As your skin ages, it loses the ability to retain moisture and collagen, leading to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Sometimes even youthful skin needs a little help stimulating cell turnover and getting rid of dry or dead cells blocking the radiant, smooth skin underneath. To bring back your skin's smoothness, try a combination of regular exfoliation, moisture and occasional alpha hydroxy treatment. Dermatologists can offer a more intense treatment regimen including microdermabrasion and laser resurfacing.
Exfoliate
Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin using a mild abrasive such as a face or body scrub. When the dead cells are sloughed off, the smooth skin underneath emerges. You can do it yourself with gentle store-bought scrubs or visit a dermatologist for a stronger chemical exfoliant. Hollywood spa owner and "skin guru" Ole Henriksen, famous for celebrity clients such as Katy Perry, likens exfoliation to an investment in your skin's future, citing improved oxygenation of the skin, circulation and cell turnover.
Moisturize
If your skin lacks smoothness because of rough, dry or scaly patches, try increasing the amount of moisturizer you use. Abundant moisture can go a long way toward smoothing small lines, emerging wrinkles and scaly skin. Use lukewarm water to wash and avoid using plain soap as a cleanser. Instead, wash with a cleanser that has the same pH as your skin--about 5.5. After you bathe or shower, rub bath oil or lotion into your skin to help seal in moisture and keep the dry patches from recurring. The New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated recommends using no less than 8.8 oz. of moisturizer, applied anywhere from once a day to every few hours as needed.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid Treatments
Alpha hydroxy acids, also called AHAs, help the skin shed the outermost layer of dead or damaged cells to reveal the smooth, fresh skin underneath. If your skin appears rough, dull, uneven or lined, an alpha hydroxy acid may help. The types of acid used include glycolic acid, lactic acid and citric acid. These are all acids found in nature, contained in fruits and foods like cheese and yogurt. Like many other skin treatments, alpha hydroxy acids produce the best results with long-term use, stimulating collagen and elastin growth. You can use over-the-counter face creams and body lotions that contain alpha hydroxy acids, or visit a dermatologist and have a series of AHA peels to gently resurface your skin.
Microdermabrasion
Dermatologists use microdermabrasion to remove the dull outer layer of skin and reveal the glowing, smooth surface beneath. It's usually used on the face, neck and chest area. Tiny crystals are sprayed onto the skin, in a process comparable to sandblasting. As the crystals loosen and remove the outer layer of skin, the dead skin is sucked away. It can take several office visits to complete the process, but it's usually gentler than other cosmetic procedures such as a chemical peel. Once the new skin is revealed, it's your job to keep it smooth with proper moisturizing, sun protection and exfoliation.
Laser Resurfacing
This procedure is performed by cosmetic surgeons. It's an outpatient procedure that requires only topical anesthesia, and your skin generally recovers in less than 10 days with results visible in less than two weeks. The surgeon uses targeted lasers or intense pulsed light beams to remove the surface layers of skin in affected areas--usually places with fine lines, wrinkles, scarring or discoloration. As the laser-treated areas heal, healthy new skin emerges.
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