While we all wish that the fountain of youth could be bottled and sold, skin damage and aging are inevitable. We live in a time where professional laser anti-aging treatments can visibly reduce some of those signs of damage and aging. While aesthetic lasers may seem like a modern phenomenon, they have been around for well over half a century.
Thanks to the work of Leon Goldman, an American surgeon, the clinical use of laser technology made its way into the dermatology space in 1963. This newfound success in the selective photodestruction of pigmented skin elements started a revolution in the skincare arena — one that continues today with incredibly high-tech lasers for bothersome skin issues.
Aging and "imperfections" are what make us all beautiful, yet we understand that some spots or discoloration may leave some feeling less than their best. Fortunately, there are plenty of treatment options to help with unwanted spots, dots, fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and more.
We are here to bring you 5 of our favorites when it comes to professional anti-aging treatments so that you can discover new ways to feel your best.
1. Laser Wrinkle Reduction
As we get older, our skin loses some of its elasticity. Specific light frequencies can gently heat skin tissue to help stimulate natural collagen production — tightening skin for a more youthful look and feel. Laser wrinkle reduction can help treat the usual suspects for fine lines and aging anywhere on the face (except what is inside the eye area), neck, and/or chest.
2. Laser Dark Spot Reduction
One of the biggest culprits in the aging process is UV rays. While a daily dose of Vitamin D is great in moderation, too much sun exposure can over-activate pigment cells, causing age spots. Photofacials help tackle these unwanted spots and dots by using a very specific wavelength of light on a concentrated region of the skin. Different spots may mean different things, as there are many causes for skin spots. Whether it is sunspots, age spots, or cherry angiomas — highly trained technicians can adjust these levels of light depending on where you fit on the Fitzpatrick Skin Scale or your overall goals with the treatment.
People commonly undergo photofacial treatments on their:
Face
Hands
Shoulders
Chest
Back
Abdomen
3. Facial Redness Treatment
While facial redness can be caused by a long list of things, such as hormones, acne, heat, various medications, or even genetics — one offender is age. As we get older, we experience far more sun exposure — which can contribute to facial redness. Facial redness treatments safely target the skin's red areas using highly concentrated light for a more even skin tone.
4. Broken Capillaries Treatment
As we age, blood vessels or capillaries dilate due to stress, sun damage, genetics, skin trauma, or even weather conditions. Sometimes, they break — causing unwanted spider veins. These often show up on:
The nose area
Chin
Cheeks
Legs
Laser treatments can help close up the vessels at the skin's surface to reduce redness and even your skin tone.
5. Cherry Angioma Reduction
If you have noticed small spots that look like a red mole, it may be a cherry angioma. These are usually harmless skin spots that appear around the age of thirty, growing in number and size over time. While the name may suggest that these marks are always red, they can also be blue or purple.
Trying to reduce or get rid of these spots with DIY or at-home treatments is not recommended and may lead to scarring or infection. Laser treatments that introduce just the right amount of heat to the cherry angioma for the top layer of discolored skin to slough away — leaving fresh healthy skin behind.
Proactive Tips For Aging
Now, as we have mentioned, there is no stopping the hands of time. While these treatments are a fantastic way to temporarily delay or reduce signs of aging, a proactive approach is often the best approach. Here are some quick tips for reducing skin aging in your everyday life.
Stay out of the sun as much as possible. Now, we understand that you cannot live life as a hermit, but you can protect yourself. Whether it is sunblock, a wide-brimmed hat, long sleeve shirts, pants, or high-quality sunglasses — safeguard your skin to prevent sun damage.
Eat healthily and avoid certain foods that can accelerate aging. According to studies, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can cause inflammation, which speeds up the aging process. In fact, many foods cause inflammation, including white bread, milk, certain processed meats, soda, coffee, alcohol, and more. We are not saying or suggesting that people should cut all of these out completely, but there is a lot of data to suggest moderation is key to preventing inflammation which can lead to early aging. AND what causes inflammation for some may not cause the same volume of inflammation in others.
Avoid tanning beds if you want to avoid early skin aging. Just like with the sun, harmful UV rays are not your skin's friend when it comes to the aging process — and avoiding tanning beds is a preventable way to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Stop squinting and making repetitive facial expressions. We are not saying you should stop expressing yourself through smiles, frowns, excitement, frustration and all the other ways your face can communicate, but we are saying that constantly squinting from the sun can eventually cause those fine lines at the edges of your eyes over time or a furrow in the middle of your forehead. So, use sunglasses when driving or taking a stroll through the farmer's market — your skin will thank you.
Wash your face at least once per day (but some recommend twice). Sweat, debris, makeup, and other foreign substances pollute and irritate your skin — leading to inflammation. Cleansing your skin is a great way to keep your face feeling fresh and clean.
Your Next Step
Anti-aging treatments may not be for everyone — and it is recommended that you speak with a trained technician regarding which option may work for you. There are a wide range of factors to consider, including your skin type, pre-existing condition