Dr Yusra, who runs premium clinics in London and Liverpool.

"Chronic stress harms the integrity of the collagen in your skin. Collagen gives your skin elastic support and when this breaks down, skin appears thinner and shows the signs of ageing, with fine lines and wrinkles appearing.

"I am currently seeing more clients than ever affected by Pandemic Droop and concerned about the visible signs of ageing brought on by the stress of lockdown.”

Dr Yusra insists there are plenty of things you can do to prevent Pandemic Droop including reducing stress, wearing mineral SPF and sunglasses, getting plenty of beauty sleep, taking vitamin D supplements, and managing blue light exposure.

If Pandemic Droop is already causing concern, the aesthetics expert maintains all is not lost. She recommends following a healthy Mediterranean diet, exercising regularly, plus taking time out to relax and meditate.

As Covid-19 restrictions ease, Dr Yusra advises investing in skincare products containing retinol, liquid exfoliants such as glycolic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide, and a pair of UV-blocking sunglasses.

There are also lots of non-surgical treatments to help restore your pre-lockdown glow, with the expert recommending ULTRAcel face tightening treatment, Profhilo fillers, skin booster hyaluronic acid injections to rehydrate skin, and chemical skin peels to correct dark circles.

“We often see the first signs of ageing in the area of the face often referred to as ‘the triangle of youth,’” Dr Yusra explains. “This can be slowed down and, in some cases, reversed through non-invasive treatments and non-surgical tweakments, such as bioremodelling, radiofrequency and microneedling.

“Also switching to medical-grade skincare and using an SPF daily can make a huge difference.”