Treatments to make skin look younger, healthier, and to treat specific conditions such as acne have become very sophisticated and effective. But when someone decides that they want to improve their skin and reduce the effects of time and sun exposure, they now find themselves faced with many options.
Some of these treatments must be administered by professionals, such as botox and facelifts. However, there are still plenty that people can do at home to improve wrinkles, sagging, scars, and acne. This short guide will include both types to give you an introduction to what treatments are out there and what you should know about them.
- Skincare regimen – Perhaps the most important on this list since it acts to prevent the effects of ageing and sun exposure on the skin in the future as well as improve them now. Almost everyone these days has a skincare routine to do at home that involves cleaning, moisturising, and usually some combination of other products, however, professional skincare services are available too.
- Chemical peels – A skincare professional might offer this, an acidic solution that dissolves the top layers of skin. This makes it useful for treating wrinkles, small scars, and age spots. While chemical peels can cause some discomfort and temporary redness, they are not considered a painful or dangerous treatment.
- Microneedling – While this might sound painful, the needles involved in this treatment really are micro. They’re so small and safe that you can actually buy a microneedling pen to use at home. What they do is prick the face repeatedly, forcing the body to produce collagen to repair the tiny punctures. Collagen helps new skin cells grow to replace dead ones, but it is something that declines as we age, causing wrinkles and sagging.
- Botox – One of the most popular treatments, it involves injecting botulinum toxin, which paralyses parts of the face. It is effective at smoothing out wrinkles, albeit only temporarily. However, it is generally very safe and requires no recovery time.
- Soft tissue fillers – Another invasive option and also temporary, although the results can last from several months to several years. This involves injecting fillers under the skin which can be used to various cosmetic effects, from improving jawlines and cheekbones to reducing acne and scarring.
- Microdermabrasion – Another treatment that sounds a lot scarier than it is in practice, microdermabrasion requires a doctor or aesthetician to sand the skin with tiny crystals made of aluminium hydroxide. This quickly makes the skin very smooth, and it requires no recovery time.
- Laser therapy – There are various types of laser therapy that are able to focus on treating very specific problems. This is because lasers can target certain types of cells in specific layers of skin. They are also able to reduce wrinkles and lines, as well as improve the tightness and texture of skin.
Some of these treatments, such as chemical peels and microdermabrasion, are available for use at home. The ingredients are the same but the dosage is lower than what professionals use. Lasers can also be used at home but they are less powerful than professional ones. These treatments take more time and consistent use to work, but can still be effective.