Treatment of Sun Damaged Skin
Over the years, sun exposure can have various effects on the skin, including:
- Thin, dry skin with loss of collagen
- Patches of discoloration
- Fine branching superficial blood vessels (spider veins)
- pre-cancerous changes
The following treatments are available at our clinic for treatment of sun damage:
KTP laser
KTP laser is very effective in helping to eliminate pigmented brown spots due to sun damage. This laser targets the darker areas and pulls the pigment to the surface of the skin. The darkened skin sloughs off over a 4-6 week period. Each time you cleanse the area, more pigment from the area is wiped away. It can be used on any area of the body and when used on the face can even give an overall rejuvenation effect. KTP is also very effective in eliminating unsightly superficial blood vessels. Touch up treatments may be needed every 6 months. Solar keratosis (pre-cancerous lesions) can also be removed with the KTP laser. This prevents them from increasing in size or becoming a problem later on.
V-Beam
V-Beam laser is also very effective when treating pigmented areas as well as unsightly blood vessels. It can be used effectively on a larger area ie if the entire face requires treatment for sun damage instead of a few small areas. The skin would also enjoy an overall rejuvenating effect. This laser targets hemoglobin therefore passing through the epidermis and dermis to target blood vessels. It has many applications and a thorough assessment would be done by Dr. DePieri to determine the correct one for you.
CO2 Fractional Laser
The CO2 fractional laser is an extremely versatile laser because of the variability of the power, depth of penetration, and overlap that can be preset, depending on what is being treated. For extensive superficial sun damage, a full resurfacing can be the most effective and most cost effective option for those who have been sun worshippers for many years.
Levulan Treatment
Levulan Treatment is used as a very effective tool for treating pre cancerous lesions caused by sundamage. It is applied to the entire face and left on for a period of hours at the doctor's descretion. The face is then exposed to the Blue light also for a period of minutes at the doctor's descretion. The Levuan accumulates in the cells of the lesions causing them to become photosensitive. When exposed to Blue light, the cells that have accumulated the Levulan are destroyed. The skin will also enjoy an overall rejuvenation effect.
IPL (Intese Pulse Light)
This improves the irradiacy and tightness of the skin, controlling pores, and giving a more uniform complexion.
See also: Chemical Peels, CO2 Fractional Resurfacing
