Father Time isn’t always kind to the way our skin ages. Excessive sun exposure, skin issues, aging, lifestyle and heredity can cause the skin to appear less than stellar over time if you haven’t been practicing proper skincare. However, not all is lost. There are a number of treatments available that are specially designed to get your skin back in shape. Skin resurfacing is one of them.

There are no age restrictions so just about anyone can get skin resurfacing done. The most common signs that skin resurfacing may be needed include: brown spots, blotchy skin coloring, acne or chicken pox scars, facial scars from past injuries, wrinkled or sun-damaged facial skin, wrinkles around the mouth, upper eyelids and crow’s feet.

Because there are several methods of skin resurfacing, you must meet with a plastic surgeon to discuss which method will work best for your skin’s needs. The surgeon will examine your skin and determine which skin resurfacing treatment will get you the desired results. You may be asked to look in a mirror and point out specific areas that you want treated. Be very detailed about what you want but at the same time also be realistic. Recognize that you may have to do more than one treatment if there is extensive skin damage to be corrected.

The most common and widely used skin resurfacing treatments are chemical peels, dermabrasion, and laser resurfacing.

Each chemical peel is defined by the types of ingredients used and its potency. The most common chemical peels use alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid. Treatments with AHAs can result in improving the texture of the skin to reduce the effects of sun damage, aging, brown spots and fine lines. For those suffering from skin blemishes, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation, a trichloracetic peel (TCA) is ideal. This type of peel can also be applied to the neck as well as the face. Because the TCA peel doesn’t contain as many bleaching properties, this peel is often more popular with darker-skinned individuals. The phenol peel is often used for tougher cases of skin damage. This peel works to correct hyperpigmentation, roughly textured skin and deep creases that can appear on the face, especially the brow.

Dermabrasion uses a special tool with a spinning wheel that sands down roughly textured skin, removing the surface layers and allowing the new skin cells to take over. The end result is smoother, softer and more radiant looking skin. This procedure is effective in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth, as well as improving the appearance of facial scars.

Laser resurfacing involves the use of a carbon dioxide laser to correct any skin damage deep in the skin by vaporization. This method can be performed on certain areas of the face or even the entire face. The laser is great for treating blotchiness, age spots, wrinkles and acne scars. Some patients also experience a tightening effect, which can result in younger looking skin.

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