It is inevitable that with age the condition of the skin gets worse. Fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet all develop due to the decrease of collagen and elastin in the skin that is natural with age. Here we discuss two of the most popular treatments to reverse the clock on skin aging or just rejuvenate the skin: chemical peels and microdermabrasion.
A chemical peel is a cosmetic treatment that uses chemicals such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid to cure skin imperfections such as acne scars and wrinkles. This simple treatment has been employed for thousands of years, and has been enjoying a veritable modern renaissance due to its effectiveness and how inexpensive it is. There are some different types of chemical peels, each having different strengths and focuses in the skin. Peels such as AHA(alpha-hydroxy acid) peels are milder and work by exfoliation, using acids such as glycolic and lactic acid to diminish acne scars and improve skin texture. Stronger peels that use BHA(beta-hydroxy acid)’s have a deeper effect because of the smaller size of the molecules. The most popular BHA is salicylic acid and these peels are good for dealing with wrinkles and pigmentation because of how deep into the skin they can go. Other peels that are medium- to high-strength include TCA and Phenol peels.
One of the biggest reasons why chemical peels are so popular is the fact that they are much cheaper and are not as worrying to patients as laser resurfacing. Many patients have reservations about laser technology and as such chemical peels are much easier for patients to get on-board with. Also, while laser treatments cost more than a thousand dollars, chemical peels peak at around four hundred, making them much cheaper for their wide range of effects. Chemical peels are a great treatment for those looking to take better care of their skin. If you are considering having a chemical peel done, consult your physician to see which one is best for you.
Just like sandpaper smoothing wood into a perfect mold, microdermabrasion is a gentle sanding of the outer layer of the skin that can solve many imperfections such as lines and sunspots and rejuvenate the skin. Microdermabrasion works by sanding off the outer layer of the skin and suctioning out dead cells using a vacuum, exfoliating the skin and stimulating collagen production in the deeper layers of the skin. This process is done with a diamond or crystal tip of a simple handpiece. Microdermabrasion is in fact such an easy and painless procedure that anesthetic is not necessary at all. After the treatment, moisturizer will be applied to the skin.
Microdermabrasion has become very popular because it deals with blackheads, lines and wrinkles, acne, stretch marks, skin tone, texture, and pigmentation. Possible side-effects of redness and slight swelling of the skin last only for a few hours, and there is no downtime necessary. However, that isn’t to say that it’s perfect. It’s important to discuss with your doctor how to prepare for microdermabrasion because while it has almost no risk, allergies or past medical conditions can affect the treatment and thus it’s important to determine whether microdermabrasion is the best treatment option for you.
If you have any questions about this treatment, or want to schedule an appointment, call our office at (609) 587-9944 or e-mail us at info@sleep-wellness.org.