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Skin
Treatments
After years
of exposure to the sun and the stresses of daily living, your skin may not be as
smooth and supple as it once was. Laugh lines may be etched around the corners
of your mouth or age spots may be popping up on your face and hands. Luckily,
you don't have to take these signs of aging lying down. Today, there are a wide
variety of treatments you can choose from to help eliminate skin damage.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid:
Also known as ascorbic acid, alpha hydroxy acid is used to improve oily skin,
prevent acne, and help slough off dead skin cells, making your face look more
radiant. You'll find alphy hydroxy acid in many over-the-counter skin care
products that can be used in your home.
Possible Side Effects Include:
Mild irritation. Sensitivity to sunlight.
Chemical Peels:
Chemical peeling is a technique used to treat fine lines under the eyes and
around the mouth, as well as age spots, sun-damaged skin, mild scarring,
freckles, and skin discoloration. In this treatment, the physician applies a
chemical solution to small areas of the skin, which causes it to blister and
eventually peel off. The new, regenerated skin is usually smoother and less
wrinkled than the old skin. During a peel, patients may experience a warm or hot
sensation for about 5 to 10 minutes, followed by a stinging sensation. A deeper
peel may require pain medication during or after the procedure.
Possible Side Effects Include:
Sunburn-like reaction, usually lasting 3 to 7 days. Skin is temporarily more
sensitive to the sun. Swelling. Water blisters that may break, crust, turn
brown, and peel off over a period of seven to 14 days. In extreme cases,
temporary or permanent skin discoloration.
Laser/Light Therapy:
Laser treatments work by applying intense heat or light to vaporize skin tissue
and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars, and blemishes.
During this relatively painless procedure, the dermatologist uses a wand-like
handpiece to zap the skin. There are several different types of laser methods,
including:
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Lasers are the latest invention in laser technology. This
type of laser delivers short bursts of extremely high-energy light to the skin
and vaporizes the tissue one layer at a time.
Erbium (ER) Lasers penetrate the skin, scattering the light's heat through water
molecules in the body. This type of laser treatment is commonly used on patients
who have superficial to moderate facial wrinkles, mild surface scars, or
splotchy skin discolorations.
Nonablative Lasers work beneath the surface of the skin to stimulate collagen
growth and tighten underlying skin. This technique improves skin tone, removes
fine lines, and repairs mild to moderate skin damage.
Possible Side Effects Include:
Skin discoloration, typically redness or pinkness lasting several days to
several months. Crusting. Mild swelling. Pigmentation loss, particularly with
the CO2 laser.
Dermabrasion:
This resurfacing technique is used to treat age spots, skin lesions, wrinkles,
sun damage, and tattoos. During the procedure, the surgeon freezes the patient's
skin with a special spray, then removes or "sands" the skin with a machine that
has a high-speed abrasive wheel or brush. Anesthesia may be given to the patient
prior to surgery.
Possible Side Effects Include:
Pain, burning sensation. Pinkness, generally lasting 8 to 12 weeks.
Microdermabrasion:
With this technique, doctors use a vacuum device to deliver a pressurized stream
of fine, sand-like aluminum oxide crystals that exfoliate the skin. The vacuum
then sucks up the dead skin cells, which helps smooth fine lines and eliminate
age spots. The procedure is noninvasive and lasts about 30 minutes.
Microdermabrasion is provided in a series of five sessions, given at one- to
two-week intervals.
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