One of the most frequent complaints voiced from younger and older women alike is enlarged pores. Pores tend to appear large for several reasons. In the younger patient, large pores are often familial (passed along in the family genes), and are more obvious in some skin types. In the older patient, enlarged pores are usually the result of poor cellular turnover, which in turn causes the pore to flatten out and appear larger. Loss of elastin in the skin and decreased collagen production also contribute to enlarged pores.

Think about a child's skin. It is smooth, soft, supple and seemingly free of pores. With new technologies, baby soft skin is attainable for just about anyone, regardless of your current skin condition. So what can you do to decrease the appearance of your pores, giving you the smooth skin look you covet?

For starters, as you know, a good skin care regimen is very important. Regardless of what your favorite moisturizer might be, make certain that you're applying a prescription strength alpha-hydroxy acid or retinoid to your face daily. These promote cell turnover, which in turn makes the skin thicker and pores less obvious. Also, daily use of high quality sunscreen is a must. If your skin needs professional help, there are several options available to fit your personal needs and goals.

Light chemical peels, performed repeatedly over time, will reduce pore size and correct other imperfections of the skin. To get the best result, a series of six to ten peels on a weekly basis is recommended. A deep chemical peel is another option, but the healing time and risk of pigmentation changes makes it a less desirable alternative.

Microdermabrasion, or vibradermabrasion is another way to reduce the appearance of pore size. Vibradermabrasion is performed at Rejuvena Cosmetic Medical Center. It employs a metal paddle that oscillates at a very high rate, gently abrading the skin, promoting exfoliation of dead skin cells and stimulating cellular turnover (production). It eliminates the need for messy crystals and suction, and has been shown to be more effective than microdermabrasion. Depending on the extent of your problem, six or more treatments on a weekly basis may be recommended.

Laser treatments, such as the Medlite laser peel, the Elos FotoFacial, and Fraxel SR1500 (Fraxel ll) will give more dramatic results in less time and fewer treatments, in general. These procedures stimulate collagen regeneration giving the skin a smoother texture overall. The Medlite Rejuvenation procedure combines vibradermabrasion and Yag laser treatment in a series of four to six treatments, spaced three weeks apart. Elos FotoFacial uses radiofrequency combined with pulsed light to stimulate epidermal cell rejuvenation. Fraxel ll penetrates more deeply than the others. With Fraxel results can be more dramatic and obtained with fewer treatments.

Dr. Hardt and her experienced staff can help you decide which of these procedures is most appropriate for your particular skin condition.

At Rejuvena, we do not charge for consultations. To schedule your free consultation, please email or call us at (405)842-1100.