Tag Archives: chemical peels

How to Identify Signs of Sun Damage on Your Skin

Blog, Chemical Peels, Cosmetic Treatments,

We provide skin resurfacing at our Albuquerque, NM-based practice as a way of improving the health and appearance of skin that has been damaged by overexposure to sunlight or other stressors, such as smoking. Prolonged, unprotected sun exposure is a sure-fire way to cause lasting damage to one’s skin. This is because the sun’s rays penetrate beneath the surface and can reach the deepest parts of the skin to warp the DNA itself.

That doesn’t mean sun damage is always easy to detect, however. Your complexion might look quite clear and almost flawless in the mirror, but there can still be damage. Remember that sun damage occurs in different forms, and even if you don’t get sunburned in a noticeable way, your skin could still be being damaged in other ways. Not to mention, many signs of sun damage take time—sometimes many years—before they can be seen on the surface because UV rays are damaging it at such a deep level. 

Some of the most common signs and symptoms associated with UV damage include:

Uneven Pigmentation

An increased production of melanin (the pigment that gives color to your skin) occurs as the skin attempts to protect itself against UV rays. This can give your skin isolated spots, freckles, or a mottled and blotchy appearance if the excess pigment forms in an uneven way. 

Tan

Dermatologists often stress that there’s no such thing as a “healthy” tan or a “base tan.” Whenever your skin’s natural color changes, this is a symptom of some type of skin damage. 

Worsening Melasma

Melasma is a condition that causes patches of skin on the forehead and cheeks to turn brown. It can also cause blue-gray patches or spots that look like freckles. Melasma is made worse by sun exposure because the UV rays increase the activity of cells that produce pigment. 

Liver Spots

Flat spots with a tan, brown, or dark brown color that are a deeper shade than freckles may occur on sun-exposed areas. They are typically round or oval in shape and form in different sizes. They are non-cancerous, but you can choose to lighten them for cosmetic reasons. 

Remember that sun damage can also cause cancers to develop, so be sure to watch for more obvious signs, such as awkward-looking or evolving moles, crusty patches that bleed or never heal, and areas that are sensitive or painful to the touch.

Get a clearer, healthier, more flawless skin tone by taking steps to prevent sun damage—and by choosing skin resurfacing from The Spa @ Western Dermatology Consultants. Call us at 505-855-9267 or submit a contact form to get started. 

What Exactly Is Skin Cell Turnover, and Why Does it Matter?

Chemical Peels, Cosmetic Treatments,

Each inch of your skin contains 19 million cells, about 1,000 nerve endings, 20 blood vessels, and around 600 sweat glands. The complex mix of water, protein, fat, and minerals it contains give your skin its strength and glowing, smooth appearance. Many beauty treatments, including chemical peels from our Albuquerque-based spa, claim to accelerate skin cell turnover—but what exactly does this mean, and why is it so important for your complexion?

Most of the time, we don’t even realize when the skin is taking care of itself through its own biological processes.

What we refer to as “skin cell turnover” is the process of your skin constantly getting rid of dead cells to reveal new, younger cells that replace them and maintain its overall health. This turnover process happens roughly every 28 days for adults and is vital for skin health, as the outer layers are constantly damaged by external aggressors like UV radiation, bacteria, air pollution, and harsh chemicals.

When your skin cell turnover is fast, like it is during childhood, the skin is smoother, supple, and more radiant, but the cycle becomes slower and less efficient as you get older. When skin cell turnover stagnates, you end up with blocked pores, dull skin, uneven texture, acne, hyperpigmentation, milia, and an increased risk of developing wrinkles.

In order to maintain bright, healthy skin, you can:

  • Use chemical or mechanical exfoliants to scrub away the dead cells.
  • Apply products containing strong ingredients such as retinols that accelerate cell turnover, or vitamin C products to undo damage from free radicals.
  • Improve your diet by consuming healthy, vitamin- and mineral-rich foods along with plenty of water to help flush toxins out of the body and reduce your sugar intake to control inflammation.
  • Exercise regularly to enhance blood circulation and cleanse the skin.
  • Make sure that you’re getting enough rest. You need at least seven hours of good sleep each night to give your skin time to repair itself and generate new cells.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of chemical peels from The Spa @ Western Dermatology Consultants, call us at 505-855-9267, or submit a contact form to request a consultation.

Three Things to Do for Your Skin This Season

Skin Care, ,

As autumn transitions into winter, we enter the coldest part of the year, the air becomes frigid, and strong winds can batter the skin. This changeover can lead the skin to become prone to persistent dryness, inflammation, and peeling. It also prompts the T-zone area of your face to produce excess oil. For many people, the holiday season is a time to indulge (perhaps a little too much) in rich meals, sugary snacks, and alcohol, but this doesn’t always bode well for your complexion either. Cosmetic dermatology treatments from Albuquerque’s Western Dermatology Consultants can help save yours skin from the damaging effects of early winter and beyond.

In addition to rushing around to get everything done at work, it can also be stressful having to organize family events, plan dinners, shop for gifts, and put up festive decorations as you try to make everything perfect for the holidays. If you work in retail or hospitality, long shifts, crowds, and difficult interactions with customers can put a damper on your holiday spirit. It’s no surprise that when the seasonal blues set in, post-New Year’s Eve skin is often riddled with breakouts. There are, however, ways of safeguarding your skin!

Stay Hydrated

Alcohol is a diuretic and can cause your skin to quickly become dehydrated. Drink plenty of water and upgrade your moisturizing routine. Choose a richer cream containing hyaluronic acid (a natural gel-like sugar that is able to retain large quantities of water) or ceramides (lipids that maintain the skin’s barrier).

Try Chemical Peels

Chemical peels remove the outer layer of dry, cracked, and damaged skin. A solution is applied to the outer surface, causing it to shed away, and new, healthier skin to take its place. The darker, shorter days and cooler temperatures during this time are less irritating to skin after this treatment, which is more conducive to healing.

Use Laser Treatments

Lasers are great for improving skin damage acquired during the earlier half of the year. Treatments stimulate collagen production and cell turnover for a fresher look. Much like chemical peels, sun exposure is bad for laser results, so the fall and winter are preferred times for this technique.

Want to discover more about your options at Western Dermatology Consultants? For general inquiries or to schedule an appointment for skincare treatments in Albuquerque, call 505-855-5503 or contact us online.