Now that summer is here, we get many questions about refreshing skin.  We mostly tell our Los Angeles cosmetic surgery patients, “Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen.”  There is nothing more important to youthful skin than protecting it from the harsh rays of the sun.  This is especially so here in Southern California.

A recent scientific study looked at some of the common skincare treatments and how they help improve the appearance of skin.  The article is interesting.  Here is a summary—

The researchers report an emerging picture of collagen collapse and possible renewal, based on more than a decade of studies, in the May issue of Archives of Dermatology.

The article draws on dozens of studies since the early 1990s, conducted primarily by U-M dermatologists, to explain why three types of available skin treatments are effective: topical retinoic acid, carbon dioxide laser resurfacing and injections of cross-linked hyaluronic acid.

These treatments all improve the skin’s appearance – and its ability to resist bruises and tears – by stimulating new collagen. Collagen is a key supporting substance, plentiful in young skin, that’s produced in the sub-surface layer of skin known as the dermis. The U-M findings show that the breakdown of the dermis’ firm, youthful structure is a very important factor in skin aging – a much more straightforward thing to fix than genetic factors that others theorize may be involved.

Good skin appeals to everyone, even those coming to our office for unrelated procedures such as liposuction.