Skin resurfacing
treatments help to remove the damaged outer layers of skin revealing the
healthy skin underneath resulting in a good complexion. The popular methods
used are
- Laser Skin
Resurfacing
- Chemical
Peels
- Microdermabrasion
- Dermabrasion
Chemical peel involves the use of a chemical
solution, while Dermabrasion/microdermabrasion is done either
using a handheld device or a diamond-tipped wand.
Uses of skin resurfacing treatments
- Wrinkled or
sun-damaged facial skin
- Vertical
wrinkles around your mouth, such as those that cause lipstick
"bleed"
- "Crow's
feet" lines around your eyes and perhaps some skin laxity in your
lower eyelid area
- Fine
wrinkling of your upper eyelids
- Brown spots
or blotchy skin coloring
- Certain
precancerous skin growths
- Acne or
chicken pox scars
- Superficial
facial scars from a past injury
Laser Skin
Resurfacing Treatments
Help to
- Minimize
fine lines or wrinkles
- Treat brown
spots, redness or discoloration for more balanced skin tone
- Tighten skin
and encourage collagen production
- Remove acne
or surgical scars
- Remove
unwanted facial or body hair
- Ablative Lasers
- Non-Ablative Lasers
Ablative
lasers remove outer layers of skin and encourage new skin to heal in
its place.
Some lasers do not break the skin’s surface;
these are called non-ablative. They work instead by heating up the skin below
the surface to encourage new collagen growth and help restore the skin’s
natural firmness and tone.
When to Consider Laser Skin Resurfacing ?
· skin is sun-damaged
·
wrinkling
around your eyes and mouth
·
skin
laxity in your lower eyelid area
·
irregular
changes in your skin color, such as blotchiness or brown spots
·
If
you have scars that have made the surface of your skin uneven
Pros
·
Provides
skin smoothing as well as skin tightening
·
Relatively
long-lasting improvements in skin quality and texture can be achieved
·
Some
devices allow treatment of facial skin as well as skin on the neck, chest and hands
Chemical Peels
A peel will often
be classified as light, medium, or deep. This refers to how many layers of skin
are removed.
Light
chemical peels will typically reach partially through the epidermis (the
outermost layers of skin) and use a milder acid solution such as glycolic
acid, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), salicylic acid, fruit enzymes, or a low
concentration of trichloroacetic acid (TCA). typically involve little to
no downtime.
Uses
- Reduce
or remove age spots, blotchiness, or discoloration
- Smooth fine lines & wrinkles on the
skin’s surface
- Minimize or remove acne scars or milder
scars from injury or surgery
- Tighten & tone the skin and brighten
the complexion
- precancerous growths
- Sun damage
Pros
·
Deep chemical peels have long-lasting
effects.
Dermabrasion/ Microdermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a
more powerful than microdermabrasion and is not recommended for every skin type..
Microdermabrasion
doesn’t penetrate deep as a chemical peel takes about 30 minutes, is painless,
and any redness will disappear within about 48 hours of the treatment.
Uses
- Facial
wrinkles
- acne scars
and other blemishes
- Smooth the
skin and balance complexion
- fine lines, wrinkles, scars, acne, dark spots,
- brown spots
or blotches on the skin
Microdermabrasion
is a relatively gentle procedure that can be used on the face, neck, hands or
body. Microdermabrasion is a safer procedure with little risk for side
effects, and no downtime.
NOTE
·
Anaesthesia
may be required.
·
Results
may take time to appear.
·
Usually
such procedures may involve several sessions and may necessitate post procedure
care like use of sunscreen.
·
Deep chemical peels may have a bleaching
effect.
·
Can exacerbate skin disorders,
including allergic reactions or cold sores.
·
Can
cause skin irritation or scarring
·
Skin
color may change
·
Abnormal
healing with scarring and pigment changes are possible
References
- http://www.smartbeautyguide.com/procedures/skin-hair/chemical-peel
- http://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/procedure-learning-center/non-surgical/skin-resurfacing-guide
- http://www.surgery.org/consumers/procedures/skin/skin-resurfacing
Skin resurfacing
treatments help to remove the damaged outer layers of skin revealing the
healthy skin underneath resulting in a good complexion. The popular methods
used are
- Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Chemical Peels
- Microdermabrasion
- Dermabrasion
Chemical peel involves the use of a chemical
solution, while Dermabrasion/microdermabrasion is done either
using a handheld device or a diamond-tipped wand.
Uses of skin resurfacing treatments
- Wrinkled or sun-damaged facial skin
- Vertical wrinkles around your mouth, such as those that cause lipstick "bleed"
- "Crow's feet" lines around your eyes and perhaps some skin laxity in your lower eyelid area
- Fine wrinkling of your upper eyelids
- Brown spots or blotchy skin coloring
- Certain precancerous skin growths
- Acne or chicken pox scars
- Superficial facial scars from a past injury
Laser Skin
Resurfacing Treatments
Help to
- Minimize fine lines or wrinkles
- Treat brown spots, redness or discoloration for more balanced skin tone
- Tighten skin and encourage collagen production
- Remove acne or surgical scars
- Remove unwanted facial or body hair
- Ablative Lasers
- Non-Ablative Lasers
Ablative
lasers remove outer layers of skin and encourage new skin to heal in
its place.
Some lasers do not break the skin’s surface;
these are called non-ablative. They work instead by heating up the skin below
the surface to encourage new collagen growth and help restore the skin’s
natural firmness and tone.
When to Consider Laser Skin Resurfacing ?
· skin is sun-damaged
·
wrinkling
around your eyes and mouth
·
skin
laxity in your lower eyelid area
·
irregular
changes in your skin color, such as blotchiness or brown spots
·
If
you have scars that have made the surface of your skin uneven
Pros
·
Provides
skin smoothing as well as skin tightening
·
Relatively
long-lasting improvements in skin quality and texture can be achieved
·
Some
devices allow treatment of facial skin as well as skin on the neck, chest and hands
Chemical Peels
A peel will often
be classified as light, medium, or deep. This refers to how many layers of skin
are removed.
Light
chemical peels will typically reach partially through the epidermis (the
outermost layers of skin) and use a milder acid solution such as glycolic
acid, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), salicylic acid, fruit enzymes, or a low
concentration of trichloroacetic acid (TCA). typically involve little to
no downtime.
Uses
- Reduce or remove age spots, blotchiness, or discoloration
- Smooth fine lines & wrinkles on the skin’s surface
- Minimize or remove acne scars or milder scars from injury or surgery
- Tighten & tone the skin and brighten the complexion
- precancerous growths
- Sun damage
Pros
·
Deep chemical peels have long-lasting
effects.
Dermabrasion/ Microdermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a
more powerful than microdermabrasion and is not recommended for every skin type..
Microdermabrasion
doesn’t penetrate deep as a chemical peel takes about 30 minutes, is painless,
and any redness will disappear within about 48 hours of the treatment.
Uses
- Facial wrinkles
- acne scars and other blemishes
- Smooth the skin and balance complexion
- fine lines, wrinkles, scars, acne, dark spots,
- brown spots or blotches on the skin
Microdermabrasion
is a relatively gentle procedure that can be used on the face, neck, hands or
body. Microdermabrasion is a safer procedure with little risk for side
effects, and no downtime.
NOTE
·
Anaesthesia
may be required.
·
Results
may take time to appear.
·
Usually
such procedures may involve several sessions and may necessitate post procedure
care like use of sunscreen.
·
Deep chemical peels may have a bleaching
effect.
·
Can exacerbate skin disorders,
including allergic reactions or cold sores.
·
Can
cause skin irritation or scarring
·
Skin
color may change
·
Abnormal
healing with scarring and pigment changes are possible
References
- http://www.smartbeautyguide.com/procedures/skin-hair/chemical-peel
- http://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/procedure-learning-center/non-surgical/skin-resurfacing-guide
- http://www.surgery.org/consumers/procedures/skin/skin-resurfacing
