[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he desire for younger, radiant skin is highly sought out whether it be celebrities or general consumers. Fortunately, modern science and medicine have made tremendous leaps in the anti-aging sector– varying from surgical procedures to a plethora of different medicines. In fact, there is so much spotlight on anti-aging that it has become a key component in what people (mature and youth alike) look for in skincare and treatments. Here we take you into some of the more popular anti-aging skin treatments, and learn what they can do to boost healthier, radiant skin.
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This is by far one of the most popular methods of staying youthful today. Since the 1980s, botox has been used to treat conditions caused by muscle spasms. However, today it has a much wider scope of work. What does Botox do? By blocking the flow of acetylcholine, which “tells” the muscle to contact or tense up, botox relaxes muscles and deeper layers of skin, making the wrinkles disappear. Although highly effective, it has several drawbacks. High concentrations can cause headaches and cramps, so the injection must be done by a professional. For this reason, it cannot be obtained in the regular pharmacy, and therefore taken with caution.
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As the name suggests, this type of skin rejuvenation uses chemical agents to literally peel off the top layer of the skin. This layer consists mostly of dead cells, and by removing those, it encourages growth of new, healthy skin. These chemicals are, on the other hand, aggressive, and should only by applied by a professional as this treatment can sometimes leave the skin vulnerable.
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Our skin consists of two layers, epidermis (outer layer) and dermis (beneath). The derma fillers are injected (often with collagen) into the dermis to restore elasticity and fullness to the skin. Also, these antiwrinkle injections can be used to treat more serious skin conditions, such as scarring. Like the previous treatments, dermal fillers should only be administered by professionals.
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Using laser light, this method boosts the skin’s natural healing process, which results in more youthful skin. Facial rejuvenation can be done through either non-surgical and/or surgical procedures. And depending on the level of invasiveness, can target localized areas in the face and body. One of the benefits of this treatment is that is relatively painless, and can really help those looking to treat key skin concerns such as spots, marks, acne scars, brown spots, and more.
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Relatively similar to dermabrasion, except microdermabrasion uses fine, tiny crystals to wipe off the top layer of skin, which again consists of dead cells. It is important to note that it is key that people who do this treatment should avoid exposing skin to strong sunlight, until the skin heals completely as microdermabrasion leaves you susceptible to sunburns.
This article in no way an extensive look at all the treatments available, and only focuses on five of the more common ones. We suggest consulting a physician to see which anti-aging skin treatment is best suited for your needs.
[photo credit: Philips Communications via photopin cc]
