Spring brings sunshine, flowers, and spring showers… but what’s not talked about so much? Increased oil production (hello, breakouts!), itchy, uncomfortable skin, and not-so-pretty sunburns. Is your skin feeling the effects of the season yet? This spring, we’ll be breaking down some top seasonal skin concerns and how to help prevent and treat them. First up, we’re tackling acne. 

With sunnier days ahead of us, we’re getting our last minute laser and light treatments before spring is in full swing. What is one of our favorite treatments to get in the winter and early spring to refresh and reset skin before summer? Intense pulsed light, or IPL, is an effective way to target hyperpigmentation, vascular lesions, wrinkles and provide overall skin rejuvenation with minimal downtime. 

We sat down with Lily Nizam, PA-C, CPCP, and co-founder of Alabama Surgical Arts and ASA MedSpa to discuss this popular ‘lunchtime’ treatment. 

Lily Nizam, PA - C, and Sami A. Nizam, II, MD, DMD, founders of Alabama Surgical Arts in Montgomery, AL.

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of hyperpigmentation? Those pesky dark spots on your face? Sure, we all know facial hyperpigmentation is a common complaint, but what about dark spots and patches on the skin below your face and neck? 

In addition to treating stubborn pigmentation on the face, licensed aesthetician and owner of Kim Taylor's Holistic Skincare & Wellness Studio, Kimberly Taylor, treats hyperpigmentation in the underarm area and bikini area on a daily basis. Based in sunny Fort Walton, Florida, it’s no surprise that Kimberly’s clients are looking for a solution to treat these darkened areas of skin. 

Do you have hyperpigmentation? You’re not alone. It’s one of the most common complaints that MDs and estheticians hear from their patients and clients. Licensed esthetician, microneedling specialist and founder of Âme Skin Studio in Norwalk, CT, Rosie Petrillo, shares her tips for treating stubborn hyperpigmentation and her in-office procedure of choice. 

There's so much to love about the holiday season... but puffiness, dehydrated skin, and kitchen accidents are not on our list! Dr. Suzman shares his take on treating those pesky skin concerns that pop up over the holidays.

Thanks to that one notorious plot line in Sex and the City, chemical peels have gotten a pretty negative reputation — but the truth is that these professional exfoliating treatments can be a remarkable weapon in your arsenal against skin damage and other signs of skin aging. “Chemical peels can be a really effective means of resurfacing the skin,” explains Dr. Michael Suzman, board-certified plastic surgeon and co-founder of RescueMD.

What if we told you there was a way to make your skin appear immediately smoother and brighter, stimulate cell turnover, and help your skincare products work better — all with practically zero downtime? Now, what if we told you that you can reap all of these rewards by . . . taking a blade to your face? It sounds surprising, but this technique exists, and it’s called dermaplaning. Better, you can get it performed by your local medical esthetician to instantly reap these benefits on your lunch break, or you can DIY dermaplaning for a less advanced version of the treatment. 

We all make mistakes. Sometimes they’re harmless, like accidentally missing your video conference call date with your college BFFs. Other times, they’re a bit more complicated — like that tattoo that you spontaneously got on spring break 15 years ago. You may have loved it for a few years, but now it’s become a burden that you’ve tried covering with makeup, jewelry, and clothing for over a decade. If you’re tired of figuring out ways to hide that old tattoo, good news: Advancements in medical aesthetics technology have made it possible to remove tattoos with lasers. Today, tattoo removal lasers can now zap away all different shades of dye on a wide range of skin tones, making it possible to remove all traces of any so-called “permanent” tattoo mistakes.

These days, it seems like there are countless skin treatments — both at home and in-office — designed to give you smoother, brighter, more even skin. One such treatment is microdermabrasion, a form of physical exfoliation. While you can definitely DIY microdermabrasion with at-home devices, you’ll see the most dramatic results by booking a professional treatment with an esthetician, dermatologist, or other skincare expert. Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive procedure that boasts zero to little downtime, but how you care for your skin as you recover can make a big difference in the results you see, as well as how long they last. Keep reading to learn more about microdermabrasion, microdermabrasion aftercare, the best serum to use after microdermabrasion, and more.

So, you decided to help correct different signs of skin damage with microneedling — congratulations! Maybe you liked the effects of at-home dermarolling and wanted to try the professional version, or perhaps your doctor recommended microneedling as a solution for getting rid of acne scars. Either way, this treatment (also known as collagen induction therapy) is a popular choice with anyone looking to help improve the look of their skin.