Yes, says Nikki Rasmussen of YOLO Laser Center & Med Spa, a New Haven skin resurfacing treatment provider. At YOLO Laser Center & Med Spa in New Haven, skin resurfacing is performed using a process called MiXto®. A relatively new technology, MiXto is a fractionated CO2 laser used for erasing wrinkles, improving skin tone and lessening the appearance of acne scars.

What It Is

In years past, skin resurfacing was performed in an operating room under general anesthesia. Although results were usually very good, the procedure required a long and often painful recovery period – up to six months. Over the years, various technologies have been developed in an effort to replicate the results of surgical resurfacing, but without the excessive downtime and discomfort.

MiXto, Rasmussen explains, is a micro-fractional CO2 laser that can be used on all skin types to effectively reduce wrinkles, eliminate acne scarring and correct hyperpigmentation. MiXto can be used on the face, chest, neck and arms; and each treatment takes between 30 minutes and an hour.

“MiXto allows us to accomplish within one treatment – with less discomfort and cost – the kinds of results you could expect from three treatments with another kind of technology.”

Is It Right for You?

MiXto is a great choice for patients who are looking for an effective laser resurfacing treatment that is safe, tolerable, and effective, but with minimal downtime and pain. The procedure can be effective on both younger and older patients depending on the condition of the skin prior to treatment. MiXto is ideal for individuals concerned about the appearance of acne scars, fine lines or pigmentation problems. It can also be a very effective treatment for individuals who’ve undergone facelift surgery, but are still dissatisfied with the tone and texture of their skin.

MiXto Skin Resurfacing in New Haven

Ready to experience the benefits of MiXto for yourself? YOLO Laser Center & Med Spa is Connecticut’s premier laser center. This state-of-the-art facility is locally owned and operated by a team of well-qualified medical professionals. YOLO is committed to its patients’ comfort, safety and satisfaction above all else. That’s why YOLO offers the very latest, scientifically proven techniques and technologies and performs all of its treatments in a safe, comfortable, medically supervised environment.

If you want great results with minimal downtime, YOLO is your source for MiXto skin resurfacing in New Haven.

Hyperpigmentation occurs when patches of skin start to appear a bit darker than areas of the surrounding skin. The condition is almost always harmless but people consider it to be unsightly. For some, it can be a cause of real distress, especially when it appears on the face.

There are several reasons why people might have darker patches on their skin. Causes of hyperpigmentation include sun damage, allergic reactions, certain medications and hormone imbalances, just to name a few. Hyperpigmentation is more common that you might think, and based on the reason for it, you will need a skin treatment that is right for you.

Light-Based Options

There are several cosmetic ways to help treat hyperpigmentation. Nine times out of 10, it is treated with a light-based technology, such as a Fotofacial (IPL-Intense Pulsed Light) or BBL (Broadband Light). In this case, the light targets the melanin in the skin, and about three to five days after the treatment, some of the hyperpigmentation may get darker and then flake away.

You can also treat some hyperpigmentation with pharmaceutical grade skincare products containing prescription strength hydroquinone (four percent). At Mullica Hill Skincare, we carry Obagi and Glytone products which both contain that ingredient.

Laser Resurfacing

In some cases, if your skin has more damage from hyperpigmentation and needs to be removed through laser peels, then laser resurfacing is used. With this technique, the foremost layers of the damaged skin evaporate and help in revealing fresh and even toned skin.

As a pre-treatment procedure, you can be advised to use hydroquinone creams to avoid excessive hyperpigmentation after the treatment is over. The cause of the hyperpigmentation and the extent of it may dictate which removal method is best for you, so ask your physician or med spa professional for advice.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

Tags: age spots, BBL, dark patches, fotofacial, glytone, hyperpigmentation, laser, laser peel, laser resurfacing, med spa, obagi, skin, skincare products, sun damage, sun spots

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For years, individuals affected by melasma have sought effective, permanent treatment for their condition with little success. Now, however, dermatologists are seeing excellent results with new, cutting-edge treatments like “fractional” laser treatment.

What is Melasma?

Melasma is a medical condition involving discoloration of the skin, often on the face and neck. Often referred to as chloasma or the “mask of pregnancy” when it occurs in pregnant women, melasma is characterized by irregular patches of skin that are darker than the surrounding skin (hyperpigmentation). Melasma is not associated with any other physical symptoms.

Although the exact cause of melasma is not known, the condition is assumed to be hormone-related and occurs most often in women, particularly those who are pregnant or receiving hormone therapy. Melasma appears to be hereditary as people with a family history of melasma are more likely to develop the condition. You are also more likely to develop melasma if you have dark, brownish skin. Melasma is strongly associated with sun exposure and daily use of sunscreen seems to prevent the condition from developing. There may also be a link between certain types of cosmetics and melasma.

Can It Be Treated?

When it occurs during pregnancy or in response to hormone therapy, melasma often fades in the months following childbirth or cessation of hormone replacement, although it may return with subsequent pregnancies or use of these medications. Sometimes, though, melasma does not fade on its own.

For years, individuals affected by melasma have sought effective, permanent treatment for their condition with little success. Now, however, dermatologists are seeing excellent results with new, cutting-edge treatments like “fractional” laser treatment. This type of laser treatment involves the use of a specialized device that targets the cells below the surface of the skin that are responsible for causing the discoloration while leaving the surrounding skin cells unharmed.

Other popular and effective treatments for melasma include laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels and topical skin lighteners.

What Are the Benefits of Treatment?

Effective treatment of your melasma can offer improved self-image, improved social functioning and an enhanced overall quality of life. Melasma can have a severe psychological and emotional impact on individuals who are affected. Those who suffer from melasma are very likely to experience low self-esteem, diminished confidence in social situations and the feeling that they are treated differently by others as a result of their appearance. Treating the underlying cosmetic condition can help to eliminate these negative feelings.

Treatments are available that offer relatively quick results with only minimal downtime. In most cases, particularly if you choose to begin therapy with a topical cream, you will be able to return to your normal activities immediately and will not need to miss work or social engagements as a result of your treatment. If you choose a light chemical peel, you can generally return home or to work right away. If a deep chemical peel or intensive laser resurfacing procedure is performed, you can expect a longer recovery period, but usually not more than a few weeks.

Tags: brownish skin, chemical peels, childbirth, chloasma, condition, cosmetics, dark, darker, discoloration, face, hereditary, hormone, hormone replacement, hyperpigmentation, laser skin resurfacing, mask of pregnancy, medical condition, melasma, neck, physical symptoms, pregnant women, skin, sun exposure, sunscreen, therapy, topical skin tighteners

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R.I.P.

Historically speaking, skin lightening has been linked to the racial prejudices that Michael Jackson’s song spoke so passionately on way back in 1991. The specifics on colonial mentality and race supremacy do not need a mention here, save that they go hand in hand with legitimate conditions with regard to the pigmentation of human skin. What follows is not a guide for colored persons attempting to escape the confines of their race, but a pointer for people trying to understand the procedure and whether or not they need it.

What Is Skin Lightening?

Skin lightening refers to any procedure targeted at removing or blocking pigmentation from human skin. Traditionally, the procedure is done by applying topical substances like hydroquinone in the form of salves or ointments to break down melanin, the cause of skin color.  Since melanin’s main function is to block ultraviolet damage to skin, the practice can be dangerous, especially for older remedies that may contain toxic mercury. Other substances like makeup or sun block can reduce melanin production, but these are not permanent removals of existing color.

Modern medicine has provided more radical solutions to removing melanin. They are frequently applied in tandem with targeted lotions that inhibit melanin production. The most common are chemical skin peels, which use acids to dissolve existing pigmentation. Not only do they dissolve pigments, they literally melt away the top layer of skin and force the body to grow a new one. The practice is used on a smaller scale to remove moles and other discolorations, and can run anything from $160 glycolic acid peels to $1100 phenol peels, per treatment.

For a more dramatic story, you can also ask your dermatologist to burn the color away with a death ray straight out of War of the Worlds. Laser treatments are more powerful and more targeted, which makes them perfect for freckles and tattoos. You can also freeze the stuff off with cryosurgery, which reduces scarring and damage to the area.

Should I Get Lightened?

Most people can obtain skin lightening even without an existing condition or psychological evaluation. If you’re looking to get a peel done, be aware that several treatments may be necessary even for a small spot, and a full-body lightening will involve a long, expensive process. In addition, each treatment comes with recovery time for the skin to grow back, which will certainly impede your professional and social life.

There are a myriad of skin conditions that may require lightening to return to a healthy appearance. In the case of Michael Jackson, he was diagnosed with vitiligo, where the pigment producing melanocytes died off in his gloved hand. On the other end of the spectrum, melasma, chloasma or solar lentigenes are the most common conditions that cause excessive skin darkening.

What Are The Benefits?

Melanin is a necessary chemical in the human skin, but excessive amounts can lead to vitamin D deficiency. Medically speaking, a person will likely benefit from a skin lightening only if they have a preexisting condition. Ask your dermatologist about whether your condition has done permanent damage to your skin in order to ascertain the necessity for skin lightening.

What Are The Risks?

Skin lightening in most circumstances means a reduced protection from ultraviolet rays and skin cancers. A phenol peel in particular permanently destroys the ability to make melanin, and unless you’re a vampire, that means no more fun in the sun, ever.

Since these procedures are essentially destroying your skin, there is also the possibility of scarring, infection, and painful irritation- and those are only the expected side effects.

Even for an international pop icon like Michael Jackson, the decision to get skin lightening is not a light one. If the procedure is worth the change of appearance to you, or if it is necessary for your circumstances, please look into the specific procedure you want done and be sure it is the right one for you.