Pores No More

By Sacha

March 19, 2010

If the term “non-surgical cosmetic treatment” conjures images of frozen-faced soap stars, then we’re about to (beauty) school you. There are a slew of procedures involving lasers, crystals, and vitamin-derived acids that can beautifully transform the appearance of your skin – even if you have yet to spot your first fine line.

As part two of our clear skin series, we consulted medical esthetician Carole Burns once again. After calling us out on our bad beauty habits, over a cup of herbal tea at her Skin Laser Rejuvenation clinic, Burns explained the benefits of these transformative procedures for all skin tones.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is the gentle resurfacing of the skin using crystal technology. As Burns describes it: “Organic/metallic micro-crystals safely and gently abrade the epidermis, [to exfoliate] the skin without causing photo sensitivity. This is a great summer treatment. It is designed to remove skin debris and to correct and minimize imperfections, blemishes, and age damage.”

Chemical Peels

If you struggle with acne-prone skin or are frustrated by your acne scars, chemical peels will work wonders. “They can be used on face and body, to refresh the appearance of skin by sloughing off damaged cells”. Even if your skin is mostly pimple-free, chemical peels in their various incarnations (NeoStrata, for example, makes chemical peels with the capabilities to clarify, antioxidize and brighten) they will dramatically improve the texture of your skin.

Laser Hair Removal

Whether your gams are onyx or ivory, you can get rid of every last leg hair with Lumenis’ Lightsheer Diode laser. Thanks to the applicator’s cooling capabilities, skin’s upper layer is cooled during and after each zap. It’s important to note that although laser hair removal is often billed as permanent, most patients can expect to return for touch-ups every five-to-seven years (but it still beats shaving in the shower).

Intense Pulsed Light Lasers

IPL lasers can be used to correct discoloration, skin damage and broken blood vessels, and reinvigorate collagen. Their transformative powers are truly amazing.

Clear Complexion “Cocktails”

Using a cocktail that combines these advanced procedures with no-tech treatments like manual pore extractions, medical estheticians like Burns can help you to maintain clear skin over the long-term – without a prescription. If you follow at-home regimen that’s been professionally customized to meet your skincare needs, your complexion will retain its clarity.

Before you go searching Superpages to find the nearest IPL laser, heed these three words: education is essential. Schedule consultations before and after all treatments, to ensure that you review your esthetician’s credentials, understand exactly what each procedure entails, and know what to do to keep up appearances at home.

It’s also important to manage your expectations: these treatments may have the potential to transform, but you shouldn’t expect miracles. There are some skin issues that can’t be mended by these treatments, hereditary dark undereye circles among them. In that case, we’ll just have to work with what we’ve got (with a little help from MAC’s heavy-duty studio fix concealer).

So you see, Honeys, the secrets to celebrity skin are now ours. What are you going to do with them?

Click here for more information about Carole Burns and Skin Laser Rejuvenation.