Skin Tightening with SkinTyte™: Who Needs It?
You probably know that many people desire the look and feel of firm, tight skin, which are youthful qualities prized by everyone from models to movie stars to everyday folks on social media. Yes, tight skin is a common cosmetic goal—but why would someone’s skin need tightening in the first place? For anyone learning about treatments like SkinTyte™ for skin tightening at the Little Rock area’s Dermatology Group of Arkansas, here’s a brief explanation of what happens to skin over time—and why a cosmetic treatment could be just what you need to address those changes.
Loss of Powerful Proteins
Youthful skin’s elasticity is thanks to a range of factors, including the presence of abundant levels of two proteins: elastin and collagen. Elastin gives skin its “stretchiness” and pliancy. In essence, it allows skin to “snap back” into place if it gets pulled out of position. Collagen is like the skin’s support structure, giving it firmness and volume, as well as providing a framework for hyaluronic acid, which holds onto water molecules for a fuller, better moisturized look.
Sadly, aging skin is less and less able to maintain adequate levels of collagen and elastin. These proteins break down over time, and the processes that replace them with fresh, new molecules also slow with age. Eventually, the skin loses its sub-surface support and begins to loosen and even sag. Without ideal levels of elastin, it’s also less able to maintain its youthfully elevated position.
There’s a word for this loss of elasticity: elastosis.
It’s important to note that external factors also cause collagen and elastin to break down. Most notably, the sun’s UV radiation is a powerful destructor, leading to premature signs of aging and other problems. Environmental pollution, including cigarette smoke and smog, can also cause vital proteins to break down faster than they usually would.
Now Do You Need It?
Considering all of the above, take a look in the mirror. If you’re seeing signs of laxity, including sagging and wrinkles, it’s probably because you’ve lost elasticity due to the destruction of important proteins. Happily, you can enjoy the benefits of those proteins once again. SkinTyte™ uses infrared light to heat up layers below the surface. This causes the existing collagen and elastin to contract—providing a tightening effect—as well as kick-starts the creation of new collagen and elastin for longer-term benefits.
Want to know more about SkinTyte™ or skin tightening in general? Contact the Dermatology Group of Arkansas for more information.
3 Tips to Improve Results from Laser Hair Removal
Curious about how to improve your laser hair removal results? Our Little Rock-based team has some great tips to help you get the most out of treatments like Sciton Bare HR™.
Laser hair removal has revolutionized the world of hair reduction, providing a convenient and effective solution for smooth, hair-free skin. After investing time and money into a laser treatment, it’s only natural that you will want to take full advantage of the results. To maximize the benefits of this popular procedure, it’s essential to optimize the conditions for successful and long-lasting effects.
In this blog, we unveil three valuable tips to enhance your laser hair removal journey, ensuring optimal outcomes and a hair-free appearance.
1. Avoid Sun Exposure and Tanning
Before undergoing laser hair removal, it’s crucial to avoid ultraviolet radiation, both natural and artificial. Sunburned or tanned skin is more susceptible to potential side effects such as hyperpigmentation or burns during laser treatment. Additionally, tanned skin contains more melanin, which can interfere with the laser’s targeting of hair follicles.
2. Avoid Certain Skin Care Products
Refrain from using exfoliants, retinoids, or any products containing active ingredients that can make the skin more sensitive before you have a laser hair removal treatment. These products can potentially cause discomfort or adverse reactions. You should take a simple “less is more” approach when it comes to caring for your post-laser treatment skin. The goal for skin care should be soothing and restoring.
3. Maintain Your Results at Home
Laser hair removal typically requires multiple sessions to achieve long-lasting results. It’s crucial to stay consistent with the recommended treatment schedule. Hair grows in cycles, and laser treatments are most effective during the active growth phase (anagen phase) of the hair follicles. By adhering to the prescribed treatment intervals, you ensure that all hair follicles are eventually targeted during their active growth phase, resulting in optimal and consistent hair reduction. A good topical maintenance routine with regular use of retinoids, vitamin C creams, and SPF is also important.
If you want to find out more about how to improve laser hair removal results, our Little Rock-based Dermatology Group of Arkansas team is available to answer any questions and help you get started. Call us at 501-227-8422 or submit a contact form to schedule a consultation.
How Long Do the Results of SkinTyte™ Last?
How long do SkinTyte™ results last? Our Little Rock-based team at Dermatology Group of Arkansas knows that patients will be looking forward to seeing the results of this treatment and curious about how long they can expect them to last.
SkinTyte™ is a non-invasive skin-tightening treatment that uses infrared light to stimulate collagen production in the skin. The treatment is effective in reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging. The results are impressive and can last for 12 months or longer—but they are not permanent. The duration of results will vary from person to person, but to prolong the results and maintain healthy, youthful-looking skin, there are a few things you can do.
- Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Eat a healthy diet with enough vitamins and minerals, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. A healthy lifestyle helps to improve overall skin health and elasticity, which can help prolong the results of SkinTyte™.
- Protect Your Skin from the Sun
UV rays from the sun can damage the skin and accelerate the aging process. To protect your skin, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day—even when it’s cloudy. Wear protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses when you are outside.
- Use Anti-Aging Skin Care Products
To help maintain the results of SkinTyte™, use skincare products that contain antioxidants and ingredients that boost collagen production. Look for products that contain vitamin C, retinoids, and peptides. These ingredients help to improve skin texture, firmness, and elasticity.
- Maintenance Treatments
Follow-up treatments help to maintain collagen production and skin elasticity, which can help prolong the results of SkinTyte™.
- Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is essential for overall skin health. Lack of sleep can cause the skin to look dull and tired and can accelerate the aging process.
- Avoid Harsh Skincare Treatments
Avoid harsh skincare treatments like chemical peels and microdermabrasion for at least two weeks after a SkinTyte™ treatment. These treatments can irritate the skin and interfere with collagen production.
Our Little Rock-based team at Dermatology Group of Arkansas will explain more about what to expect from this light-based skin tightening treatment. Call us at 501-227-8422 or submit a contact form online and schedule a consultation.
What Is Collagen and Why Does Our Skin Need It?
Chances are good that you may have seen the buzzword “collagen” mentioned frequently in the beauty and wellness circles, especially in relation to anti-aging products and treatments. The question that’s probably on your mind is: What does collagen do to your face? Our Little Rock-based Dermatology Group of Arkansas team sees many patients who want to give their skin a plumper, more youthful and radiant appearance. To put it simply, having plenty of collagen is good for your skin, but being deficient in collagen isn’t. Collagen plays an important role in the health and appearance of our skin.
Our body naturally creates its own collagen. The protein keeps your skin full, supported, and sculpted—and is one of the main building blocks of our bones, skin, hair, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
When we’re younger, our skin has an abundance of collagen, which is what gives it that plump, lifted appearance. This prevents the skin from sagging. Unfortunately, our natural supplies of collagen start to dwindle early in life. Luckily, however, all hope isn’t lost, since there are techniques we can use to slow down the loss of collagen and help to build more collagen in the skin.
Sciton’s SkinTyte™ is an infrared light-based device that’s highly effective for improving skin firmness. It improves mild to moderate sagging skin, loss of elasticity, and wrinkles with minimal downtime and without the need for surgery. The energy that’s delivered by this device promotes contraction of the skin while also triggering its natural healing processes. The gentle heat given off promotes collagen production in the targeted areas, and the collagen layer in the skin gradually becomes stronger.
Additionally, there are also topical skin products that are scientifically proven to boost collagen production, such as retinoids that encourage the growth of this protein. Laser skin resurfacing and microneedling are two other cosmetic procedures that help to add volume to the skin by supporting collagen development.
If you want more answers to questions about skin care, our Little Rock-based Dermatology Group of Arkansas team can provide answers and explain about how to enhance your skin’s appearance. Call us at 501-227-8422 or 1-800-225-8422, or submit a contact form online and schedule a consultation if you would like to discuss cosmetic treatments.
What Can You Do to Improve Skin Elasticity?
When we think of skin aging, one of the first things that often comes to mind—in addition to lines and wrinkles—is skin sagging. It’s common for loose skin to develop around the eyes and on other areas such as the cheeks and around the jawline. The main cause of this reduced elasticity is a loss of collagen that occurs as we age. Weight loss fluctuations or pregnancy may also cause stretched skin because of damage to collagen and elastin fibers. Sun damage can also break down fibers that are important for providing structure and strength. The resulting loose skin can be frustrating and have a negative impact on self-esteem. Want to counteract sagging and obtain firmer, tighter-looking skin? Patients often come to our practice searching for options for skin tightening. Here’s what our Little Rock-based team recommends for enhancing skin quality without the need for invasive cosmetic surgery.
Use Retinols and Retinoids
Retinoids represent one of the most potent anti-aging ingredients available. Many over-the-counter products such as facial serums and creams contain these derivatives of vitamin A. These products encourage your skin to produce increased amounts of collagen, which can have a tightening effect.
Exercise
For certain areas of the body, such as the arms and legs, building muscle mass through regular exercise may be one of the best ways of making the skin look firmer. Even though exercise on its own won’t tighten skin, increased muscle can “fill in” the space below the skin. Exercise may be particularly effective if your loose skin occurred due to weight loss. Sometimes resistant fat below the skin may make it appear loose, so exercise can help you to shed this weight and make the skin appear tighter.
Skin-Tightening Procedures
Non-invasive skin tightening treatments may produce modest improvements for skin laxity. SkinTyte™ is an infrared-based procedure that delivers heat to provoke a healing response from the body and generate increased levels of collagen and elastin in targeted areas.
Skin Rejuvenation Treatments
Treatments such as chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, and microneedling encourage collagen production to improve the overall texture and tone of the skin. As collagen levels rise, skin can appear firmer, tighter, and smoother.
For more advice about treatments for skin tightening at Dermatology Group of Arkansas, contact us by calling 501-227-8422 or 1-800-225-8422, or fill out a contact form online to arrange a consultation.