We can answer that and let you know what technologies are available, as well as what special attention you should be giving your skin to make up for some of the hydration loss that comes with sun exposure and all the fun we have in the summer.
What Happens to Your Skin After Summer?
Summer has come to an end, and maybe you’re noticing that you picked up some new brown spots this summer. Maybe you have a few broken vessels, some redness on the cheeks, or pinkness.
These are common pigmentation issues from an outdoor lifestyle, and they can be cumulative.
A lot of times, we don’t see much at first, but the longer we live on the planet and the more time we spend in the sun, the more damage can accumulate.
The good news is that there are corrective treatments.
Treatments for Sun Damage, Brown Spots, and Redness
There are laser treatments that can reach deeper into the skin to target vessels that have broken or vessels that may be feeding other vessels, which can contribute to what we call rosacea.
There are also lasers and light treatments that specifically target brown spots and pigmentation, as well as broken red vessels or vessels that have started to compound or lay down upon one another.
Fall and early winter are great times to do these treatments.
When we’re asking pigment to leave — when we want to get rid of those sunspots — we also need to be avoiding direct sun or anything that would stimulate the melanocytes to produce more pigment.
When we want pigment to leave, we don’t want to be producing new pigment at the same time.
That’s why planning the timing of these procedures is really important.
Montana’s Dry Climate and Your Skin
The other thing that often gets overlooked, at least here in Montana, is the fact that we have very low humidity.
Humidity matters, and low humidity accounts for a lot of the dryness we see in our skin.
Sometimes what we think are aging lines — lines around the eyes, lines across the neck, or what we call “necklace lines,” those horizontal lines — can actually be exaggerated by dryness.
We have to be careful about not stripping or over-stripping the natural oils from our skin.
At the same time, we also don’t want to use products that are too heavy or too emollient because they may not absorb well into thinner skin.
Especially as people approach menopause and move into their 50s and beyond, the needs of the skin can change.
IPL, BBL, Infrared Light, and Laser Treatments
What I love about procedures such as IPL, or intense pulsed light; BBL, or broadband light; infrared light skin tightening; and treatments targeted specifically toward vessels, such as the YAG laser, is that when we have an opportunity to correct something in the skin, we also have an opportunity to talk about your skin individually.
Are you oily? Are you dry? What is your age group?
All of those factors play a role in what we recommend for you in terms of your daily maintenance.
Catching up on your skin’s hydration is always a challenge in Montana, but we have some really nice protocols that I think can make a significant difference in people’s skin.
Often, people don’t realize that overdoing it with Retin-A, for instance, which is retinoic acid, or overdoing it with heavy, emollient products can actually do the opposite of what you think they’re going to do.
A Customized Approach to Healthier Skin
We love consulting with people, especially after the summer when people have a little more time and are focusing on their skin.
We also love customizing protocols for you based on your skin, your age, your concerns, and what you’d like to improve.
Please come and see us at Shiloh Medical Clinic. We’d be happy to help you create a personalized plan for healthier, more hydrated skin and address the effects of summer sun exposure.
