With summer over, it's time to begin thinking more seriously about how the sun and other environmental factors have affected the skin. Many of us have enjoyed the outdoor activities-tennis, running, cycling, boating, even eating al fresco. In the past few months, it's likely that skin - especially the face-has been tanned, sunburned and left dry.
Revitalize
There are many new ways to replenish skin. At the dermatologist's office, new, exciting technologies are available to treat patients with minimal downtime or discomfort. Common concerns from fixing wrinkles and pigmentation, to smoothing skin and even mitigating acne scarring can be dramatically improved with new second generation fractional lasers such as the Fraxel Repair and SmartXide. Also, a similar technology called the fractional Pearl can produce similar results.
Non-surgical solutions
Advanced non-surgical skin tightening laser technologies such as the Refirme, new-generation Thermage and Titan also help tighten the skin without requiring surgical intervention. These offerings help patients accomplish the goal of having a healthy complexion in a more reliable fashion. In addition, intense pulsed light photo-rejuvenation utilizing broad-spectrum light to improve redness and pigmentation, while shrinking pores remains the gold standard of giving skin an overall global rejuvenation effect.
Smooth and Tone
Regardless of age or season, we all want to have tight, smooth toned skin. In the dermatologist's office, this can be accomplished by combinations of light emitting diodes, utilizing red and blue light as well as superficial chemical peels with alpha or beta hydroxyl acids, either alone or in combination. Combining these technologies may produce additive and synergistic effects and give similar great effects comparable to more semi-invasive technologies, but with no downtime.
At-home, consumers can turn to Renova, Avage, and new high-dose antioxidants like Dior's L'Or de Vie. Also helpful are products high in coffeeberry, idebenone and Vitamin C because they protect the skin against harmful free radical damage from ultraviolet irradiation and environmental pollutant. Ferusol compounds (antioxidants), according to research, can give the skin a lasting luminescence while slowing down the genetics of photoaging.
These technologies and skin care solutions are safe, cost-effective and can really impart skin with a radiant glow. They offer minimal downtime and are relatively comfortable.
Dr. Neil Sadick is one of the most renowned dermatologists and researchers whose multiple discoveries have strongly influenced and transformed the future of dermatology. He is a Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and President of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation. Dr. Sadick is author, or co-author, of more than 500 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has contributed more than 75 chapters of medical books. Read more at
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