Whether you vacationed at the beach or lounged by the pool, you probably experienced some time in the sun this summer. While a little sun can be good for our skin, it can quickly become “too much” and become harmful—even dangerous—for our skin.
The right amount of sunlight helps our skin create vitamin D, which is an essential vitamin our body needs to maintain our bone health. Sunlight is also important to maintain our natural circadian rhythm and mental health, but too much sunlight can also prematurely age our skin. By reducing skin elasticity and damaging our skin cells, UV light from the sun can cause wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and skin tone concerns.
At Medical Grade Aesthetics, we know that UV exposure is at its highest in the summer, and we understand if you weren’t exactly the best at re-applying your sunscreen. Our team offers a variety of laser skin resurfacing treatments in Beloit to help you enjoy healthy, revitalized skin once again!
What Is Laser Skin Resurfacing?
Laser skin resurfacing is a type of aesthetic treatment that uses short, targeted bursts of laser light to gently resurface the top layer of your skin, also known as your epidermis. This process removes the damaged and dead skin cells that make up your epidermis, stimulating your body’s healing response to create new, healthy cells.
When your body begins the healing process for your skin, it increases collagen and elastin production. Collagen and elastin are the two main proteins your skin needs to maintain healthy texture and tone, and by naturally increasing the levels of these proteins, your skin can seemingly age backwards. Our providers can reduce common concerns like wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and scarring with a full series of laser skin resurfacing treatments in Beloit.
Your Laser Options
1. Motus AZ Laser | Balancing Comfort & Safety
This laser effectively treats the signs of aging, damaged skin, pigmented lesions, unwanted hair, spider veins, and capillaries for all skin types and tones. This laser uses a unique compact system to balance safety and comfort, creating an effective and pleasant treatment. We provide this laser for patients who are looking to correct moderate aesthetic concerns without much discomfort.
2. CoolPeel CO2 Laser | Effective Results With No Downtime
The CoolPeel is one of our most popular lasers because it can correct wrinkles, fine lines, and more with virtually no downtime. By using advanced CO2 technology, the CoolPeel laser reduces the discomfort you experience during the treatment process while still delivering the same exceptional results. Our team offers this laser treatment to patients who are looking to treat moderate wrinkles without needing any downtime.
3. Deka CO2 Laser | Fast & Effective Treatment
The Deka CO2 laser targets the deeper layers of the skin to treat more intense skin concerns, providing greater rejuvenation and dramatic results. This treatment is performed 30% faster than other lasers, making treatment quick yet effective. Our team offers this amazing laser treatment to those who are looking for effective results with moderate wrinkles who don’t mind taking a little downtime.
What the Process Looks Like
Consultation
You’ll meet directly with a licensed medical professional and talk one-on-one about your concerns. Your provider will learn more about your medical history and your goals, then use these to determine your best options for laser skin resurfacing treatments in Beloit. You’ll both discuss these options and create a care plan that is personalized to your needs.
Treatment
When you arrive for your appointment, your provider will cleanse your skin and apply a topical numbing cream to prioritize your comfort. Once that has taken effect, for the next 30 to 60 minutes, your provider will administer the treatment by slowly gliding the device’s hand piece across your skin. While you may feel a tingling or warming sensation, the laser skin resurfacing process should be tolerable.
Aftercare
Once your appointment is over and your skin has healed, you will notice some improvements, but it will most likely take multiple sessions to fully accomplish your goals. Your results will also be supported by your at-home skincare routine, but your provider can recommend the best products if you are unsure of what to use.
Pre-Care Instructions
- Discontinue exfoliating or skin-irritating products, like retinoids, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid. Your provider can give you a full list of products to avoid during your consultation.
- Avoid other ablative or exfoliating treatments, like chemical peels and other laser treatments, for at least 2 weeks before your laser skin resurfacing treatment in Beloit.
- Wear a minimum of SPF 30 sunscreen every day for 2 weeks before your appointment. Make sure to reapply every 2 to 3 hours.
Post-Care Instructions
- Use a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water on your skin about 3 times a day for 2 weeks following your appointment.
- Apply generous amounts of moisturizer to your skin every time you wash your face. Reapply throughout the day if needed.
- Avoid strenuous exercise, the swimming pool, saunas, hot tubs, and other situations that would cause you to sweat for 1 week.
- Do not expose your skin to hot water. When showering, use warm or lukewarm water and avoid harsh skincare products for 1 week.
Let’s Take a Step Back…
Knowing how to reverse sun damage and premature signs of aging with laser skin resurfacing is important, but the most important information is how to prevent damage to your skin. Understanding your skin and how to care for it going forward will help you make the most of your laser skin resurfacing treatment in Beloit.
How the Sun Affects Your Skin
Most of the sunlight that your skin absorbs will turn into calcitriol, also known as vitamin D3. This prohormone plays a huge role in developing your immune system, bone development, reducing inflammation, maintaining healthy cell growth, supporting neuromuscular function, and improving metabolism.
Over the years, as people have started to spend more time indoors, they are producing less and less vitamin D3. This has shown an increased incidence of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, asthma, type 1 diabetes and myopia.
So I Need Sunlight?
Yes, you need sunlight, but finding the right balance of sunlight is crucial. Every part of our body ages naturally over time, but continued exposure to UV radiation degrades collagen and elastin fibers over time. This speeds up the aging process of the skin, which reduces the overall strength of your skin, creates wrinkles, and increases your risk of developing cancer.
Doctors suggest getting direct sun exposure for anywhere between 5 to 30 minutes a day in season-appropriate clothing and with eyes closed or protected by sunglasses that filter UV. This helps your body receive the right amount of UV to maintain the natural production of vitamin D3 without causing damage to your skin.
Other Ways to Care for Your Skin
1. Use SPF
Using sunscreen when you are outdoors is crucial for protecting your skin, especially if you’re going to be outside for longer than 30 minutes. We recommend using a sunscreen that is between SPF 30 and SPF 50, and reapplying that sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours when you are outdoors (and yes, that also includes when it is cloudy or raining. Your skin is still exposed to UV radiation on overcast days).
2. Nourish Your Skin Daily
One dentist appointment does not mean your teeth are going to be healthy for the rest of your life. You need regular check-ups at the office that are followed by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day. The same logic applies to your skin, too.
After you receive your laser skin resurfacing treatments in Beloit, you will need to support your skin daily with a skincare routine. Our team can help you find the best products with a personal skin analysis, where we will educate you on what type of skin you have and what you need to protect it. We’ll then provide you with recommendations for our in-house medical-grade skincare products that will work best for your skin needs.
3. Pair Your Treatments
You can pair your laser skin resurfacing treatments in Beloit with other services to enhance your skin’s health and appearance. Your provider can help you create a personalized treatment plan with the services that will best improve your specific concerns. For sun damage, we typically pair laser skin resurfacing with services like laser vein treatment, chemical peels, and RF microneedling.
Trust the Experts
Our providers are experienced medical professionals who understand how to enhance your natural beauty in a relaxing, comfortable, judgment-free space. We set the standard for medical aesthetics by delivering unparalleled and transformational results that help our patients feel more confident in their appearance.
We encourage you to schedule a consultation with one of our expert providers to start creating your customized care plan. Additionally, you can try our treatment planning tool to explore your best options for laser skin resurfacing treatments in Beloit. Our team is committed to helping you feel more confident in your natural beauty, providing premium care through every step of the process.
