Right, ladies, it's time to get your body winter ready

Ah, hello September, and it’s back to school time - back to the grind, the traffic backed up all over Cork city, the cranky, exhausted heads on everyone... along with tired complexions the dark circles and puffy eyes - and that’s just the adults!

The poor kids are trying to navigate a lot of changes too.

I often see strung out and stressed clients coming in for their facials this time of year, we are an oasis of peace, tranquility and quiet calm at Emerald Beauty Clinic!

Such is the exhaustion involved in getting a whole house back to the school and winter routine.

While homework, matches, and lunchboxes are a topic of conversation in many households this month, this time of year can also see an increase in bites, mites and even headlice - yuck! I scratched my own head there at the thought of it.

I went for a lovely walk in Tramore Valley Park, the old dump in Cork city, a few weeks ago and got home to see my legs had been eaten alive, as we say in Cork. I’d leggings on so I was baffled as to how they got through, but they did, boy! Jeez, imagine if I had shorts on.

Oh, lads, the itch was wicked, and while I applied Sudocrem on every bite, I woke several times in the night with the itchy feeling.

I couldn’t wait for the chemist to open the next morning to get an antihistamine which I had to take for a few days, but I also bought a high strength zinc because I know the fact I’d gotten the bites meant I was low on it.

BACK TO SCHOOL

As back to school settles in, sales of head lice shampoos and combs rocket. One lady told me she tried three different chemists to get some for her kids, and it was in huge demand.

Head lice love to hop from one head to the next, so a classroom environment is perfect for the little feckers. Ah, the stress on mothers’ faces when they have to tackle extra stuff like head lice on top of everything else, particularly if you have a few kids to do nightly - that’s some extra work load.

While the schools are great to send out letters, the fact of the matter is not everyone will be so careful, check their child’s head, and put in the correct treatment products to kill the lice. That makes it extra stressful for the mother trying so hard to clear the lice out of her home.

EXPERT ADVICE

Many experts say we are prone to more bites and picking up things like mouth ulcers, cold sores, and breakouts in the change of seasons coming into winter, due to being low in certain vitamins and minerals.

So this week, as a beauty doctor and skin specialist, I want to educate us all on how important certain vitamins and minerals are now, particularly to our health and beauty.

MULTI-VITAMIN A MUST

I believe everyone should be on a gender- and age-appropriate multi- vitamin, but any old one will give you any old results. We now have separate male and female multi-vitamins to target specific needs and changes as we age.

You will see multi-vitamins for over 50s and over 65s now, and this is all thanks to advanced science.

While a multi-vitamin is great, there are times we may need extra of specific vitamins and minerals, and this is why it’s so important to get your bloods done annually with your GP, to see what you might just be low on and how you’re doing inside.

THE POWER OF OMEGA 3S

If you are female and over 35, omega 3, 6, and 9 are very important to your health as the body ages.

There is a huge choice now in perimenopause and menopause supplements, all of which will have omegas in them as a main ingredient.

You can also buy omegas 3, 6 and 9 collectively or individually in a supplement. These are the good fats we all need for brain and hormonal support. Yes, you can get omegas in your diet with foods like avocados, but the supplement form is the way most find convenient.

MAGNESIUM

So many women today lack magnesium in their diet, there are a few different types so it’s best to source one that best suits your body needs.

I find I always know when I am low in magnesium because I crave chocolate and I get twitchy, restless legs at night.

VITAMIND D DEFICIENCY

Lack of vitamin D is actually quite common, and it is so good for our teeth and bones. Many take vitamin D from October to April, which is hugely beneficial, and great to prevent illness over the winter months.

ZINC FOR YOUR BEAUTY

One of the best minerals - zinc helps our skin, hair and teeth and builds our immunity. Often, when our body is lacking in zinc, we are susceptible to bites and stings, other signs include skin sensitivity and hair thinning.

LIPS

Our best-selling Guinot Lip Perfect Duo, €61, is two products in one. It’s a lip scrub and then a hydrating lip cream. Available from Emerald Beauty Clinic.

GUT HEALTH

While many now drink kefir to boost their gut health, I find a good prebiotic will target it very well.

I take Alflorex, it was developed in UCC and is a Cork brand. The trick with probiotics is to stay on them.

• Emer O’Callaghan is a beauty doctor and skin specialist and winner of Irish Beauty Therapist of the Year, who works at Emerald Organic Beauty Products Ltd, trading as Emerald Beauty Clinic, 021 4365949. A multi award-winning 5-star Gold Standard Clinic, 2008-2025, www.emeraldbeautyclinic.ie follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
• SPECIAL OFFER: All next week, our Dermalogica Power Cleanse Facial, 90 mins, is reduced from €125 to €95, includes skin analysis, complimentary eyebrow shape. Appointments necessary, to book call Emerald Beauty Clinic 021 4365949. Free postage.
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