Our skin not only changes as we age, but it seems to change with every season and sometimes as different situations like travel or a stressful period in our lives pop up. If you find that your skincare products aren’t helping with the dull or tired appearance of your complexion, call Peachtree Dermatology in Atlanta, GA and ask about the rejuvenating and individualized experience of a HydraFacial.
What Causes Our Skin to Change?
There are many reasons our skin can change, but the first and biggest impact on our skin is from the aging process.
The Aging Process
Our skin is made up of 80% collagen, a strong and fibrous protein that makes the middle layer of our skin, the dermis, smooth and stable. This layer is also the platform on which healthy skin cells are regenerated. This allows the top layer of our skin to lie over it showing no wrinkles or uneven patches.
Because our collagen is so strong, it has no weakness for our complexion to fall into, so it remains youthful and free of most imperfections. Skin cell regeneration keeps our tone even, texture smooth and our complexion free of dark spots. Around the time we turn 20, we lose collagen production by about 1% each year. When we lose collagen, we lose production of elastin and hyaluronic acid too. All the benefits these three powerhouses give us begin to weaken.
Hyaluronic Acid
Another component of our young skin is a sugar our bodies produce called hyaluronic acid. The purpose of this sugar is to keep our skin naturally hydrated. Each molecule holds 1000 times its weight in water so our skin attracts and retains moisture, giving it a dewy and supple look and feel.
As our cells are regenerated, they’re replenished with other hydrated cells so we don’t have any dry patches or rough areas. Our skin has a bright and vibrant quality to it when we’re young.
Elastin
This protein, as you might expect from its name, keeps our skin elastic and flexible. When we’re young, each expression our skin makes, it bounces back from. Elastin keeps our skin in place and looking tight and taut. No matter what we do to our skin when we’re young, it snaps back into place. Elastin also keeps our skin from sagging and looking crepey.
Structural Changes
When we lose collagen, that strong foundation it created shows signs of weakness. The strong fibers that were all packed together now spread out. When we make expressions, those fibers get pushed around and eventually wrinkles form. The older we get, the deeper and longer those wrinkles become.
We also lose the solid platform on which our cells regenerate. Now those cells regenerate at a slower pace and many of them show their damage. We’ll see dark spots appear, rough and dry patches break through, and an uneven or dull complexion dominates our appearance.
Changes in Hydration and Elasticity
When collagen depletes, so do hyaluronic acid and elastin. The hydration that kept our skin looking vibrant, supple and dewy dissipates, and our skin looks dull and dry. This highlights the fine lines and wrinkles produced by lost collagen and elastin.
Our skin can’t bounce back to its original shape. Those weaknesses under the surface of our skin cause it to fall into crevices and our lack of elastin can fight gravity so even deeper wrinkles form. Our skin can look crepey and loose where it used to be pulled tight.
As time goes by, we’ll notice we look more tired and aged. We’ll look for over-the-counter products that can help us fight the signs of aging that creep onto our skin, but those only go so far. It takes professional treatments to really boost the youthful glow we used to have.
Travel
Do you notice when you’ve been on a plane your skin can look dull, dry, and tired? Many people break out after air travel too. The airplane cabin air is recycled and quickly loses all moisture. That’s why, mid-flight, you can look down at your hands and they seem to have aged 10 years in an hour. The same thing is happening to your face. You can try a mid-flight sheet mask, but if you’re doing extensive traveling, you may need some professional TLC when you get back.
If you experience breakouts, here’s the deal: when you travel, you’re touching a lot of dirty things without even realizing it. You can sanitize your hands all you want, but the airplane seat, the water bottle you picked up, and the magazine you’re flipping through have all been touched by a lot of people. The average person touches their face two dozen times an hour. A little deep cleansing is in order.
Environment
If you live in a city, your skin is constantly barraged by pollutants, dirt, and debris. When these things enter your skin, they create free radicals. Free radicals go to work trying to destroy your collagen which will contribute to:
- Fine lines
- Uneven skin tone and texture
- Dull complexion
- Clogged pores
- Dry skin
City dwellers need a solid routine of professional skincare appointments. Long term, unattended exposure to these free radicals can expedite the signs of aging.
Lifestyle
When you’re stressed, your body is also flooded by the stress hormone cortisol, which breaks down collagen and elastin. Stress can keep us from getting the right amount of sleep. When we sleep, our body regenerates and heals itself, including our skin. Without the proper amount of sleep, your skin will become dull and look just as tired as you feel.
There are many other daily choices that can cause our skin to look tired, dull, thirsty, or uneven. See how many of these may be contributing to your less than vibrant complexion:
- Fast food, sugar, and processed food
- Not drinking enough water
- Not exercising
- Too much alcohol or caffeine
- Not wearing sunscreen
One Fabulous Solution
If you’ve been to a medspa lately, you know they have extensive menus of wonderful treatments that can address one or many areas of concern. There are very few that can stack up to the versatility, customizability, and overall compatibility of the HydraFacial.
What Is a HydraFacial?
HydraFacial is a patented, 30-minute, 3-step facial that uses a special Vortex technology to deliver amazing results without being invasive, requiring any downtime or stripping skin with chemicals or ablative techniques. This treatment has three distinct steps:
- Cleanse + Peel
- Extract + Hydrate
- Fuse + Protect
The Hydrafacial uses a hand-held, pen-like device with interchangeable tips to infuse the skin with super serums and specialized nourishing ingredients to create an instant glow that shows how much healthier skin is after treatment. The Vortex-Fusion system exfoliates, extracts, and hydrates the skin. Unlike most facials, the spiral tip used for extractions makes them painless. This treatment can effectively address:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Brown spots
- Skin laxity
- Uneven tone
- Dull complexion
- Uneven texture
- Oily and clogged skin
- Enlarged pores
Rejuvenate Your Skin With a HydraFacial
When you receive the basic HydraFacial, you’ll experience a gentle, stimulating experience that starts with gentle and nourishing cleansers being infused with and then rinsed from your skin. A gentle peel is then applied. Unlike a regular chemical peel, you’ll feel a slight tingle as your skin is infused with a gentle but effective peel solution.
Next, the tools gently extract everything from your pores in one amazing step. Once your pores are clean, they are immediately bombarded with hydrating serums. The next step is to infuse the skin with antioxidants, peptides, and calming ingredients to plump, hydrate, and soothe skin. A final step ensures skin is protected from environmental pollutants and superficial bacteria.
Personalization
We’ve mentioned this is one of the most versatile treatments available. The company offers an array of boosters that allows clients to address specific needs or areas that may need special attention. When we talk through your facial, we’ll help you decide on the boosters that will help you achieve the results you’d like.
We also offer add-ons for before and after your facial that will help you achieve a higher level of results. All of our choices are meant to improve the effects of the facial on the specific areas you need addressed.
Boosters
After your skin assessment, we’ll help you pick the booster that will work best on your skin types, areas of concern, and the results you want after treatment. We’ll break them down by benefit.
Brightening
If your skin looks dull, sallow, or super tired, one of these could be a great booster for you:
Circadia Chrono-Peptide
This booster energizes the skin while reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Your skin will look radiant and feel amazing. Its ingredients include peptides to help your body stimulate vitamin D, help with cell regeneration, reduce expression lines, and reduce wrinkle depth.
NeoDermyl is considered a needle-less collagen and elastin filler. This ingredient recharges the skin’s beauty while boosting overall density and firmness.
Britenol
If you suffer from sun damage, this booster is formulated to address dark and sun spots while evening out your skin tone. It contains two brightening agents: alpha-arbutin and bearberry extract. A big dose of vitamin C provides antioxidant protection.
ZO Brightalive Booster
Part of the reason our skin can look so dull is an overall dryness from beneath we may not have been able to address because of the layer of dull skin cells, debris, and dirt acting as a barrier. This booster has glycerin to restore hydration and our skin’s natural hydration balance.
A unique blend of skin brighteners even skin tone, reduce the appearance of dark spots, and block the production of new pigmentation.
Calming
If your skin is irritated and flaring up with uneven tone and texture, a calming booster could be the right choice for you. If you have sensitive skin, these could help reduce inflammation and calm your skin cells:
Ciradia Protec Plus
This booster protects the skin from free radical damage that can cause inflammation. It reduces the visible signs of redness and helps restore natural hydration. Hyaluronic acid makes this booster a powerhouse of hydration while blends of antioxidants reduce pigmentation and increase oxygen flow to sensitive skin.
Diffuporine peptide is known as an intrinsic cell hydrator, so skin looks and feels softer and smoother. Signs of inflammation are reduced.
ZO Rozatrol
The milk protein lactose in this booster minimizes inflammation and diminishes the skin’s redness while rosa canina extract minimizes the production of sebum. This combination helps prevent red bumps and inflamed pores.
Hydrating
Some previously mentioned boosters also work wonders for thirsty skin. We’ll look at your skin to see how dehydrated it is and what the secondary symptoms are to match you with the booster perfect for your skin:
Intense Hydration Booster
This is the Hydrafacial ultimate booster for skin that not only feels hydrated but looks dewy and shiny. A mixture of hyaluronic acid, glucan, and betaine rejuvenate and protect skin while repairing cells to address fine lines and wrinkles.
Previously mentioned boosters that improve skin’s hydration:
- Circadia chrono-peptide
- Circadia protect plus
- Britenol
- ZO Brightalive booster
Firming
If you’re searching for anti-aging powerhouses, these are the boosters for you:
Sente Dermal Repair
Formulated with a cocktail of ingredients to improve the skin’s protective barrier, speed up skin recovery, and restore the moisture barrier of your skin, this combination of ingredients:
- Diminishes the appearance of fine lines
- Improves skin tone and texture
- Improves skin firmness
- Enhances overall hydration
Regen GF Booster
This booster boosts the body’s natural production of collagen and elastin to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A proprietary complex captures and removes toxins and irritants to improve overall radiance.
Add-Ons
Before and after your HydraFacial you can choose an add-on. We’ll work with you to find the perfect add-ons to your experience.
Lymphatic Therapy
We’ll do this before your treatment begins. This removes any toxins that have built up. This detoxifies the skin and decreases inflammation before we’ve even begun. Because this optimizes the skin’s health, it amplifies the results of the facial.
LED Light Therapy
You can choose from blue or red light therapy. The blue LED lights are for those who struggle with acne. This light targets and disrupts p. acnes bacteria and improves the appearance of congested skin.
The red light helps with rejuvenation, skin cell turnover, and the anti-aging properties of your treatment. It’s the perfect finishing touch.
Consultation
As you can see, there are many personalization options for this amazing Hydrafacial treatment. During your consultation, we’ll examine your skin and talk through your areas of concern and the kinds of results you’d like to see. Each client is different, and their skin is always changing. Each treatment could be different depending on the condition of your skin.
As part of the consultation, we can recommend the right treatment schedule for you. Results get better as you keep up with treatment. We typically recommend coming back at least once a month to improve cumulative results and keep your complexion looking fresh, radiant, and youthful.
Get Brilliant Looking Skin
There’s no reason to put off this amazing Hydrafacial treatment any longer. There’s zero downtime and many of the results are immediate. This is suitable for all ages, skin types, and tones.
To get glowing skin, call Peachtree Dermatology in Atlanta, GA. We’re committed to refining your complexion and helping you achieve optimal skin health. If you’re struggling with dull, tired, or aged-looking skin, you’re just a phone call away from a vibrant and glowing complexion!
