Fractional Laser and Aged Skin

Today, the availability of fractional lasers has been a major boost towards the treatment of photo aged skin. Several lasers have been developed in the last decade which are now showing great promise in reversing many skin disorders.


Unlike the previous lasers, fractional lasers have one common theme. They are selective in their effects and cause very little harm or damage to the surrounding normal skin. Even though there are several fractional lasers available, they all essentially perform in a similar manner and produce excellent results.


Lasers which penetrate the skin less are usually less painfully compared to lasers which penetrate deeper into the skin. However, deeper penetrating lasers also have a longer lasting cosmetic effect.


None of the fractional lasers have a permanent effect. All can cause temporary reversal of the fine lines and wrinkles.


Fractional lasers can be used to treat the following skin conditions:

- reversal of fine lines and wrinkles
- remove pigmented or skin discolorations
- reduce melasma (skin changes seen during pregnancy)
- reduce pore size
- reduce or improve the texture of scars
- smoothen out traumatic scars
- reduce signs of photo aging

All fractional lasers work in a similar way. The lasers generate a beam of energy which penetrates the deeper layers of the skin. The heat produced results in destruction of old pigmented cells and stimulates the synthesis of collagen and elastic. The collagen then adds to tissue support, fills up hollowed spaces and retains moisture. The end result is a skin which appears smooth, fresh and much younger looking.

The currently available fractional laser devices include

- Fraxel®,
- ActiveFXTM
- Lux 1540TM
- AffirmTM,
- ProFractionalTM

Most individuals need 4-6 sessions to get the optimal cosmetic benefit. Individuals who have deeper scars and wrinkles may need a few more sessions. The fractional lasers have minimal downtime and the side effects are mild. The most common side effects after the fractional laser treatment for aged skin include

- mild redness
- swelling
- bruising

These side effects are transient and usually disappear within 2-4 days. One can conceal the skin side effects with mascara or make up.


Because there are many people who perform fractional laser skin resurfacing to reverse the signs of aging, it is essential to choose your therapist well. The lure of money has numerous non health care professionals performing laser treatments all over the country. While complications are rare, they do occur and may be irreversible. So in the end, buyer beware. Before you go and get the signs of nature reversed it is important to read about the procedure, know what you want and have an estimate of what your budget is. Looking young does not come cheap- especially when it comes to lasers.

How to Get Rid of Age Spots

Age spots, or liver or sun spots, are small, brown flecks on the skin – often on the hands, arms and face. They are caused by both aging and exposing the skin to sunlight. Age spots are harmless and known medically as senile lentigines. There are many different types of treatment methods available today to lessen, prevent or eliminate age spots. Here are some of the most common options:



Laser Treatments – Laser treatments are often considered the most effective treatment to reduce or eliminate age spots, but they can also be the most expensive. There are different kinds of laser treatments. Some work to get rid of age spots from the first layers of skin, while others reduce pigment in sun spots, birthmarks and freckles. Not all types of laser treatments work on all types of dark spots. Some laser procedures may produce bruising that may last about a week.


Microdermabrasion Treatments – Microdermabrasion is a medical procedure that basically takes off the surface layers of skin to remove age spots. Some microdermabrasion techniques use high speed blasts of crystals to remove superficial skin layers, while other machines are gentler. A suction device or vacuum type of tool is used to remove the dead skin cells. The microdermabrasion method is said to encourage the growth of new skin cells.


Bleaching Products – Bleaching products work to fade age spots by breaking down the pigment, or melanin. It usually takes a few months of regularly using the bleaching product to notice a difference in the reduction of spots. Sometimes, these products may leave white areas on the skin.


Bleaching products containing hydroquinone may leave dark spots on darker skin and are recommended for use on very light skin only. Products made with kojic acid, a natural substance found in foods such as mushrooms, are more versatile and may actually prevent age spots by stopping melanin production.


Chemical Peels – Chemical peels remove superficial or shallow layers of skin to get rid of age spots. The amount of skin layers removed depends on how dark the pigment is and light, medium and deep chemical peels are available. Doctors perform chemical peeling procedures and there are also some over-the-counter chemical peels on the market. Alpha hydroxy acid often is only effective to remove age spots on very light skin colors.


Retinin A Treatments – Retinin A, or tretinoin, is usually applied to the age spots daily for six months. Many people notice a difference after a month of regular use. Some Retinin A treatments are combined with bleaching techniques. Retinin A may dry the skin and this may lead to an increased amount of age spots unless moisturizing products and sunscreen are also used. Studies of Retinin A suggest it reverses aging and promotes better-looking skin.

Image courtesy of Oprah.com

The Magic of Copper Peptides as Anti Aging Agents

In the last decade, there has been a trend of adding copper peptides to many cosmetic creams to reverse aging. The manufacturers who add copper peptides to these creams also charge exorbitant amounts for the postulated anti – aging benefits. But does copper really work as an anti-aging cream?


Copper is a heavy metal and a decent anti oxidant. In experimental studies it has been shown to stimulate collagen synthesis and also has the ability to heal wounds. Copper is an essential element for collagen to form properly. A few clinical studies have shown that application of copper peptides can increase collagen synthesis. This was proven by performing biopsies of the skin. Copper was much more efficient than either vitamin C or Tretinoin at reversing wrinkles and lines on the face and neck.


Currently copper peptide formulations have been shown to erase fine lines, increase the tone of the skin by stimulating elastin synthesis and reduce skin sagging. Copper is also a potent anti oxidant and has been shown to protect the skin from many environmental conditions including extremes of cold and heat. Copper peptides have also been shown to retain water, thus maintaining the skin hydrated.



The daily recommended allowance of copper is about 2 mg per day. For the majority of individuals this is adequate and easily obtained from the diet. However, free copper does not easily get to the skin. Simply buying copper and applying a solution does not guarantee access to the deeper layers. The copper has to be specially formulated with peptides to ensure that it will penetrate the skin and reach the lower layers where it can stimulate the synthesis of collagen.


Today there are many types of copper peptide formulations for the improvement of skin. For those who want to treat the wrinkles and fine lines, Copper based products are available all over cyberspace. It is important to read the labels to ensure that copper peptides are present if you want a cream which as anti aging properties.


The prices of copper peptide based formulation are also expensive.


Finally, aging is a complex issue and there is no one mineral or element which can turn back time. While copper peptides may not be the ultimate panacea for aging, the creams will certainly bring back some youth and beauty