Injectables like fillers and BOTOX® are quick treatments designed for minimizing facial wrinkles, but if you want to enhance the overall look and feel of your skin, you can get good results from collagen-induction treatments like microneedling. Chesterfield’s West County Dermatology routinely works with patients seeking a wide range of options to take their skin routine to the next level, especially because wrinkles aren’t the only telltale signs of aging. Skin that has age spots and other pigmentation irregularities, leathery patches, sagging, and a dull, lackluster appearance is unflattering and can make you look older and more tired than you actually are. Having a layer of dull skin cells on the outer surface will also clog pores and make it difficult for it to absorb ingredients in skincare products.

The most common causes for a dead and dry outer later are exposure to harsh environments, genetics, skin conditions, acne, a bad diet, not having a proper skin routine, and other lifestyle choices.

Together with ongoing skincare at home, professional light-based treatments, peels, and skin rejuvenation techniques are usually the best ways of adding some more glow to your complexion. Here’s what you should know about several treatment options:

Microneedling

If over-the-counter products haven’t been helpful, it might be time to consider microneedling or another in-office treatment. Collagen and elastin are the substances that keep your skin strong, supple, and firm. Our body naturally creates fewer of these proteins as we age or after our skin is injured, and the resulting drop in collagen leads to a lot of common skin issues. In recent years liquid collagen drinks produced by companies such as Taut® (find out more at https://www.renewalliance.com/pages/taut-collagen-reviews) have become a popular way of supplementing and boosting the body’s collagen production. Also referred to as collagen induction therapy, microneedling involves using a small, handheld skincare device to create tiny pinpricks in the skin. These gentle injuries kick-start the healing process. The main device for years was a dermaroller—essentially a wheel with numerous fine needles attached to it—but more recent advances have led to the development of the skin pen, which uses a motor to power needles that extend from the device’s tip.

The tiny channels created by the needles stimulate the formation of new collagen and elastin, as well as boost skin cell turnover while creating microscopic pathways in the skin layer so that topical products can be absorbed better. The skin becomes firmer and smoother with a more even and brighter tone. This is an ideal way to improve the look of acne scarring and other scars, wrinkles, enlarged pores, loose skin, stretch marks, age spots, and other pigment issues.

Chemical Peels

Like microneedling, chemical peels can help you fix tone and texture problems, which can be caused by a buildup of skin and dirt on the surface. A peel exfoliates the damaged external layer of skin with a mild chemical solution that causes it to gradually slough away, revealing healthier and less damaged skin beneath. This option targets some of the same irregularities you can correct with microneedling, including wrinkles and fine lines, acne scars and other scars, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone.

Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning is an exfoliation treatment that involves removing the dead or damaged skin, debris, and scar tissue on the outer surface of the face, as well as fine vellus hairs (otherwise known as peach fuzz). The treatment involves a sterile, blade-like tool used to gently scrape the skin at an angle, leaving it very smooth and soft. By getting rid of dead skin cells, dermaplaning encourages skin cell turnover and collagen production. If you want to avoid chemicals on your face because your skin is sensitive, dermaplaning might be preferable.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

IPL is intended for minor wrinkles, brown and red spots, age spots, hormonal pigmentation, sun damage, birthmarks, broken blood vessels, and rosacea. It is milder and gentler than laser resurfacing treatments because it applies multiple, diffused pulses of light with less energy. The light breaks down unwanted pigment in the skin while promoting collagen production in the deeper layers.

If you have more questions about the benefits of skin resurfacing tools like microneedling, let the Chesterfield-based skincare team at West County Dermatology know. To request an appointment to talk about cosmetic options, call 636.532.2422, or submit a contact form.