The human body is strong!  Especially the muscles in our face. Unintentional over use of facial muscles create lines and wrinkles that make us look tired, stressed or angry…even when we are not.  Neuromodulators such as Botox Cosmetic® can relax the facial muscles thereby easing and softening the look of lines and wrinkles.  In a few short days you can see less and less of the stress and begin to let the inner, more relaxed you shine through.

Commonly Treated Areas Include:

• Frown Lines
• Crow’s Feet
• Forehead Furrows
• A Tired Appearance
• Wrinkles of the Upper & Lower Lip
• Corners of the Mouth
• Jaw Muscles

These exfoliation treatments can be customized to treat your specific concerns such as discoloration, uneven skin texture, acne, scars, and more. Chemical peels remain an integral procedure in efforts to correct or rejuvenate the skin.

You’ll get the smooth facial skin you desire with this safe, effective procedure. And you’ll do it with minimal downtime so you can get back to the activities you enjoy, with nobody the wiser – well, except for your smooth, radiant skin.

Before your Chemical Peel

It is important to prepare your skin before a chemical peel. Please follow these instructions prior to your procedure:

• Do not use the following skin care ingredients for at least 1 week prior to your peel: glycolic acid or other AHAs, salicylic acid or other BHAs, vitamin A, retinoids, retinol, hydroquinone, or any other excessively drying or irritating products.
• Refrain from electrolysis, hair chemicals, waxing, depilatories, or threading for at least 1 week prior to your peel.
• Do not use Botox or fillers for at least 2 weeks prior to your peel.
• If you have used oral retinoids, undergone laser treatment, or had cosmetic facial surgery in the past 6 months, consult with your physician before undergoing a peel.
• Arrive with a fully cleansed face, free of makeup and perfume/cologne.
• It is recommended that men do not shave within a few hours prior to the treatment.
• Arrive without contacts or remove contact lenses before the clinical procedure.

During your Chemical Peel

The provider applies the solution to the desired areas on the skin. Most patients will experience a warm, tingling sensation which lasts about 5-10 minutes, followed by a stinging sensation and mild temporary frosting of the skin.

After your Chemical Peel

After your peel, you may experience redness, mild flaking, and a tight, dry feeling similar to a mild sunburn. Redness and flaking can last anywhere from 2-6 days. Your skin will be very sensitive to the sun, so it's important to wear sunscreen. We will give you a detailed handout of post-procedure care instructions to follow, which will help minimize these side effects.

With this state-of-the-art cosmetic treatment, laser light technology targets hemoglobin, the protein in blood that transports oxygen throughout the body. This allows it to effectively treat redness that can occur with vascular skin conditions such as facial spider veins (telangiectasia) and rosacea, as well as pigmented lesions like sun spots, port wine stains, and more.

At Dermatology Associates of Indy, we use the excel® V laser system by Cutera to reduce redness and other symptoms of these and other vascular lesions.

What is the Cutera excel® V laser?

The Cutera excel® V laser has a well documented history of safely and effectively treating vascular lesions. It is designed to deliver an intense but gentle burst of laser light to the skin. The laser light is specifically absorbed by the blood vessels in the vascular lesion. These vessels are gently heated and coagulated. The body absorbs the treated blood vessels during the natural healing process.

The laser has a unique ability to selectively target the blood vessels of a vascular lesion without adversely affecting the surrounding tissue.

What conditions are treated with laser?

• Telangiectasia or facial and nasal spider veins
• Rosacea (red facial lesions) - affecting the skin of the face, nose and cheeks causing a red blush or sunburn look
• Spider Veins - commonly seen on legs. The precise origin of the disorder is unknown but reports have shown that pregnancy, hormonal changes, weight gain, leg injury or prolonged standing may influence the occurrence.
• Poikiloderma - patchy discoloration of the skin on the neck

How many treatments will I need?

Most patients are happy with 2-4 treatments, although the number of treatments required will vary based on the severity of the condition being treated.

What precautions should be taken before and after treatments?

It is recommended to avoid exposure to the sun and tanning of the areas to be treated throughout the course of treatment. Immediately following the treatment, the areas may be slightly swollen, sensitive and may feel warm. The post-operative care recommended is to:

• Avoid sun exposure or tanning
• Apply ice for discomfort
• Apply ointment or topical antibiotic cream if needed

In addition, do not scrub your skin, use an abrasive skin cleanser, or use hot water on your skin. Do not do any vigorous exercise for 48 hours following your treatment (in other words, avoid doing anything that will make you flush or blush for 48 hours). Makeup can be used starting on day two. If any crust forms, patients should not pick or try to remove it. Protect the treated areas from sun exposure in order to avoid post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

What does laser treatment involve?

• Wearing safety eye wear to protect the patient's eyes from the intense laser light.
• A small handpiece will be used by the provider to deliver the laser energy to the skin.
• The degree of discomfort varies with each person, depending on his/her pain threshold.

Are there any risk or side effects with the laser treatment?

When mild settings are used, side effects include redness and swelling that may last as few hours. With stronger settings, a type of bruising called "purpura" may occur, which may last 3-7 days.

Dark discoloration (hyperpigmentation) of the treated area is unlikely to occur and would fade over months; however, it is important to avoid sun exposure after treatment to minimize this risk. Light discoloration (hypopigmentation) and scarring are extremely rare.

Who should not be treated with the Cutera excel® V laser?

You may not be treated if:

• You are pregnant
• You have been treated with the anti-acne medication Accutane (Isotretinoin) within 6 months
• You have a tan now or within the past 4 weeks.

Brown spots commonly develop on the skin as the result of sun exposure. Most often, these spots – sometimes called liver spots, age spots, or sun spots – occur on the face, chest, shoulders, arms, and legs in patients of all ages. These brown spots can occur at any age and in individuals of all skin types but individuals with light skin are most susceptible. The daily use of a broad spectrum sunscreen can prevent or lessen the likelihood of developing brown spots.

At Dermatology Associates of Indy, we use the MedLite® laser system by Cynosure to correct brown spots. TheMedLite® laser can safely remove sun spots by selectively targeting brown pigment. The laser delivers light energy in a series of very fast (nanosecond) pulses that shatter the dark pigment in the skin causing it to disperse and eventually clear, leaving a more even toned appearance. Since the energy is quickly absorbed there is minimal risk of damage to the surrounding skin.

What does the skin look like after treatment?

The treated spot will initially turn white and then darker before it sloughs off in 1-2 weeks. Occasionally the skin can develop a bruise or a purple discoloration surrounding the treated area. Upon healing, the treated site may appear pink before returning to its normal skin tone.

How painful are treatment with the MidLite laser?

Most patients experience only mild stinging during the procedure, similar to the sensation of a rubber band hitting the skin.

How many treatments are required for resolution of brown spots?

The number of laser treatments required for pigment resolution varies. Sometimes a test treatment session is performed 1 month prior to laser treatment to determine optimal treatment parameters and the likelihood that your spots will resolve with MedLite laser treatments. Most patients require several treatments to each area for resolution of pigmentation. A one month interval between treatments is generally recommended before retreating the same area. While most patients experience improvement in their brown spots with MedLite laser treatments, rarely MedLite laser treatments are unsuccessful at removing or lightening brown spots.

What are the risks of MedLite laser removal of brown spots?

The most common risks of MedLite laser treatment for brown spots are a temporary lightening or darkening of the pigment of the skin. Rarely this pigment change can be permanent. A flare of ace, skin infection, burn or rarely scarring including elevated and keloidal scars are other potential risks of the MedLite laser treatment. Patients with a history if abnormal or keloidal scarring, who have taken Accutane in the past year or who are taking medications or have health conditions that may compromise their ability to fight infection may not be candidates for MedLite laser treatment.

What should I do before treatment with the MedLite laser?

It is important to avoid sun exposure and to use a broad spectrum sunscreen for two weeks prior to treatment. You should also inform your provider of any health problems or history of abnormal scarring.

Is there any special care required following treatment?

It is important to avoid sun exposure and to apply a broad spectrum sunscreen to the treated area for a minimum of 1 month following treatment. If your skin color has not returned to normal within one month you should continue to apply sunscreen daily to the treated area until your skin color has returned to normal. To prevent recurrence of your brown spots, it is important to continue to protect your skin by using a broad spectrum sunscreen daily. If you develop a blister, crust or sore following treatment you should apply Aquaphor healing ointment to the sire and contact your provider. You should not apply makeup to open, crusted or sore areas.

Are you unsure about what skin care products are best for your skin? Do you know what skin type you have?

The skilled dermatology team at Dermatology Associates of Indy will conduct a detailed evaluation of your current skin condition, general health, and lifestyle. Based on that assessment, we can recommend a customized skin care regimen, including products and services that can help you maintain beautiful, glowing skin all year round. For example, if the skin of your feet is dry and cracked, we have a natural deep-skin exfoliation designed just for your feet. Dead skin cells are removed with just one application.

Having beautiful skin involves a commitment to properly care for your skin. Using a gentle cleanser and daily moisturizer are critical – as is wearing sunscreen when in the sun. For the best-looking skin, you’ll also want to ensure you’re eating healthy, not smoking, and avoiding excessive stress.