Helping people look and feel their best is the goal of cosmetic skin care. There are many dermatological procedures and skin care treatments designed to help patients revitalize, improve, and repair their skin.  Anti-aging skin care and procedures can begin as early as the 20s, although it is never too late to begin treatment.

Start with Yearly Check-ups
Treatment begins with a yearly check-up to make sure the patient does not have any skin diseases or cancers, such as melanoma or basal cell carcinoma. Once they have been ruled out, a Grosse Pointe dermatologist can advise about cosmetic procedures that will enhance the patient’s appearance, restore a youthful look, and improve self-confidence.

Cosmetic dermatologists recommend keeping skin youthful by drinking plenty of water, regularly using sunscreen containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (SPF 50 is best) and using face creams containing Retinol, Vitamin C Serum, or Glycolic Acid to delay signs of aging. However, these cannot completely eliminate the signs of facial aging, so a skin care doctor may recommend further options to enhance natural beauty.

Skin Care Services in Grosse Pointe
Tighter skin and defined cheekbones are symbols of youth and beauty. It’s amazing what non-surgical cosmetic treatments can do to improve appearance. Some treatments available are resurfacing, microneedling, and fillers. Laser resurfacing is used to modify the surface of the skin to correct fine lines, irregular pigmentation and blemishes. Another common technique is the use of a chemical peel, a solution of acids that accelerate the natural exfoliation of the skin to remove old skin, allowing new layers to grow, resulting in a brighter, clearer, more youthful-looking complexion. Chemical peels are popular with patients who want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, damage from the sun, and acne scarring. Exfoliating detoxifies the skin with natural clay and freshwater silt, creating a polished look with refined pores.

In microneedling, also known as collagen induction therapy, a dermatologist will use small needles to prick the skin, generating new collagen and skin tissue for firmer, smoother, more toned skin. It’s an effective treatment for acne scarring, wounds, and treating sunspots and other signs of aging.

With the use of fillers, a skin care doctor can inject volume and definition to the face to recreate youthful beauty. Fillers work by filling the space below wrinkles to replace lost fat. Soft substances such as gels or liquids are injected into the dermis, the subcutaneous layer of the skin, to plump lips, fill out hollows in cheeks, and improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and imperfections.

The doctor can inject collagen stimulators into the dermis, filling spaces where collagen has been lost. The new collagen produced provides a structural framework to hold hyaluronic acid and elastin to help restore the dermis. Hyaluronic acid attracts water molecules to the dermis to restore the moisture in the skin. Elastin provides elasticity which helps the skin stretch. A board-certified Grosse Pointe dermatologist can recommend one of various options.

Consulting with a Detroit Skin Care Doctor about BOTOX® Treatments
One of the most popular non-surgical options for a more youthful appearance is the use of BOTOX® injections. A younger look can be achieved without expensive, invasive cosmetic surgery, such as a facelift, which involves up to two weeks of downtime, and swelling and scarring that can last for months. Nearly 20% of the American population now use BOTOX regularly to maintain a wrinkle-free, youthful appearance. It is the number one selling cosmetic injectable in the world, approved in 98 countries for cosmetic enhancements.

Advantages of BOTOX
BOTOX injections work beneath the surface of the skin to temporarily block wrinkles and lines caused by collagen reduction, cellular changes, and sun damage, and by the repeated facial motions people make such as frowning, squinting, raising eyebrows, smiling, or pursing the lips. The injections block the nerves that contract muscles, softening the appearance of wrinkles, and improving the appearance of forehead creases, wrinkles around the eyes, laugh lines, frown lines, and fine lines around the lips. Each procedure lasts approximately thirty minutes, and the patient can resume most normal activities immediately. Patients should avoid exercising before or after the procedure to keep from elevating blood pressure. Patients can return to work the same day. Treatments are virtually painless and the effects last about three to six months. Studies continue for improvements that may make results last even longer. A Detroit-area dermatologist can recommend the frequency of treatments depending upon age, skin condition, and the number of areas injected.

Minimal Risks of BOTOX
Patients sometimes worry that their faces might look unnatural or “frozen” after BOTOX injections. That’s why it’s important to work with a board-certified skin care doctor in Detroit. When this non-invasive procedure is administered by a dermatologist, the risk of infection or complications is extremely small. Doctors can tailor the right amount and frequency of treatments to meet the needs of each patient. Treatment, when begun at an early age, such as in the 20s or 30s, can actually prevent lines from showing up by preventing the repetitive motions that produce facial lines, such as smiling, frowning, or smoking.

There can be some side effects from these injections. Some that are possible are: headaches, bruising, pain at the site of the injection, and, in fewer than 1% of the cases, drooping eyelids or eyebrows that return to their natural position. These side effects are generally temporary. Patients can minimize bruising by skipping medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen for two weeks prior to the procedure, as these medications thin the blood and increase bleeding, which causes bruising. Other medications to avoid are vitamin E, fish oil pills, and gingko. A dermatologist can advise patients about medications to avoid prior to their procedure.

Cosmetic Dermatology Options in Sterling Heights

These are a few of the cosmetic dermatology options available from a Sterling Heights dermatologist. By setting up a first appointment a person can begin a habit of visiting the dermatologist regularly. Any issues that may come up can be addressed sooner, so treatments and care can be provided as soon as possible. Today is a great day to make an appointment for a consultation with a skin care doctor!