Norwich-based skin specialist Louise Thomas-Minns is dedicating next week to show you how to take care of your skin. Emma Harrowing finds out more.

There are various special weeks throughout the year – National Smile Week, National Dog Week and, of course, Norwich Fashion Week. Now, Norwich skin specialist Louise Thomas-Minns is adding U and Your Skin Week to the mix.

With the number of skin cancer cases on the increase and our constant search for the secrets to looking eternally youthful, your skin is one of the most important organs of your body. It is also the most visible, so we don't want any lumps, bumps, lines or wrinkles to destroy the flawless look we are trying to achieve.

Enter skincare products all promising to define, refine, tighten and plump up the skin to give it a youthful bounce. The products that swear by protecting your skin from the damaging effects of UV and UVA and the surgical procedures that will give you an instant face lift if everything does start to go south. Then wallow in the perplexity as you try to work out which product is best for you.

Now, fresh from her Healthy Ageing Seminars with Norwich-based nutritional therapist Glen Matten, skin specialist Louise from U and Your Skin is back on the road showing you how you can age well, with a week-long skin event from today (June 24).

The event will include free advice, ticketed events with goody bags, skin assessments, the opportunity to get your skin assessed under a UV scanner and competitions to win free treatments including Louise's signature facials. The week is open to anyone interested in taking care of their skin – just don't mention Botox!

'Everyone wants to discover a miracle product or treatment to stop the signs of ageing and I am always seeking out the latest in ingredient and treatment technology and techniques,' says Louise.

'I take a more natural approach to tackling the ageing process. I like to think of assisting my clients with 'healthy ageing' rather than 'anti-ageing'. During the week there will be lots of talk about ways to stay looking younger for longer and in maintaining and improving skin health, not just looking line free and frozen in appearance.'

Louise's passion for looking after people's skin has led her to take a unique approach to treating this major organ. She has made regular appearances in national magazines Company, Woman's Own and Boots Health and Beauty magazine, is a regular guest on Helen McDermot's show on Radio Norfolk, as well as being the skin expert for the Life Matters pages. It seems that it was just a matter of time before she came up with a dedicated skin week.

Says Louise: 'I suddenly had so much to share with the launch of some of the latest skincare technology. I really want to shout about my philosophy on skin and I felt constrained just talking to my clients about my findings. I thought 'I have so much to say and not enough time to talk about it', so U and Your Skin Week was born.'

The week begins with skin health assessments in London, before coming to Norwich tomorrow for an afternoon of cream tea, skin advice, skin assessments and the chance to have your skin examined closely by a UV scanner.

'A UV skin scanner seems like a scary piece of apparatus. It's actually a really positive thing,' says Louise. 'It allows me to view what's going on in the deeper levels of the skin, searching out skin damage mainly caused by UV rays. I can then set about putting a plan together to prevent the damage from rising to the surface and prevent it from worsening.'

Skin week will also see the launch of a new skincare product to Louise's skin lounge, the Priori Coffeeberry range, a product that Louise raves about after working with chemist Jo Lewis' other brands for 14 years.

'I have complete confidence in Jo Lewis' products and treatments, so I'm very excited about this new skincare range,' says Louise. 'It's the first 'Naturaceutical' range, which means it is using high levels of active ingredients, but instead of being packed full of chemicals, it is 99pc natural. The products contain coffeeberry extract, which, when extensively tested, gave a superior ability to combat ageing.

'During the skin week you can come along and try the products for yourself and see how they can smooth, protect, lighten, brighten and tighten the skin.

'I really want to be available to reach out to people who maybe haven't yet been to see me or experience my signature facials. I love to teach, so am open to any skin related questions and am happy to give advice where I can. If it's an issue I think needs more of a medical approach, I will recommend that, but if you want to know how to correctly apply your sunscreen, what the signs of an oily skin are, or how to cleanse properly, then I'm your girl.'

U and Your Skin Week takes place from Friday June 24 until Friday July 1. The afternoon tea with skin assessments and advice from Louise is being held at The Library Restaurant on Saturday, June 25, from 2pm until 4pm. Tickets cost �10 and this includes tea, advice, skin assessments with the UV scanner, a goody bag worth �15, and is redeemable upon the purchase of two or more products or your first facial treatment when booked on the day.

For tickets and more information about the week call Louise on 07810 872633, or email enquiries@uandyourskin.co.uk

Louise will also be available for a live chat on the Life Matters Facebook page on Tuesday June 28 between 2pm and 3pm, and then again at 7pm until 8pm. So if you have any skin related questions you can get free advice on everything from preventing lines and wrinkles to any concerns you have about your skin. Life Matters has also teamed up with Louise and U and Your Skin to offer competitions throughout skin week which will be exclusive to Life Matters Facebook fans. The Life Matters Facebook page can be found at: www.facebook.com/norwich.life