Winter Skincare & Treatment Recommendations from our Dermatologists
Winter is the perfect time for so many of our favorite things (we’re looking at you, holidays and sweater weather), with its lower humidity and cooler temperatures. This makes now the perfect time for certain skincare treatments – and a not-so-ideal time for others. Read below for our recommendations.
DO:
Laser treatments. Fall and winter are by far the most popular time for lasers. Fraxel, CO2 and other facial resurfacing lasers, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) are just a few examples. In fact, you can read our 2020 article on why fall is a fantastic time for laser treatments here. We cannot and do not perform these procedures when patients are freshly tanned from the sun, so fall and winter are the best time to do them when your tan is at its minimum! Some of these lasers require multiple treatment sessions, so we recommend beginning the treatments in the fall and continuing your series throughout the winter.
Vein treatments. These are also a very popular skincare treatment in the winter. After many of our vein procedures, you will be required to wear full length compression stockings for up to a week. We have found that patients prefer to do these procedures in the fall/winter when it is easier to wear pants over the compression garments.
Neck and Chest Treatments. Fall and winter are a popular time for neck and chest treatments. The skin on the neck and chest is thinner and more prone to bruising as well as prolonged healing after treatments. Patients tend to prefer to do these procedures in the fall and winter when it is easier to cover any bruises, swelling or redness with clothes. Popular treatments for neck and chest laxity and wrinkles include Sculptra or Radiesse injections to stimulate collagen, microneedling with radiofrequency (Genius or Profound), Fraxel laser resurfacing and non-invasive skin tightening devices (Sofwave or Thermage)!
DON’T:
Schedule anything before a busy week. Patients should factor in the “downtime” of any procedure prior to scheduling. For example: Filler has a risk of bruising that can last 1-2 weeks. With Fraxel and microneedling, you want to give yourself about a week of “downtime” for swelling and recovery. Downtime after these procedures varies depending on the severity and doesn’t necessarily mean you will have to take time off of work. We just wouldn’t want you to have a holiday party or family photos the day after your procedure.
Plan treatment right after a trip. As we mentioned above, if you just got back from a trip where you spent a lot of time in the sun, we cannot perform laser treatments until your new tan has faded.
When in doubt, set up an appointment with one of our providers to discuss what winter skincare treatments are right for you. At your consultation, your physician will go over all of the details with you so you can plan accordingly and schedule your treatments with what best fits your timeline.