Comparing the Top Sun Damage Treatments
Comparing the Best Treatments for Sun Damage Repair –
Every time you go outdoors during the day without sufficient protection, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays damage your skin. As this damage builds up over time you will see unattractive changes to your skin, which can make you look years older than you are.
In fact, sun damage is the number one cause of aging. The signs of UV damage to the skin include wrinkles, sagging skin, freckles, pigmentation & dark spots (age spots or sun spots) – as well as dangerous precancerous lesions and even skin cancer.
Of course, the first step in avoiding sun damage is proper skin protection. At Goldenberg Dermatology we have developed our very own line high-SPF sunscreen called Clear Defense that is fast-absorbing, oil-free, lightweight, and nourishes the skin in addition to blocking harmful UV rays.
However, if your skin is already showing signs of sun damage, Goldenberg Dermatology also offers the most advanced skin damage repair technologies – including microneedling and lasers – that can rejuvenate skin, reverse the signs of sun damage, and can even help prevent skin cancer from developing.
In this article we compare four of our most popular treatments for treating sun damage – to assist you deciding which might be best for you. Then, when you come in for a consultation, Dr. Goldenberg will help you choose the procedure that is right for your skin type, tone, age, and condition!
Microneedling with PRP for Sun Damage Treatment
Microneedling with PRP is a 100% natural, minimally invasive skin rejuvenation treatment that harnesses the body’s own cellular repair mechanism to reverse sun damage and repair skin.
Platelet Rich Plasma is extracted from the patient’s blood and applied to the skin with clinical grade, ultra-fine needles that penetrate deep into the dermis. The microscopic “wounds” – combined with the growth factors contained in the PRP – activate the body’s natural healing processes, stimulating renewed production of collagen and elastin.
In addition to reversing sun damage, PRP Microneedling also reduces fine lines and wrinkles, improves skin tightness and firmness, and can smooth out scars and stretch marks! Patients will see benefits from a single treatment, but most people require three to six sessions (spaced about once a month) to see maximum, optimal results.
While there is no downtime, patients may experience some soreness and tenderness immediately after the treatment – in addition to redness which usually clears up within a few days.
Number of Treatments: 3 – 6
Discomfort: Mild to moderate. Topical anesthetic applied.
Downtime: None. Some redness & tenderness.
Biggest advantages: 100% natural. Less expensive than laser treatments.
Cutera ExcelV Laser Sun Damage Treatment
Cutera ExcelV laser treatments are a fast, convenient, and virtually painless way to minimize or eliminate skin discoloration due to UV damage – with no downtime.
Cutera laser treatments only take 15 to 30 minutes, and the Cutera laser can be used on nearly all skin types, tones and colors. While some conditions can be resolved immediately with a single treatment, most patients will see continued improvement over the course of a few weeks to months. And results are long-lasting in most patients.
While many lasers can only treat certain colors of pigmentation, the Cutera ExcelV can eliminate red, purple, blue, and brown discolorations. Additionally, Cutera is safe for use on nearly all skin types and tones. “Photoaging” pigmentation is a combination of browns (melanin) and reds (hemoglobin). The Cutera XL offers the advantage of delivering customized laser energy wavelengths that target both colors simultaneously to eliminate all chromophores, for clear and glowing skin.
The number of Cutera ExcelV treatments necessary will depend on the size, type and color of pigmentation. But there is no downtime after Cutera Excel V sun damage repair, and patients can resume normal activities right away.
Number of Treatments: varies
Discomfort: Slight stinging sensation. Topical numbing cream optional.
Downtime: None.
Biggest advantage: No downtime. Treats multiple types of discoloration.
MIXto CO2 Laser Sun Damage Treatment
The MiXto Fractionated CO2 laser reverses the signs of sun damage and rejuvenates the overall appearance of the skin with less downtime than other CO2 lasers.
The CO2 is an “ablative” treatment – meaning the laser heats and vaporizes the epidermis (top layer of skin). Younger skin beneath is revealed and skin remodeling is stimulated by activating new collagen production. Additionally, specific frequencies of laser light energy are designed to be absorbed by the unwanted brown pigment, destroying the discolored cells for clear skin and uniform skin tone.
A topical anesthetic is applied before the MIXto skin repair procedure, to ensure a comfortable treatment. And the Mixto CO2 laser delivers heat energy in an advanced way that allows maximum time for thermal cooling of the tissue, for less pain than other lasers and a faster recovery.
Treated skin will feel like a sunburn for a couple hours. Swelling typically subsides within 24 hours. But most patients do not go back to work until after the third day, when the peeling process has finished, the redness has subsided, and the skin has healed.
An average treatment only takes about 30 minutes, and for most patients just one treatment is needed. Learn More About MIXto Laser Treatment.
Number of Treatments: 1
Discomfort: Moderate. Topical anesthetic is applied.
Downtime: 3 to 5 days
Biggest advantage: Single treatment. Immediate Results.
Laser Genesis Sun Damage Treatment
Laser Genesis is considered one of our “lunchtime” procedures, because each painless treatment takes under a half an hour. And since the procedure is “non-ablative” the skin is left intact, so there is no downtime and patients can return to work or their daily activities immediately afterwards. We have patients who come from across Bergen County because this treatment is fast, highly effective, and soothing and relaxing.
Laser Genesis works by delivering gentle but powerful thermal energy deep into the dermis (lower layer of skin) – without damaging the epidermis (upper layer of skin). The laser energy stimulates new cellular growth, and activates the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
While Laser Genesis is the most comfortable and least invasive of our skin repair treatments, some patience is required. This is because results take a few months to be visible, while the skin repairs itself “from the inside out”. Renewed collagen production improves skin tone and texture over time, while the increased elastin improves skin sagging making it “snap back” into place. The hyaluronic acid imparts renewed plumpness to the skin, and the specific laser frequencies target and dissolve unwanted pigmentation.
The number and frequency of treatments will depend upon the type and degree of sun damage you have, as well as your skin type. Many skin problems can be treated with a series of only three treatments spaced about a month apart. Patients with more severe sun damage may require six Laser Genesis treatments before they start noticing dramatic results. Learn More About Laser Genesis Treatment.
Average Number of Treatments: 3
Discomfort: None
Downtime: None
Biggest advantage: No downtime and no discomfort.
Sun Damage Treatments – NYC | Bergen County
If you have sun-damaged skin Goldenberg Dermatology offers the widest array of treatment options to repair and rejuvenate your appearance. Dr. Goldenberg will examine your skin and recommend the laser procedure that is best for your type, location, size and degree of sun damage.
Goldenberg Dermatology is proud to have patients that come to our Manhattan office from across Bergen County, Great Neck Long Island, and even Greenwich, CT because we offer a variety of technologies to reverse the signs of sun damage. Call today and take the first step toward younger, clearer, smoother skin!
