Rejuvenation & Resurfacing
The skin is our body's outer protective layer and as such is prone to damage from the sun and other factors in our environment. These other factors include hormones, medication and pregnancy (acne, melasma), trauma (cuts, burns, abrasions) and infections.
Hence during our lives, it develops mottled pigmentation, scattered telangiectasia, ("broken capillaries") and loss of tone - which manifests as looseness and wrinkling. It may be scarred, have dilated pores, enlarged sebaceous glands, and keratoses (pre cancerous change). Cancers may develop.
The approach to rejuvenating the skin depends on which of the above are present and to what degree. Your skin needs to be examined and assessed and then a treatment plan determined.
Your treatment plan may include the options outlined below:
• IPL
• Photodynamic Rejuvenation
• Fraxel Laser
• Lyra Vascular laser
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IPL Photo Rejuvenation |
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On its own, IPL is generally suitable for mildly sun damaged skin. Laser Skin Care uses the second-generation Ellipse Flex IPL which has the advantage of filtering our more of the damaging wavelengths of light that may cause complications. |
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Each treatment is quick and easy, and most people are able to return to work and resume normal activities straight away.
Photodynamic Rejuvenation (PDR)
PDR is the combination of IPL rejuvenation with the use of a special light sensitive cream containing ALA (amino-laevulinic acid) This cream is applied to the skin prior to the IPL treatment, and is absorbed into abnormal skin cells. Exposure to the IPL light sets off a chain reaction within these cells leading to the destruction of the abnormal cells by the body.
The main use is for moderate to severe sun damage often indicated by the presence of keratoses (sun spots). These are noted as red, scaly patches on the skin, and may indeed be confused for early skin cancers.
The after-effects of redness, swelling, bronzing and some crusting are usually more pronounced than IPL alone, and time off work may be needed.
We recommend a course of treatments in most cases. This allows the full benefits of rejuvenation, as well as the opportunity to treat abnormal areas on successive occasions.
Fraxel Laser or Fractionated Resurfacing
This is an exciting tool for rejuvenating moderately damaged skin. It works on the principal of the CO2 laser, but its newer technology means healing occurs much more rapidly and that there are no areas of denuded, weeping skin.
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Each treatment involves the application of local anaesthetic cream for 60 minutes prior.
The treatment itself lasts 15 to 30 minutes depending on the area treated.
A huge advantage of Fraxel over the CO2 laser is that many different body areas may be treated and that darker skinned groups are not excluded.
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For best results, a series of up to 5 treatments is recommended.
After treatment, the area is red, and moderately swollen. In the following days a light exfoliation occurs. Time off work is not essential, but many choose to take two to three days to allow swelling to settle.
Progressive rejuvenation occurs with successive treatments and with no significant down time between.
Lyra Vascular Laser
The Lyra vascular laser is a useful addition to the treatment of red blemishes which often occur in sun-damaged skin. Lyra is often used in combination with Ellipse IPL treatment and provides an important second option in removing stubborn telangiectasia (broken capillaries) in areas such as the nose.
Specialised Treatments & Procedures
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