One of the longest lasting pieces of beauty advice handed down over the past few generations has been the warning about sun damage to skin. Not only does damaged skin show the signs of aging early and in more pronounced ways, it is extraordinarily difficult to remediate those signs once they set in using basic skin care techniques. Luckily, dermatology as a field has developed in leaps and bounds over the last half century. Today’s treatments and skincare products can accomplish results that would have been considered miraculous before they became commonplace.

So what’s next? What can take us further than the rejuvenating effects of today’s skin and hair replenishing products? The answer is laser dermatology. Laser treatments provide you with the opportunity to reduce or even eliminate spots and damage that are too pronounced for topical treatments like retinol. What it can’t remove, it can typically lighten and blend, reducing its impact on your appearance and its effects on your overall health.

Dark Spots and Sun Damage

Sun spots and areas of hyperpigmentation are not just cosmetic changes to your skin, they are signs of persistent damage. In some extreme cases, they can become cancerous over time even if they do not begin that way. Removing them is often a matter of long-term risk management as much as it is about encouraging a healthy glow as you condition your skin. At home skin care products are not built to fully remove these sites even when they lighten them, however. Laser procedures provide a more aggressive approach, though.

One popular approach is called laser skin resurfacing, and there are a few proprietary methods to the general idea. The treatment boils down to the use of lasers to focus light at specific frequencies to even pigmentation. The same process also addresses spider veins and other issues that lead to an uneven complexion by encouraging healthy, natural pigmentation.

Downtime and Risks for Laser Procedures

Like laser surgical procedures developed in other fields, laser dermatology treatments tend to be more effective than alternatives for many applications while reducing the risks and downtime involved in reaching your goals for health and wellness. Skin resurfacing accomplishes many of the same goals as a traditional chemical peel, but with specific additional benefits for hyperpigmented spots that show up with aging and sun exposure, as well as for wrinkles and other signs of aging. The use of focused light instead of a chemical process allows for treatments that take less time to perform in many cases, and exposure to laser light typically carries less risk of running into a chemical sensitivity or allergy than a traditional peel.

The result is that laser dermatology is increasingly preferred by those with an active lifestyle who are still conscientious about the health effects that long-term exposure to the sun can cause. To further minimize your risks, look to work with the most experienced doctors in your area. By relying on established laser dermatology professionals who have stepped up with educational resources and other resources for patients, you’re putting yourself in touch with all the information you need to decide which treatments are best for you. Practitioners like Dr Jason Emer in Beverly Hills are not only experienced, they’re often the doctors introducing effective new technologies to an area.

Making the Most of Cosmetic Dermatology

There are a few relatively simple steps that go into maximizing the benefits of rejuvenating laser skin treatments. The point that challenges so many people is consistent follow-through. If you can get into a routine, your best face will always be the one you take out into the world.

1. Full, daily skin care maintenance
2. Regular cosmetic rejuvenation treatments from a dermatologist
3. Consistent use of SPF protection daily, indoors and out

For the longest-lasting results, you need to set up a daily skin routine that nourishes and protects your face, hands, and any other skin that gets consistent time in the sun. Scientifically formulated cleansers provide basic exfoliation and oil removal, and moisturizers with hydration support ensure a balanced, healthy skin tone that minimizes wrinkles and other signs of aging. Add in nutritional support for your skin that’s designed for topical absorption and you can make sure your gains from laser treatments result in more permanent changes.

Most treatments also have a recommended repetition window to help maintain and even improve results. Some are semi-annual, others quarterly, but typically follow-up treatments are less intensive than the original when they are performed on time. You might also wind up wanting to combine treatments in a staggered window to get the best results from all of them, in which case a cycle of laser treatments and other in-clinic skin care procedures would also meet your needs for maintenance procedures.

Last but not least, never underestimate the effects of UV damage. Even when you’re inside for most or all of a day, you get exposure to UV light from the sun from natural light coming in through windows and other sources, and that light can partially penetrate light clothes. Serious SPF protection helps stop future skin damage, so your glow is easier to maintain.

Have you or a loved one had laser dermatology treatments? 

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