As the Summer of 2009 rounds to a close, it is important that we address the dangers of Sun Damage, as well as what can be done to not only reverse the damage but instill better habits for the future.Living in Colorado, we have countless excuses to spend excessive amounts of time in the sun {biking, camping, gardening, pedestrian malls, the kids’ ball game, etc}. Unfortunately, with all of these glorious distractions it is far too easy to forget your sunscreen! And although we are further from the Equator than, say- Florida, we are still at very high risk because of our altitude. Shockingly, it is estimated that there is an 8-10% increase in UV intensity to be had for each 1,000 ft. of altitude– and we’re a mile-high here at 5,280 ft. So, although there is no beach, us mountain-friendly folk are still at serious risk.
Considering the prevalence of Skin Cancer in America {1 in 5 will develop it in their lifetime}, I feel there is an amazing amount of awareness on the issue. We all know that if we go without sunscreen we have an excellent chance of joining that statistic.

What you may not know is how much sun damage plays a role in our aging process. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 90% of visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun. Just imagine how gracefully you could age with proper skin care and sun damage prevention!

Fortunately, {as always} we can help! Here at Refresh Laser Spa, we have numerous options to help reverse the signs of aging and assist you in your new sun damage-prevention routine!

Our newest product in our sun-damage reversal artillery is the VI Peel, a revolutionary chemical peel that is safe and effective for ALL skin types. The VI Peel helps to reduce or eliminate age spots, reverse sun damage (works on neck, chest, and hands, too!!), reduce freckles and wrinkles, and bonus- clears acne! The peel itself takes only 20 minutes, and within 7 days you will have glowing, beautiful, clear, toned, and firmer skin. About two weeks ago, one of our estheticians gave herself the peel and seven days later her skin looked great. However, speaking with her yesterday, I noticed that her skin is looking even better! The VI Peel stimulates collagen and elastin production, meaning your skin will actually look better as time passes!

Another wonderful option is the MediDerm dry peel. The MediDerm Laser is a customized skin rejuvenation treatment that reduces wrinkling and skin imperfections, ultimately giving you a smoother, younger look. It is virtually painless and requires no downtime, unlike other chemical peels or invasive surgeries. The MediDerm dry peel literally allows a new layer of skin to regenerate, giving you a more uniform texture and younger looking skin- immediately.

Lastly, is the Rolls Royce of sun-damage repair, our SmartSkin CO2 Microablative laser, which can take 10 years off the appearance of your skin. The SmartSkin CO2 laser treats skin one micro portion at a time- repeated thousands of times. Each micro column receives just enough laser energy to vaporize the aged skin while also stimulating new collagen growth of surrounding tissue. Similar to, but even more so than the VI Peel, your results from the CO2 treatment will only get better over time. And here at Refresh, will not only pre-condition your skin before the treatment, we will equip you with all of the best products to maintain your amazing results for years to come.

And for those not ready to take the jump into reversing your damage, we carry ColoreScience products, that are the only mineral cosmetics/sunscreens recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. We carry everything you could need, from mineral sunscreen powder for a day hiking in the mountains, to everyday coverage primers (with SPF 30), red hot lipstick, and beautiful pearlized blush for a wine-lunch with your girlfriends on the 16th St. Mall.

So please, take care of your skin in these remaining weeks of Summer (hello, Labor Day Weekend!) and call today to get on the right track of reversing a lifetime’s worth of sun damage.