Dark spots. Splotchy, rough skin. Dryness. These are all problems that can be associated with aging – or sun damage. The various technologies that have been developed over the past few decades are bringing new hope to men and women who want to address these concerns, and we are proud to offer several options for rejuvenating the skin. Laser skin resurfacing can be an excellent method of reviving your aesthetic, but you want to consider important factors before choosing such treatment. As we head into summer, we caution those seeking to refine their look to consult with an experienced, board-certified physician before jumping into the sea of laser or light therapies.
What Laser Treatments Do
The purpose of laser skin resurfacing is two-fold. First, laser light has a direct effect on epidermal cells. As the exfoliation process is expedited with treatment, deal cells are lifted from the skin’s surface to reveal healthier, younger cells. Additionally, heat from the laser penetrates surface tissues to reach the frayed strands of collagen that lie beneath. The warmed collagen fibers contract, leading to greater support for surface cells.
Why Timing Matters
One of the side effects of exfoliating treatments like laser skin resurfacing is that the fresh new cells that are brought to the surface are quite sensitive to sunlight – and any UV rays, really. For this reason, we do not recommend seeking treatment during summer months. Even though your skin may only show signs of laser treatment for a few days or weeks, the photosensitivity that results remains consistent for up to a few months. If you go through treatment during the summer, when UV rays are stronger, the risk for freckles, brown spots, and other sun damage is created.
Not only does laser treatment and other methods of exfoliation change the way the skin responds to UV light, but heat does as well. During the warmer months, melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment in the skin, are more active. This naturally makes them more responsive to sunlight and other ultraviolet light.
Why counteract all of the benefits of laser skin resurfacing by undergoing treatment at the wrong time of year? Your Fresno dermatologist Dr. Behr can suggest other ways to promote healthy, gorgeous skin during the few months when UV damage is more likely to occur. Schedule your visit to learn what they are.
