Skin Care Tips, Notes & More

For most skin care, Dallas residents prefer non-invasive, non-surgical treatments that are significantly more effective than over-the-counter or spa methods. The most popular skin care procedures in Dallas - even more than traditional plastic surgery - are Botox injections, laser skin rejuvenation, chemical facial peels and in-office microdermabrasion.

If you're a Dallas resident and looking for more information on these five popular skin care treatments, read on for an overview of each procedure. You'll also find tips on identifying a qualified skin care professional.

Chemical Peel Procedures

In the state of Texas, a chemical peel may only be done by a dermatologist, registered nurse or specially certified esthetician operating under the guidance of a dermatologist.

Though a typical chemical peel treatment is brief, the procedure involves peeling away extremely thin layers of skin. Because of this, the treatment can be somewhat painful and clients are often prescribed a mild pain killer as part of their after-care.

Once your chemical peel is complete and you're cleared to leave your doctor's office, you're advised to stay away from the sun or possible skin irritants. Patients should pack a sun hat and SPF sunscreen formulated for sensitive skin.

Skin Rejuvenation with Laser Light Technology

When it comes to laser skin care, Dallas is leading the way with a large number of state-of-the-art laser skin resurfacing and laser skin care facilities. The procedure can cause minor scabbing, but final results - which include reversal of sun damage and diminished fine lines - can typically be seen within 10 days at the most.

The cost of laser light skin resurfacing can vary wildly depending on the size of the area to be covered, the nature of the treatment and the extent of your treatment plan. However, the average cost for a single laser skin resurfacing treatment is roughly just over $2400.

Microdermabrasion Procedure

Microdermabrasion serves two purposes - it reverses existing sun damage, fine lines and skin discoloration, while also encouraging rejuvenated and more rapid new skin cell growth. The result? Younger, fresher-looking skin.

While a dermatologist can perform microdermabrasion, this procedure is usually taken care of by a licensed esthetician or registered nurse working under the guidance and supervision of a dermatologist.

Botox Injections

Essentially, Botox is a toxic poison that actually paralyzes muscles in the face, taking away their ability to contract and permit facial expressions. However, these facial expressions not only emphasize existing wrinkles, but also create them. Therefore, Botox both prevents and treats wrinkles.

Most patients see an 80 percent reduction in the appearance of their wrinkles, but the results typically only last from between 3 and 5 months.

Finding a Dermatology Practice or Skin Care Professional

For skin care, Dallas offers some of the country's best working professionals. To locate a quality practitioner, try either the Texas Dermatological Society (texasdermatology.org) or the Associated Skin Care Professionals (ascpskincare.com).

Do You Need Home Microdermabrasion Treatments?

The day comes for everyone, when you look in the mirror and see those unmistakable signs of aging - a few fine lines and creases around the eyes and lips. This, sometimes known as crow's feet, is a normal sign of aging, but not necessarily one that we want to acknowledge. We can't actually avoid aging, but we want to slow down the onset as much as possible. At all ages, we want to always look our best. Luckily, there are many anti aging skin care treatments to help us with that.

Wrinkled skin, acne scars and age spots are not flattering for anyone, and can be downright embarrassing in social settings or the work environment. Is there an answer? Among the most popular remedies that is being used to avoid these unsettling age-related skin issues, is home microdermabrasion treatments.

You likely have heard about microdermabrasion, which is often simply called microderm. It's a cosmetic procedure where the upper layer of dead skin is removed. So why is this important? The removal of the top layer of dead skin has a remarkable effect on wrinkles, scars and other skin concerns. It has a positive impact on the look of the skin.

The primary focus of home microdermabrasion is to aid in removing wrinkles, crow's feet and age spots. The treatment will also remove scars that are superficial, but does not generally remove deeper scars.

There are various choices with different types of microderm abrasion. Crystal microdermabrasion is among the most well-known types. With this kind, your skin is exfoliated with friction from small crystals, by a process not unlike sand blasting.

While crystal is the commonly used method, other varieties are becoming more popular. With good reason, diamond microdermabrasion is becoming the treatment of choice. With the diamond process, a single head wand with a diamond tip is used to exfoliate the skin. This is a safer method for using around the eyes, the most common skin area for treatment to be needed.

Sometimes those who receive skin care treatments have allergic reactions to skin treatment medications. Microdermabrasion doesn't involve the use of any medications, and in most cases it does not require the use of anesthesia. With this skin treatment, there are virtually no negative consequences. In some instances you may experience a small amount of tingling during the procedure, but the process is relatively pain-free. The only after-effect may be a short time of minor swelling directly after the treatment is over.

One of the biggest advantages of at home microdermabrasion is that it can be used in conjunction with other anti aging skin treatments. In fact, it often significantly enhances other treatments. As an example, after microdermabrasion removes the dead skin layer, your anti-aging lotions and creams will quickly be absorbed by fresh skin. This fast-absorption aids in keeping your skin moist and keeping wrinkles and other signs of aging away.