When a person is interested in having a skin problem corrected, there are many different things that he or she could do. First of all, the person has the option of trying various products that are available in the store. Additionally, the person should evaluate various lifestyle habits that might contribute to the skin problem that they have.
Of course, since medical technology has advanced, people also have the option of seeking out a cosmetic dermatologist to improve the overall appearance of their skin. Some people might wonder what the difference is between a regular dermatologist and a cosmetic dermatologist. The difference is that the latter specializes in procedures that are not considered to be mandatory.
So, what kinds of procedures can a cosmetic dermatologist do? Well, it all depends on what they choose to specialize in. That being said, there are some procedures that are more prevalent than others, in accordance with the kinds of things that a person wants to have fixed.
For example, something that people often want to have fixed is the signs of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines. Since both of these things occur because of natural moisture depletion in the skin, it is important to choose a procedure that restores that moisture, therefore allowing the patient to have smoother, younger looking skin.
Botox cosmetic injections are a cosmetic procedure that has actually become rather mainstream in society. These shots contain a biocompatible form of silicone, which immediately fills out the fine lines and wrinkles. The procedure itself takes, on average, about fifteen minutes to complete, and requires no recuperation time.
Sometimes, a cosmetic dermatologist might choose to specialize in various laser cosmetic procedures. Laser procedures are used for many different skin problems, but the two most common skin problems that they are used for are acne and sun damage.
In laser cosmetic procedures for acne, the doctor will use a special laser device to target the various acne outbreaks on the skin. The patient will feel brief pulsations as the heat of the laser targets the infection under the skin that causes the acne and eradicates it. The light of the laser also stimulates blood flow in the skin, which incites the skin tissue to repair itself quickly.
Then, of course, there is the issue of skin that has undergone significant sun damage. How this happens is that the ultraviolet rays of the sun, over time, permeate the upper layers of the skin to such an extent that the skin starts producing a form of pigmentation that is known as melanin.
Although melanin is something that most commonly manifests itself in the form of freckles and moles, sometimes those can become cancerous. The laser thus eradicates the skin molecules that have created these irregular pigmentations to begin with.
In order to find the procedure that is best for the patient, the doctor will schedule a consultation. During the consultation, the skin will be examined, and then the doctor will inform the patient as to what the treatment options are available.
