The Summer Cleanup
08.25.2021
The Summer Cleanup
~ Nellie McCulley, CLT
While it feels great to lounge in the sun and catch some rays, too much sun exposure can wreak havoc on your skin! As a certified laser technician, I witness the aftermath of the sun every day - brown spots, wrinkles, scaly patches, precancerous lesions, and even skin cancer. The good news is that summer's wrath can be reversed!

The sun emits two forms ultraviolet (UV) radiation: UVA and UVB rays.  It's important to know how these rays affect your skin.

UVA Rays - Think "Aging Rays"

Of the two rays, UVA rays penetrate the skin the deepest.  This means that UVA rays are doing the most damage to your skin's support system, ultimately causing the skin to age as well as form cancerous/precancerous cells. 

 

UVB Rays - Think "Burning Rays"

These rays penetrate the skin in a more superficial manner and results in a sunburn when sun protection is not in use.  

 

The sun's damage can be penetrated at various depths using lasers or light devices to reverse the negative effects.  Here are my most recommended summer-cleanup treatments.

Clear + Brilliant

For mild to moderate sun damage and skin texture concerns

The Clear + Brilliant treatment has been at Premier for many, many years.  It is a workhorse!  This non-surgical laser facial is my go-to for maintaining bright, healthy skin and is safe for all skin tones.  In addition to correcting sun damage, it also improves the appearance of the skin's texture.  Clear + Brilliant smooths away fine lines and reduces pore size.

There is no downtime with Clear + Brilliant treatments - which makes it easy to work these into your busy schedules!  I recommend receiving a series of 3+ treatments for optimal results.

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BBL

For moderate to severe sun damage including underlying redness

BBL stands for Broadband Light.  As the name indicates - it's a light therapy treatment, not a laser.  By utilizing different filters, BBL light energy corrects both brown spots and redness on the skin.   

When treating sun damage, you can expect brown spots to look worse before they look better!  The damage will slough off within 2 weeks leaving the skin looking healthier and more even in tone.  Beyond that, there's no significant downtime with BBL. 

I recommend BBL to correct sun damage anywhere on the body - face, neck, chest, back, hands, arms, legs.  Most patients benefit from a series of 3 treatments, one per month. For my patients wanting to correct damage and improve the overall signs of aging, I highly suggest rotating BBL treatments with Clear + Brilliant treatments.  This is a great way to give your skin its monthly workout!

On a quick insider note, I'm excited to announce that Premier recently upgraded BBL equipment to BBL Hero!  In addition to treating brown spots and redness, this newest version includes advanced protocols for aging, acne, and body areas with Forever Young BBL+, Forever Clear, and Forever Body.  As a bonus, the treatments are much quicker and "cooler," too!

Laser Pigment Eraser

For moderate to severe sun damage

The name literally says it all!  Laser Pigment Eraser wipes your skin clean of age spots and sun damage.  More aggressive than BBL and Clear + Brilliant, this laser gets the job done in one treatment session for most patients.  Laser Pigment Eraser works by breaking down the brown spots on your skin into tiny particles and then allowing your body to do the rest of the work and slough off the damage.  

With more aggressive treatments comes more downtime.  I always advise patients to go the route that best suites their lifestyles and schedules.  If slow and steady is more your speed, do a series of treatments that have less downtime.  If you only have minimal time to dedicate to self care, opt for a one-and-done treatment!  After receiving Laser Pigment Eraser, most patients will experience swelling and redness for a few days, and dark spots will appear darker before sloughing off. 

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Halo Glow

For moderate to severe sun damage and skin texture concerns

More than just dark spots, Halo Glow addresses all signs of photoaging including sun damage, uneven skin tone, fine lines, deep wrinkles, as well as scars.  I recommend Halo Glow to anyone who is trying to correct more than just sun damage. 

This multi-tasking procedure does have some downtime.  Most of my patients experience redness, swelling, and peeling for about a week.  But the results?  Worth it!  The number of treatments needed varies per patient depending upon their concerns, but most see noticeable results after just one session. 

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Protect Your Investment!

No amount of skin improving treatments in the world will keep your skin looking good without some homework.  Wearing sunscreen daily is non-negotiable.  After all, the sun is what causes most of visible aging!  Along with a broad-spectrum SPF, I always recommend antioxidants, exfoliants, and brightening products to help your skin maintain its evenness and glow.

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