As we start a new year in 2017, we are excited to announce a new membership that our patients can take advantage of to continue to rejuvenate and restore their skin clinically. The Radiance Membership allows patients the flexibility of selecting between photorejuvenation or microneedling on a monthly basis for best skin health.

Photorejuvenation is a light-based procedure which literally changes gene production of proteins in the skin, repairing damage to cells that can appear as brown spots, redness, small vessels or “broken” vessels as well as textural irregularities that occur with age and sun exposure. This non-invasive lunchtime procedure is most helpful in giving an even skin color or tone, as well as producing proteins that mimic youthful skin. Dr.  Patrick Bitters performed a clinical trial that compared skin biopsies of college students to 70+ year old skin that had undergone 3 photorejuvenation procedures. The two types of cells were almost identical—young, relatively undamaged versus severely damaged but yet treated with photorejuvenation post-damage. Thus, this is an excellent way to both reverse damage and create a healthy and youthful appearance to the skin.

Photorejuvenation can be used on both the face, and the body. Best treatment is a field treatment approach—meaning, best treatment is not to simply treat a single brown discoloration on the cheek, but rather to treat the entire face. The reason for this is that if there is evidence of photodamage visually at one location in a cosmetic zone, there is likely more damage that will come forth if left untreated. Many patients find that when they treat one area such as the face, the neck and chest are now mandatory to treat because now one area looks healthy and beautiful, augmenting the effects of photodamage and aging on the other non-treated areas. This is similar to the concept of painting one room in the house—now it emphasizes the need to treat the hallway and other rooms!

There is some controversy within the esthetic field as to whether melasma is clinically appropriate to treat with photorejuvenation. I believe, at the correct settings, and with the correct photofacial device, it can be utilized in conjunction with skincare and other modalities to achieve correction in color tonality with melasma patients. However, I do not think this is ever the only treatment to be utilized for melasma, and it is never appropriate to perform on melasma patients in the sunny and warm summer months. Thus, at Dermatology Office we simply discourage any melasma patient from having photorejuvenation procedures between Memorial Day and Labor Day, or if a patient is planning a trip in the winter months to a sunny and warm location.

For these patients who choose to join the new Radiance Membership, microneedling is a wonderful way to treat both pigmentation issues such as melasma, as well as fine lines and texture irregularities in the skin regardless of the time of year. At the American Academy of Dermatology’s Annual 2015 meeting, thought leaders in the United States stood at the podium and touted the benefits of microneedling, over and above previously recommended laser treatments, especially in patients with pigmentation because of the lack of heat involved with this procedure. Of course, lasers are still the perfect solution for the vast majority of patients, but in a procedure that can be performed easily, and on a monthly basis, microneedling makes a lot of sense for patients who wish to routinely treat their skin health and structure.

Normal microneedling or photorejuvenation is typically is priced at $350 per area (face, neck, chest or hands) but Radiance Members receive the monthly price of $199. Additional benefits of the Radiance Membership include discounts on skincare, laser procedures, Botox and fillers as well, whenever the patient chooses. There are no limits to the amount of discounts that a Radiance Member can receive.

For more information about the Radiance Membership, please contact the Dermatology Office  of Dr. Ellen Turner at  214-373-7546.