As we age, so does our skin. And as much as we wish to, we can’t stop time, but there are some steps you can take to reduce times effect on your skin. Whether you have fine lines, age spots, acne scars, or another skin issue you’d like to clear up, these seven cosmetic skincare options can help you achieve the results you desire.
Top 7 Cosmetic Skincare Treatments in the United States Today
Cosmetic skincare treatments are used to help improve the overall look, feel, and health of your skin. While some use heat to trigger certain collagen production, others are used to fill wrinkles or smooth imperfections in the skin. These treatment options are much less invasive than surgery – you won’t have to worry about going under the knife again. While they often require a little recovery time afterwards, their cost is much lower, and their results are effective and long lasting. However, there is one thing to keep in mind – most of these procedures are considered cosmetic, so insurance will not cover the cost.
- Botox Injections – Botox is one of the most common and popular cosmetic skincare treatments used today to reverse the effects of aging skin. Doctors use a thin needle to inject small amounts of Botox into the facial muscles – just enough to reduce the appearance of both fine lines and wrinkles. This type of injection paralyzes the muscles and blocks certain nerves in the face to make the procedure go smoothly. The number of Botox injections you will require will depend on the severity of your wrinkles. In total, the procedure will take around 15 minutes and won’t require any anesthesia or extensive recovery time. The best part about having this procedure done is that the results will last you for months on end!
- Chemical Peel – Chemical peels are used to treat age spots, freckles, acne scars, rough skin patches, and wrinkles. During the chemical peel, doctors use an acid to peel away the outermost layer of your skin. Not only does this smooth your skin and remove age spots, but it also gives your skin tone a certain glow. After the treatment, your skin will need some time to heal, so it will appear red for a week or two at most. Depending on the type of chemical peel you receive and the severity of your condition, you may require more than one treatment to achieve the results you desire. There are different types of chemical peels you can receive; mild to deep. Mild peels include alpha-hydroxy acids, while medium peels use trichloroacetic acid. Deeper peels use phenol to treat scars and wrinkles that are much deeper than other signs of aging.
- Laser Skin Resurfacing – Laser Skin Resurfacingis the type of cosmetic skin care uses short, pulsating beams of light to treat uneven skin tones, age spots, scars, and wrinkles. The beams of light remove the outer layer of your skin while heating up the deeper layers. The damaged areas of your skin will peel away while revealing smoother, younger-looking skin. These lasers produce much faster results; however, the recovery time is slightly longer. For a few weeks after treatment, your skin may appear red with some peeling, scabbing, and slight pain. To achieve the ultimate results, you may need to have several treatments over a span of a few weeks. But to make the recovery time worth it, your results could last for several years!
- Dermabrasion – Dermabrasion is one of the treatment options for wrinkles, sun damage, and age spots. This type of treatment uses a rotating brush to remove the outer layer of your skin from small areas of the face, allowing new, smooth skin to replace it. Dermabrasion can easily be performed in an office or a clinic, as it only requires a local anesthetic to numb the skin beforehand. The depth of your procedure will depend on the severity of your skin issues. A few of the side effects include burning, slight pain, swelling, and redness across the face. As you may need more than one treatment, your doctor may have to complete the procedure in several stages.
- Microdermabrasion – This is a mild version of dermabrasion, as it is also used to remove the top-most layer of the skin; however, it is done so with a special machine that sprays tiny particles on the skin. The overall procedure may take around 30 minutes and will require no recovery time afterwards. Since it is less abrasive, you may need to have several treatments before you see any improvement in your skin. The longevity of the results will also depend on the severity of your skin damage and the number of treatments you receive to reverse the condition.
- Dermal Fillers – Dermal fillers are substances that the doctor will inject into your skin to fill out any lines, deep folds, and wrinkles. They can be used on your face, hands, lips, and other surrounding areas. And in most cases, you won’t need any downtime after receiving the fillers as they are only injections. You will also be able to see your results immediately after the treatment is done. Depending on what type of filler you receive and how severe your condition is, these fillers can last from 2 months to 3 years at a time.
- Laser Hair Removal – Laser hair removal is one of the most common procedures done today in the cosmetic skincare world. It’s generally safe for any part of the body, including your face. While it works best for lighter skin tones with dark hair, it can be an option for anyone. There are several factors that will need to be taken into consideration to determine how many treatments you need and the strength of the laser, including your skin type, hair thickness, and the location of the treatment area.
You Can Get Your Next Cosmetic Skincare Treatment
I understand how frustrating it can be to deal with aging skin, whether it’s fine lines, deep folds, acne scarring, wrinkles, or anything in between. But with each of the treatment options listed above, and several more, you can easily reverse the effects of aging. Though not every treatment option is permanent, most are non-invasive and can be completed several times.