GLOWING SKIN for the HOLIDAYS

Glowing Skin for the Holidays

Snow has already started to fall in some areas and with the colder temperatures of the fall and winter season, comes a variety of skin concerns. In addition to dryness, one of the top concerns I hear about is dull, rough skin. When skin has lost its radiance, it looks older.

Where Did the Glow Go?

The natural glow from skin mainly comes from a high cellular turnover that reveals fresh new skin. As we age cellular turnover slows down and dead skin builds up to cause rough texture and lackluster skin.

Getting the Glow Back

There are a variety of ways you can go about getting your glow back.

DIET… Being conscious of your eating habits during the holidays will not only help you keep off the weight, but it’ll help your skin too. Sugar and processed foods aren’t good for the body and also reflect poorly on the skin. Staying hydrated and even eating foods with high water content can help. Foods with healthy fats, such as avocados, as well as other vegetables and fruits that are high in beta carotene and vitamin A empower radiant skin.

LIFESTYLE… Alcohol, soda, and caffeine drinks like coffee have a dehydrating effect on the skin. Smoking deprives the skin of vital nutrients and oxygen. Minimizing these vices can give your skin a better chance for healthy cellular production that’ll reflect externally. Getting good rest is important for rejuvenating your whole body and allows skin to restore its natural balance. Getting your “beauty sleep” isn’t just an old wives’ tale.

LASERS… These treatments offer a non surgical option for effective skin rejuvenation. Powerful targeted treatments beam tiny columns of light into the deeper layers of skin of a specific area. Lasers are available in different strengths and types to solve a variety of problems and reverse the signs of aging:

• Resurface the skin to restore glow
• Reduce deep lines and scars
• Firm up skin
• Reduce or eliminate skin pigmentation
• Smooth out the skins’ surface and texture

Laser Options

Laser treatments offer flexibility tailored to your specific skin rejuvenation needs. If you’ve just recently noticed an increasing dull complexion or it’s been years since you’ve wanted to do something about it, there is a laser for you. We offer laser treatments from gentle to intense, all the while delivering visible results.

Fraxel Repair

• more aggressive approach for significant levels of concern
• carbon dioxide laser beams
• removes old damaged tissue to stimulate collagen production
• Fractional Deep Dermal Ablative (FDAA)
• moderate recovery, yet is insignificant compared to surgery

Fraxel DUAL

• middle strength for moderate levels of concern
• erbium and thulium laser
• safe for all skin types
• very commonly used for pigmentation and texture
• optimal results typically achieved in a series of treatments
• may experience mild redness for a day or two, but no downtime

Clear + Brilliant

• most gentle laser ideal for beginners wanting to “ease in to lasers”
• done in a series of treatments with no downtime
• visibly illuminates your skin tone
• optimal results typically achieved in a series of treatments
• no downtime

Let’s talk about the best laser options for you to restore your skin’s radiance and get back that glow for the holidays! Visit www.DrCovey.com to learn more.

Sincerely,

Dr. Covey

Refresh Your Face for Fall Holidays with Fraxel

One of the best options to rejuvenate your skin for Fall is with a FRAXEL laser treatment. You’ll love your smooth, clear complexion that radiates a youthful glow. Available in three different strengths, FRAXEL lasers offer a versatile, effective treatment option that provides the best non surgical results:

1. CLEAR + BRILLIANT is a great option if you are new to laser treatments. It is the most gentle of the 3 lasers and is still effective at the early signs of aging.
2. FRAXEL DUAL effectively addresses more moderate aging concerns. You can experience a remarkably more youthful appearance without any downtime.
3. FRAXEL REPAIR penetrates deeper into the dermis to stimulate the rebuilding of collagen. It is the most intense of the 3 lasers, but requires fewer treatments to see rejuvenating results more quickly. Results are amazing and recovery is more of a “social downtime;” it is minimal, especially compared to the stronger chemical peels and surgical alternatives.

 

What is on your Fall beauty wish list? I’m sure some of these issues that can be treated with FRAXEL lasers are on there:

• Age & Sun Spots pop up with exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. These brown patches plague the face and body with an aged look. FRAXEL lasers can lighten this pigmentation to restore clear, bright, and even toned skin.
• Skin Resurfacing restores the smooth texture, tightness, color, and brightness that diminishes over the years. While most treatments only address the externally affected skin, FRAXEL lasers resurface your skin from the inside out. They can reverse skin damage created by exposure to the sun, air pollution, stress, and fatigue. Harmful lifestyle factors can also cause the skin to lose its radiance, such as smoking, poor diet, and dehydration.
• Wrinkles and lines that age the face can creep in as early as mid 2os, but usually are more noticeable starting in the 30s. They only get deeper with years of expression and muscle movement, reduced cellular turnover and increased moisture loss. Amazingly, FRAXEL lasers actually stimulate collagen rebuild and therefore the skin acts younger and tighter, reducing wrinkles.
• Acne and Surgical Scars can mature the face years beyond natural age by causing an uneven, rough texture to the surface. In addition to being bumpy or pitted, the skin can be discolored.
• Actinic Keratosis is a medical condition caused by pre-cancerous skin cells. More professionals are turning to FRAXEL lasers to help treat these scaly or crusty growths, and to provide relief for thousands of people.
• Melasma presents as dark blotches caused by the hormonal changes in women’s bodies throughout the stages of life. Melasma is commonly associated with pregnancy and breastfeeding, oral contraceptives, or hormone replacement therapy. These dark brown spots are different than sun damage. FRAXEL can lighten melasma anywhere, but it most commonly appears on the forehead, lower cheeks, nose, and upper lip.

Refresh your face with FRAXEL and be ready for the social holiday season coming soon! Visit www.DrCovey.com to learn more and schedule a consultation to see which FRAXEL laser is best for you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Covey

Most Common Skin Fixes with Fraxel

Last week I introduced the amazing Fraxel lasers, and now we will go more in depth on what results you can get from them. To review, you learned that Fraxel Repair is the strongest of the lasers, Fraxel DUAL is the medium level laser and Clear + Brilliant is the most gentle. Fraxel lasers have so many capabilities and can be used for a wide variety of skin conditions. Let’s explore the most common skin conditions Fraxel lasers can treat to restore a youthful appearance to your skin without surgery.

Wrinkles

The unwanted yet unavoidable sign of aging are those creeping skin creases called wrinkles. Most noticeable on the face, neck, chest and hands, wrinkles are caused by a few factors. Combined with years of expression, muscle movement, and skin drying factors, as we age, the skin’s collagen and elastin break down faster than the body can repair and rebuild them. This causes the wrinkles, furrows, and fine lines.

Fortunately, Fraxel lasers actually stimulate collagen to be rebuilt. You don’t have to freeze your expressions like smiling, laughing, to lessen their appearance. Now with Fraxel, you can stimulate your skin to act younger and tighten back up to where those creases aren’t as noticeable.

Age & Sun Spots

Your body reacts to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays by producing a pigment called melanin to try to protect itself. We commonly call this pigmentation, age spots or sun spots, although they are due more to sunning than aging. This pigmentation is cumulative and tends to show up more and more as we age.

These flat, brown patches give a blotchy, aged look to the face, neck, chest, arms, and hands. Though usually harmless, these blotchy brownish patches can make you look and feel older than you really are. I have seen spectacular results with Fraxel lasers lightening these dark spots so that the skin looks clear, bright and even toned.

Skin Resurfacing

Skin’s texture, color, brightness, and tightness fades as we age. This is caused prdominantly by sun exposure, air pollution, stress, fatigue and lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor diet, and dehydration. Instead of resurfacing the skin topically through peels and microdermabrasion, Fraxel laser treatments have been cleared by the FDA to safely, gently and effectively resurface your skin from the inside out. Some of the Fraxel laser treatments can have even less downtime than a deep chemical peel, so that means smoother, brighter skin without missing a beat.

Acne and Surgical Scars

These indented or raised marks that usually are discolored can really put a damper on anyone’s confidence in their appearance. No one wants to remember their awkward high school years with acne scars, and adult acne is more common than you think. Fortunately, Fraxel lasers can significantly improve the skin coloration, as well as smooth out the sometimes wavy appearance that scars leave on the face and other areas of the body

Do you have any of these common skin conditions? Visit www.DrCovey.com or call us to discuss which level of Fraxel laser would be right for you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Covey

Intro to Fraxel: The Best Laser Treatments Available Today

Want to know about the trendiest laser treatments available now? This one laser technology can offer so much that people are raving about all the great results. Even better is that the intensity can be customized to your specific needs without foregoing your youthful “glow.” I’m talking about the Fraxel lasers. There are a couple of different types, which can be confusing, so in this blog I’ll do an overview of all the different kinds, and then later this month, we’ll go a bit more in depth.

Specialized treatments are great, but I love the flexibility of the Fraxel laser since it can be used for a multitude of quick fixes. Whether you’re looking to rejuvenate your skin by minimizing mild, moderate or deep wrinkles, sun spots or scars, sagging or rough texture, all of that is addressed by the Fraxel lasers.

Solta, the pioneer of fractionated laser treatments, has developed three different laser modalities to address everything from mild concerns to aggressive concerns. All are very precise and based on the same cutting edge technology. So the question isn’t necessarily which laser is better, but the question is what intensity of treatment do you need and how much recovery are you willing to experience to get the results?

Don’t get me wrong, you can’t even begin to compare the down time of a cosmetic surgery and the pain you go through, with the minimal discomfort and minimal downtime experienced with Fraxel laser treatments. Any downtime with these lasers is more of a “social” downtime, where your skin may look a little red and irritated, which is easily healed with extra moisturizer and covered with mineral makeup. Even the most intense of these laser treatments (Fraxel Repair) can have less of a recovery than a strong chemical peel.

So how do these fractionated lasers work?

You’ll need to arrive about an hour before treatment time in order to prep, which usually includes topically numbing the area to be treated. The treatment itself only takes 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the area. The hand held Fraxel laser beams tiny columns of light into the deeper layers of skin on the specific area to be treated. It is extremely precise so it will not damage any of the surrounding areas. You’ll probably experience a prickling sensation, although it’s relatively pain free depending on which intensity laser you need. What’s really neat is that this stimulates the skin’s ability to repair itself and create more collagen.

What are the main differences between them?

I’ll go more in depth on each laser in the following weeks, so this is a brief overview.

Fraxel Repair is the most intense of the lasers and may be good if you are looking for significant repair from many years of damage. Fraxel DUAL is the medium level laser that uses 2 wavelengths to treat multiple skin conditions and multiple skin colors. Clear + Brilliant is the most gentle and a great laser for those who want to “ease in” to laser treatments while still receiving visible results.

Stay tuned to learn more about how Fraxel lasers restore a more youthful face and body. Until my next blog, you can visit http://www.DrCovey.com.

Sincerely,

Dr Covey

Lasers Reverse Aging…and much more

Laser treatments are performed hundreds of times a day around the world, to treat all kinds of problems ranging from skin pigmentation, scars, acne and acne scars, sun spots,wrinkles and much more. I have many lasers in my offices and am able to offer patients laser options to treat just about every cosmetic problem.

My last 3 blogs have been about the amazing laser treatments we can offer today to reverse aging and/or correct problems such as those mentioned above. In review, the bullet points highlight some of the many uses for lasers:

• Reverse the signs of aging
• Reduce deep lines and scars
• Resurface the skin
• Tighten “lax” skin
• Reduce unwanted hair
• Reduce or eliminate skin pigmentation
• Correct textural abnormalities, sun damage and more…

A LASER IS light amplification by simulated emission of radiation using a crystal to produce a targeted beam of light. One type of laser does not work for every problem. There are many types and strengths of lasers being employed today to perform both “ablative” and “non ablative” treatments. See: www.DrCovey.com for complete information on lasers I use.

SMARTLIPO TRIPLEXis the newest, most advanced system that replaces the original SmartLipo technology. It is less invasive and actually melts fat, stimulates skin tightening and re-sculpts facial and body contours with safe, fast, comfortable treatments. This amazing technology enables me to achieve more precise results in smaller, hard to get to places.

AREAS PATIENTS GET TREATED: neck, jawline, inner arms, men’s breasts, abs and love handles, women’s bra fat (overhang) inner/outer thighs, inner knees, chin, hips, buttocks, pubic mound, back of neck. See my website for more info on SmartLipo Triplex: www.DrCovey.com.

CELLULITE is RELENTLESS! You can see it on your thighs, buttocks, stomach, upper arms and other body areas.

CELLULAZE^tm LASER is the world’s first minimally invasive way of attacking cellulite where it begins…under the skin. You can have smoother skin on your abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks and arms, or anywhere cellulite appears, with just one treatment.

I’ve reviewed just a couple of the many lasers I offer my patients, but that’s it for this blog. My patients are waiting for their laser treatments.

Sincerely,

Dr. Covey

 

 

RIGHT LASER at the RIGHT TIME to Correct Skin Problems

Choosing the right laser treatment at the right time can treat a host of skin problems…in fact, just about every problem under the sun.  Age reversing laser treatments have become an integral part of the anti-aging revolution as proven by the thousands of men and women, of all ages, who now include laser procedures in their regular cosmetic/health regimen.

Laser treatments can be fractional ablative or non ablative. Fraxel Re:Pair fractional ablative lasers remove part of the top layer of skin tissue.  Fractional ablative lasers can be powered up or down to increase or decrease penetration.  The deeper the laser penetration, the more dramatic the results will be.  Nonablative lasers penetrate the skin without affecting the outermost layer of skin tissue.

Laser treatment I offer my patients include:  Fraxel Re:Pair, Smartlipo TriPlex, Cellulaze, Clear+Brilliant, Pulsed Dye laser, Laser Hair Removal, Laser Wrinkle Reduction.

THERMAGE CPT…is today’s most effective “lift” treatment (Thermal Lift) for sagging under the eyes, arms, legs, thighs and even the buttocks. Thermage has been featured on Oprah and in many Women’s magazines as the “no downtime non surgical facelift” that tightens the eyelids and under eye areas of the face.

Treatments we do using Thermage CPT also include hand treatments to reduce the excess wrinkling and sagging of skin.  We can also use Thermage CPT to give patients a flatter, smoother tummy, thighs, buttocks, arms and more.

Thermage firms sagging skin, corrects skin laxity and is a very popular treatment today in the war against aging.  Thermage helps to restore youthfulness!

MORE COMMON PROBLEMS WE TREAT WITH LASERS:

• ACNE responds well to  pulsed dye lasers.  Often, I use lasers in combo with microdermabrasion and dermal fillers to successfully treat acne and acne scarring.
• DISCOLORED SCARS can be treated with fractional ablative and non ablative lasers depending upon your condition and goals.  Fraxel lasers, Diolite and IPL are all used for these treatments.
• VEINS and BLOOD VESSELS are commonly treated with non ablative lasers such as Diolite, pulsed dye or IPL.
• NORMAL AGING and WRINKLES can be effectively treated with fractional ablative and non ablative lasers depending upon your condition and goals.
• HAIR REMOVAL is done using laser or IPL treatments.  Several treatments are required to achieve permanent hair reduction because the hair grows in cycles…so treatments are scheduled to address this effectively.
• SUN SPOTS and FRECKLES are treated with fractional ablative and non ablative lasers…such as Fraxel Dual, Fraxel Re:Pair and Diolite as well as IPL for pigmented lesions.  The lasers attack the pigment to cause “a lightening of the spots” that flake away within a few days.

There are so many more laser treatments that we do at East End Laser Care.  I’ve been expertly performing laser treatments for well over two decades and have witnessed the unbelievable power lasers offer to combat aging, sun damage and so much more.

Spring is finally here…and beach time is not far off.  Are you “Beach Body Ready?”  Let’s talk soon!

Sincerely,

Dr. Covey

 

PROBLEM SOLVING LASER TREATMENTS

Problem solving laser treatments are among our most common anti aging cosmetic procedures.  Lasers target different types of cells to reduce or eliminate pigmentation, fade scars or redness, minimize wrinkles and treat textural problems. See the following bullets to learn a few of the amazing uses for lasers:

• Reverse the signs of aging
• Reduce deep lines and scars
• Resurface the skin
• Tighten lax skin
• Remove unwanted hair
• Reduce or eliminate skin pigmentation
• Correct textural abnormalities, sun damage…and more!

For the benefit of new readers, review my last blog to get up to speed and then keep reading as I am going to write a couple more blogs on the benefits of today’s age reversing cosmetic treatments using lasers.

WHAT IS A LASER?  A laser is Light Amplification by Simulated Emission of Radiation, using a crystal to produce a targeted beam of light.

One type of laser does not work for every problem.  There are many types of lasers being employed today to perform both “non ablative and ablative treatments.”  Laser treatments involve little to no downtime or discomfort due to topical numbing cream and/or oral sedatives.  See my website for complete info on laser options: www.Dr.Covey.com.

Two more laser treatments I offer my patients are:

FRAXEL RE:PAIR…a revolutionary way to repair and restore damaged skin.  After years of smoking, or fun in the sun, or age related changes, more pronounced photodamage, sagging face and neck skin and even delicate chest skin, facial discolorations, deep lines, hard to erase lip lines, rough skin texture, acne scars and surgical scars… all respond well to treatments using Fraxel Re:Pair laser.  Fraxel Re:Pair allows for deeper penetration, without touching skin outside the treatment area.  Fraxel Re:Pair also encourages skin tightening by altering weakened collagen in the dermal layer of your skin.  Some patients see dramatic results in as little as 48 hours!

RE:PAIR is the best choice for men and women who want significant resurfacing results that will truly address deeper wrinkles and skin laxity without surgery.

DIOLITE TREATMENTS are comfortable and effective.  The Diolite laser can treat both vascular and pigmented lesions with no pain and no downtime.  Treatments are quick and the results can be seen immediately.

Well, I love today’s advanced lasers and the beautiful, healthy results they afford my patients.  More in my next blog!

Sincerely,

Dr. Covey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing Lasers for Age Reversing Cosmetic Treatments… Today

Lasers are an integral part of the anti aging revolution today...more so than over the past decade as both men and women now include laser treatments in their regular cosmetic/health regimen.

It’s absolutely true that the right laser treatments, done at the right times, can treat just about any skin problem under the sun.  These laser and energy based magic wands can reverse the signs of aging, reduce deep lines and scars, resurface the skin, remove unwanted hair, reduce or eliminate skin pigmentation and textural abnormalities…and more.  Since there are so many age reversing laser options available, my next few blogs will focus on these solutions.  Keep reading!

WHAT IS A LASER?  A true laser is Light Amplification by Simulated Emission of Radiation that uses a crystal to produce a targeted light beam.

HOW A LASER WORKS:  All lasers are light based devices that target different types of skin cells to achieve the desired results.  Your surgeon must be able to match the right laser to each individual problem.  Each wavelength is unique to each problem.

ABLATIVE LASERS remove the top layer of skin tissue and the power can be dialed up or dialed down to increase or decrease the level of penetrations.  The  more ablative the laser, the deeper the penetration making recovery longer…but with more dramatic results

NON ABLATIVE LASERS leave the outer layer of skin intact but can still penetrate to correct the problem.  Since there is no skin sloughing (as with ablative lasers) downtime is much shorter as are pain and discomfort.

I’ve been using lasers, and offering my patients the many amazing laser treatment options, for over two decades. See my website for more information:  www.drcovey.com. 

Here are just a few of the treatments we offer:

CELLULAZE LASER for attacking cellulite where it begins…under the skin!  Cellulaze is the amazing FDA approved breakthrough treatments for cellulite that gets results with just one treatment.  Smoother skin on your abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, arms and anywhere cellulite occurs, has proven this laser technology invaluable in the treatment of ugly, unwelcome cellulite!

CLEAR+BRILLIANT laser treatments are very popular this time of year to restore younger, healthier, clearer looking skin to enjoy along with the freshness of spring.  Clear+Brilliant ushers in a renewed youthfulness with gentle treatments that combat the “early signs of aging.”

FRAXEL RE:STORE DUAL WAVELENGTH LASER TREATMENTS offer better results more quickly and more comfortably than ever before.  This laser system uses two wavelengths to repair and restore smoother, fresher, younger looking skin.

Well, there are more laser options, but that’s it for this blog. I have patients waiting for their age reversing laser treatments!

April 11, in the Manhattan office…don’t miss our “Spring Fling” Botox, Dermal Filler and Liquid Facelift event. Call 212 931 0700 to reserve your treatment of choice!

 

Sincerely,

Dr. Covey

 

 

 

 

 

Hot Cosmetic Trends for Men in 2014

Today’s Men are clearly in on having anti aging cosmetic procedures!  My male clientelle is growing by leaps and bounds the same as others across the nation. There are a few differences between men’s demands and those of our female patients.  Basically, Men want to look younger, more energetic and healthy simply because they want to…and because the competitive career market today demands that men and women look good.  Our society equates looking good with youthfulness, thus the tremendous upsurge in age defying cosmetic treatments this past decade.  Men also want their treatments to be “subtle”…they simple don’t want anyone else to know they’re having Botox® (Brotox) treatments for a smoother, younger looking face.  Men want “in and out” no downtime options.  That means treatments like Botox with reduced redness, swelling and bruising. (Be sure you use only a Certified Expert Injector).

We offer many Men’s anti aging cosmetic treatments that are safe and effective without surgery…that’s right no knife, no cutting and no downtime.

TOP COSMETIC TRENDS for MEN

• American Board of Plastic Surgery reports Male cosmetic treatments are up by 258% over 10 years
• Men are opting for more laser treatments to promote health and youthfulness
• Rhinoplasty, Hair Removal and Blepharoplasty (for the eyes) is still at the top
• Botox (Brotox), Hyaluronic Acid Fillers e.g. Juvederm, Restylane etc for lines and wrinkles and stressed look removal
• Microdermabrasion for skin resurfacing reveals younger, healthier skin, removes scars, sun damage and discoloration
• Men are starting cosmetic treatments at younger ages and then maintaining on a regular basis
• The Millenials treat cosmetic anti aging procedures as part of their regular health regimen
• Cosmetic treatments for men and women of the younger generations are the “New Beauty Economics”
• The stigma for men and cosmetic treatments is gone…men are in the deal to stay
• I offer non surgical alternatives to surgical procedures

Ok, we have the treatments and they work.  But preventive measures are important too.  Here are a few that can really make a difference in your quest for anti aging:

1. Start now and do these the rest of your life to make a difference
2. SKIN CARE is critical at every age.  To maintain healthy skin keep well hydrated, including your facial skin.  Yes, men need good skin hydration and protection against harmful environmental agents.
3. Use Sunscreen – UVA and UVB rays are responsible for 90% of the early signs of facial aging
4. Stress…manage it or it will manage you!  Daily stressors contribute to acne, facial lines and grooves especially around the eyes.
5. Exercise for Stress Reduction.  Go to the gym and workout, ski, swim, bike etc to get the blood flowing and strengthen those heart muscles.
6. Maintain a “healthy” diet.  Get rid of the junk food.  Instead, eat raw vegetables, fruits, good oils, drink at lest 64 ounces of water daily, eat more fish etc.
7. Sleep is critical to good overall health.  Lack of adequate sleep shows up in facial aging.
8. Live a Healthy Lifestyle.  Don’t smoke, limit alcohol consumptions, get over the party life and into a daily healthy routine.
9. Visit my website for info on procedures/products: www.drcovey.com.

This post is an overview of future articles I’ll write educating on the procedures I offer to both men and women.  Look for great info as we go through 2014… helping you to be your very best!

Dr. Covey

HYPERPIGMENTATION…those dreaded discolored skin spots and blotches!

Hyperpigmentation is a problem in the U.S.  Caused by excess melanin production that results in dark spots and patchy skin, it is correctable.  But stopping it requires diligent use of the right skin care products and clinical treatments.  Read on for more info on the causes and treatment options.

THE RISE OF HYPERPIGMENTATION in the US:

BIRTH CONTROL and HORMONE THERAPIES   Many doctors see a direct correlation between the use of birth control and hormone replacement therapy to developing hyperpigmentation.  The increased usage of both treatments in the US is well documented along with the onset of skin hyperpigmentation for those involved in these medical treatments.

SUNSCREEN NON USAGE   Sunscreen should be used all year around but not every American wears sunscreen daily.  Tanning is another known contributor to the rise of hyperpigmentation. 

CERTAIN DISEASES are proven to affect skin tone.  Diabetes in particular among older women often causes skin discoloration, especially on the neck.

POPULATION CHANGES amplify hyperpigmentation since it occurs more often in those ethnic groups with greater numbers of natural genetic pigment producing skin cells. 

DEFINITION of HYPERPIGMENTATION:

 Brown, red or pink, small or large clustered or diffuse darkening of the skin.  Any part of the skin that is darker than the rest is hyperpigmented regardless of where it appears.  The importance of using sunscreen daily cannot be overemphasized! 

DISCOLORATION TYPES…Melasma, Sunspots (age/liver spots), Freckles, PIH.

To effectively treat it and stop it…recognize each type of hyperpigmentation: 

1)   MELASMA is light to medium brown; occurs on the cheeks, side of face, upper nose, forehead and above the lip.  Look like splotchy patches irregular in shape and size. Caused by a surge in hormones from pregnancy,child birth coupled with excess sun exposure.  TREATMENT:  Retin-A, acid peels, IPL treatments and others.

2)   SUNSPOTS  (age/liver spots)  – Light to dark brown color; on the face, chest and hands.  They are small, flat dark spots caused by the sun.  TREATMENT: Retinol + IPL Fractional laser treatments.

3)   PIH – Pink, red or brown flat spots on the face caused by inflammatory acne.  TREATMENTS: Light salicylic acid chemical peels and red light or blue light treatments.

4)   FRECKLES are light to dark brown or red or black spots, small and concentrated on the face, chest and arms. TREATMENTS: Fraxel or Yag laser.

Also understand that pigmentation occurs in cycles.  Sometimes discoloration occurs instantly while in other cases it occurs over two to four weeks.  Aging affects skin discoloration as the melanin is unevenly distributed.  I see patients all the time seeking treatment for their spots. For complete treatment info see “spots” on my website: www.drcovey.com.(Treatments I use include:  IPL, Diolite, Fraxel laser, Gentle waves)

MEN and COSMETIC TREATMENTS … Men are just as quick to have cosmetic treatments as are women.  For example; Botox for male treatments is called Brotox.  Men of all ages and stages are having cosmetic treatments in order to stay competitive in their careers and simply because they want to look good.  Some popular men’s options include:  Rhinoplasty, Hair Transplant, Laser Hair removal, Blepharoplasty (upper and lower eyelids), Brotox, Injectable facial fillers,  microdermabrasion and more.  Men want quick fixes, or “in and out” no downtime options.  We have these options and our male clientelle is growing weekly!  The outdated stigma is gone as proven by the increasing numbers of men who are aging more youthfully! 

I offer my patients only the safest, most effective non surgical, anti aging options available today.  You can look and feel your absolute best!  Let’s talk soon.

Dr. Covey