How Cosmetic Dermatology Can Help Your Skin

Cosmetic dermatology involves individualized skin care treatments for skin changes associated with adolescence, pregnancy, aging, and other causes.

A dermatologist can perform these procedures. A licensed skin care technician or an aesthetician can offer consultations, skin care items, and treatments such as facials and peels. These treatments can be anti-aging, anti-acne, and anti-rosacea. 

Medical Treatments

Lasers can help acne and acne scars, facial blood vessels, rosacea, unwanted hair, wrinkles, age spots, sun damage, and tattoos. See our article on this subject: * Laser Treatments.

Botox is another common treatment for facial wrinkles. See our article on this subject: * Botox Treatments.

Micro ablation is good for skin rejuvenation. See our article on this subject: * Micro Ablation.

Peels

Recently, there have been some good skin care therapies developed to fight the effects of aging. Aging skin can involve thinning of the dermis and epidermis; skin coarsening along with magnified pores; discoloration such as yellowing, bronzing, and brown spots; and broken veins.

For aging skin and acne, peels are helpful. The beta peel, vitalize peel, and glycolic peel helps the complexion and minimizes fine lines.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids, AHAs or fruit acids, are mild organic food-based acids that can help the skin. Glycolic as in glycolic peel is an AHA from sugar cane. Other AHAs are Lactic Acid (milk), Citric Acid (oranges and other fruits), Tartaric Acid (grapes), Pyruvic Acid (bananas and other fruits), and Malic Acid (apples).

AHAs are usually in small amounts in cleansers, moisturizers, and toners and in large amounts in peels. AHAs are supposed to release dead skin cells, boost cell turnover, and raise glycosaminoglycans in the upper dermis. This helps the skin's appearance and texture, unblocks pores, and lowers the epidermal barrier to let in other agents such as moisturizers, retinoids, bleaching creams, and antioxidants. AHAs are also water-binding and are good hydrating agents. This exfoliation and hydration leads to better skin.

The AHA treatment schedule would be at least 2 weeks of daily usage of the product at home, then 3 - 6 light facial peels about 2 weeks apart. Bleaching creams, retinoids, and others may be introduced gradually after the first peel followed by continued use of the products at home and maintenance peels every few months if necessary. Some patients may need more AHAs and other procedures including light peels and microdermabrasion.

Other Treatments

An effective treatment is a moisturizer. It uses emollients to smooth the skin by penetrating the outer layer of skin and uses humectants to help the skin absorb and keep moisture. However moisturizers are only effective for dry skin; oily skin will be clogged.

Retinoids or Retin-A, originally for acne, can be used for skin damaged by the sun.

Bleaching creams (hydroquinone) is for brown marks, liver spots, and other discolorations.

Antioxidants counter the cellular breakdown which leads to aging.

Other treatments are vitamin E, human growth factor, copper, beta-carotene, and more.

With the constant advances in cosmetic dermatology, skin can be as healthy and youthful as you can afford.