Summer sun can be fun—but, it can also wreak havoc on our skin. At Virginia Surgical Arts, we too love the sun! Did you enjoy one too many days basking in the sun? Under Dr. Vendetti’s guidance, we offer a number of skin saving treatments and procedures.
Our Summer Skin Savers Include:
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Photofacial
A simple but effective procedure, the IPL Photofacial is a light based treatment. Targeting wide areas of sun damage as well as sun spots (individual concentrated pigmented lesions)—IPL lightens hyperpigmentation caused by sun exposure. IPL can be used on the face as well as the chest and arms.
Using a specialized hand piece, pulses of light radiate through the skin—absorbed by the pigment in sun damaged cells, the light is converted to heat, causing the cells to dissolve. The now-dissipated cells are absorbed and cleared through our body’s natural cleansing system. Don’t be alarmed! Sunspots will darken after the treatment—they will be naturally shed and fade within one to two weeks.
A quick treatment, IPL typically lasts only 10 to 15 minutes. While not painful, patients do feel a slight ‘snapping’ sensation as the hand piece passes over their skin. Immediately following, your skin may be a little irritated but any side effects should subside within 24 hours. Most patients find that they need several treatments to completely clear their skin of sun damage.
Chemical Peel
Medical grade chemical peels can make your skin glow. Slough off summer with one of our favorites peels, SkinMedica’s Vitalize Peel. A quick 20 minute treatment gives your skin a flawless finish. Exfoliating and removing dead skin, the Vitalize Peel helps restore a natural, even tone to your complexion. A unique blend of peeling agents, Vitalize is specially formulated to:
• Tighten Pores
• Improve Skin Texture
• Smooth a Ruddy Complexion
Minimally invasive, the Vitalize Peel is not painful. At the most, some patients feel a warm, tingling sensation during the treatment. After approximately two days, skin starts to shed—peeling generally lasts two to three days. Peeling can be controlled and concealed using a strong moisturizer. Tip! Although peeling is minimal and is essentially unnoticeable to others, some of our patients prefer to align their treatment so that they peel over the weekend. We recommend scheduling your appointment on a Wednesday to best suit this request.
Healthy, Sun-Kissed Skin
As summer winds down, take care of yourself. Our treatments both refresh and revitalize skin and spirit. Look good, but feel better. Rest assured that you have taken proper steps to reverse sun damage. To learn more and see how we can help you combat sun damaged skin, schedule a consultation with us at Virginia Surgical Arts.
