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The Guide to Cosmetic Lasers and Laser Hair Skin Treatments

The Guide to Cosmetic Lasers and Laser Hair Skin Treatments

The Guide to Cosmetic Lasers and Laser Hair Skin Treatments

People are always on the hunt for what will keep them looking younger. Laser skin treatments are not a new trend but seem to have gained popularity over recent years. Lasers are not a one-size-fits-all treatment, but there is a treatment out there for everyone.

How Does it Work?

Lasers use light energy to resurface the skin. This light energy is very precise, and targets damaged skin cells while preserving healthy skin cells.  Along with protecting the healthy skin cells, laser skin procedures also stimulate collagen growth.

Laser Treatments can help improve:

  • skin tone and texture
  • fine lines and wrinkles
  • acne scars
  • sun-damaged skin
  • unwanted hair
  • unwanted tattoos
  • birthmarks
  • uneven skin tone
  • spider veins

Importance of Laser Treatments

Collagen production decreases as we age. This loss in collagen production leads to those pesky wrinkles and fine lines.  Laser skin resurfacing treatments are proven to help improve those fine lines and promote overall collagen stimulation. Along with treating fine lines and wrinkles, laser treatments can also target different pigments. Lasers can treat brown and red spots and improve melasma.

While most people associate lasers with cosmetic procedures, lasers have been instrumental in helping to treat certain skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and even skin cancer. Laser light therapy is combined with topical agents to treat skin cancer and precancerous lesions.

How Stress Affects Your Skin

Stress has a destructive relationship with our skin. Everything in the body is correlated, so it transpires onto our most outer layer. Stress has an immense impact on both the extrinsic and intrinsic factors of our skin, which can cause the body to react in various negative ways. The skin is much deeper than just the outer layer, as our mind and the organ work together. If you are a victim to stress and might possess stress-related symptoms, ask yourself the following:

  • How am I eating?
  • How am I sleeping? Have my sleeping patterns changed?
  • When my skin issue started, what was going on in my life?
  • Are my symptoms stress related?

Understanding Your Stress Hormone & How it Works

Cortisol is the body’s stress hormone which fuels the its’ “fight-or-flight” response. This hormone is released during periods of stress which in return increases heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, respiration and muscle tension. Cortisol also reduces the body’s system functions that are not needed during times of crisis, such as the reproductive, digestive and immune systems. Other functions of cortisol include:

  • Regulates blood pressure
  • Increases the body’s glucose production (blood sugar levels)
  • Enhances the body’s energy and restores balance
  • Assists in memory formation
  • Controls your sleep/wake cycle
  • Regulates inflammation

How does cortisol work? Two glands in the brain, the hypothalamus and pituitary, sense if the bloodstream contains the right level of cortisol. If levels are too low, the brain adjusts the amount of hormones it produces. The adrenal glands sense these signals and then determine the amount of cortisol to release. Most of the cells in the body contain cortisol receptors, which receive and use the hormone in various ways. The body’s needs vary from day to day, which causes the level of cortisol production to rise and fall accordingly.

 Stress vs. Skin

The major concern with stress and skin is inflammation. When stress affects the body through the skin, it can develop through three different skin conditions: acne, rosacea and psoriasis. The common denominator between these stress-caused symptoms is the reddish color, which comes from inflammation.

Acne

During periods of excessive stress, one may experience more acne-related breakouts than usual. High levels of cortisol result in elevated sebum (oil) production which causes pores to become clogged. Once pores are clogged, the development of inflammation and bacteria cause acne to form.

Rosacea

According to the National Rosacea Society, there have been multiple scientific studies on how the process of facial flushing and redness are linked to high levels of stress. Heat and stress are triggers of rosacea and can cause redness flare-ups to the skin.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis and stress have an intertwined relationship. Stress causes psoriasis, while psoriasis can cause stress. While professionals are not sure how stress directly affects psoriasis, they assume it has something to do with the immune system and its functionality.

Stress can also accelerate the aging cycle in the body, resulting in wrinkles and dark circles. Wrinkles form as a result from dehydration and loss of collagen. Similarly, dark circles are largely related to dehydration in the body and a lack of sleep. To combat the effects stress has on wrinkles and under eye circles, one must stay hydrated and conscious of their stress levels.

Questions to Ask Your Dermatologist

As the effect of stress on the skin comes off as quite complex, it is important to refer to a professional with all of your skin-related concerns. Some stress-related skin questions include the following:

  • How can I combat stress-related symptoms with my specific skin type?
  • What signs/symptoms should I look for when deciphering stress-related skin conditions?
  • How can I manage my cortisol levels?

If you struggle with stress-related skin symptoms, seek professional treatment right away. There are various means of treatment and remedies to have you feeling the absolute best in your own skin. The dermatologists at Knoxville Dermatology Group are licensed professionals who are experienced in hundreds of skin conditions. To make an appointment visit us online or call (865) 690-9467.

How to Age Beautifully: Your Guide to Preventing Wrinkles

Fine lines and wrinkles are just a part of aging. By taking care of your skin now, you can age beautifully when the time comes. No matter your age, there are many simple steps to take, which can help slow the physical signs of aging and protect your skin from damage.

Will I Get Wrinkles?

The short answer? Yes. The long answer? As you grow older, your skin becomes drier, thinner and less elastic, leading to fine lines and wrinkles. A person’s aging patterns differ greatly due to ethnicity, genetics, sun exposure, occupation and smoking habits. Sometimes wrinkles form from a certain way you smile or furrow your brow.

So What Can I Do?

Wear Sunscreen

You would never hit the beach or the pool without your sunscreen, right? Well, what about when you hit the office or a day of errands? Sunscreen is important, every single day. The sun offers incredible health benefits like Vitamin D, so don’t avoid the sunshine. However, you should avoid its harmful UV rays. Sunscreen with broad spectrum SPF of around 30, will protect your skin from UV rays which cause accelerated signs of aging and even skin cancer.

Moisturize

As you age, your skin loses elasticity causing the skin to crease and wrinkle. One way to combat this is to moisturize regularly. By moisturizing, water is trapped in the skin, plumping skin and making it appear smoother and feel softer. Moisturizing will also help protect your skin against damage that comes from dryness. Be sure to use a moisturizer that is gentle on the skin. If you have sensitive skin, talk to your dermatologist about a moisturizer that is right for you.

Don’t Tan

Let me repeat. Do not tan. Whatever you do, do not step a foot into a tanning bed. The risk of getting skin cancer from tanning beds is exponentially higher than the risk of tanning in the sun. With that being said, stay away from exposing yourself to too much natural light. Tanning beds and the sun both expose your body to incredibly harmful UV rays. These rays dry out your skin, increase signs of aging, cause uneven skin tone, dark spots and increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Don’t risk your skin’s health for a tan. There are many great artificial tanners sold now, so you can get a streak free, natural looking tan from a bottle, without exposing your skin to UV rays.

Be Patient

Just as you don’t age immediately overnight, results don’t appear overnight either. It’s important to stick to a regimen and trust that you’re doing the best thing to protect your skin. This may take six weeks, or it may take a few months. When wrinkles do come, and they will, remember that it is still a natural part of maturing. However, by implementing the steps above, they may progress slower and not as deep! Don’t be afraid to talk to your dermatologist about the best options to protect your skin.

See a Dermatologist

While home remedies and careful skin care are wonderful, your dermatologist can tell you the absolute best ways to care for your skin and prevent wrinkles. If you already have wrinkles, don’t despair. Your dermatologist can provide the best care and treatment plan so you achieve the skin of your dreams, in a safe and effective way.

If you’re ready to take your skin’s health into your own hands, let the dermatologists at Knoxville Dermatology Group help. The professional and experienced staff is ready to get you on the right path to wrinkle-free skin today! To make an appointment, visit our website or call us at (865) 690-9467.

Skin Care Tips for Every Age

Our skin evolves with age. A 22 year-old will have a different skin regimen than a 62 year old. Should you be worrying about acne or wrinkles? What can you do at your age to benefit your skin later?

20’s & 30’s

Fighting acne is the main concern, especially in your 20’s. Water-based, oil-free wash is usually successful. Keep your skin free of dirt and oil by removing makeup and washing your face daily.

Signs of aging begin to develop in your 30’s. Start using anti-aging lotions as soon as possible. Fine lines and uneven skin tone can be helped with a repairing moisturizer.

40’s & 50’s

The skin may begin losing some of its texture in your 40’s. Wrinkles and age spots may begin appearing. Products with peptide in them even out pigment and increase collagen growth.

An estrogen drop in your 50’s may make dry out your skin and decrease its elasticity. Combat this symptom of hormonal changes with glycolic acid, which helps increase skin cell production and turnover.

60+

Expand your skin care regimen to include all skin aspects. Apply SPF every day to keep the sun from advancing sun aging. Use cleansers that won’t dry out your skin and products with hydroquinone to help eliminate dark spots on the face hands.

Need some extra advice, schedule an appointment with KDG by calling (865)690-9467.

LimeLight Photo Facial

Through the advancement of technology, we can now utilize lasers for cosmetic purposes like eye surgery or skin rejuvenation. Lasers near your eyes or face may sound questionable, but the procedures provide long-term benefits. At our MediSpa, we offer a non-surgical, minimally invasive laser treatment that improves the appearance of your skin called LimeLight Photo Facial.

This procedure uses an intense pulsed light device that penetrates the surface layers of skin to target the cells that need to be treated, without harming the outermost cells. The sensation you feel during the procedure is similar to a rubber band lightly tapping against your skin. LimeLight Photo Facials help improve:

  • Redness and Rosacea
  • Brown Spots and Sun Damage
  • Uneven Skin Tone
  • The Appearance of Enlarged Pores
  • The Appearance of Fine Lines & Wrinkles

After the treatment, you might feel like you have a mild sunburn. This typically passes within the next few hours but could last 1-2 days, depending on your skin. Aloe Vera and cool compresses help reduce any swelling or redness you may experience after treatment. Light-based treatments are among the safest skin procedures because they target only the cells that need to be treated. Call one of our certified physicians and we’ll examine your skin and make sure a Photo Facial is the best method for you for skin rejuvenation.

Feel Good and Look Good Long-Term

There’s no denying the powerful effect of a dose of Vitamin D via the sun’s rays. That ray of sunshine gives us a boost of confidence for the summer, but the love affair isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Over exposure to the sun can lead to premature wrinkles and age spots, pre-cancerous and cancerous skin lesions and elastosis.

Elastosis is the destruction of the elastic and collagen tissue that causes the lines and wrinkles, as well as the thickening and yellowing of skin. Along with smoking, this disorder is caused by years of sun exposure. All of these things make us look older but who says we can’t stop the effects now?

We can start by applying products with SPF 30 every day before we step outside, even if we are just going to work. If you plan to spend more than two hours outside, bring sunscreen with you and reapply every 2 hours or after swimming or excessive sweating. Wearing hats and staying in the shade are other ways to avoid over exposure. Discontinue smoking and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke. Exfoliate at least once a week and follow up with a moisturizer that fits your skin’s needs (whether you have oily, dry or combination skin) and an appropriate retinoid to boost collagen production. If you already see signs of elastosis, schedule an appointment with one of our certified dermatologists to determine the best skincare routine and/or measures for your skin.

If you have any questions about elastosis or about changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.