Are You Prepared for Your Winter ‘Skin-tervention’?

You can moisturize religiously and sleep next to a humidifier, but at some point this winter, you’re likely still going to need a skin-tervention. Even the most well-thought-out skincare regimen is capable of only doing so much to counter the effects of winter’s relentless tormenting.

But rather than let this news sink your mood for the day, let it inspire you to be proactive. There are a number of treatments available trough board-certified dermatologists that can help rejuvenate seasonally affected skin. These are three of the most effective (and popular) ones.

Clear + Brilliant

Often referred to as the “gentle laser,” a Clear + Brilliant treatment improves skin texture with little to no downtime. Thousands of tiny laser beams create shallow punctures in the skin. As these micro-injuries heal, the body’s natural collagen production ramps up, which ultimately results in brighter, smoother, more even-toned skin. Even more, those results will last for several months or longer if you get the occasional maintenance treatment* and commit to protecting yourself from the sun come spring and summer.

(*For the best results, your dermatologist is likely going to recommend that you have three to six treatments, with about a month in between each. You’ll probably experience some redness following a treatment, but it shouldn’t be severe enough to prevent you from going about your normal activities.)

HydraFacial

Think of a HydraFacial as a facial with a little more oomph. The treatment follows the same basic process as a standard facial, but at each step, there’s a little something extra. A deep cleanse, for example, is paired with suction to really clean out your pores. The exfoliation is a light salicylic and glycolic acid peel. And the hydration portion is a customized combination of antioxidants, peptides, and hyaluronic acid that’s intended to resolve texture issues, minimize fine lines and pores, and leave your skin with a vibrant glow.

The results generally last for a few weeks. For a longer-lasting effect, plan to have six HydraFacials about two weeks apart and then a maintenance treatment every couple of months after that.

Dermaplaning

A word of warning: If this is your first time hearing about dermaplaning, the following description probably won’t endear you to it. That said, it sounds a lot worse than it is. The dermatologist uses a surgical scalpel to shave off the topmost layers of your dead skin (along with all the fuzz on your face). The procedure takes only about a half-hour, there’s no downtime, and it will leave you with smooth, brightened skin.

Even more, skincare products will penetrate more deeply following the treatment. And as your skin’s natural regenerative response kicks in, your appearance will further improve. With a series of treatments (up to six, about a month apart), you’ll see fewer fine lines, acne scars, and dark spots.

Dermaplaning is perfectly safe, but it’s not something that should ever be done outside of a board-certified dermatologist’s office.