Time to rejuvenate, repair sun damage

Sun-kissed skin is great, but it is time to see a professional when your sunspots don’t fade with your tan. As a board-certified dermatologist, sunspots and pigmentation are common concerns for my patients, and I can definitely fix. The fall and winter months are typically the best times to reverse sun damage with chemical peels, lasers and microneedling because these procedures should be done when you don’t have a tan or any plans to be in the sun. So, as the days get shorter and the weather cools off, it is the perfect time to erase that summer sun damage.

The best way to treat sunspots and pigmentation is prevention. I recommend my patients wear SPF 30 or more every day. This prevents additional pigmentation and sun damage. The next step is to treat and fade the sunspots and pigmentation you already have; this can be done at home and in the office.

At home, medical-grade vitamin C creams and serums are the best. They help decrease the pigmentation and redness you already have while preventing further sun damage. Vitamin C is one skincare product you should splurge on to get the most benefit due to the importance of the quality and stability of the active ingredient. My all-time favorite is SkinCeuticals’ C E Ferulic, which is available in our office.

The next most important product in your skincare regimen is retinol. Retinols are an all-in-one product that helps prevent acne, minimize the appearance of pores, treat fine lines and wrinkles, reduce pigmentation and even skin tone. Retinols come in various strengths and formulations, so it is best to have an experienced skin care professional help you pick one that is right for your skin type.

Retinols do not have to be expensive, and this is definitely a product where you can save your skincare dollars. SkinMedica’s Retinol Complex is a great product. It comes in three different strengths, so if you are interested in starting a retinol, come in for a complimentary skincare consultation. We can help you get started on the right strength for your skin type.

For in-office procedures to help with pigmentation, we have a few different treatment options to choose from depending on the type of pigmentation, severity and location. If your issue is larger areas of pigmentation, I recommend chemical peels. Chemical peels are a great way to peel off that larger area of pigmentation to reveal new, even-toned skin underneath.

If your concern is small sunspots, I recommend a laser like our Intense Pulse Light (IPL). The IPL targets those small areas of pigmentation, causing them to flake off in a few days.

Another favorite procedure in our office is microneedling with plateletrich plasma, also known as the “vampire facial” on social media. This treatment is not as frightening as it looks, and the results are worth it. Microneedling helps stimulate collagen production, and the platelet-rich plasma speeds healing time while triggering cell production and skin rejuvenation. The end result is smoother, tighter and refreshed skin.

No matter your skincare concerns, it is always important to pick the right professional to help you reach your goal. Your skincare provider should be a boardcertified physician with a supervised cosmetic medical aesthetician who works directly with a dermatologist or facial plastic surgeon. This will ensure you are getting the best and safest treatments for your concern.

Pennington Facial Plastics has both a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Linsey Pennington, and myself, a boardcertified dermatologist. This allows us to offer the latest technology and procedures while also choosing from both surgical and non-surgical treatments.

Dr. Skylar Souyoul is a board-certified dermatologist at Pennington Facial Plastics, located at 6030 Line Ave #110, Shreveport. Call for a complimentary cosmetic consultation, (318) 216-5366. Follow on social media for in-office specials and to view before and after photos from procedures. Instagram and Facebook @ penningtonfacialplastics