Back-to-school season is here, which means summer vacations have come and gone, and it’s time to return to your normal routine. As you settle back in, you may find that your vacation has left you with some not-so-welcome memories in the form of sunburns, dark spots, and maybe even new fine lines and wrinkles. While you can’t turn back time and remember to apply extra sunscreen or grab your cover-up before heading to the beach, you can erase some of the damage with a handful of innovative, non-invasive skin treatments, such as laser skin resurfacing. The sooner you address lingering sun damage, the more dramatic the results you can expect to see, so that you can feel more confident and beautiful entering the busy fall season.
How the Sun Has Affected Your Skin
The damage that the sun inflicts on your skin is more than superficial. While the most obvious signs of damage may be in the form of skin discoloration, rough-looking skin, wrinkles, and dark spots, overexposure to the sun’s UV rays can cause cancerous growths as well as precancers like actinic keratoses. That’s why it’s important to consult a skincare specialist right away—not only to restore the appearance of your skin, but also to check in on your skin’s health.
What You Can Do to Restore Damaged Skin
When it does come time for your skincare consultation, you may be curious as to which treatments your skincare technician will recommend. Of course, it will take an in-person look at your skin to decide what’s best for it, but some procedures you might consider for reversing skin damage include:
- PiQo4 – Doctors and patients alike are loving the PiQo4 laser treatment, because it is so versatile and effective. PiQo4 is most beneficial for treating hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and other skin discolorations, but it also kickstarts collagen production deep within the skin, so it can have lasting effects with smoother, tighter skin that looks better than it has in years.
- Chemical Peels – If you’re catching up on repairing a few summers’ worth of sun damage or you simply want to see more dramatic improvements in your skin, a chemical peel may be the right treatment choice. Chemical peels use various agents, such as salicylic acid, betahydroxy, and retinol to strip away the outermost layers of skin, removing superficial damage and allowing the skin to naturally repair as it heals. Following a chemical peel, your doctor may also prescribe certain moisturizers and skincare products that will nourish the delicate skin while it is free of its protective outer barrier. The healing period from a chemical peel will vary depending on the strength of the peel, and stronger, deeper peels will have the most dramatic results.
- Photodynamic Therapy – If the summer has left you with actinic keratoses or deep skin discoloration, photodynamic therapy can reverse the damage. It utilizes a light-sensitizing substance called ALA, which is applied to the skin and left to incubate for several hours. Then, a special wavelength of light called KTP is shined on the skin to activate the ALA and kickstart the body’s natural healing process. Treated areas may be red and peeling for about a week after treatment, but the results are well worth it!
- Laser Resurfacing – Laser resurfacing can be a total facial treatment, or it can be used to spot treat concerns like forehead and brow wrinkles, crow’s feet, or smile lines. It works by applying a laser beam in a fractional pattern to leave bridges of untouched skin to accelerate the healing process in treated areas, which will experience immediate collagen contraction and regrowth to soften, smooth, and tighten the skin.
- OxyGeneo “Oxygen” Facial – If you normally get a facial to revitalize your skin, you might consider upgrading to the oxygen facial after a long summer. This is a 3-in-1 treatment that combines exfoliation, infusion, and oxygenation of the skin. With treatment, you will choose from one of two nutrient infusions to deeply nourish and repair the skin—either to lighten and brighten the skin or ease wrinkles and restore softness. With both formulas, the treatment process causes CO2 bubbles to burst on the surface of the skin so the infusion is better absorbed for optimal, lasting results.
Along with these non-invasive treatments, you may need to make some upgrades to your skincare routine at home to pamper your skin with the nutrients it needs to revive a healthy glow. In fact, if you have managed to avoid excessive sun exposure by staying indoors through most of the summer, you may be facing a different type of skin damage that could be best managed with microdermabrasion and an at-home skincare routine that focuses on restoring moisture. While staying inside in the air conditioning may be the best way to spend a Tucson summer, it can take a toll on your skin by zapping it of moisture, leaving you with less of the natural oils that protect your skin. This often results in chapped lips, peeling skin, and a tired appearance.
No matter what type of skin damage you need to address, the first step is an appointment with a skincare specialist at Perfection Plastic Surgery and Skin Care. Our Tucson cosmetic surgery clinic provides a wide range of non-surgical solutions for more beautiful, youthful skin, which may be just what you need after your summer vacation. Plus, we are offering a $200 oxygen facial special through the end of the summer as well as $300 for combined OxyGeneo and dermaplaning treatment. Treat yourself to a free personalized consultation in our office by calling (520) 323-7100 to schedule an appointment.