The Science of Medically-Based Skin Care
At Hubbard Plastic Surgery our medically licensed skin care specialist in Virginia Beach uses a variety of scientifically proven products, peels and procedures to rejuvenate and protect the skin.
Our skin care specialist and registered nurse Denise Kale brings a high level of expertise to our skin rejuvenation patients. Request a consultation online or contact our office by calling (757) 687-1900 to learn more about skin care in Virginia Beach, VA.
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Dr. Thomas Hubbard.
World-renowned plastic surgeons and dermatologists have come to agreement on the proven effectiveness of only a few products. Studies have established the value of the following:
- Tretinoin products, most commonly Retin-A and Renova
- Hydroquinone (most commonly used as a 4% compound)
- Alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid and lactic acid
- Topical Vitamin C products (only in specific concentrations and forms)
There are a variety of other treatments and skin care products that are categorized as providing "comfort" but have not been shown to reverse signs of aging and sun damage. These less effective options include many popular cosmetic brands, various types of "facials" and all forms of topical oxygen therapy to the skin.
Alternative treatments that are more invasive are highly effective in reversing aging and sun damage, such as laser resurfacing, surgical chemical peels, and dermabrasion. Many of these treatments (such as microdermabrasion and other peels) enable the products to penetrate more deeply and work more effectively. These peels also equalize irregular pigmentation on the face and some have been shown to improve fine lines with regular treatment.
Let's look more closely at those select few proven skin care products.
These agents are highly successful at the four general goals we have from a medical scientific point of view for skin care:
- They remove solar elastosis, that dominate the appearance of sun damaged aged skin when examined under a microscope
- They augment the production of the major skin component of glycosaminoglycans that hold hydration in the skin
- They increase the production of new collagen or protein and elastic fibers, and
- They promote the development of new blood vessels.
The tretinoin group accomplishes all 4 of these goals. They require considerable patience due to their skin irritation properties in the early weeks of treatment. Persistence, however, is extremely valuable, as the long-term rewards are great.
Next in our select group are the alphahydroxy acid products which have been proven to increase glycosaminoglycans to more normalize hydration of the skin. The latest formulations of topical Vitamin C can penetrate the skin to accomplish levels 20 times higher than what can be obtained with oral Vitamin C.
It has been shown to increase collagen or protein in the skin but Vitamin C's greatest contribution is prevention of ongoing and future sun and environmental damage. As a free radical scavenger it protects our DNA, it protects our immune system that has been shown to be harmed by sunlight, and it has been shown to immediately and dramatically decrease inflammation in the setting of sunburn. No longer is a sunscreen alone sufficient when outside. Overall protection is much more dramatic when accompanied by properly formulated and applied topical Vitamin C.
Finally, hydroquinone is proven extremely effective at correcting the blotchy irregular pigmented appearance of sun damaged skin. Its scientific mechanism of action is clearly understood. Experience has shown that hydroquinone is significantly more effective when used simultaneously with a tretinoin product and/or an alphahydroxy acid.
