Medical Dermatology in Greenwich, CT

Reversing Summer Sun Damage with Serums, Lasers & IPL

So you followed all the sunscreen rules, but you still got a little more sun than you intended this summer. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. No matter your level of accidental sun damage, there are a few tricks and techniques to reverse the summer sun damage and get your skin looking bright and dewy again. We break them all down here, beginning with the least intensive, but we always recommend a skin consultation with Dr. Dolder and team to determine your optimal treatment protocol.

You were super diligent about wearing a hat and sunscreen every day, but you’re still feeling a little lackluster. You want to refresh tired, dull skin with minimal investment and no downtime.

Skinceuticals CF Phloretin Serum: This antioxidant-powered serum works wonders to help lighten and brighten. For best results, I recommend daily use post-cleanse and pre-moisturize during the daytime.  Results are seen in 6-8 weeks and continue to improve over months to years. I also use it in combination with other, more intensive therapies outlined below like Clear + Brilliant as studies have shown their efficacy is amplified when used to in concert with other treatments.

Retinols/ Retin-A: I prescribe and sell specifically formulated and compounded prescription strength retinol and Retin-A (aka Tretinoin) creams, each of which is tailored to your skin type and the desired results. Retinols work by speeding up the cell turnover process resulting in renewed and refreshed skin. As they can be irritating for some, I work to find the perfect balance in strength and application frequency for each and every patient. Unlike the Skinceuticals CF Phlorectin Serum, retinols are only applied at night. Results are seen in 3-6 weeks.

VI Peel PrecisionThis is my favorite peel for reversing summer sun damage. Applied in office, the procedure takes only 15 minutes and leaves your skin just a bit flushed. It’s unique combination of chemical exfoliants, help to restore skin tone and smooth your skin’s texture. Best results are seen with a series of 2-4 peels completed over the course of 3 months.

You’re naturally freckly or prone to pigmentation and all of your freckles and dark spots popped out again. You want to lighten your freckles up and/ or even out skin tone with a small investment and minimal downtime.

Clear + Brilliant LaserOur most gentle laser, Clear + Brilliant resurfaces the skin by stimulating the body’s natural processes to replace old, damaged cells with new cells. This not only brightens skin tone and removes sun spots, but it also boosts collagen production for a soft and uplifted look. The procedure lasts about 20 minutes and any redness subsides in 12-24 hours. Full results are seen in one week. As results for Clear + Brilliant compound, the most successful transformations occur after 3-5 treatments, each about 6 weeks apart.

You’ve been diligent about skincare prevention maintenance, but it’s been a few years since you’ve hit the reset button–now it’s time again. You want a more serious skin tune-up to undo signs of premature aging, and you’re okay with a bigger investment and a little downtime.

Lumecca Photofacial (IPL): Unlike Clear + Brilliant or Fractora (both laser treatments), Lumecca is a light-based treatment. It is also known as IPL (intense-pulsed light) or photofacial. It delivers a flash of light energy whose wavelength and frequency is targeted to facial redness, brown spots and freckles on the face, neck, décolletage, hands, arms, and even legs. The procedure lasts about 20-45 minutes and results in slight redness that subsides by the next morning. More radiant skin is revealed in about a week. Depending on your summer  sun damage and skincare need, a series of treatments may be recommended for the best and brightest results.

You’ve spent several years worshipping the sun and could’ve been more proactive about skincare…and it shows. You want a complete skin overhaul and are ready to make a big investment.

Fractora Resurfacing: Fractora is a state-of-the-art technology that combines micro-needling and radio frequency energy to correct tone, texture and tighten the skin by heating the underlying collagen and stimulating production. Less invasive than other lasers, Fractora only results in minor redness and swelling that subsides in 1-3 days. Like other skin brightening treatments, optimal results are often seen in a series of treatments. Because the process of collagen remodeling takes time, final results are seen after 4-6 months. Read more about it here.

Want to brighten up and reverse any summer sun damage? Let’s chat and figure out the best options for you.

Make an appointment here.

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