Microdermabrasion and Chemical Peels: Exploring Your Exfoliation Options

If you keep up with our blogs, you’ve probably read that chemical peels and microdermabrasion treatments produce similar results, which can make choosing a treatment option difficult. Therefore, Laser Lights offers pre-treatment skin analysis consultations to help you determine exactly what your skin needs. To help educate you of the available facial rejuvenation options, read on as we discuss the similarities and differences between chemical peels and microdermabrasion.

As we age, our skin begins to lose elasticity and imperfections like sun spots, fine lines, and acne scars start to appear. Certain cosmetic skin treatments, like microdermabrasion and chemical peels, can remove the outer layer of dead, damaged skin to reveal the fresh skin underneath while stimulating the body’s natural collagen production. These types of treatments are perfect for patients looking to improve surface imperfections and signs of aging, although we also provide more comprehensive anti-aging treatments like laser skin resurfacing to target more advanced signs of aging.

Microdermabrasion uses exfoliating diamonds or crystals to manually slough off dead skin cells, while chemical peel treatments involve the application of a chemical solution to eliminate the outer layer of dead skin. Both treatments are safe and provide effective results with little to no downtime. Even with these similarities, it’s important to understand that certain treatments target certain skin conditions better. For instance, microdermabrasion is typically effective for treating raised scars and is sometimes even used as a series of treatments for active acne.

As you can see in our guide to chemical peels, we offer a variety of chemical peels to address your specific concerns. Our chemical peels vary in strength, and we can even customize a strength specifically for your skin type. As with microdermabrasion, chemical peel patients often report flushed skin following treatment that will diminish over time. However, certain chemical peels cause the skin to peel for a few days following treatment. Once the skin stops peeling, the healthy skin beneath is revealed.

We also offer a micro laser peel that improves skin tone and texture while stimulating collagen production. Micro laser peels provide similar results to that of microdermabrasion or chemical peels. However, micro laser peel treatments use gentle laser technology to remove the outer layer of damaged skin and induce collagen production. Our micro laser peel provides deeper results than microdermabrasion, but is usually less intense than some of our chemical solutions.

Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center is dedicated to providing effective solutions for your skin conditions whether that’s through laser treatments or our other non-laser services. We understand each patient’s needs and skin conditions are different and take the time to recommend customized treatment options for each patient. Contact us to schedule a pre-treatment consultation today if you’re interested in having one of our licensed estheticians thoroughly examine your skin, answer your questions while listening to your concerns, and recommend a skin care plan just for you. Visit our website to learn more about what we do, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for more skin care news and updates.

Start Caring for Skin Sooner: Skin Care Tips for Teens

It’s human nature to want to look our best, and you may even remember a time when looking your best didn’t require as much work. Although teenagers and people in their 20s can often get by with a minimalist’s skin care routine, taking care of skin early in life will help keep it looking great longer. While we often share tips for skin rejuvenation and restoring a youthful look, we would like to use this blog to encourage healthy skin care habits beginning at a young age.

Summer is the perfect time for teens and pre-teens to begin practicing a regular skin care routine since it can be difficult to make time for skin care when school’s in session. Although teenagers are often very concerned with acne and their appearance overall, they do not always take steps to control it because many simply do not know where to start. It is important to understand that your skin’s condition is as unique as you, so products that work for one person may not help someone else. No matter what type of skin care products you choose, there are certain steps that should be taken daily for better skin no matter what your age.

It’s important to wash your face at least twice daily. If you have teenagers, start by buying them a generic over-the-counter facial cleanser that is gentle on skin. Do not teach teens to pop pimples or pick at acne as doing so can lead to unsightly scars. Using a toner or astringent after washing the face can further benefit the skin by helping to balance PH levels. Teens usually benefit from products containing salicylic acid and glycolic acid that target acne-causing sebum without irritating the skin.

The most important skin care tip for young people is ALWAYS WEAR SUNSCREEN and AVOID TANNING BEDS! Not only does sun damage cause uneven pigmentation, melasma, and eventually wrinkles, but it can also cause skin cancer. We recommend using SPF 30 sunscreen daily and reapplying often. You can even go a step further in caring for your skin by choosing a mineral makeup with SPF included to wear over sunscreen for added protection.

If you have teenagers, it’s important to teach them how to take care of their skin, but it’s also important to know when it’s time to seek help. If your child’s skin conditions do not respond to over-the-counter treatments, take them to a professional. A dermatologist may prescribe topical or oral medications to treat active condition(s), but certain concerns may also be helped with cosmetic skin treatments. Microdermabrasion and certain chemical peels and facials can improve the appearance of uneven pigmentation, acne, and acne scarring, and patients with severe acne may benefit from acne light therapy.

Acne light therapy uses photodynamic therapy (PDT) to eliminate acne by shrinking over-active oil glands, killing bacteria within pores, and regulating skin cell turnover. Unlike harmful UV rays, PDT uses a blue light source that does not damage the skin. During treatment, a photosynthesizing agent is applied to the treatment area and is activated by the light source. Although patients notice results in one treatment, most patients receive multiple treatments over several weeks for optimal results. In fact, some patients choose to alternate between acne light treatments and chemical peels for even clearer skin.

The providers of Laser Lights know how important it is to teach children healthy skin care habits because the better they take care of their skin during youth, the better it looks down the road. If you’re interested in learning more about what Laser Lights has to offer, visit our website or schedule a pre-treatment consultation or appointment today. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for skin care news and updates.

Laser Skin Resurfacing vs. Cosmetic Skin Treatments like Chemical Peels and Microdermabrasion

Rosacea treatment AtlantaPatients often ask about the advantage of laser skin resurfacing over other treatments targeting surface damage like chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Although each of these treatments target conditions like wrinkles, sun damage, melasma, and acne scarring, they produce different results. The main difference is that lasers penetrate the skin’s surface to target deep layers of tissue while chemical peels and microdermabrasion treatments better address milder, superficial issues.

Lighter chemical peels and microdermabrasion treatments are better suited for patients who have just started noticing imperfections like fine lines, wrinkles, and melasma. In fact, many young patients receive these types of treatments to maintain a youthful appearance while older patients may benefit from stronger peels. We offer a variety of chemical peel options to treat an assortment of skin conditions. During a chemical peel treatment, the skin is cleansed and a chemical solution is applied. Once chemicals have reached the desired depth, a neutralizing agent is applied. The damaged outer layer of skin is eliminated to reveal the healthy skin beneath and stimulate collagen production. Depending on the strength of the chemical peel, the outermost layer of skin may continue to peel for up to a week following treatment.

Microdermabrasion creates a similar effect to that of a chemical peel. However, rather than using a chemical solution, microdermabrasion uses a handheld device with a rotating head to exfoliate the damaged outer layers of skin. Microdermabrasion successfully stimulates collagen production while reducing surface imperfections like acne, acne scarring, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation. Although patients may experience temporary redness following treatment, microdermabrasion requires no downtime.

Laser skin resurfacing erases wrinkles, reduces imperfections and blemishes, and stimulates collagen to tighten skin. Instead of only targeting the outermost layer of skin, our lasers penetrate within deep layers of tissues to repair more extensive wrinkling and pigmentation irregularities. Our fractionated CO2 laser induces the body’s wound healing response by using a series of tiny laser columns to penetrate the skin’s surface, which generates “new skin” and ignites collagen and elastin fiber production. Our Erbium laser only penetrates the first three layers of skin to treat more superficial conditions including fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation.

If you aren’t quite sure which resurfacing treatment will best produce the results you’re after, schedule a pre-treatment consultation with one of our licensed estheticians today. During that time, we will listen to your concerns and thoroughly examine your skin to determine a treatment protocol specifically for you. Visit our website to learn about the other services we provide, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for skin care news and updates on our monthly specials.

Atlanta Spider Vein Elimination

The providers of Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center offer a variety of services to remove or reduce skin imperfections. With over twelve different lasers, we’re able to successfully remove age spots, freckles, birthmarks, and even tattoos to name a few. In fact, our lasers are able to eliminate unsightly spider veins.

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.

Just a Feel Good Treatment? Face the Facial

Laser Lights offers an assortment of facial treatments to improve overall condition of facial skin. Our menu of services for the face includes chemical peels, facials, microdermabrasion, facial rejuvenation, acne light therapy, and even laser treatments for the face. However, we have heard a rumor circulating that facials are just a “feel good” treatment. Offering an assortment of facials for patients of all ages, we thought we should explain some of the different elements that make our facials much more than just a good wash.

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.

Save with March 2012 Specials from Laser Lights for Beautiful Skin

 

This month, Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center has plenty of skin care discounts to choose from. Save on laser spider vein treatments, laser hair removal, CO2 fractionated laser skin resurfacing, Viora Reaction™, Vi Peel, and hour-long massages through March 31st, 2012. See the flyer below to learn more. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ if you haven’t already for more updates on skin care news and specials.

Laser Lights March 2012 Specials

 

Microdermabrasion and Laser Hair Removal Touch Up Sessions

 

With cosmetic skin treatments, sometimes you only need a touch up rather than a complete treatment, so why should you have to pay for the whole thing? Now at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center you don’t have to. We are now offering laser hair removal and microdermabrasion touch up sessions. For more information, please see the flyer below:

laser lights

The Hunt for Radiant Skin is Over with Laser Lights’ April Skin Care Specials!

 

Laser Lights’ wants to help you get your skin “summer ready” with these Atlanta skin care specials on laser hair removal for men and women, acne treatments and Co2 Fractionated Laser treatments for the month of April.

Laser Lights Offers Laser Treatment Specials Now Through December 31st, 2010