from the Fall 1999 issue
It has been estimated that over 90 percent of the visible signs of aging are due to the effects of the sun on your skin. Those undesirable lines, wrinkles, brown spots and texture changes all fall under the definition of photo aging. The good news is that photo aging is both preventable and treatable. In recent years, dermatological research has proven the value of a variety of treatments and procedures that can help to improve the appearance of your skin and keep it looking and feeling its healthy best.
The first and most important step in beginning a skin revitalizing program is to become committed to the idea of strict sun protection. That means no tanning...ever! A moisturizer with sunscreen should be applied daily to the face and neck. The sunscreen should be a minimum of SPF15 and ideally should contain a good UVA as well as UVB sunscreen agent, such as micronized zinc oxide. Examples of products with zinc oxide are M.D. Forté® Total Daily Protector (available in our office), Eucerin® Protective Moisture Lotion and Oil of Olay Complete UV Protection Lotion.
A daily skin-care regimen is usually tailored to the individual client's needs and lifestyle. In addition to sunscreen, the regimen may contain one or more active therapies to help address specific problems. Such therapies utilize alpha hydroxy acids, hydroquinone (a bleaching agent), Efudex® (a cream used to eradicate precancerous skin lesions) and vitamin A products (retinoids). The skin-care regimen can be more or less aggressive depending on what an individual's skin type can tolerate and how fast one wants to see results. In addition to prescription drugs like Lustra™, Efudex®, Retin-A, Renova®, and Tazorac®, we can choose from the M.D. Forté® and the Obagi Nu-Derm™ line of products carried in our office. In a consultation visit, we can help individualize a skin-care regimen and usually provide free samples for you to try before purchasing or filling a prescription.
For clients who wish to accelerate the rejuvenation process, a variety of peels are available to help exfoliate the sun-damaged layers of skin. Glycolic acid and salicylic acid peels, such as our BETA-LIFTx® Peel, are superficial chemical peels which are usually performed every few weeks in a series of several peels to help lighten sun spots, smooth rough skin texture and reduce blackheads and whiteheads. Derma Peel microdermabrasion is also a superficial peel which can help smooth rough texture and unclog pores. These superficial peels are often called the “lunchtime peels” because you can go right back to work after a peel with no down time. A deeper peel which can help improve aging skin is the Obagi Blue Peel™. This peel uses trichloracetic acid in a slow-acting blue base. The blue base acts as a visual guide, allowing us to clearly see the penetration of the peel as it is applied so exactly the right depth is achieved. The peel is performed in the office without anesthesia and is followed by mild swelling and peeling for seven to ten days. We can help select the appropriate peel for you and your skin-care needs.
Another big gun in our anti-aging armamentarium is PhotoDerm®. PhotoDerm intense pulsed light treatment can be used to reduce telangiectasia (enlarged facial blood vessels) and brown areas of pigmentation (so called age spots or sun spots) caused by the sun. Telangiectasia usually occurs on the face and sides of the neck, while sun spots are often on the face, hands, arms and chest. Usually a series of five treatments spaced one month apart is needed. There is some discomfort (a quick stinging or burning sensation) associated with the treatment, but a topical anesthetic cream can be used if needed.
Finally, Botox® (Botulinum toxin) is used to help relax the muscles that cause wrinkles in the areas between the eyebrows, on the forehead and in the crow's feet area. A small needle is used to inject Botox. Lines and creases fade away in about two weeks. Each injection can last for three to six months, and the side effects are minimal.
Skin rejuvenation should be considered an ongoing project, a life choice. It is never too late to start. With our help and your commitment, we can improve the health and appearance of your skin.
For more information, see:
The Best Suncreens
Summer 1999
Tan Now Pay Later
Spring 2001
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