A lot of people think sun damage only occurs in the summer, from spending too much time outdoors on sunny days without sunscreen. The truth is that the sun can damage your skin year-round, and it can actually be worse in the winter and on overcast days.
Although Denver is reported to get approximately 300 days of sun each year, many of those days occur during the winter months, when sun damage could be at its worst. This is why it is important for Denver residents, as well as residents of similar cities, to not only take precautions against the aging effects of sun damage, but to also have ways of reversing any existing damage.
What is sun damage?
Sun skin damage occurs when exposure to UVA and UVB radiation weakens the cells inside the skin.
When the UV radiation damages the cells that make melanin, it can cause the cells to overproduce pigment causing liver spots, freckles, and other areas of darkened or uneven skin pigmentation.
When the UV radiation damages the cells that make collagen, it can cause them to stop working properly. Collagen is a gel-like substance that strengthens the skin and helps it hold its shape. It also attracts water to keep your skin moist. Therefore UV damage to the collagen cells can dry out your skin and cause wrinkles.
Skin damage from the sun can also put you at higher risk for skin cancer.
Treatments for skin damage.
There are some over-the-counter and high-tech treatments that can reduce the appearance of aging, sun-damaged skin.
These treatments work on the surface to moisturize the skin, fill in wrinkles, bleach discoloration, and temporarily tighten the skin. Although many of these treatments are effective in the short term, they cannot reverse the damage done. Additionally, some of these treatments require you to use them every day, which can be expensive.
Unlike over-the-counter remedies, and home devices, cosmetic laser treatments can actually repair the skin to reverse the damage caused by the sun. Not only will this reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and other signs of aging, it will also improve the health of your skin.
How cosmetic lasers work.
Cosmetic lasers work in different ways depending on which problem they are addressing.
To repair wrinkles, loose skin, and scarring:
· They use heat to remove the damaged top layer of skin, and;
· They use intense light to stimulate the skin cells to make new collagen fibers, for healthy new skin.
To repair sun spots and pigmentation issues:
· They break down the clumps of pigmentation into smaller particles, which are then absorbed into the body.
To remove unwanted hair:
· They use heat to kill the hair roots. The hair then falls out and does not grow back.
Interestingly, because cosmetic lasers are often used for hair removal, many Denver cosmetic laser clinics can be found by doing a search for “Laser Hair Removal Denver.” For more info you should check out Cherry Creek’s, American Laser Skincare clinic.
How the Process Works:
Depending on the issues you are treating, your doctor could have you start a series of treatments, a few weeks before, to help prepare your skin for the procedure. The treatments are customized by your doctor, based on your skin type, and are designed to ensure the best results from the cosmetic laser.
During the procedure the doctor will direct a concentrated beam of light onto the target area. The beam only lasts a few seconds, but he could send several beams to each area. He can also direct the beam to multiple areas in one session.
The average cosmetic laser procedure can last anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours depending on the size of the target area, and the number of areas treated.
If the doctor is treating wrinkles around your eyes, he will also have you wear protection to prevent the beam from damaging your eyes.
Once the session is over your doctor will dress the area with special bandages, and might prescribe pain killers as well.
The Result:
Most people experience mild irritation, similar to a mild sunburn, after each session. This irritation should last no more than a week, after which time the old skin will peel away to reveal the new skin underneath.
For wrinkles and sun damage, it can take an average of five sessions to get the full results. However, those results can last up to five years. Using sunscreen, and creams containing peptides and Retin-A can prolong the life of your laser procedure.
People with darker skin could experience problems with excess pigmentation after using cosmetic lasers. This is due in large part to the way darker skin absorbs light. Doctors often recommend that people with darker skin avoid cosmetic lasers. Another option is to use skin bleaching products, once the skin has healed, to address some of the pigmentation.
People with severe acne should also avoid having cosmetic laser treatments on the areas where the acne is active.
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