Summer Skin Care
Although laser skin treatments can erase imperfections and produce healthy, beautiful skin, being exposed to the sun’s rays after laser treatment can cause unsightly hyperpigmentation. It’s important to employ proper laser after care; especially during the summer months. If you choose to have a laser procedure during the summer you should wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and a zinc oxide base. You should follow these guidelines not only after laser treatment, but four to six weeks before and between laser treatments. If you anticipate spending a lot of time in the sun this summer, you may want to reserve laser procedures for the winter months and try one of our other non-laser procedures in the mean time.
One of our newest summer treatments is eyelash and eyebrow tinting. Great for patients with blonde or light colored hair, this treatment adds darker pigment to the eyelashes and brows for up to two or three months. That’s basically a whole summer free from applying mascara, eyelash extensions, or brow pencil. Plus, brow and lash tinting is easily combined with other Laser Lights’ treatments. Some patients, however, do not have thick or long enough eyelashes to benefit from tinting. These patients are better suited for Latisse® eyelash treatment, which helps eyelashes grow thicker, longer, and even darker.
Chemical peels, facials and microdermabrasion treatments are also great for the summer, but the 30 SPF sunscreen rule is still important with these treatments too. Years of over-exposure to the sun creates age spots, uneven pigmentation, and worsens wrinkles. Since each of these facial skin treatments helps diminish these signs of sun damage, it’s important to use sunscreen post-treatment to avoid accumulating more damage. Not to mention, chemical peels and microdermabrasion exfoliate the outer layers of skin to reveal the fresh skin underneath, and this “new” skin is more susceptible to sun damage and needs extra protection from the sun immediately following the procedures.
Students often find that summer is a great time to take care of troubling skin conditions, like acne. Our acne light therapy treatment is safe and effective for any area of the body affected by acne. With the use of Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT), light is emitted to kill acne-causing bacteria. It is important to note that not all light kills acne-causing bacteria, so baking in the sun all day this summer will not clear acne; it will only make the rest of your skin red. For optimal results with acne light therapy, it’s important to receive treatment twice a week for four weeks, which is why it works out perfectly for students during the summer. Plus, it allows enough time for the acne to clear so that they are able to show off that clear complexion in time to start a new school year.
Just because we’ve warned against sun exposure before and after laser treatments during the summer doesn’t mean you have toavoid laser treatments completely. You just need to be aware of the damaging effects of the sun and follow the proper cosmetic laser skin treatment aftercare: just as you should when receiving a laser treatment any other time during the year. Also, be cognizant of which laser procedures require multiple treatments. For instance, laser hair removal and laser tattoo removal always require multiple treatments spaced about four to six weeks apart for complete removal, so summertime patients would have to be cautious in the sun all summer long.
If you aren’t sure which procedure best suits you, or if you are considering a summer laser treatment and would like additional information about proper aftercare, schedule a skin analysis or a pre-skin treatment consultation. Be sure to take a look at the rest of our website to learn more about the cosmetic skin treatments offered at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, and keep reading our blog.