When young, the skin appears normal and healthy.  The skins top layer or epidermis has a smooth and soft cornified surface that acts as a good barrier to water and environmental injury.  The color and tone is even and unblemished. The skin is full of collagen which provides firmness, elastin which gives skin its elasticity and ability to rebound and glycosaminoglycans or GAGs which keep the skin hydrated.  So what causes the skin to age, become wrinkled with brown spots?   It multi-factorial process of natural aging in addition to aging  resulting from sun exposure, smoking and life style

The Natural Aging Process or Intrinsic Aging

Intrinsic aging or the natural aging process takes place over the years regardless of outside influences. After the age of 20, a person produces about 1 percent less collagen each year in the skin. This results in the skin becoming thinner and more fragile. The skins function begins to slow down and less collagen and elastin is produced, along with less GAG formation. Wrinkle formation slowly begins to happen.

The Un-Natural Aging Process or Extrinsic Aging

Extrinsic aging happens in addition to intrinsic aging as a result of sun and environmental damage such as smoking and exposure to pollution. This Un-Natural Aging Process shows up as thickening of the cornified layer, precancerous lesions called actinic kurtosis, skin cancer (including basal cell carcinoma, squalors cell carcinoma, lentigo malignant melanoma); freckles and sun spot formation, and exaggerated loss of collagen, elastin, and GAGs. Alone or all together these processes give the skin rough appearance, uneven skin tone, scaly brown patches, thin skin and deep wrinkles.

Prevention

Prevention is key to minimizing wrinkles. The most important thing is to take care of your skin before all these changes start to take place. Sun protection against both UVA and UVB rays is critical 365 days a year using sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30 with a minimum of 7 – 9 % zinc oxide. After the age of 25, using a medical skin care line such as Obagi with Retin-A or Vitamin A is essential.  Obagi with vitamin A is a physician only skin care line that has been used for more than 30 years with a safe track record and excellent results. In the first two or three months patients may experience some redness, peeling and flaking which can be controlled by customizing the Obagi system to fit your lifestyle.   A marked improvement will begin to be seen within 2 - 3 weeks.  Over time using Obagi with vitamin A improves fine lines, the appearance of pores, precancerous changes, and brown spots.

Repair

The next step in repairing aging skin when Obagi with tretinoin is not enough is the medium depth chemical peels and non-invasive lasers.  This includes Fraxel, Profractional, Microlaser Peels, and Photofacials. In the case of extremely damaged and wrinkled skin, ablative skin re-surfacing Sciton Contour Laser can help re- build collagen and will improve the skin's appearance.

Chemical Peels

BBL Photofacials

Sciton Contour Ablative Resurfacing

Beautiful Skin is Age-Less

Healthy glowing skin is beautiful at all ages. Skin health is an important part of Dr. Marc DuPéré, Board Certified Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon practice.   It is the palette for all the procedures whether surgical or non-surgical.    When men and women are considering cosmetic rejuvenation procedures, the condition of the skin and the overall look can determine how the skin will heal and what the results will be after cosmetic procedures.

Being a result orientated cosmetic surgery practice, the Age-Less Clinic in Richmond Hill, we only provide treatments that have clinical data to prove that they work and give the results promised.  Our lasers are all hospital grade lasers and are not found in spas, or cosmetic clinics operated by nurses or family doctors.  We are the only clinic in York Region that provides full ablative resurfacing for brown spots, facial wrinkles and acne scarring with the Sciton Contour Resurfacing Laser.

Our consultations for skin care and skin repair are complimentary.  No referral is required.