Sun damage is a leading cause of skin problems like wrinkles. Pollution is also a major contributor. Other factors include natural hormone changes, stress and exposure to chemicals or poor life choices, such as eating unhealthy foods. But whatever the reason or reasons are for your skin problems, there are ways to fix them. The key to making the most of available anti-aging techniques is to select the single technique or combination of techniques right for your skin. Here are some options that may help you, separately or in combination.
Peeling Away Your Skin Problems with Surface Treatments
Peel procedures are among the most popular clinical skincare processes to treat wrinkles and other problems on or near the outer layer of your skin. Those surface treatments take several forms. One is microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion uses a tool that blasts tiny crystals at your skin to remove debris. The point of the procedure is similar to that of sanding wood. It smooths out your skin and gets rid of foreign materials that may clog your pores.
Another type of peel procedure involves the use of chemicals. The chemicals are skin-safe acids. When your clinician mixes certain acids together, including alpha hydroxy acid, it creates a mixture capable of getting rid of dead skin cells. The acid peels also remove other materials like skin-damaging debris that may be clogging your pores.
Using Laser Procedures to Reclaim Younger Looking
Another anti-aging technique you can try in a clinic is a laser treatment. Clinics have used cosmetic laser treatment to perform peels similar to those done with microdermabrasion and chemicals for decades. The lasers just accomplish the same goal differently. They use light and heat instead of crystal or chemical treatment.
One of the best things about laser treatments for anti-aging results is they can treat many skin problems. Peels, which are done with ablative lasers, are not the only available options. There are also Fraxel laser treatments that affect all layers of your skin for more thorough rejuvenation. Additionally, there are non-ablative lasers that can help you heal your skin in the long-term by encouraging your body to fix your skin internally. Those lasers cause more collagen to be produced to help keep your skin cells close together and give them back some elasticity.
Getting Your Lost Collagen Back with Collagen ReplacementTherapy
If you do not want to use lasers to get your collagen levels back up, collagen replacement therapy is another way to accomplish that goal. Collagen provides the support for your skin, just as beams provide the support for wall and ceilings of buildings. When support is lacking, your skin loses its firmness and structure. Collagen replacement therapy is a process by which collagen is injected into areas of your skin requiring repair. Paralyzing Your Skin Problems with Botox Injections Another type of injection that can help you restore the smooth appearance of your skin is Botox. Botox is a special plant-derived formula that functions as a paralytic agent. That means it keeps your muscles from moving temporarily. When those muscles are tightened and frozen in place, mild to moderate wrinkles disappear. Botox injections only paralyze muscles temporarily and only in the immediate areas where the injections take place. They are most often used on the face.
Botox does have some mild side effects, but they are typically temporary. They can also be specific to certain types of treatments. For example, if you have a treatment near your mouth, the temporary muscle paralysis may cause you to drool. Bruising near injection sites is also common but temporary. Make sure to discuss the particular side effects of treating your intended area with your clinician before scheduling your first procedure.