The search for the Fountain of Youth has carried on for centuries. Though this key to eternal agelessness has yet to be found, a number of treatments have been developed to aid in the endeavor. Store shelves are filled with creams, serums and exfoliants designed to reduce fine lines while increasing elasticity. For those who seek more pronounced results, dermal injections, chemical peels and laser skin resurfacing are also available.
Among the latest techniques offered in this arena are Erbium Laser Peels. Signs of aging appear on the body in the form of fine lines and wrinkles due to increased fatty deposits and typical loss of skin elasticity. In the early stages of visible aging, these creases are superficial, affecting only the outermost layers of skin. This particular method of skin resurfacing removes the epidermis; by extension, it also effectively eliminates those surface wrinkles.
While this treatment does away with those fine lines, it also has secondary effect on the skin. The laser used stimulates the skin to ramp up collagen production, a process naturally diminishing with age and causing the previously mentioned loss of elasticity. In essence, the procedure offers a multi-faceted approach to looking younger.
Erbium Laser Peels are performed under local anesthetic, meaning the area to be treated is numbed. Once the process is completed, mild redness and potential swelling can be expected though this should subside within a few days. While scarring is considered unlikely, a specialized ointment will be applied during the follow-up appointment to further reduce such risks and prevent infection.
Although this procedure is not designed for the same extensive aging or scarring as its CO2-based counterpart, it also comes with a much more minimal recovery time. In most cases, the patient is allowed to return to normal daily routines within a week to 10 days after treatment. This is a viable solution for those with mild to moderate wrinkles on the face, neck, chest and hands. It could also be an alternative for patients who have undergone previous forms of laser treatment.
Until the actual fabled Fountain of Youth is discovered, those hoping for younger-looking skin have a number of options from which to choose. This array of treatments can reduce wrinkles and reveal smoother skin hidden underneath the visible aging layer on the surface.
