It is believed that skin care is a matter of interest to almost everyone. Those who have good, strong skin are considered very fortunate. However, many people try all sorts of treatments, get quality rest, eat well, and maintain their skin diligently, yet still face persistent problems such as dryness, dehydration, sagging, acne, and large pores. With so many issues, beauty with medical help can assist you. Dr. Piyamas Singhwahanon, a specialist in Dermatology at the Phyathai 2 Hospital Beauty Center has the answers.
Many people want to try skin care with a doctor but still have concerns
If we take basic care of our skin ourselves, such as regularly applying moisturizer to help keep the skin hydrated or using anti-wrinkle creams for fine lines but still see no improvement, sometimes the problem may be deeper than what topical creams can address.
Normally, in the dermis layer, there are substances that help retain moisture, commonly known as Hyaluronic acid or HA, and there are collagen and elastin fibers that help the skin remain elastic, strong, and resistant to stretching. These key components gradually decrease as we age. HA continuously diminishes, collagen and elastin fibers begin to deteriorate, and collagen-producing cells reduce their activity. All of this results in dry skin, the formation of wrinkles, and sagging. The creams we apply cannot penetrate deeply enough into the skin layers.
For wrinkles that appear in certain areas such as the forehead, between the eyebrows, and the outer corners of the eyes, which are related to facial expressions (Dynamic wrinkle lines), these occur due to muscle contractions. When these muscles repeatedly contract, wrinkles that used to appear only during facial expressions like frowning, squinting, or smiling begin to appear even when the face is at rest (Static wrinkle lines).
We can address this problem with Botulinum toxin-A, commonly known as Botox, which works by reducing muscle activity, helping the face look younger. Early treatment when wrinkles appear only during facial expressions yields better results than waiting until static lines have formed over a long period.
Are there any side effects from injecting substances to nourish the face?
Normally, substances used for facial treatments should be approved by the FDA and internationally recognized, such as US FDA approved products. Safety is the top priority for any injected substance, whether it is Botox, fillers, moisturizing agents, or collagen stimulators (Biostimulators). The drugs or substances used should be well-studied with long-term follow-up on efficacy, treatment outcomes, and patient safety.
Possible side effects include:
- Bruising from needle tips hitting blood vessels may last 1-2 weeks. Applying cold compresses after injection can help alleviate the symptoms.
- HA-based fillers may cause swelling for 2-3 days or even weeks in some types due to water retention in the area, or a slight unevenness may be felt. When the filler integrates with the surrounding tissue, it will feel like normal skin.
However, other factors that may increase the chance of side effects include not only the substance used but also patient evaluation and the injection technique of the doctor, which all affect treatment outcomes, such as:
- Using Botox to reduce forehead wrinkles in some cases, the forehead muscles assist in opening the eyes or there is eyelid ptosis. Using too high a dose or injecting too low on the forehead may cause eyelid drooping. Injecting to reduce crow’s feet wrinkles, if done too low, may affect muscles not around the eyes, causing an uneven smile. Biostimulators that stimulate collagen production work gradually and should not be injected too frequently as this may cause excessive inflammation, leading to fibrosis under the skin, resulting in hard, uneven skin. Lightweight, fine HA fillers used for superficial skin injections spread across the cheeks. Caution is advised when injecting under the eyes or too superficially, as lumps may form.
Additionally, sterile technique during injections is crucial to prevent skin infections, a complication that doctors must carefully avoid.
What are the benefits of using modern tools, technology, and medications in treatment today?
Innovative tools and various injectable stimulators can be used together to treat skin degeneration problems for better results. If you are still young and do not have many issues, early facial skin care can help slow down skin aging and maintain youthfulness longer.
Skin degeneration starts from the deepest layer, including the facial bone structure and deep fat that support the face, moving up to muscles that contract excessively causing dynamic lines, then the SMAS layer, a thick, firm layer above the muscles that helps lift the skin and prevent sagging, and the superficial fat layer with membranes between fat cells that help tighten the face. Moving up to the dermis layer containing collagen that strengthens the skin. When facial problems such as sagging or wrinkles occur, doctors analyze the cause and location of the problem to select the appropriate tools, medications, or injectable substances.
What skin problems require which treatments?
- Large pores during adolescence mostly result from oily skin and hormones stimulating sebaceous glands. However, as age increases, dull skin combined with more visible pores usually results from collagen and HA degradation. Laser treatments to stimulate collagen production can help reduce pore size, combined with injections to increase skin hydration, improving skin brightness and smoothness. Sometimes patients mistakenly think large pores are caused by oily skin and use products for oily skin or scrub excessively, which worsens the condition and makes pores more visible.
- Large pores caused by oily skin do not necessarily require injections. It is recommended to use non-greasy skincare products, reduce heavy makeup, and avoid pore-clogging cosmetics to lower the risk of acne.
- For those with acne problems, primary treatment remains medication combined with cosmeceuticals. Laser treatment is an option mainly for treating acne scars or pits after acne is controlled to some extent.
Beauty with medical help is not as scary as you think
Nowadays, various tools and injectable substances are widely used in many types, including both approved and unapproved products. It is important to ask the treating doctor about the types of tools or substances used. Combining multiple treatments on the same day or within a short period sometimes requires consideration of long-term safety. Gathering preliminary information before treatment or consulting an experienced doctor to plan personalized treatment will help achieve satisfactory results for patients.
