DERMATOLOGY SKIN CARE TREATMENT PROCEDURES

This article summarizes the most common skin treatments available today. These treatments should only be administered by a Board Certified and suitably trained professional. Some of the procedures require very specialized training and equipment. For the answers to more of your questions and to learn how to find the best dermatologist for your situation visit our site at https://www.dermatologistsantabarbara.com to receive your Free Guide.

Botox

Botox is the brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botox injection is a cosmetic procedure used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Small, diluted amounts are injected directly into specific muscles, causing controlled weakening of the muscles. As a result, the injected muscle cannot contract. This causes the wrinkles to relax and soften. Botox treatment is most often used on forehead lines, crow's feet (lines around the eye), and frown lines.

The procedure takes only a few minutes and no anesthesia is required. Botox is injected with a fine needle into specific muscles with only minor discomfort. It generally takes three to seven days to take full effect. The length of the resulting effect varies depending on the patient, but results typically last 4 to 6 months.

A common side effect of Botox is temporary bruising, and a small percentage of patients may develop eyelid drooping. This usually resolves in about three weeks. This development is usually caused by migration of the Botox, and for this reason, the treated area should not be rubbed for 12 hours after injection. Women who are pregnant or who have nervous system diseases such as ALS should not receive injections of Botox.

Chemical Peels

A chemical peel, also known as dermapeeling, is a technique whereby a chemical solution is applied to the skin. There are basically four major types of chemical peel solutions:

• Alpha Hydroxy AHA (Glycolic Acid - other fruit and sugar based acids)

• Beta Hydroxy (Salicylic Acid)

• Cosmelan

• TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid)

Chemical peels work by removing the top layer of damaged and discolored skin so it can peel away, revealing the fresh new skin beneath. By forcing the turnover of the cells, the old dull and damaged cells peel off much more quickly.

Lighter superficial peels using Alpha Hydroxyl (AHA) acids such as Glycolic Acid can be very effective in a series of "no downtime" procedures. Your skin will have a light pink look and flaking or peeling may be unnoticeable. Superficial peels are ideal for improving pigmentation problems, fine wrinkles and sun damage. They can be used anywhere on the face and body.

Chemical peels are performed on the face, neck, or hands and are typically used to help reduce: mild scarring, certain types of acne, sun spots, liver spots, freckles, and/or dark patches caused by pregnancy or birth control pills.

To perform a chemical peel, the doctor cleanses the skin and then applies a chemical solution to affected areas on the skin. These applications produce a wound, paving the way for regenerated skin.

After the chemical peel, your skin will be red and will peel for up to a week before the benefits can be seen. The process can be repeated as necessary.

The side effect of superficial peels include minor irritation of the skin. The risks of deeper peels include infection, scarring, redness, and discoloration. Also, during a deep peel, anesthesia must be used and vital signs must be monitored throughout the procedure. Patients with herpes may experience a reactivation of outbreaks. This can usually be prevented or treated with an oral medication.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Laser Skin Resurfacing

Carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers have been in use for many years to treat different skin conditions. A new generation of carbon dioxide lasers use very short pulsed light energy (ultrapulsed) or continuous light beams that are delivered in a scanning pattern to remove thin layers of skin with minimal heat damage to the surrounding structures. These lasers are used to treat wrinkles, scars, warts, linear epidermal nevi (birthmarks), rhinophyma (enlarged oil glands on the nose), and other skin conditions.

Carbon dioxide laser resurfacing is usually performed on an outpatient basis, using local anesthesia in combination with orally- or intravenously-administered sedative medications. The areas to be treated are numbed with a local anesthetic. (General anesthesia may be used when the entire face is treated.) A partial-face laser abrasion takes 30-45 minutes, and the full-face treatment takes 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

Following the laser resurfacing procedure, a special dressing is applied to the treatment sites for 24 hours. The areas usually heal in 10-21 days, depending on the nature of the condition that was treated.

Side effects of carbon dioxide laser resurfacing may include:

• Milia (small white bumps) in the laser-treated areas. These may be removed by gentle cleansing with a washcloth.

• Hyperpigmentation, and sometimes, hypopigmentation

• Reactivation of herpes simplex cold sore, especially after laser resurfacing around the mouth. This can be prevented by use of an antiviral medicine.

• Bacterial infections. These can be prevented by taking an antibiotic prior to the surgery and continuing for seven to 10 days afterwards.

• Scarring (rarely)

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are becoming increasingly popular to help reverse the effects of aging. The goal is to return the dermis to its original youthful state. Dermal fillers can give a more natural appearance than surgical face lifts. Dermal fillers are used to reduce or eliminate wrinkles, raise scar depressions, enhance lips, and replace soft-tissue volume loss.

The cosmetic and medical industries are constantly developing and testing new products. Some of the more popular dermal fillers today include collagen based fillers (Evolence), hyaluronic acid based fillers (Restylane and Juvederm), poly lactic acid based fillers (Sculptra) and calcium hydroxylapatite fillers (Radiesse). Other examples include Uvederm, Perlane, Prevelle Silk, Elevess, Cosmoplast, Cosmoderm, and Artefill.

All types of filler materials are designed to improve the youthful appearance and fullness of facial skin, however; there are differences in the way each behaves and the duration of time the results of each filler will last. No one filler is ideal for all areas of the face. As an example, lips will tolerate fillers differently than cheek areas do, and not all fillers can be injected in the lips.

You should consult with your dermatologist to fully understand what your goals are and what product/procedure or combination of treatments is right for you. Considerations include number of treatments required, permanent vs. temporary fillers, duration of results and cost.

Derma fillers are in general minimally invasive and safe. Some side effects are caused by improper injection techniques or using the filler in an area it was not intended for. Choosing a knowledgeable and experienced dermatologist is the key to avoiding these problems. Other side effects may include headaches, nausea, allergic reactions, bruising, redness and/or swelling, reactivation of herpes outbreaks, and very rarely ulceration and vascular occlusion.

Dermabrasion and Micro Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion, or surgical skin planing, is an abrasive procedure that "sandblasts" the skin to create a smoother layer of skin. This treatment also removes the top layer of skin to reveal fresh new skin beneath. It can treat deep wrinkles, scars, different skin lesions and hyperpigmentation. Despite long recovery times and relatively high cost, it's a great way to resurface the skin and get rid of more severe imperfections.

Micro Dermabrasion is not as effective on deep wrinkles and scars, because it only removes a very fine layer skin. But the gentle peeling can help remove fine lines, superficial scars, stretch marks, age and sunspots and it can also help with acne.

In the dermabrasion and micro dermabrasion procedure, the doctor first cleans and freezes the skin. Then, the doctor uses a high-speed instrument equipped with a wheel or brush to strip off the top layers of skin.

Your skin will feel rough and "burned" after the procedure, and will be pink for a while before the benefits of can be seen. Stay out of the sun for several months and be sure to use sunscreen when you do go outdoors.

Side effects of dermabrasion can include uneven changes in skin color, scarring, and infection.

IPL Photofacial

IPL Photofacial is a common acronym for Intense Pulsed Light. This treatment reduces many forms of pigmentation and tiny red veins. IPL technology uses a full spectrum of light wavelengths as opposed to the single wavelengths used in most other standard laser treatments. A thick clear gel is applied to the treated area which protects the top layer of skin. Then a series of computer-controlled pulses or flashes of high intensity light are directed to the treated area and are absorbed by brown pigment (melanin) and red pigment (hemoglobin) instantly creating heat in those selected cells within your skin.

The most common side effects reported with IPL treatments are usually minor and temporary and include: redness, swelling, light bruising, itching, peeling, and scabbing.

Infra Red Laser Skin Tightening (Titan)

Infra red laser skin tightening often using the Titan device is used to tone, lift and tighten skin on the face and neck. It can also be used to treat sagging and redundant skin in other places such as the abdomen, thighs and underarms. This procedure uses a broadband spectrum of infrared light which heats up the water content in the skin, causing the surrounding collagen to contract and tighten, and for the body's own natural healing process to start producing new collagen to further tighten the overall appearance of the skin over several months. The upper layers of the skin are protected by continuous cooling which allows effective deep-heating of the collagen layer without affecting the epidermis.

The procedure takes about an hour for facial skin tightening. The treatment is comfortable and does not require numbing or anesthesia. Patients can leave the office and immediately return to normal activity.

The few documented side effects include mild swelling and redness post-treatment. This may last 24 hours but will normally resolve after 1 - 2 hours. In very rare cases, small blisters (or burns) may occur on the skin, which should heal in under a week. This is generally considered to be a risk, although an extremely rare one, in more boney areas of the body, such as on the forehead or along the jawbone.

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy is a recently approved treatment used for treatment of actinic keratosis, a precancerous skin lesion, as well as for acne and sun-damaged skin. To treat actinic keratosis, a drug called the photosensitizing agent is applied to the skin in liquid form and then the area is exposed to a light that activates the agent and kills the lesion's cells.

Side effects of photodynamic therapy include increased sensitivity to light, burns, and swelling.

Summary

This article is not intended to promote or recommend any of the treatments described. Each person's situation is unique. You should schedule a consultation with a licensed dermatologist to assess your needs, understand the treatment options and select the proper course of action. To help you understand this process visit our site and down-load your FREE Guide: https://www.dermatologistsantabarbara.com.