Skincare

Skincare Simplified

Reviewed by Yael Halaas, MD

Skincare accounts for a vast and ever-evolving segment of the field of cosmetic plastic surgery.

If you're interested in clearer, firmer, younger-looking skin, you've come to the right place. There have never been more options, but we will help you separate the wheat from the chaff.

For starters, our article on physician skincare offers basic information about product options that are available to help you establish a routine that'll keep your face at its best every day. Are you dealing with the aftermath of teenage (or adult) acne breakouts? If so, check out the latest on acne scar removal to return your skin to better days.

Courtesy of AAFPRS

Perhaps your skin needs some high-powered attention to turn it around. If so, we've got procedures with muscle power, too. Among the gentlest are Thermage and Pelleve, which both use radiofrequency technology to stimulate collagen production and contour underlying tissues. Microdermabrasion is a noninvasive skin-freshening procedure that uses mildly abrasive crystals to exfoliate the top layer of skin and, along with it, fine lines and wrinkles, large pores and uneven texture. Its big sister, dermabrasion, ratchets the process up a notch, surgically planing away the skin to deal with damage at a deeper level. Chemical peel is another option that uses a chemical solution to remove damaged outer layers of skin to reduce fine lines, correct mild scarring and improve the surface texture.

Other big guns in the skincare arena are laser resurfacing (including Fraxel laser) and intense pulsed light (IPL). Both of these articles will answer your questions about how the procedures are performed, their associated risks, and what to expect during recovery. If birthmark removal is your goal, learn about all the latest options in our up-to-date article on birthmarks. We've also got scar revision covered in this section. And if you now consider your tattoo a past indiscretion that you're ready to kick to the curb, we'll tell you all about tattoo removal procedures that can get the job done.

That's not all you'll find here. If your skin has patches of color that stand out, then you need to visit our article on hyperpigmentation removal.  And finally, if adding a little color in the form of permanent make-up or to camouflage a scar is what you're looking for, read all about it in our article on micropigmentation.

They say beauty is only skin deep — but don't you want yours looking its very best? When you're done reading through our Skincare section, you'll know how to get started on the best skin of your life. Good luck!