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How to Supercharge Microneedling Results

Many people looking for a rejuvenated look wonder: “Does microneedling actually work?” The simple answer is yes. While deep creases and hollows may respond best to facial fillers, the collagen-replenishing effects of microneedling are proven to improve the overall health of your skin from the inside out, addressing a wide range of cosmetic complaints. Some people may consider face rollers and antioxidant products to try to give their skin a renewed glow at home, but skin needling from our Tucson and Oro Valley area team at Ironwood Dermatology is a safe, reliable, and ideal way to revitalize your skin “from the bottom up” by boosting collagen levels.

If you’re thinking about getting a treatment, or are about to come in for a microneedling session, take a look at these additional steps you can take before your visit and when you get home to maximize your results:

  • Exfoliate several days before microneedling (just remember to never try exfoliating the night before you’re planning to have skin needling!). Exfoliating several times in the weeks leading up to skin needling will improve your results by shedding the dead skin from the surface.
  • Microneedling makes your skin more sensitive to sun damage. Constantly apply sunscreen during the first two weeks after having a treatment, especially during the hours between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun’s rays are most intense. Limit your exposure as much as possible to prevent discoloration, dryness, and other side effects of ultraviolet radiation.
  • Keep your skin well hydrated and nourished following microneedling. After you’ve had skin needling, it’s the perfect time to add in extra hydration and use topical anti-aging products, since they will be absorbed more effectively. Many patients like to use serums containing hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and sheet masks on the same day that they’ve had this treatment.
  • Reduce your risk of infections by washing your hands before you touch your face and applying antibiotic creams if your dermatologist prescribes them.
  • Your skin needs time to heal, so be gentle with it. You’ll want avoid activities that cause you to sweat and open your pores. Protect your skin during the first 72 hours by avoiding swimming pools, saunas, and heavy workouts at the gym.

Explore your options for skin needling at Ironwood Dermatology or learn more about other skin rejuvenation techniques available. For more advice on getting a radiant and smooth look, call us at 520.618.1630 or submit a contact form to request a consultation.

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Skin Resurfacing Explained

There’s a saying that beauty is only skin deep. The Ironwood Dermatology team knows that beauty is a lot more than that, but still, there’s something to be said about rejuvenating the face by focusing on the outermost layers. By working with an experienced dermatologist, Tucson-area men and women can enjoy a refreshed, revitalized look—all by merely “scratching the surface.”

Such a cosmetic change is possible because many of the visual annoyances and problems associated with aging and looking aged—like wrinkles, spots, redness, and visible veins—can be found on the surface of the skin or just below. Skin resurfacing, via a Cynosure® Focus treatment laser, does exactly what it sounds like it does: It creates a new, younger-looking surface.

The Cynosure® Focus treatment laser work by sending pulses of specific wavelengths of light into the skin where they trigger natural healing processes. The heat energy generated by these pulses damages unwanted lesions and areas of pigmentation due to the presence of melanin, which absorbs the light more than the surrounding cells do. When laser light impacts a spider vein, for instance, the dark red in the hemoglobin “absorbs” the energy, which ultimately causes the unneeded blood vessel to seal off and wither away. Soon, what was once a visible thin, red line—or, more commonly, a web of these fine lines—is no longer seen on the face.

In addition to impacting lesions, the laser energy also encourages the rebuilding of vital skin components, like collagen and elastin. Production of these can diminish over time, so firing up cells in the skin to begin new production means that over time, after one or more treatments, the surface-level problems can fade and the nourishing benefits of replenished elements can become more noticeable.

To learn more about skin resurfacing with our Cynosure® Focus treatment laser, reach out to Ironwood Dermatology in Tucson online or phone 520.618.1630.