Secrets to post-summer skin repair and care

(BPT) – Hours on the beach or golf course, afternoons in the pool or sunning beside it, finally taking that dream vacation – summer was fun, but when it’s over, it could leave you with more than just great memories. Despite your best efforts using sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun, summer sun exposure can still result in visible changes to your skin. Fortunately it’s possible to undo the effects of summer and put your best face forward in fall and winter.

‘Men and women of every age can experience skin changes because of summer sun exposure,’ says Jeffrey Hsu, M.D., F.A.A.D., a Fellow at the American Academy of Dermatology and board-certified dermatologist at DuPage Medical Group in Naperville, Illinois (www.dmgaesthetics.com). ‘Even those with the best of skin may see signs of sun damage, such as darkened freckles, age spots, other pigmentation changes, wrinkles and even a more pronounced appearance of veins.’

Some common skin changes that may appear after summer are:

* Darkened freckles – A concentration of pigmentation in a specific spot on the skin causes freckles, and exposure to the sun’s UV rays may cause them to darken further.

* Age spots – Years of exposure to sun can result in the development of flat tan, brown or black spots on the skin of your face, hands, shoulders and arms. While typically harmless, age spots can be very unsightly.

* Wrinkles – Although part of the normal aging process, wrinkles can become more pronounced after prolonged sun exposure.

* Spider or varicose veins – While sun exposure doesn’t necessarily cause the development of vascular changes in the skin, it can make them appear more pronounced. And, it’s not just varicose veins that are affected. Breaks in small capillaries that are exacerbated by the sun can increase the visibility of facial veins.

* Golfer’s neck (Poikiloderma of Civatte) – This skin damage typically strikes men in the neck area, creating a light brown or red line across the neck that mimics a collar.

‘Many of these skin changes commonly mistaken for the normal signs of aging – not an exacerbation of summer sun damage,’ Dr. Hsu says. ‘Women and men also don’t realize that these skin and vascular conditions are very treatable. Probably one of the best times to address these skin concerns is soon after summer so that you can correct a wider range of skin and vascular issues at once.’

excel V(TM), a new laser system, is the first and only to treat nearly twenty different types of skin and vascular issues. It is now possible for patients to see a single doctor who can use this multi-purpose laser system to easily clean up the patient’s sun-damaged skin and veins. Best of all, unlike other laser treatments, excel V requires no ‘downtime’.

‘Depending on the issue, patients may need one or multiple treatments, but often even those who require multiple treatments will begin to see results after the first treatment,’ Dr. Hsu says. ‘The cost of cosmetic applications is often less than a patient anticipates so you shouldn’t shy away from discussing your specific concerns and options with your doctor.’

To learn more about laser treatment for post-summer skin cleanup or to locate an excel V provider near you visit www.cutera.com/patients.