For many of us, our bodies have been covered by comfy sweats and loungewear for months (and honestly, it’s felt pretty nice.) But now that it’s summer and time to bare your skin to the world, are you ready?
Fortunately, it’s never too late to start preparing your skin for summer. Here are a few of our favorite summer prepping tools, along with tips for maximizing your results.
Shaving
There are three cardinal rules to adhere to when shaving any area of your body: 1) Use a moisturizing and non-irritating shaving cream/gel. We recommend a product formulated for sensitive skin, 2) use a sharp razor, which will cut hair cleanly and 3) moisturize your skin immediately following your shave. If you follow these three rules, you will experience a dramatic improvement in the amount of razor burn and ingrown hairs you experience.
Expert tip: People underestimate the power of moisturizer. Moisturizer helps to lock in moisture, of course, but it also serves to maintain your skin’s natural protective barrier, revealing a smoother appearance to your skin.
Laser hair reduction
It’s never too late to start a series of laser hair removal treatments. As long as you are not tanned and fully protect your treated skin from UV exposure, you can safely undergo laser hair removal during the summer. During your personal consultation, we can help you determine if laser hair reduction is a good option for you. It generally works best on lighter skin types with darker hair roots. If your hair roots are blonde or white, laser hair removal is not an effective solution.
Expert tip: To achieve your best results, you’ll need to avoid plucking or waxing your treatment areas and switch to shaving exclusively. Shaving your treatment areas helps to keep your hair in the active, treatable stages of hair growth, which is essential to the efficacy of your treatment.
Physical sunscreen
For years, sunscreen was relegated to periodic beach outings and pool days. But sunscreen should be a daily skin care tool because it’s clinically proven to be your most effective weapon against aging and skin cancer. It’s surprising to hear, but sun exposure, not your age, is the primary cause of all the dullness, large pores, redness, lines, wrinkles and age spots you see.
Expert tip: Choose a physical sunscreen (this means one with titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide, not chemicals). Physical sunscreens literally block UV rays from penetrating your skin, whereas chemical sunscreens rely on a chemical reaction within the skin. Here at Abilene Plastic Surgery and MedSpa, we carry medical-grade sunscreens for all skin types, including SkinMedica® formulations that are tinted and non-tinted, mattifying or hydrating. These professional formulations are also packed with protective antioxidants to fight free-radical damage, so you’re fortifying your skin for even more beauty benefits. The more you can protect your skin, the more your skin will be able to renew itself, turning its cells over, growing healthy new collagen and elastin and revealing a healthy glow. You can also reverse sun damage and correct uneven pigmentation issues with a non-invasive intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment called BBL™. BBL photofacials are considered the gold standard in the aesthetic industry for correcting pigmentation issues, including age spots, sun spots, brown spots, redness and rosacea, but they can also erase vein concerns like broken capillaries and other causes of ruddiness. Plus, there’s no downtime with BBL photofacials, so this treatment is a breeze to schedule into your day.
Please be assured that we are following all safety guidelines as recommended by the CDC and regard your safety and wellness as our top priorities. To learn more about protecting the health and beauty of your skin this summer, please call (325) 670-5320. You can also fill out our online consultation request form today. We can’t wait to see you soon!