Skin Rejuvenation Repairs Sun Damaged Skin Can Reduce Risk of Skin Cancer
With summer on the verge, doctors and other experts are warning people to cover exposed skin to avoid conditions like premature aging and of course skin cancer. But what about those people who have already had prolonged exposure to the sun?
“Baby boomers and those of the sun-worshipping generation grew up believing that tanning was healthy,” said Dr. Ioannis P. Glavas, founder and director of The Glavas Centre for Oculo-Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. “While there are benefits to sunlight — Vitamin D, for instance — prolonged, unprotected sun exposure can be very damaging. Years of bronzing results in permanent skin damage.”
In essence, the body can’t heal the damage by itself. However, Dr. Glavas emphasizes there are cosmetic procedures that can reverse the effects, repairing the skin’s structure and restoring that youthful look. In fact, skin rejuvenation is one of the most popular forms of cosmetic surgery, and accounts for 1 in 5 procedures, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Sunburn scars, so-called “sun spots,” and wrinkles associated with sun exposure all cause premature aging of the skin.
Most of these conditions are treatable through a variety of procedures including chemical peels, dermabrasion techniques, and laser skin resurfacing.
“For example, laser skin resurfacing makes the skin smoother; eliminates wrinkles, sun spots, and pigmented lesions; and improves scars from accidents or acne,” Dr. Glavas said. “Newer ‘fractional’ or ‘fractionated’ lasers are an improvement on traditional lasers because they minimize the risks of post treatment complications. Fractional laser skin resurfacing also expands treatment options for people with darker skin.”
“The recent addition of fractional technology has greatly reduced the risks associated with this type of treatment, and also expands options for people with darker skin,” he said.
At the same time, lasers and radiofrequency devices address the deeper layers of the skin, such as collagen and other subcutaneous structures. They can also be used to remove pre-cancerous lesions, reducing the future risk of skin cancer.
“I consider laser skin resurfacing therapies to be advanced treatments because they can precisely treat the skin to a predefined depth and surface coverage,” he said.
Skin peels work best near the surface of the skin, removing sun-induced pigments and wrinkles. There are a variety of peel options that require little or no downtime.
So what procedure is best? That depends, according to Dr. Glavas.
“Unlike some treatment options that inherently have clear advantages and disadvantages over others, the difference between the various skin rejuvenation techniques are highly dependent on the patient and the condition,” he said. “There are many variables involved including the patient’s past medical history to a certain extent, which is why consulting with an experienced, board certified cosmetic surgeon is so important.”
Cosmetic surgeons have the training to understand all treatment options and can explain these options to their patients before they decide on a treatment. Although the risk of complications is relatively low, like any medical procedure there are risks. Not only is a cosmetic surgeon better informed to outline those risks, he or she is also better prepared to manage complications should they come about.
As with most things though, Dr. Glavas stressed that prevention is better than cure when it comes to treating the skin.
“Our bodies actually need a certain amount of UVA and UVB,” Dr. Glavas said. “But overexposure leads to many skin and eye problems. We need to limit exposure by covering up skin with clothing or sunscreen, and by wearing sunglasses with UV protection.”
Dr. Ioannis P. Glavas is a Board Certified (ABO) oculoplastic and facial cosmetic surgeon specializing in eyelid procedures with offices in Boston (Newbury Street) and Manhattan. Dr. Glavas takes a multidisciplinary approach to facial reconstruction with expertise in several surgical and non-surgical techniques to provide more choice for his patients including laser, fractional laser skin resurfacing or radiofrequency technology depending on individual, cultural and ethnic characteristics.
The author of numerous articles and reviews in major scientific journals and book chapters on cosmetic facial rejuvenation, Dr. Glavas is the founder and Director of the Glavas Centre for Oculo-Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the Massachusetts Eye Plastic Surgery & Laser Center, and serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at NYU School of Medicine and Manhattan Eye Ear and Throat Hospital in New York.
Dr. Glavas is regularly quoted in newspapers and on TV and radio, and is available to comment on all issues related to cosmetic surgery and most particularly eyelid procedures. For more information visit: eyelidspecialist.com.
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