Written by: Ivka Barić Photos: Ivan Pavliš
Under the watchful eye of the dermatologist Ivana Nola, beauty beyond age limits is not relegated to chance or a play of genes from the genetic cocktail our ancestors have mixed for us. With the expert assistance of this highly acclaimed doctor, aging becomes a gentle and manageable process. To preserve her patients’ natural beauty for as long as possible, she is constantly seeking to enhance her knowledge by researching the most recent medical guidelines and using state-of-the-art equipment.
Dermatology is a rapidly developing field, boasting continuous breakthroughs and new treatments. As a result, Dr Nola is constantly learning in order to keep up with the latest techniques and technologies. When she speaks to you, you can hear the humanity of her words and you realise how important that humane tone is when she interacts with her patients. You ought to remember that dermatologists often deal with sensitive matters related to patients’ health and appearance in which ethics and empathy are key to maintaining trust.
This beauty visionary and widely recognised and esteemed expert is a pioneer in dermatology and skin rejuvenation. She attends international congresses and conferences on a regular basis, but her competence stems from years of practice, encounters with many different patients and skin conditions, and dedication to resolving skin-related problems.
As a highly experienced dermatologist, she not only possesses an extensive knowledge and experience in diagnosing, treating, and rejuvenating the skin, but also the necessary expertise to provide personalised care and treatments tailored to the individual needs of patients.
Experienced dermatologists such as Dr Ivana Nola can help treat a variety of skin conditions, including dryness, acne, pigmentation alterations, and wrinkles, as well as provide non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatments like mesotherapy, PRP, and chemical peels that help preserve the skin’s youthful appearance.
Commitment to patient satisfaction, exceptional professionalism, and her genuine passion for preserving and improving skin health are the qualities that set Ivana apart from the rest. While we are talking in her modern polyclinic called Ivana Nola Dermatology, she is raving about the importance of hydration and warning us about the damaging effects of excessive sun exposure to our largest organ, the skin.
Stylish to a T, with her lean figure, flawless hairstyle, and glowing skin, she exudes confidence as a woman who knows that her own appearance is the best advertisement there is. In addition to her work at the clinic, Dr Ivana Nola launched her own line of skin care products called “DR NOLA FOR SKIN Xerosensa” in an effort to help her patients keep their skin healthy and beautiful (lest we forget the important role the skin plays in protecting the body from harmful external factors and boosting our overall well-being with its beauty).
This is just one of many examples of her commitment to preserving skin health and promoting beauty. After all, as Dr Nola proudly points out – caring for the health and appearance of our skin is not only an aesthetic choice, but also an investment in our long-term well-being. Experienced dermatologists like her play a crucial role in making us feel and look our best in our own skin through their expertise and advice.
Could you share some of your favourite tips for healthy and radiant skin?
Healthy and radiant skin requires consistent and long-term care throughout one’s life. The first and most important tip for skin protection is using sunscreen, as the sun can greatly affect both the health and appearance of your skin. In addition, regular at-home skin care is a must. This involves consistently applying suitable creams and topical formulations that contain active substances.
There’s an excellent comparison to prove this point: think of elderly women from the countryside, whose weathered faces are usually full of wrinkles, freckles, and skin tags. Each of these occurrences is associated with a specific medical diagnosis, but I won’t go into details at the moment because I just want to emphasise that the appearance of facial skin can be the result of many years of working in the fields and prolonged exposure to sunlight. On the other hand, if you were to examine the skin on their thighs, which has never been exposed to the sun, you’d see beautiful, smooth, and lighter skin without any of the aforementioned alterations. For that reason, sunscreen is one of the key factors for maintaining healthy skin.
Despite the fact that people today spend too much time in the sun, practising proper skin care can significantly enhance the overall appearance of the skin. However, skin care routines at home are not enough. Regular treatments are important to preserve the health and glow of the skin. Chemical peels pack quite a punch. I use a wide variety of chemical peels that include surface, medium and deep treatments on my patients, and I cannot stress enough how important it is for a peel to suit the person’s skin type and condition.
As for laser technology, it has its merits, but I believe that peels are not far behind it in terms of effectiveness. Despite the boom in laser technology, I still consider chemical peels to be the gold standard. I do sometimes use lasers, but only when standard technologies and techniques prove inadequate to address the problem at hand. I’d also like to mention the use of cryotherapy or liquid nitrogen, as it plays a significant role in preserving skin health as well.
I believe that the treatments I’ve listed can serve as vital tips for healthy and good-looking skin. All these methods combined help keep the skin healthy and radiant throughout one’s life.
If you could take only one item from your vanity case to a desert island, what would it be?
Without a doubt, I would go with the Xerosensa 6. I take this product everywhere I go. It’s a lotion intended for body care, but I also often use it on my face, neck, and décolletage, especially when my skin is dry.
Xerosensa 6 provides exceptional hydration and makes the skin incredibly soft and elastic.
What’s your favourite beauty hack or tip that you go by?
My secret hack is a special chemical peel called “the red carpet peeling” or “peel to glow”, and I call it “peel to go”. It’s a gentle exfoliating peel that leaves the skin glossy and firm without the unpleasant sloughing effect. The make-up blends perfectly on top of it after application.
Unfortunately, I cannot reveal any more details about this treatment; it’s one of my little secrets. However, women who’ve tried it fell head over peels for it and they always come back for another treatment.
What are the most important routines anyone may develop to keep their skin looking young?
The key is to wash your face on a regular basis with products suitable for your skin type. Washing and cleansing the face with the appropriate micellar water play a big role here. A moisturising or nourishing cream should also be selected and applied according to skin type.
Proper face washing is one of the most important routines. Sure enough, we all wash our faces, but the question is whether we do it properly. And besides, it’s important to use the products correctly.
I’d once again like to emphasise the key role of chemical peels, which should be used on a regular basis during the colder months, perhaps every month or two, depending on skin type and condition. One should not expect earth-shattering results from mild peels, but rather use medium to medium-deep peels tailored to specific skin issues. As I like to say, one or two mild peels per year are not enough; that does absolutely nothing to improve the skin’s youthfulness.
With regular care, skin hygiene and chemical peels, the skin is bound to be incredibly healthy and radiant.
What are the most common skin care and beauty myths you come across? Also, what are the most common misconceptions people have about skin care, and what advice would you give them for better results?
One urban legend is that foundation increases acne outbreaks, but that’s not true. The foundation itself will not make matters worse if used correctly, after the skin has been properly treated and cleansed. With proper care and oral medication for acne, the foundation can actually improve the mental state of people who have them. Considering that acne treatment usually takes around six months, foundation can make this process easier. Today, there are special foundations for problematic skin that are designed to work around this very issue.
Another misconception has to do with retinoids, such as the 13-cis retinoic acid. The Internet is full of misleading information about these medications, causing undue concern and resistance. When it comes to the use of this medication, don’t go to Dr Google or Dr Yahoo – just go to a qualified dermatologist who knows what they’re doing and who’ll prescribe a proper therapy with specific instructions, as well as closely monitor the patient’s reactions.
To get better skin care outcomes, it’s critical to listen to an experienced dermatologist and their recommendations, as well as maintain good communication.
It’s important to be aware that dermatology treatments – depending on the diagnosis – may last from a couple of months to several years, and possibly a lifetime. In this case, we’re not talking about a sure cure, but about healing the alterations with the aim of alleviating the symptoms and increasing the patient’s quality of life.
Dermatologists are not wizards, but they can provide excellent support and keep your skin healthy for a long time.
How did you first become interested in dermatology, and what “made” you choose this profession?
Going into dermatology was a happenstance because my first choice was ophthalmology, but I couldn’t get into residency in that department. After that, I fell in love with gynaecology, but I didn’t manage to get into residency there either. Then I stumbled upon a melanoma research project at the Zagreb University Hospital. I worked on that project for three years and then went the private residency route. I was the second person in Croatia to do so.
Thanks to the melanoma research project, I started practising dermatology at a clinic for dermatologic surgery. I knew right away that I was exactly where I was supposed to be; it was something that fulfilled me from the very start, and it was actually a great motivation for me to continue pursuing a career in dermatology. I completed my residency programme at the Sisters of Charity University Hospital, where I established a dermatologic surgery clinic with the assistance of my professor, Mr Čajkovac. Thanks to the backing of the Sisters of Charity Hospital’s board, I secured a steriliser by the end of 1990s. I was extremely proud that I managed to put all that into motion.
In addition to dermatologic surgery, I also worked in the Melanoma Group for clinicopathological correlation between the Dermatology Clinic and Pathology Clinic at the Sisters of Charity Hospital. There I dealt with combining both gross and microscopic information to determine the most probable diagnosis on the basis of clinical and pathological pictures, which played a key role in determining the stage of melanoma and prescribing appropriate therapy.
All of that culminated in a doctorate in the field of melanoma, which was the result of my years of hard work and dedication. I still had other ambitions, so, over the course my career, I’ve studied blepharoplasty, hair transplantation, lasers, fillers, and Botox. I’ve also led numerous workshops and gained a lot of valuable experience.
I am glad and proud to have studied in a period before – and there’s no other way to put it – the aesthetics industry craze. I believe that this enabled me to get a quality education and acquire fundamental knowledge, which may have been lost due to the increase in hysteria in the aesthetics industry.
Nowadays, most workshops are all about lasers. I completed that education myself, but those workshops were initially more moderate and didn’t revolve exclusively around technology. I think that it takes many years to combine theory and practice into a quality problem-solving approach.
What is your approach to natural rejuvenation without surgery?
My approach to natural rejuvenation is based solely on chemical peels and the use of fillers, and Botox. Of course, this is a subjective viewpoint, but I believe that fillers and Botox are something that every woman should treat herself to over her lifetime if she can afford it, because these cosmetic procedures are extremely useful in keeping the skin looking fresh over the years.
Proper application of fillers and Botox according to skin type can significantly slow down the aging process and reduce the need for invasive procedures such as face-lifting.
Women have varying opinions on the use of fillers and Botox. I, for one, am all for it – not only because it’s part of my job, but also because I’ve seen their effects on skin quality immediately after application. I know that we all age and no one can outrun nature, but the question is how we want to age.
I’d like to compare it to an old timer. One that’s been kept, polished and cared for, perhaps with a part replaced or a dent repaired… that old timer is bound to be this gorgeous car no one’ll be able to take their eyes off. On the other hand, there are old-timers that are missing parts, that are rusty, damaged…
Negligent maintenance leads to rapid deterioration. We can’t expect nature to do all the work. I salute people who want to age naturally, but I have equal respect for those who wish to enhance their appearance. The decision is up to the individual and one should refrain from uncalled-for criticism.
Which non-invasive rejuvenation methods do you most frequently recommend to your patients and why?
When it comes to facial skin conditions, I always tailor the treatments to the needs of each patient. Treatments vary – from laser removal of skin tags and thread veins on the face to fillers and Botox. Each of these treatments has its distinct mode of action and effect, and no one treatment can replace another. One should not expect that, for example, mesotherapy will produce the same effect as Botox or that it will work in the same way as fillers.
I’m saying this because people get all sorts of ideas after reading articles on web portals. Women believe that after one or two mesotherapy sessions, they will achieve the effect of all the aforementioned treatments. That’s just not the case. In reality, treatments often have to be combined and repeated in order to achieve the desired cumulative effect. I recommend treatments such as biorevitalisation, mesotherapy, chemical peels, removal of skin tags, thread veins and various skin growths that detract from the appearance of the skin.
It’s important for patients to understand that each treatment contributes to the enhancement of certain aspects of their skin, and that slow and steady skin care wins the race.
Which celebrity, local or international, and from whichever period of history, do you consider the standard of beauty?
When I think about beauty standards, I prefer to go back in time since I’ve found that the approach to beauty has changed significantly over the years. Women like Sophia Loren, Jane Birkin, Brigitte Bardot, and Grace Kelly will always be beauty icons for me. Their beauty went hand in hand with charm, vigour, and femininity. The beauty of women in the fifties and sixties was as perfect as it gets because it encompassed so much more than mere outward appearance. It was deeply complex.
The modern concept of beauty revolves around androgynous characteristics. The beauty standards imposed by todays’ society promote women without curves, which were typical of stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood. However, for me, the feminine beauty ideal still implies an hourglass figure.
Be that as it may, true beauty lies in every woman who steals everyone’s attention when she enters the room and fills it with her presence. This goes well beyond the symmetry of facial features or colour of the eyes. True beauty is the outcome of a person’s inner and outer harmony, which results in irresistible allure. That is true beauty, in my opinion.
Could you tell us more about your line of skin care products, DR NOLA FOR SKIN Xerosensa?
I launched the line after two years of hard and complex work with technologists. We have developed six face and body care products, and I’m extremely pleased with their high quality and positive feedback from patients who use them. These formulas contain hyaluronic acid, amino acids, special compounds, niacinamide, and evening primrose oil.
Each product presents a unique combination of these ingredients, and the results are truly remarkable. Everyone who has tried our products keeps coming back for more.
I am extremely proud of this product line which I developed in cooperation with leading technology specialists.
Which most recent innovations in dermatology pique your interest and how can they benefit patients?
Aside from chemical peels, the development of hyaluronic fillers is one of the most interesting and significant innovations in dermatology. They constitute a revolution in dermatology. They appeared as an alternative to collagen fillers, which were of animal origin and were discontinued due to mad cow disease.
Hyaluronic fillers are very similar to our natural filler, and I have to admit that I doubt that we’ll ever find a decent substitute for that. There are certain alternatives, be it PRP (platelet-rich plasma) or PRP gel, but none can measure up to the powerful effects of hyaluronic fillers.
Even though I use these techniques as well, hyaluronic fillers remain unmatched in dermatology. I believe that they are by far the biggest breakthrough in this field, and I must admit that all of us women who live in the time in which we have access to this revolutionary product are really lucky.
What are your predictions for the future of dermatology, and what changes do you anticipate in your field in the years to come?
I don’t consider myself an innovator, but rather a practitioner in dermatology, so it’s difficult for me to speculate on the direction in which aesthetic dermatology could go. But I have noticed that the future of dermatology, in medical terms, is directed towards gene therapy. This would imply “deactivating” the genes responsible for the onset of diseases. It would be fantastic if dermatology could rely on gene therapy in the future…
However, as far as aesthetic dermatology is concerned, it seems that we have reached the pinnacle of innovation thanks to the introduction of fillers, Botox, chemical peels, and lasers over the past twenty years. Today, there are variations of already existing products on the market, but no truly groundbreaking products. I wonder how long it will take for completely new products to hit the market, rather than merely variations of what we’ve
