Wrinkles & Skin Texture
Dr. Melanie Palm is a nationally recognized dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon specializing in the treatment of wrinkles and skin texture improvement. Her offices are located in Solana Beach, CA just north of San Diego. Dr. Palm lectures nationally on facial rejuvenation for wrinkle and skin texture improvement. She offers many effective treatment options for wrinkles and coarse skin texture.
Wrinkles, Coarse Skin Texture and Why They Occur?
Sun exposure, ultraviolet light, tanning booths, environmental exposure, genetics, and the passage of time all lead to skin aging changes including coarse skin texture and wrinkles. In certain areas of the face, wrinkles are often caused by expression and muscular movement over time.
The following are common wrinkles and skin texture changes seen on the skin:
- Coarse skin texture: age, weather, and sunlight all cause permanent changes in the collagen and elastin that provides structure and bounce back to our skin
- Wrinkles (rhytids): some are formed by muscle movement over time, but many wrinkles are the result of collagen and skin destruction by UV and the elements over time.
- Wrinkles caused by muscle movement: crow’s feet, angry 11 lines between the brows, forehead lines, lipstick lines around the mouth, and bunny lines on the nose
- Yellow discoloration (sallowness): resulting from blood vessel and collagen damage to the skin
- Skin thinning (atrophy): normal aging results in skin thinning but can be accelerated by sun and UV exposure
- Severe sun damage (dermatoheliosis): the most severe form of sun damage, the skin appears waxy, heavily and deeply wrinkled, yellow, and may have large blackheads present
Treatment Options for Wrinkles and Coarse Skin Texture
The correct choice or combination of treatment options for aging changes in the skin depend on the underlying issue and cause of wrinkles and skin texture changes.
The following treatments are commonly used alone or in combination for wrinkles and coarse skin texture:
- Botox: Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin are all FDA-approved botulinum toxins that relax overactive muscles and improve wrinkles related to overly expressive facial animation. Treatment is often indicated for improvement of crow’s feet, angry 11 lines (furrows) between the brows, forehead lines, bunny lines on the nose, and lip lines around the mouth..
- Injectable fillers: these are diverse in their uses and can improve fine etched lines, soften deeper folds, and provide structure to the face to improve overall shape
- Fine lines: Belotero, Restylane Silk, and Volbella are all hyaluronic acid filler products that can be placed superficially in the skin to improve fine wrinkles such as lip lines, etched cheek lines, crow’s feet, frown lines, and horizontal necklace lines on the neck.
- Moderate to severe folds: more robust fillers such as Radiesse, Restylane, and Juvederm can correct deeper folds that are more than small lines
- Facial structuring and balancing: injectables such as Radiesse, Sculptra, Voluma, Restylane Lyft, and fat transfer can provide structural support to the face, lifting tissues and improving skin texture.
- Lasers , Lights, and Devices:
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL or photofacial): Although IPL treatments mostly improve skin tone, a series of treatments helps build a bit of collagen which improves skin texture. It may be combined with lasers such as ResurFX or CO2 laser resurfacing for more impressive skin textural changes are desired.
- ResurFX: ResurFX is an infrared laser very similar to Fraxel Re:Store. It offers a comfortable, minimal downtime procedure for mild to moderate wrinkles and skin texture changes. It is best done as a series of treatments.
- CO2 laser resurfacing: CO2 laser treatment is an ablative treatment meaning it selectively removes and resurfaces a portion of the skin. It requires typically a week of downtime and is an effective treatment for moderate to severe wrinkles and skin textural changes, typically in lighter skin types.
- Ultherapy: Ultherapy is a ultrasound-based device that primarily helps with skin tightening, although a superficial setting can help with skin textural improvements in the eye, cheek, and neck region.
- Peels:
- Glycolic acid peel: this alpha-hydroxy acid peel is superficial but a series of treatments helps to combat dyspigmentation and encourages new collagen growth. Patients may notice a small improvement in skin texture or wrinkles
- Medical therapy: medications are commonly used to prevent, control and to some extent reverse the signs of skin aging:
- Sunscreen: photoprotection is part of a proactive means to prevent further UV exposure, sun damage, prevent skin texture changes, and the development of precancerous spots.
- Retinoids: prescription-strength vitamin A derivatives such as tretinoin (Retin-A) or tazarotene have been shown to build collagen, fight pigmentation, and thicken the skin.
- Cosmeceuticals: physician-grade topical skin care products used at home can greatly improve the appearance of the skin. Glycolic acid, vitamin C, and growth factors are just some of the active ingredients that can improve the appearance of the skin.
A combination approach is sometimes ideal to improve the appearance of skin texture and wrinkles. Non-invasive and minimally invasive techniques are often combined with topical skin care regimens at Art of Skin MD to achieve the aesthetic goals of our patients in regards to aging changes of the skin.
If you are looking for a dermatologist to treat wrinkles & skin texture in the San Diego area, call Dr. Melanie Palm at 858.792.SKIN (7546) to schedule your appointment.
