Whether you’re in your 20s or your 50s, at some point, you may begin wondering when to get serious about anti-aging treatments. Most people will admit that wrinkles, brown spots and other signs of aging were not a concern in their early years. But, they wish it had been. In truth, most of our age begins to show due to years of neglecting our skin.
These days, there are several scientific and technological ways to tackle wrinkles, lines, sagging skin and more. Apart from surgery, the most effective of these is a skin resurfacing treatment with a strong laser.
A resurfacing laser can do wonders to ‘turn back the clock,’ as it were. But the question is: can it be preventative too? At what age should people consider laser skin resurfacing?
According to Beautiful Canadian Laser and Skincare Clinic, which offers multiple types of skin rejuvenation in Vancouver, the answer is not as simple as pinpointing an age, and saying “that’s it - that’s when you should get laser skin treatments.”
So, they recommend asking yourself the following questions to determine if this cosmetic treatment is right for you.
Have you had a lot of sun exposure in your youth?
While almost everyone can admit to having tanned or even burned from the sun at least once in their life, there are telltale signs on someone’s skin when they’ve had excessive sun exposure without sun protection. For example, sports players, sun bathers (including with tanning machines), people who drive or work outside for a living, ‘outdoorsy types’… these are all activities that can lead to advanced aging. Even working a computer near a window can cause aging!
For this reason, brown spots, freckles, wrinkles and uneven texture may appear earlier in life than some who are older, but did not have as much sun exposure, or who were diligent with sun protection. If you fall in this boat, then beginning treatments early may be wise.
It’s best to start by seeing a doctor experienced in laser skin rejuvenation. A UV photograph can reveal sun damage lurking under your skin, so you can see the ‘invisible’ spots that may be treatable now, instead of later.
And, it goes without saying that you’ll need to adopt a mantra of applying sunscreen every single day before and after your treatment, and forevermore!
Do you have a darker skin tone?
We want to be clear that skin resurfacing is not meant to be a ‘skin bleaching’ solution. When we mention skin tone as being a question of whether or not to seek this treatment, we are referring to the likelihood of forming melasma or hyperpigmentation.
On the one hand, those with darker skin can have hyperpigmentation already. They may want to treat it, to achieve an even skin tone. But on the other hand, incorrect use of lasers on dark skin tones can cause hyperpigmentation.
So before rushing to use lasers on you (if you have dark skin), a doctor should be carefully evaluating your case. Some may even refer you to another doctor, who is more apt at treating hyperpigmentation on skin of colour. That’s how sensitive coloured skin can be to lasers.
Do you have acne scars, large pores or other skin problems from your youth?
Those who have suffered from severe acne in their youth will know how horrible this skin condition is. It can leave you with textured skin, including all kinds of acne scars - both pitted and raised.
Skin resurfacing treatments - whether with lasers or chemical peels, can go a long way in helping to clear up acne scars, or other types of scars (such as from pox or burns). This is not age dependent. As soon as your acne has been dealt with through other means, you may be eligible for skin resurfacing to smooth your skin again.
If you are older in age and have been living with acne scars for a long time, there’s no need to wait to book a consultation for this treatment. Depending on your skin tone and health history, you may be eligible to undergo the laser right away.
Do you have an established skin routine already?
No matter what age you are, there is no laser that will fix all your skin problems if you are not diligent to practice a good skin routine at home. This includes using medical-grade products tailored to your needs, as advised by an aesthetician or doctor.
Not only that, but skin that is being treated daily will already be resilient, and thus prepared, for the effects of laser skin resurfacing. A doctor will likely recommend a pre and post-procedure regimen specifically for the laser skin resurfacing treatment. This will help ensure you get better results, and fewer side effects.
Do wrinkles and spots bother you?
The final question is whether or not wrinkles, spots and other signs of aging bother you. If this is something you are worried about, then you may be self-conscious about mild, fine lines in your earlier years.
In these cases, there are preventative benefits to laser skin rejuvenation. However, these don’t need to be as strong as a full-on, skin resurfacing laser treatment. You can opt for milder versions of laser peels or laser facials. Even hot microneedling could work for you. These milder treatments come with less downtime, and are ideal for those who need to get back to work or ‘life’ right away. But, they must be performed more often, to see results.
If you are older, deeper-set wrinkles and creases may make you wonder, ‘where did the years go?’ You may want to do something to make yourself look and feel good. If you are up for the longer healing time that comes with a CO2 skin resurfacing treatment, then it may just do wonders for your case.
Age is really just a number when it comes to laser skin resurfacing!
As we’ve seen above, when considering laser skin resurfacing, the question is not so much about age. It is more about your own history with skin care, and your skin’s current state. It can also be about your concerns and preferences. It is certainly possible to get early, preventative, laser skin rejuvenation treatments. Or, if you already have more visible signs of aging, you can see a doctor about how far skin resurfacing can take you. But there is no magic number to decide when you should consider laser skin resurfacing treatments.
About the author
Led by industry veteran Dr. Shah, Beautiful Canadian Laser and Skincare Clinic has been offering Vancouver Fraxel® treatments, alongside CO2 skin resurfacing, for over a decade.
Photo by Jan Kopřiva on Unsplash
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