When you go to grab your SPF 30 sunscreen, be sure to put on sunglasses also. Although we don’t always think about it, sun exposure can also damage the eyes causing conditions like cataracts. Additionally, you’re more likely to squint in bright sunlight, which causes wrinkles to develop more rapidly around the eyes. Certain wrinkle reducing laser treatments can improve an aged eye appearance, but during this time of year patients often seek cosmetic injectables like Botox® and facial fillers like Restylane® to reduce wrinkles. Many patients also like eyelash and eyebrow tinting services during the summer or try Latisse® to make their lashes grow longer, darker, and thicker so they won’t have to worry about going without mascara.

Skin care routines should change as the weather changes. Although the air is more humid in Atlanta this time of year, it’s still very important to moisturize. A lighter moisturizer can usually do the trick during the summer. Exfoliation is also beneficial during the warmer months in helping to remove the skin’s surface imperfections while sloughing away dead skin cells that clog pores. We offer various services to exfoliate the skin at Laser Lights including microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and facials.

When seeking summer skin treatments, it’s important to understand the sun can exacerbate certain skin conditions. Therefore, we conduct pre-skin treatment consultations to discuss patients’ skin conditions and thoroughly evaluate the skin before treatment. Patients with rosacea often experience flare-ups with exposure to sun and heat. We offer services to improve rosacea symptoms and tips about skin care products and steps patients can take to further relieve rosacea symptoms. Although rosacea sometimes resembles acne, they are two very different skin conditions. Contrary to popular belief, sun exposure does not improve acne. While we offer acne light therapy to reduce acne, the photodynamic therapy (PDT) used is very different from sunlight and works by shrinking oil glands, killing bacteria within pores, and regulating the shedding of dead skin cells.

We also offer a variety of laser procedures to treat skin conditions, but we ask patients who seek these procedures during the summer to use caution. Laser procedures and sun exposure can cause hyperpigmentation, so we advise laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, or other laser procedurepatients to stay out of the sun for a few weeks before and after treatment. Patients who know they will be spending most of their time indoors this summer shouldn’t have anything to worry about, but we advise these patients to wear sunscreen and protective clothing when they must go out in the sun.

Schedule a consultation today to learn more about which treatment will meet your skin’s specific needs as the seasons change. Be sure to view our website to learn more about the other procedures we offer. Also, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ if you haven’t already for skin care news and updates on our specials.

Spider veins are those pesky little purple, blue, and red veins that look like a web or tree branches and most often appear on the face and legs. Facial spider veins are often associated with rosacea symptoms. While the true causes of spider veins have not been determined, many have speculated factors like genetics, age, hormones, and obesity might have something to do with their origin. No matter what causes them, they can be frustrating and even embarrassing. Our laser vein removal patients often complain that they do everything to try to cover up spider veins—even if it means wearing long pants all summer.

Fortunately there’s no need to continue hiding your spider veins because we offer spider vein elimination at Laser Lights. Our laser targets the pigment within the blood vessel without harming the skin. The vessels absorb the laser light and gradually disappear. Some patients can achieve the results they’re after in just one spider vein treatment, but depending on the extent of the spider veins, up to three treatments may be necessary for complete removal.

Patients often inquire about the safety of this treatment because eliminating veins sounds a little scary. However, it’s very important to understand spider veins do not function properly, and removing spider veins does not affect the circulatory system’s function. Although many patients are able to engage in normal activities after laser vein removal and side effects are rare, some patients may experience mild redness and sometimes bruising in the treatment area for a few days after treatment. Just like we warn all of our laser patients, it’s also important to avoid sun exposure for a few weeks before laser spider vein treatment as well as a few weeks after to avoid hyperpigmentation.

As with any laser skin treatment, it’s important to find a qualified laser provider to perform your treatment. If you’re interested in spider vein treatment, schedule a consultation today. In addition to laser services, we offer a variety of non-laser treatments like chemical peels, microdermabrasion, Viora Reaction™ skin tightening, and massage therapy. Be sure to view our website to learn more about our other services. We also invite you to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for skin care news and updates about our specials.

No one wants to wear gloves all of the time, especially not during the summer months. Environmental exposure combined with the natural aging process can cause the hands to appear aged. Patients who seek hand rejuvenation typically complain about lost volume, age spots (melasma), and unsightly veins. It is important to take care of your hands just like you take care of your face and other skin. Be sure to moisturize and wear an SPF 30 sunscreen on your hands every day. Paraffin wax treatments are perfect for softening the skin and locking in moisture to preserve a youthful appearance, but if you’re past the preservation stage, Laser Lights also offers treatments to repair signs of aging.

There are a variety of ways to even out the hand’s skin tone. Although most often considered facial treatments, Erbium laser treatment, chemical peels, and photo rejuvenation can be used to reduce sun spots, discoloration, and other pigmentation issues. Then, Dr. David Whiteman can inject dermal fillers (i.e. Restylane® or Radiesse®) into the hands to plump lost volume and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

If you’re interested in hand rejuvenation, laser treatments, or other services available at Laser Lights, schedule a consultation with one of our licensed estheticians today or visit our website to learn more. You can find the latest skin care news on our Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ profiles, so be sure to connect with us if you haven’t already.

Due to the nature of laser procedures, sun exposure after laser treatment can cause hyperpigmentation. In fact, it’s best not to pursue laser treatment on suntanned skin to avoid pigmentation changes. All laser procedures are different—some skin conditions can be treated in just one session while others require multiple sessions. Laser treatments that require multiple sessions must be spaced four to six weeks apart to allow time for the skin to heal between sessions. Knowing how many sessions are required for each treatment can help you determine the best time to receive your desired laser treatment without risking hyperpigmentation.

Skin conditions like age spots, freckles, melasma, hemangiomas, and warts can usually be eliminated in as little as one laser treatment. Depending on the extent of the skin condition, additional treatment sessions may be required for optimal results. Additionally, some spider veins can be eliminated in as little as one treatment, but up to three treatments are often required for complete removal.

Other skin conditions like birthmarks, port wine stains, and laser skin resurfacing (wrinkle reduction) typically require a minimum of three laser treatment sessions for removal and rejuvenation. Birthmarks and port wine stains are usually darker than freckles, lie deeper within the skin’s surface, and are sometimes textured, which makes them more difficult to remove than freckles. Likewise, the number of skin resurfacing sessions necessary to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, melasma, and acne scarring with our CO2 Fractionated Laser or Erbium Laser varies from person to person, but most patients achieve desired results with a series of three treatments.

Laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, and photo rejuvenation therapy typically require at least four to six treatments. Due to the natural hair growth cycle, some hairs are growing while others are in a rest phase. Though some patients see semi-permanent results after their initial treatment, laser hair removal is only effective during the hair growth cycle. The number of sessions required for laser tattoo removal depends on the age, depth, color, size, and placement of the tattoo. Since tattoos often fade overtime older tattoos are easier to remove than newer ones. Likewise, patients who seek photofacial treatment to reduce hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scarring will see results in one treatment, but multiple treatments may be necessary for optimal rejuvenation of the face, chest, arms, and hands.

We have over twelve different lasers to treat a variety of skin conditions and skin types at Laser Lights. As you can see, many treatment requirements vary from patient to patient. Our licensed estheticians can give you a better idea of how many sessions you will need after a pre-treatment consultation. Also keep in mind that if you usually wear protective clothing or are often indoors during the summer, you shouldn’t have to worry about hyperpigmentation. However, if you do have to go out in the sun after laser treatment be sure to wear at least SPF 30 sunscreen, cover the treatment area,  and don’t stay out longer than you must. Visit our website to learn more about our other services or schedule a consultation today to take advantage of laser treatment before summer. Be sure to also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Facials at Laser Lights are therapeutic and medicated to treat a variety of skin conditions from acne and rosacea to wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. In fact, we can even customize our facials to treat your specific skin conditions. Before each treatment our esthetician analyzes your skin to determine the best treatment regimen, which isn’t always a facial. However, these “feel good” treatments are much stronger than most people think.

Our younger patients who still suffer acne breakouts can benefit from our acne facial that loosens and removes pore debris and blockages. We can’t lie, Atlanta facial treatments do feel good, starting with an esthetician who gently cleans the face then sprays the treatment area with a warm mist. Once the medicated ointment is applied and removed, the treatment concludes with a clarifying mask, light moisturizer, and protective mineral sunscreen. With a clearer complexion in the weeks following, you will know that there is more to a facial than just relaxation. Patients who are interested in our acne facial may also be interested in the teen facial (which also teaches teens to properly care for their skin) and our back facial (which takes care of acne breakouts on the back often referred to as “backne”).

Laser Lights also offers facials to reduce early signs of aging. Patients starting to notice fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth, nose, and eyes can benefit from our anti-aging facial that uses a combination of alpha and beta hydroxyl (salicylic) acids to induce skin cell rejuvenation. Because of the chemicals used, the anti-aging facial can cause facial skin to appear flushed, so those with sensitive skin might prefer our European facial. This gentle treatment removes dead skin and surface debris and includes the application of a papaya mask to reduce redness and irritation. We also offer a facial specifically designed for men. This all-in-one men’s facial relieves tension and redness, and our estheticians instruct patients on sun damage protection and daily skin care.

Pore extractions are often combined with facials, but other treatments may be recommended as well. For instance, we often suggest that patients suffering acne alternate facial treatments and acne light therapy to get the most out of treatment. Patients who receive facials are often interested in skin care products so that they can keep their skin healthy at home.

Visit our website to learn more about the other skin care services we offer like our laser treatments. Keep reading our blog and stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+  for skin care news and updates.

Our Anti Puff Eye Gel is one of our favorite products. Puffiness or bags under the eyes can cause people to look tired or older than they are. Our soothing Anti Puff Eye Gel is filled with Japanese Green Tea Extract to help reduce puffiness and skin irritation. Containing polyphenols for anti-oxidants and sodium hyaluronate to moisturize the delicate skin around the eyes, this gel is the perfect solution for puffy eyes. It even works for patients with contact lenses.

We also offer services to improve the look of tired or aging eyes. For instance, our newest technology, Viora Reaction™ can successfully tighten loose skin and wrinkles around the eyes. Additionally, we offer Latisse® eyelash treatment and tinting services for lashes and brows to enhance the eyes. Latisse® can help you grow longer, thicker, and darker lashes, and our lash and brow tinting services can add definition to your lashes and brows to make them pop—even without mascara.

Visit our website or contact us today to learn more about our services and skin care products. If you haven’t already, be sure to connect with Laser Lights on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for skin care news and updates.