This+column+features+weekly+tips+and+advice+from+a+revolving+cast+of+industry+leaders,+on+hand+to+discuss+your+beauty+dilemmas,+from+blemishes+to+Botox.+To+submit+a+question,+e-mail+celia+_ellenberg@fairchildfashion.
I m+ready+for+my+first+laser+treatment+and+want+to+know+how+best+to+proceed+as+far+as+treating+my+lingering+dark+spots+quickly,+efficiently,+and+with+the+least+downtime.+Is+Fraxel+my+best+bet?
I+am+not+a+big+fan+of+Fraxel+as+it+is+painful,+and+frankly+I+have+not+seen+that+it+gives+any+better+results+than+a+standard+chemical+peel.+It s+non-invasive+and+effectively+removes+dark+spots+and+resurfaces+the+skin,+but+the+skin+really+looks+sunburnt+for+a+week.+Furthermore,+it s+considerably+more+expensive+than+a+peel.+I+quite+like+customized+chemical+peels+that+combine+alpha+and+beta+hydroxy+acids+together+with+TCA+[trichloracetic+acid].+The+combination+of+acids+exfoliates+the+skin+and+removes+dead+cells,+but+it+also+resurfaces+while+removing+dark+spots+caused+by+hyperpigmentation.+Based+on+the+concentration+of+the+acids+that+we+are+combine,+we+can+determine+the+depth+of+the+peel+and+customize+it+to+the+patient s+needs.+It s+excellent+and+a+much+cheaper+alternative+to+Fraxel.
Dr.+Marko+Lens+is+a+consultant+plastic+and+reconstructive+surgeon+and+an+internationally+renowned+expert+in+the+field+of+skin+cancer+and+skin+aging.+A+fellow+of+the+Royal+College+of+Surgeons,+Dr.+Lens+works+out+of+his+own+private+practice+in+London,+where+his+extensive+research+into+the+process+of+skin+aging+led+him+to+create+Zelens,+a+range+of+advanced+cosmeceuticals+that+utilize+potent+plant-derived+ingredients+spiked+with+biotechnological+actives.