skin
Every beautiful face starts with great skin, and the idea of peeling off a layer of skin to reveal a fresh layer sounds appealing but it may not be for everone.
Laser peels are used most often to correct wrinkles, acne scarring, skin
discoloration and other skin imperfections. Most choose to treat the entire
face although it can be done in little patches like for around the eyes or the
mouth. Facial laser peeling can be done in one afternoon in a doctor's office,
under a local anesthesia.
Laser peels have replaced acid (chemical) peeling and dermabrasion as the
safest, most effective facial resurfacing procedure today. The treated area
shrinks a bit, and the recovery is generally not painful.
From second degree burns to scars caused by acne, some people swear by
Mederma Skin Care for Scars, $30. The onion extract based formula was
brought to the U.S. by Merz Skin Care Products in 1997.
T hen why should we be extra careful? Dr Yoho, a cosmetic surgeon in
Pasadena, California who specializes in liposuction, laser resurfacing, vein
therapy, and hair transplant, answers the most asked questions about our
skin.
Q:
What are the most common skin problems?
A:
Mos times, Asian women want to resurface hyperpigmentation and brown
spots. The biggest concerns for women between the ages of 35 to 45 are
brown spots they got as a result of a pregnancy, sun exposure or birth
control pills.
Q:
What is the most common mistake?
A:
Tatooing their eyebrows with color that are not colorfast. Black tatoos sometimes change into grey as the skin pigment changes. Of course it
also depends on the quality of the ink used. Eyeliner is less conspicuous but
you cannot put permanent tatoo at age 25 and expect it to look the same
when you turn 45. It's always a good idea to have the option of making it
lighter.
Q:
Why are peels not recommended for Asians?
A:
When the resurfacing is done on the upper layer of the skin, melasma or
browning takes over during the healing process. In order to prevent the
skin from getting darker, the patient has to be prepped extremely well and
the doctor has to stay on top of the progress postoperatively. He has to
check for hyperpigmentation at least 2-3 times a week.
The skin becomes pink immediately after the peel, but it turns brown with
just a bit of sun exposure. In fact, you can become as dark as a black woman
in as little as three weeks, if not treated well postoperatively. The
hyperpigmentation can be removed in three months by bleaching the skin
out, by using sun protection and bleaching cream. The most popular solution
for bleaching is a 1 to 20% hydroquinone solution.
Q:
How about chemical peels?
A:
If you have a lot of acne scarring, like the pitted types, and you're
psychologically prepared with the possibility of turning darker, it's okay.
Questions or suggestions?
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