Improving your skin can sometimes feel challenging. You don’t always know how to make it look and feel better. However, it turns out that there is now an enormous amount of science on this topic. Skincare has become a much more interesting industry, with millions of people wanting to learn more about it. But what works? What’s going to move the needle and make a difference in your life?
Let’s look at some of the ways you can improve your skin and plump the deeper layers…
#1 Laser Skin Resurfacing
It sounds scary, but laser skin resurfacing is one of the most powerful and proven technologies out there. It uses focused light from a laser, sloughing away the damaged layers so that after treatment, the smoother, healthier-looking skin can be seen.
Lasers that are used for skin resurfacing come in various types: ablative lasers peel off the outer layer of skin while non-ablative lasers move the deeper skin layers without causing injury to its surface. It can be used to treat anything from fine lines and wrinkles to acne scarring and even skin pigmentation. It will also stimulate collagen production, yielding a much firmer, more youthful skin. Since it is really customizable, specialists can target it according to the individual’s skin concerns. Although this may comprise a recovery time period, it generally is longer-lasting and hence comprises one of the best high-tech skin treatments. Laser skin resurfacing is something you should talk to a professional about before jumping into it. However, it can be highly effective in some individuals, particularly those with damaged skin.
#2 Cryofacials
Offered by clinics like Rejuv Aesthetics & Wellness, CryoFacials are forms of cryotherapy that target the face through cold air, greatly reducing inflammation and firming the skin for that radiant complexion. Treatment includes a handheld device that releases nitrogen gas, which cools the skin and evokes constriction and subsequent dilation of the blood vessels, hence encouraging better blood flow and increased oxygenation to the skin.
Science suggests that this process helps boost the production of collagen and imparts a fresh dewy look to the skin. CryoFacials are quick, non-invasive treatments that immediately tighten, so pretty much anyone can use them. Again, though, these techniques require the supervision of a trained professional. It’s essential to work with someone who really knows their stuff and can provide ongoing assistance, including suggestions for additional treatments.
#3 Retinoids
Another avenue to go down is retinoids. These vitamin A derivatives have a long history of science behind them, proving that they have a positive effect on the skin. Retinoids work by activating the skin’s youthful properties. The derivatives, like adapalene and tretinoin, pierce the skin and find their way down to the deeper layers where they encourage skin cell turnover. When this happens over a long enough period of time, it can change how the skin appears, making it look fresher and younger than before.
Unfortunately, retinoids take quite a long time to work. Most people start seeing serious results around the 6-month mark after applying treatments to their skin every day. It is possible to see some effects before this, but it takes time for the skin to turn over, which rate-limits the effects.
#4 Ultrasound Skin Therapy
Ultrasound skin therapy is another avenue currently being explored by professional skincare experts. The idea is to provide patients with a non-invasive technique to stimulate collagen production and improve the quality of the skin. Ultrasound waves seem to work because they deliver energy deep into the skin. This process then stresses the fibroblasts in the deeper layers, causing them to churn out more collagen and elastin–the factors that make skin fuller and brighter. What’s more, you don’t need all that many treatments per year. Ultrasound’s effects will usually continue for a couple of weeks after a visit to the clinic, helping you look younger than before.
#5 Microneedling
Finally, microneedling is another relatively recent and high-tech intervention, designed to improve skin quality. It works by penetrating the skin with various tiny needles, stimulating its wound-healing processes and prompting the production of collagen and elastin, two essential proteins needed to maintain firmness. Microneedling doesn’t work immediately. However, it can have profound effects over time. Unfortunately, it is slightly risky because of the requirement to penetrate the skin. Needles must be completely sterilized before use and sharp enough to avoid causing wounds. The optimal needle length seems to be anywhere from 0.5mm to 1mm but no more than that.
