Recommendations for Treating Sun-Damaged Skin
Here at Cape & Islands Plastic Surgery, we, like most on the Cape, cannot wait for the summertime. Cape Cod is a great place to be from June through September. That said, all that fun at the beach, on boats, or just outside can sometimes have a cost. Sun damage can cause a variety of both health and cosmetic issues. It is important that everyone take steps to prevent sun damage. And for patients who get burnt during the summer, it is helpful to know what types of treatments to book toward the end of the summer or early fall to address blemishes and cosmetic concerns.
Tips For Preventing Sun Damage This Summer
First and foremost, this summer we all need to make sure we are protecting our skin. Like any dermatologist, we recommend that patients wear sunscreen that provides adequate UV protection. Likewise, there are a variety of at-home topical skincare products that help hydrate the skin and prevent sun damage. Here at Cape & Islands Plastic Surgery, we provide Isclinical skincare products to our patients, which they can buy at any of our offices. Our team can help recommend products and is happy to discuss skincare regimens during your visit with us. That said, once there is sun damage, many topical treatments can only go so far in terms of reversing it. Most topical products can help with minor to mild sun damage, hyperpigmentation, or other blemishes, but that might not be enough.
Skin Treatments That Help With Sun Damage & Blemishes
For handling sun-damaged skin, you should consider laser treatments or skin resurfacing procedures. In terms of lasers, we recommend a variety of options, including Tetra CoolPeel, Moxi, BBL Hero (Broadband Light), and Fraxel skin resurfacing.
Fraxel DUAL Wavelength
Fraxel laser treatments use “fractional technology”. Traditional lasers target the entire top layer of the skin, while Fraxel only targets a fraction of the tissue.
Tetra CoolPeel
Tetra CoolPeel is a fractional ablative CO2 laser that can help with sunspots, fine lines, and enlarged pores. Compared to other CO2 lasers, it is much gentler and has less downtime.
Moxi
The Moxi laser by Sciton is a fractional non-ablative laser that treats early sun damage and mild pigmentation issues. It is a gentle laser that is safe for all skin types and requires minimum downtime.
BBL Hero
BBL Hero is also a laser treatment from Sciton that uses high-intensity pulsed light to safely treat sunspots, freckles, age spots, rosacea and pigmentation issues.
When it comes to choosing the right laser treatment, it depends on the extent of the damage to your skin and your skin tone/texture.
Outside of laser treatments, there are other skincare treatments that help with retexturing and decreasing the visibility of blemishes. Morpheus8, for example, combines radiofrequency (RF) technology with microneedling to help the skin naturally heal.
When To Schedule Laser Treatments
Topical treatment and sunscreen are great for prevention and use throughout the summer. Laser skin resurfacing treatments are best suited for the tail end of the summer, fall, or winter. Scheduling early can help ensure that you are on a good regimen throughout the summer, and that you can get any needed laser treatments toward the end of the summer. Laser treatments require you to avoid direct sun exposure during the healing process, which is difficult to do during the summer. This limits the time that you can spend outside, and it is also very difficult during the longer days of the year.
Since laser treatments require multiple sessions spaced out weeks apart, we recommend that patients schedule toward the end of summer, to ensure they are able to complete their treatment program before important holidays throughout the fall and winter.
Schedule Skin Resurfacing Treatments in Plymouth & Hyannis, Massachusetts
If you need help choosing the right skincare products for this summer, or are interested in booking laser skin resurfacing treatments with one of our offices, we’d be happy to set up a consultation with our team, or answer your questions. Give us a call or click below to reach out to our team.
