Cosmetic Skin Flaws and Recommended Treatments

Gone are the days when you only visited the dermatologist for a rash or skin cancer check. Today's patients are becoming more and more proactive when it comes to the health and beauty of their skin. Find out what dermatologists recommend to treat common skin complaints - everything from acne to rosacea.

Acne

Acne is by far the most common skin concern for teenagers, but many young adults and older men and women also suffer from acne. Acne treatments range from topical salicylic acid-based ointments to prescription acne medications such as Retin-A®. In addition to these medications there is a new crop of cosmetic treatments available to reduce the appearance of acne, including photodynamic therapy, IPL photofacial, acne chemical peels, and blue light therapy. Some of these light therapies may be used in combination with topical drugs to address severe acne. Multiple treatments are recommended to see the best results.

Sun Damage

Many patients who have had prolonged exposure to the sun (without the protection of sunscreen) develop sun spots later in life. These dark patches tend to appear on areas of the body most exposed to the sun, particularly on the face.

There are a variety of treatments available to reduce the appearance of sun damage. Minor sun damage may be eliminated with microdermabrasion or light chemical peels. These treatments remove the outermost layer of skin along with dead skin cells. For patients with severe sun damage, dermatologists may recommend more invasive treatment with lasers. Laser skin resurfacing can be used to literally vaporize layers of sun damaged skin to reveal a new, healthier layer of skin. 

Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Wrinkles and fine lines are a natural part of the aging process. No one is happy when they start to see wrinkles, but some men and women develop lines and wrinkles too early as a result of environmental exposure and personal habits, including sun damage and smoking.

There are countless wrinkle treatments available for patients to choose from; the treatment your dermatologist recommends will depend on the location and severity of the wrinkling. For superficial wrinkles and fine lines, recommended treatments may include microdermabrasion, chemical peel, IPL laser light treatment, BOTOX® therapy, or injectable fillers such as JUVÉDERM™ Injectable Gel, Restylane®, Radiesse®, and collagen.

Scarring

Facial scarring is something no patient should have to live with. Dermatologists have a variety of treatments available to remedy facial scarring. There are two approaches to treating scars; the dermatologist can either fill the scar with dermal fillers like JUVÉDERM™ Injectable Gel or Restylane®, or they can remove layers of skin with microdermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing, or chemical peels until a new layer of unblemished skin is revealed.

Rosacea (Facial Redness)

Rosacea is a skin condition characterized by facial flushing and redness. There are several topical treatments and antibiotics that can be prescribed to reduce the redness associated with rosacea. Dermatologists have also seen good results with light treatments such as IPL. These treatments reduce the appearance of blood vessels and also stimulate the production of collagen.