Like most Oregonians, your plans this summer probably involve the outdoors. Maybe you’ll be camping, visiting the beach, doing some gardening/yardwork, or just firing up the grill. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but don’t forget the sunscreen! Sun damage is the number one factor in skin aging. You can reduce the impact dramatically with consistent use of a quality sunscreen. I recommend SPF 30 or higher everyday!
But what about the damage that’s already been done? Fine lines, wrinkles, skin discoloration, age spots… The good news is that you have many treatment options. Skincare products, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and laser treatments can all help reduce the visible signs of sun damage, leaving your skin looking younger, fresher, and brighter!
Tretinoin and Hydroquinone are two compounds knows for their ability to treat discoloration and damage while improving skin texture and overall health. You’ll find both in the Condition & Enhance system by Obagi medical, a step-by-step program to revitalize your skin, and bring back its healthy glow. Also available from Obagi is the C Rx System, which treats mild skin discoloration, fine lines, and skin texture with a combination of Vitamin C and Hydroquinone. With both systems you will start to see results in as little as two weeks; however, full results may take up to 12 weeks as it treats each cycle of your skin.
Micropeels, a combination of Chemical Peels and Microdermabrasion, help to restore your skin’s vibrancy by removing the dead cells that can make your skin look dull, treating the cells in the dermal layer of your skin, and encouraging healthy cell production. Your skin will glow after just one treatment and fine lines and wrinkles will be less visible. With little-to-no downtime, you’ll be out and about the very next day showing off your new, glowing skin! The Micropeel can be customized to best suit your skin’s needs, with different types of peels and varying levels of abrasion which can be combined to address specific concerns you have about your skin. Treatments are usually performed in a series of six, spaced 1-2 weeks apart. Your skincare consultant can help you decide what’s best for your skin.
Broad Band Light treatments, also known as BBL, are performed with an IPL (intense pulsed light) device, similar to a laser. The light energy produced by the device is gently absorbed by the skin, stimulating collagen synthesis, softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and causing hyper-pigmentation, discoloration and sun spots to fade. These treatments are also customizable, addressing brown or red discoloration, combination concerns, and/or fine lines and wrinkles. A series of 4-5 treatments are required to achieve full results; however, results can often be seen after 1-2 treatments.
No matter what course of treatment you choose, remember that sunscreen is your best friend. SPF 30 or higher during the summer months, and SPF 15 or higher during winter months is your best defense in slowing down the signs of aging. Feel free to call us with any questions or concerns – 503-399-0021.
We look forward to treating you!
