I won’t bore you to death with the science behind how the two most common skin conditions—sun damage and acne scarring—occur. (Just wear your darn sunscreen and stop picking, okay?) But what can you do to help heal damage that has already occurred? There are a few options that range from daily use topicals at home to treatments found at your local esthetician’s office.
Sun damage
Melasma, freckles and sunspots are all common side effects of increased sun exposure. While the best defense is a good offense when it comes to skin damage and cancer, there are ways to reduce hyperpigmentation. Look for products that contain retinoids (derived from vitamin A) to encourage skin renewal and collagen production. Vitamin C and other antioxidant-based products can slow the skin’s degeneration due to the environmental pollutants that cause visible signs of damage.
If you’re looking for more immediate results, consider BroadBand Light therapy, otherwise known as BBL. This treatment utilizes pulses of light to specifically target sunspots and other types of sun damage. One session usually takes around 30-45 minutes, with minimal downtime after. You can expect to return once or twice more for maximum hyperpigmentation reduction. Find this treatment locally at Ageless Esthetics Med Spa.
(Left) One hour post PRP microneedling. (Right) Next day with no makeup on face.
Acne scarring
Active breakouts are annoying enough, but the scarring acne can leave behind is downright frustrating to deal with long term. Acne scars are formed when breakouts deeply penetrate the skin, damaging the delicate tissues beneath. There are a variety of types of scarring that can benefit from very specific treatments; however, you can also utilize the following options to generally reduce them. Mild exfoliation and products that contain lactic acid can help smooth your overall skin texture and make scarring less noticeable. A quality sunscreen will also help prevent current scarring from darkening and becoming more noticeable.
(Left) PRP facial. (Right) Next day
How about using your own blood to heal acne scarring? It’s not as scary as it sounds! Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection is a process that involves combining your own plasma and platelets, then reinjecting these combined substances into your skin to promote healing. Though you’ll be in and out of the office within a couple of hours, plan for 24-48 hours of downtime, as the area may be sore with a little bruising. Find this treatment locally at Posh Facial Esthetics and Med Spa.
