Congratulations! You scheduled your annual skin check, and now you have your results. Maybe your dermatologist noticed some sun damage, which can manifest as age spots, freckles, changing moles, dry skin, wrinkles and early aging signs, even actinic keratosis or skin cancer.
So, what do you do next? Now is the time to schedule your follow-up appointment with your nearest DermSurgery Associates clinic. Choose any one of our 16 locations in the Houston Metro area!
There are lots of effective therapies available to address any issues that were uncovered by the dermatologist at your recent skin check. Depending on your skin’s overall health and type, as well as the severity of damage, your DermSurgery Associates skin care expert will offer you a few treatment options.
From non-invasive procedures to more involved surgeries to be performed by highly skilled experts, some of the sun damage treatment options your dermatologist will consider for include: topical anti-inflammatory gel or cream, cryotherapy, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, shave excision or photodynamic therapy (PDT).
Sun Damage Treatments
Laser Treatments
- The Fraxel system of laser skin treatments consistently produces amazing results for patients. Depending on the extent of sun damage and what else you are looking to address, Fraxel DUAL, Fraxel Re:Store, or Fraxel Re:Pair can give you fresh, vibrant skin with improved tone and texture.
- Clear + Brilliant fights the effects of aging and restores a luminous appearance to the skin. It is safe for all skin types and is comfortable, fast, and affordable.
- The Q-Switched Ruby Laser and Nd:Yag Laser is a gentler approach to laser skin resurfacing that preferentially targets discoloration while leaving the healthy surrounding tissue unharmed.
- PicoSure laser treatments use ultra-fast bursts of laser energy to break up pigmentation. Patients using this modern approach need fewer sessions and less downtime compared to older laser methods.
Light-Based Treatments
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) uses concentrated flashes of light to eliminate broken blood vessels and discoloration. The energy from the light is absorbed into the skin, causing pigmentation to break up and blood vessels to be reabsorbed into the body.
- Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) combines the intense light of an IPL treatment with a photosensitizing agent to selectively destroy precancerous skin lesions and acne-causing bacteria.
Other Options
- Chemical Peels are formulated for light, medium, and deep treatments. Depending on your skincare needs, a stronger peel may be required to strip away aged, damaged skin and reveal the healthy, fresh skin beneath.
- SkinPen microneedling can address sun damage and other issues by activating the body’s natural healing processes. The microchannels created by the needles lead to new collagen being produced and cell turnover, leading to more supple, youthful skin over time.
Take the Next Step
Once your DermSurgery team detects sun damage, they can develop a treatment plan to treat current issues, help fend off future damage, and show you how to best protect and care for your unique skin—now and into the future.
Again, congratulations on getting that skin check done! Now that you know a little more about your options for sun damage treatment, call (713) 791-9966 or click here to schedule your follow-up procedure. You DermSurgery Associates skin care team is ready to help!
This post was originally published in 2019 and has been updated for 2023.
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