When you hear the terms “skin resurfacing” and “skin rejuvenation” you might think they are interchangeable, but the reality is that they are two often different things. Skin resurfacing refers to procedures which specifically target the surface of your skin, such as laser peels and chemical peels. However, skin rejuvenation procedures include resurfacing techniques as well as procedures of any kind that are designed to make your skin look better, even if those procedures treat deeper skin tissues.
ARE RESURFACING METHODS THE BEST FORMS OF REJUVENATION?
Since skin resurfacing methods often produce immediate visible results they are commonly thought of as the best forms of skin rejuvenation. However, the reality is that the best form of rejuvenation for your skin depends on your individual skin quality and the problem you want to treat. Below is a list of several rejuvenation techniques you can pick from, including both surface and non-surface treatments.
LASER SKIN RESURFACING AND GENERAL REJUVENATION TREATMENTS
The interesting thing about lasers for skin rejuvenation is that some of them fall into the resurfacing category. You can have a laser peel performed with laser devices, but when it comes to aesthetic treatment & lasers there are also many other options. For example, you can have a Fraxel laser treatment, which will treat every layer of your skin. But you can also opt to have a traditional non-ablative laser treatment which will have no impact on the outer layer at all but trigger healing processes inside your body.
ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF SKIN RESURFACING TO CONSIDER
Lasers are not the only devices or procedures which can be used to resurface your skin in order to rejuvenate it. Another popular resurfacing treatment is known as microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion sloughs off dead skin cells and contaminants from the surface of the skin using a hard-tipped and hand-held tool. The tool scrapes off debris and imperfections to reveal healthier skin cells beneath. Microdermabrasion produces less heat than laser devices, which may make it a better option for you if you have concerns about the way in which laser treatments work.
Chemical peels, sometimes called acid peels, are also resurfacing alternatives to laser devices. If you choose to have a chemical peel performed then the chemicals used will depend on how intensive you want the chemical peel to be. Chemical peels do not offer the precision of laser treatments, but they can rejuvenate your skin relatively quickly and treatments may not need to be repeated as often.
BASIC SKIN REJUVENATION OPTIONS
Of course, if you are dealing with minor skin issues then lasers and other invasive resurfacing treatments may not be necessary. There are several basic skin rejuvenation treatments which you can use instead. For example, treating your skin at home each day with moisturizing and medicating creams can be considered a form of skin rejuvenation therapy. Over-the-counter creams and lotions are available, but for the best results you may require a recommendation from a dermatologist.
Alternatively, you can choose a clinical therapy that isn’t as invasive as a laser procedure to perform basic skin rejuvenation, such as correcting your mild skin problems using sound waves or alternative intense pulsed light treatments not involving lasers. Just keep in mind that any clinical rejuvenation treatment which does not involve resurfacing may take time to show results and may also have to be repeated often, at least at first.
PICKING BETWEEN ALL YOUR SKIN REJUVENATION CHOICES
If you are struggling with picking between all your skin rejuvenation choices you can narrow the field down quickly using certain criteria. First, ask your skincare professional which treatments are safe for you based on your skin type. Once you have that list, compare and contrast factors like comfort level, cost, possible side effects, and the number of times certain types of treatments are typically repeated. Examining all the factors will help you to find the best way to rejuvenate your skin.
