Correction of aging skin is one of the main reasons we developed the Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center (SMAC). The analogy we often use is represented below, with the athletic socks. When our skin is young it is like a pair of new socks with great elasticity. However when we age, due to forces like sun damage, smoking, hormones, radiation and just getting older, our skin loses its elasticity and begins to look like a pair of old socks.

The science of skin aging is actually quite interesting. There are 2 broad categories we use to help us understand how skin ages. The first is chronological aging and reflects the changes occurring in our skin by just getting older. This causes the skin to lose rigidity, become more fragile and bruise or tear easily. The other is extrinsic aging – changes to the skin caused by external influences. Most of these changes – in fact about 90%-- are due to sun damage. This occurs through ultraviolet rays – both UVA and UVB.

The woman in the photo to the left was a truck driver and was exposed to sun on the left side of her face only.

At SMAC we have special tools that can actually measure the amount of sun damage. The VISIA system is used to take a special photo of the skin that reveals all the damage in the skin layers, including sun damage. This information is then used to design a customized treatment for your skin.

Other causes of sun damage are smoking, radiation, extreme diets, stress, alcohol and pollution. The photo to the right is of identical twins. One was a smoker, the other was not. See how the smoker has more damaged skin.

At SMAC we can design a customized plan for correction of aging skin including lasers, skin creams and growth factor treatments. Call us today for your free VISIA analysis!