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Written By: Erin Storm, PA-C
Medshop
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The Skinny
We’ve all done it — spent a few hours on a warm sunny day in our bathing suits chasing a warm, golden complexion. While we probably got the tan, we also got UV exposure, plenty of free radical formation, and some nicely tanned and damaged skin. Uneven skin tone is frustrating and ongoing sun exposure only makes matters worse (see our gull guide to Uneven Skin Tone Concerns). Whether you were born with sensitive skin, dark spots, and freckles or you have acquired sun spots, age spots, fine lines, and dark patches with age, a skin tone evening procedure can provide a smooth, perfect skin tone.
The Specifics
Who may consider procedures to even their skin tone?
Uneven skin tone can affect men and women of any age or ethnicity. Some discrepancies in skin tone are related to genetic predisposition, while others are acquired over the course of a lifetime.- Broken Capillaries: Micro-breaks and leakages in blood vessels can cause the appearance of bruise like lesions on the skin. These lesions are sometimes called spider veins.
- Freckles: Freckles are hyperpigmented areas of skin that are more noticeable on fair skinned individuals. You can have a genetic predisposition to them or they can be acquired.
- Liver Spots (a.k.a. Age Spots or Sun Spots): this is a subcategory of the umbrella term lentigines. These are hyperpigmented lesions on the sun exposed areas of the body, like the upper chest, face, and the back of the hands. They are more common in fair skinned individuals
- Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: This is a reactive process to a previous skin injury. The body overproduces melanin which causes hyperpigmentation. This is more common in dark skinned individuals.
What can you expect from skin tone evening procedures?
Skin tone evening procedures can refine, rejuvenate, and enhance skin tone. There are numerous methods to achieve an even complexion, and the most appropriate method is determined by your underlying concern.- Chemical Peels: There are three levels of chemical peels, superficial, medium, and deep. The level utilized will be determined by the underlying concern. The deeper into the skin layers the concern extends the deeper the peel will need to go to be effective.
- Dermabrasion & Microdermabrasion: Think of this as really gentle sandpaper for your skin. An instrument is used to gently scrape away skin layers revealing the healthier under layers and promoting healing.
- Laser Skin Resurfacing: These procedures utilize light and heat therapy to dissolve unwanted cells and promote healing. LED light therapy is a less invasive, but similar technique.
- Topical Medication: Topical medications work to interrupt normal skin cell replication and promote the body's healing response.
- Sclerotherapy: A vein treatment utilizes a chemical to stop blood flow to a collection of vessels, which in turn allows the body to dissolve the unwanted tissue.
Most of these treatments are not very invasive, have reasonable recovery times, and can be performed in an outpatient setting. The level of permanence of the results is very dependent on the procedure, an individual's skin type, and ongoing environmental exposures.
When should you consider skin tone evening procedure?
Most of these procedures are relatively non-invasive. Skin damage accumulates so when you feel your skin tone is beginning to be noticeably undesirable it is a good idea to consider treatment. A bad time to consider treatment is in the summer, because your newly rejuvenated skin is not going to want to see the sun for a while. #vampireWhy should you consider a skin tone evening procedure?
An even, natural complexion can be a real confidence booster. If you’re ready to amicably part ways with your makeup, self tanner, and whatever else you may be using to correct your skin tone, then a skin tone evening procedure is right for you.Laser Skin Resurfacing to Even Skin Tone
Laser therapy uses heat and light to damage skin, and prompt the body to initiate the healing response. There are multiple different types of lasers depending on your underlying concern.Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing
Ablative lasers cause tissue damage and are the most aggressive.
- Ablative Non-Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Overview: The most intense laser therapy that is used over a wide area of skin. Microdamage stimulates the body’s healing processes.
- Cost: $2,000 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Redness, flaking, and irritation for a few days. The results are temporary.
- Ablative Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Overview: The fractional aspect means the therapy is targeted to a specific area.
- Cost: $2,000 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Skin will be raw and flaky for a week or two. The results are temporary.
- Ablative CO2 Laser
- Overview: A type of ablative therapy utilizing a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser.
- Cost: $2,000 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Redness and irritation at the treated area will resolve in a few days. The results are temporary.
- Ablative Erbium Laser
- Overview: Erbium is a compound, like CO2, that is deposited in skin. Erbium causes less surrounding tissue damage than CO2.
- Cost: $2,000 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Less aggressive than CO2 so the side effects and results are not as significant.
- CO2RE
- Overview: A specific type of CO2 laser.
- Cost: $1,000 - $3,500
- Recovery & Results: Rawness and flaking for a week or so. Results are temporary.
- Deka Dot
- Overview: A customizable laser therapy treatment .
- Cost: $1,500 - $3,000
- Recovery & Results: Irritation, redness, and flaking for a week or so. The results are temporary.
- Fraxel Repair
- Overview: A specific brand name ablative laser therapy.
- Cost: $800 - $6,500
- Recovery & Results: Skin will be tender and irritated for about two weeks. The results are temporary.
- Icon 2940
- Overview: This technique specifically stimulates collagen production.
- Cost: $2,000 - $3,800
- Recovery & Results: Redness, irritation, and flaking for a few weeks. The results are temporary.
- Pearl Laser
- Overview: A laser technique specifically designed to create a “pearl like” skin appearance.
- Cost: $1,200 - $3,000
- Recovery & Results: Flaking, irritation, and redness for a few weeks. The results are temporary.
- Pixel CO2
- Overview: A CO2 laser therapy stated to have less recovery time.
- Cost: $250 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Redness and irritation for about one week. The results are temporary.
- Profractional Laser Therapy
- Overview: A specific ablative fractional laser therapy .
- Cost: $200 - $2,500
- Recovery & Results: Skin will be irritated, red, and raw for about one week. The results are temporary.
- SmartSkin
- Overview: A highly customizable ablative fractional laser.
- Cost: $2,000 - $5,000
- Recovery & Results: Skin heals within one week. The results are temporary.
- excel® V
- Overview: Green laser technology can be used to treat vascular skin lesions and abnormal skin conditions.
- Cost: $250 - $1,000
- Recovery & Results: Minimal downtime with permanent results.
- Halo™
- Overview: A Hybrid Fractional Laser combining ablative and non-ablative wavelengths.
- Cost: $1,000 - $2,000
- Recovery & Results: Less than one week of downtime with results in as little as two to three treatments.
Non-Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing
These laser treatments are less invasive than ablative procedures. The idea is the same, but the effects (positive and negative) may be lessened.
- Non-Ablative Non-Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Overview: Similar process to ablative, but less aggressive.
- Cost: $1,000 - $1,150
- Recovery & Results: Less side effects and recovery time than an ablative procedure. Multiple sessions will be needed and the results are temporary.
- Non-Ablative Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Overview: Same as non fractional, however, fractional means therapy is targeted to specific areas.
- Cost: $1,000 - $1,150
- Recovery & Results: Skin will feel raw, red, and irritated for about two weeks. The results are temporary and require multiple treatments.
- Clear + Brilliant
- Overview: A specific type of non-ablative fractional laser.
- Cost: $400 - $1,800
- Recovery & Results: Minimal irritation and redness. The results are temporary.
- IPL
- Overview: Intense pulse light therapy to damaged skin.
- Cost: $500 - $2,100
- Recovery & Results: Mild stinging and irritation for a few days. Multiple treatments for the best results.
- Pulsed Dye Laser
- Overview: Targeted light therapy usually used to dissolve blood vessels.
- Cost: $400 - $800
- Recovery & Results: Irritation and bruising will resolve within a week or so. Maintenance required every six months.
Chemical Peels to Even Skin Tone
Chemical peels cause layers of skin to be exfoliated. Depending on the intensity, you will be like a snake shedding it’s skin.- Superficial Chemical Peels
- Overview: This peel stays at the top most skin layers.
- Cost: $3,000 - $6,000
- Recovery & Results: Slight redness and irritation for a day. The results are temporary.
- Glycolic Peel
- Overview: A peel utilizing glycolic acid as it’s base.
- Cost: $200 - $600
- Recovery & Results: Some mild irritation. The results are temporary.
- Salicylic Acid Peel
- Overview: A common peel that can vary in intensity depending on the concentrations of salicylic acid.
- Cost: $100 - $300
- Recovery & Results: Minor irritation for about two days. Multiple treatments and maintenance are required.
- Jessner’s Peel
- Overview: A combination treatment of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and resorcinol.
- Cost: $25 - $675
- Recovery & Results: Skin flaking may last up to one week. The results are temporary.
- Medium Depth Chemical Peel
- Overview: Peels of this intensity go through the superficial epidermis to the upper layers of the dermis.
- Cost: $200 - $2,000
- Recovery & Results: Redness, flaking, and irritation for up to two weeks. The results are temporary.
- TCA Peel
- Overview: The intensity of this peel can be medium or deep. The base is trichloroacetic acid.
- Cost: $300 - $1,000
- Recovery & Results: Irritation, flaking, and redness for up to two weeks. The results are temporary.
- ViPeel
- Overview: A solution composed of TCA, phenol, retinoic acid, salicylic acid, and vitamin C.
- Cost: $300 - $600
- Recovery & Results: Irritation, redness, and mild swelling for one week. Multiple treatments and maintenance are required.
- Deep Chemical Peel
- Overview: This intensity will get into the deeper layers of the dermis.
- Cost: $3,000 - $6,000
- Recovery & Results: Tenderness, irritation, and redness will last for a few weeks. Full healing may take several months, and skin may not tan the same in the future.
- Croton Oil Peel
- Overview: A deep peel with a Croton oil base.
- Cost: $250 - $5,500
- Recovery & Results: Full resolution of symptoms may take several months. Results can last for years.
- Phenol Peel
- Overview: Aka the Baker-Gordon Peel. A deep peel with a phenol base.
- Cost: $700 - $6,000
- Recovery & Results: Tenderness, redness, and mild swelling for a few weeks. The results can last for years.
Dermabrasion & Microdermabrasion to Even Skin Tone
Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion are procedures that use an abrasive instrument to exfoliate the skin and promote new growth and healing.- Crystal Microdermabrasion
- Overview: A crystal tipped instrument exfoliates to promote rejuvenation.
- Cost: $75 - $300
- Recovery & Results: Some redness and irritation for a day or two. Multiple treatments for best results.
- Diamond Tip Microdermabrasion
- Overview: Like crystal microdermabrasion except the instrument is diamond tipped.
- Cost: $100 - $350
- Recovery & Results: Some irritation for a few days. Treatments every two to three weeks will create the best results.
- Dermabrasion
- Overview: A scalpel scrapes away skin layers revealing healthier skin.
- Cost: $100 - $4,000
- Recovery & Results: Redness, tenderness, and swelling for two weeks. The results will be subject to natural aging.
Topical Medication to Even Skin Tone
These medications are used regularly to promote cell turnover and also disrupt normal skin cell function.- Hydroquinone
- Overview: This medication lightens skin by decreasing melanin production.
- Cost: dependent on insurance
- Recovery & Results: Slight redness and irritation at the site. Results dependent on consistent use.
- Tretinoin
- Overview: Tretinoin encourages cell turnover and growth.
- Cost: dependent on insurance
- Recovery & Results: May cause slight irritation and redness. Results dependent on regular use.
Vein Treatment to Even Skin Tone
Vein treatments can get rid of redness and vascular skin abnormalities by disrupting blood flow to the affected area.- Sclerotherapy
- Overview: Injection of a substance into the blood vessels halts blood flow encouraging the body to resorb tissue
- Cost: $100 - $400
- Recovery & Results: Compression garments will be worn for one week. Multiple treatments may be required, but the results are permanent.
The Takeaway
Skin care products can only go so far. When the drugstore skincare just isn’t cutting it anymore, a professional skin evening procedure can enhance and brighten any complexion. Chemical peels, laser treatments, dermabrasion, and even some topical medications can rejuvenate dull skin, dead skin, and damaged skin to create a beautiful, bright, and even skin aesthetic.
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