About Environ Skincare and the essential role vitamin A plays in the skin
Dr Des discovered the essential role vitamin A plays in the skin. As Environ's maverick scientist and doctor he continues to research and develop progressive, new products to deliver to the market, allowing Environ to redefine the boundaries of global skincare.
THE DR DES STORY • ENVIRON FOUNDER AND SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR
Dr Des graduated from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, with an MB.B.CH. He obtained his surgical education and training (specialising in cardiology), F.R.C.S. (Edin) from the College of Surgeons in Edinburgh in 1973.
After training in various hospitals in the UK, he returned to Cape Town, South Africa, to work as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon. He joined Professor Christiaan Barnard in the world-famous heart transplant unit of Groote Schuur Hospital and became part of the world’s first heart transplant team. Dr Des was also responsible for the “Piggy-Back” or “Double” heart transplant illustrations.
In 1975, he returned to his passion, plastic surgery, and eventually became the Cleft Lip and Palate Division lead consultant at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital for 21 years. Due to his expertise, he was made a fellow of the Plastic Surgery Unit at Show University in Tokyo. In 1979, he commenced a private practice in reconstructive and plastic surgery, the specialty in which he continues to practice today and is internationally renowned. Dr Des has written numerous papers and chapters for medical publications on various Plastic Surgery procedures, and in more recent years, he has studied, written and lectured around the world on skin health and skin rejuvenation through the use of vitamin skin preparations and technology.
Through intensive research, he discovered vitamin A’s essential role in skin health. He became determined to create a skincare range to maintain healthy skin, especially as sun-related disorders were growing worldwide. In the 1980s, he pioneered the use of vitamin A in high enough doses to help counteract the harmful effects of the environment, pollution, and stress and create radiant, visibly improved skin.
What followed has become a legacy of scientific innovation today, celebrated and respected globally, starting with the creation of Environ in 1990.
A year later, Environ introduced the world to the first vitamin A skincare system – the Environ Vitamin STEP-UP SYSTEM followed in 1992 with the world’s first chemical and physical sunscreen with antioxidants.
Dr Des’ innovation continued in 1994 when he created the world’s first safe and effective Cool Peel Technology System. He also pioneered skin needling or Collagen Induction Therapy in 1996. Ionzyme, the brand’s premium Vitamin STEP-UP SYSTEM Range, launched in 1997 and was the world’s first ‘made-to-order’ vitamin A skincare regime.
In 1998, he turned Environ’s skincare knowledge into technology by launching the patented Ionzyme DF MACHINE—the world’s first low-frequency sonophoresis and iontophoresis facial machine.
It comes as no surprise that in 2011, Dr Des received the Marquis Who’s Who Award.
As Environ’s maverick scientist and doctor, he continues researching and developing new products to deliver to the market, allowing Environ to redefine the boundaries of global skincare.
