Dear Dr. Man, I just turned 50, but since I’m out in the sun playing tennis almost everyday, I look more like I’m 60. I would love to get rid of the wrinkles and sun damage on my face, without having surgery. I read about new lasers and other non-surgical ways to remove wrinkles. Can you tell me about some of these treatments? How do I know which treatment is right for me?
Florida’s year round sunshine beckons us outdoors; however, too much fun in the sun can prematurely age the skin. Sun damage causes the skin to lose its elasticity, and lines and wrinkles appear. After a while, the skin’s texture begins to appear rough, with brown spots and red irregular pigmentations. There are many non-surgical treatments available- both old and new- that can help reduce wrinkles and sun damage on the face.
Peels can be an excellent choice to help reduce wrinkles and sun damage. Peels are minimally invasive, cost-effective, and involve minimal downtime. Peels also offer flexible treatment options, ranging from light to medium to very deep. Lighter peels include alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, and combination peels. Superficial lines can be treated using these lighter peels. Glycolic acids can help improve skin clarity and increase the thickness of the skin, making it appear more youthful. A series of treatments are required to achieve optimal results; the additional treatments also make excellent “refreshers” for the skin. Beta hydroxy acids, including salicylic acid, are very good and very effective at reducing pigmentations. They are an excellent choice for people with darker skin, acne, and oily skin. Combination peels, which entail applying salicylic acid and a special formula known as Jessner, are also beneficial.
Another procedure that is used to treat lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and acne is TCA, otherwise known as “the designer peel” or “the work horse of the peels.” TCA allows us to do many more things to treat the skin, even more than some expensive lasers. TCA can be used either superficially or deep; lighter skin types allow for deeper penetration. Depending on the depth required, several applications are applied in various concentrations.
Phenol is excellent for treating deep lines and sun damage. Used since 1903 as a skin rejuvenator, it uses a chemical known as phenol, combined with buffers, to remove wrinkles, lines, and sun damage. It is considered the “gold standard” by plastic surgeons and dermatologists.
Technology takes the spotlight today with new advances, with procedures such as intense pulse light (IPL), Erbium, Thermage, Fraxel, and Portrait, just to name a few. We will discuss these new types of lasers and technological advances in more detail in next week’s column.
The method used should depend upon the patient’s desires, as well as the depth of wrinkles and sun damage. Sit down with your doctor and discuss all of your options, in order to decide which treatment is right for you. Good luck!
Dr. Daniel Man is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has dedicated his life’s work to helping people look younger and improve their appearance through cosmetic surgery. He is a noted author, artist, inventor and educator. Dr. Man has been featured on major television networks, as well as national and local magazines and newspapers for his work as both a plastic surgeon and an artist. He has a successful private practice in Boca Raton, FL. For more information about Dr. Man, visit www.drman.com.
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