When a woman goes to her local mall, what kinds of stores are there? Clothing stores most definitely, punctuated by a food pavilion and some other stores selling accessories. However, something that is especially fun to peruse are the cosmetics and body care stores. The presence of these kinds of stores just goes to show how important it is for women to take care of their skin.
Although these kinds of stores sell many kinds of products that a woman might find helpful, there are some skin problems that might benefit more from the various kinds of procedures that are available within the field of cosmetic dermatology. What exactly is cosmetic dermatology? It is a field that provides elective procedures to improve the appearance of the skin.
Something that many women want to get rid of is fine lines and wrinkles. Although both of these things are natural signs of aging, they can also be caused prematurely by sun exposure, as well as smoking. Anatomically speaking, fine lines and wrinkles happen because of a depletion in the natural Hyaluronic acid that the body produces.
So, the field of cosmetic dermatology includes various dermal injections that are designed to replenish the lack of Hyaluronic acid. One example of a procedure that does this is Radiesse. These injections are meant to last for anywhere from six months to a year, after which time the patient can decide to have the procedure done again to maintain their results.
However, cosmetic dermatology is not just designed to treat fine lines and wrinkles. Another procedure that is offered within this field is a facial chemical peel. This procedure is often done to treat problems such as acne, whether it is the actual pimples or the scars that occur because of them. In this procedure, a chemical solution is applied to the skin to dissolve the upper epidermal layers, thus gradually revealing healthy skin layers underneath.
As skin ages, it is commonplace to see irregular pigmentation occur. Again, while aging can play a significant factor in this skin irregularity, a main source of irregular pigmentation is sun exposure. Yes, it might be fun to lie out in the sun and get a tan that people think will give them a healthy glow, but instead it just makes the person more at risk for serious skin problems such as skin cancer.
How is sun exposure the main cause of hyperpigmentation? The sun emits dangerous ultraviolet rays, which stimulate the production of melanin in the skin. Melanin is a skin pigment that the skin manufactures in order to protect itself. However, the more sun exposure the person gets, the more distorted the pigmentation becomes.
People who find themselves in this situation have a couple of choices when it comes to cosmetic procedures. One option is to have the pigmentation eradicated through laser therapy. Another option is to have a bleaching cream applied. Whatever procedure is chosen, it is important that a prospective patient find the right dermatologist, with whom he or she can discuss all applicable procedures.
