Christmas is only three days away! If you havent finished your preparations, its time to wrap the last of the presents, bake the last of the cookies, and take a little time to relax. Of course, that last part is the hardest- who has time to relax and think of themselves during the holidays? Actually, its very important to take time for yourself during stressful times, especially since stress causes the release of hormones that can lead to the appearance of aging on your face. So why not give yourself the gift of a new look this year?
After the holidays are over, the stress of the season will show up on your face. Stress leads to the release of cortisol, which leads to collagen breakdown. Collagen is the protein in your skin that keeps it firm, and without it, our skin can look haggard, saggy, and start developing wrinkles and fine lines. If you dont get enough sleep and relaxation over the holidays (which no one does), you can help reverse what shows up on your face in one of a few ways:
BBL Treatment
BBL, also known as broadband light treatments, involves using light to cause slight damage to the under layers of your skin. The slight damage encourages your skin to rejuvenate and produce more collagen, resulting in tighter, firmer skin. BBL can also be used to treat the appearance of age spots, uneven skin tone or texture, and fine lines and wrinkles. The purposeful damage caused by BBL triggers responses in your skin that produce more vibrant, younger-looking skin.
Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing uses a laser to remove the upper layer of old, dead, or damaged skin to reveal newer, younger-looking skin underneath. Laser resurfacing also encourages the growth of new collagen, which stress over the holidays can cause to break down. Along with generally making the skin look younger and more vibrant, laser resurfacing can also be used to treat acne scarring, uneven skin tone, and even warts.
Botox
Botox is an injectable treatment used to relax the muscles in your face that cause wrinkles. It is most commonly used on the wrinkles between the eyebrows but the treatment is also useful for forehead creases, crows feet, and other wrinkles of the upper part of the face. If the holidays have led to a deepening of wrinkles in these areas but youre otherwise happy with your skins appearance, Botox might be the option for you. It doesn’t last forever, but if you dont mind coming in every few months and youre not ready for something like a facelift or brow lift, give us a call and ask about Botox.
Those are some non-surgical options for giving yourself a new look after the holidays this year. Most of us spend the holiday season caring for others and making memories for others, so its important to take a time-out (even if it isnt until after the holidays are over) and practice a little self-care. If you have any questions or want to schedule a consultation with our Physician Assistant, give us a call at (703) 574-2588.