Article Overview
- Winter is an ideal time to undergo professional skin treatments due to reduced sun exposure and increased time spent indoors.
- Professional treatments such as laser resurfacing, chemical peels, IPL, microneedling, and Hydrafacial™ can effectively address various skin concerns.
- Laser resurfacing treatments reveal youthful-looking skin and stimulate collagen production, while chemical peels improve skin texture and complexion.
- IPL targets fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and redness, while microneedling promotes collagen and elastin production for improved skin appearance.
- Hydrafacial™ is a deep-cleansing treatment that addresses dry, dull skin and enhances radiance. Winter is an ideal time for body contouring and laser hair removal treatments as well.
When planning a professional procedure, the first step is often looking at the calendar to find the ideal time—especially if you’re considering a treatment that requires even just a day or two of downtime. Winter weather can be a good excuse to clear your schedule while you recover, and there are several reasons why winter skin procedures may be a good idea.
Winter Skin Treatment Timing
When it’s cold outside you’re likely spending more time inside, and this is beneficial after winter skin procedures. The main reason is that staying indoors translates to less sun exposure, which is important after most professional treatments to promote optimal healing as well as final results.
Many professional treatments are suitable year-round, and most can be performed at any time as long as the patient or client commits to sun avoidance (and diligent sunscreen use) for the appropriate amount of time after treatment. However, many find that it’s easier to carve our recovery time after winter skin procedures as opposed to other times of year.
When vulnerable skin is exposed to UV rays, the risk of unwanted pigmentation or prolonged redness due to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) increases. In fact, skincare professionals generally advise patients or clients to avoid sun exposure for a week or more before treatment as well since many procedures should not be performed on tanned skin. Even though the UV index may be lower during the winter, it’s still possible for the sun to prompt pigment formation when you’re driving or just walking to and from your car.
Although less sun is a plus, the weather can pose one challenge as the skin recovers from winter skin procedures. Dry, cold environmental conditions can increase moisture loss from the skin (technically called trans-epidermal water loss), which is less than ideal if you undergo a more intense treatment that disrupts the skin’s barrier. Proper post-procedure skincare that focuses on restoring hydration and replenishing the skin barrier is always important, but it’s even more crucial after a winter skin treatment.
Winter Skin Procedures Recommended By Professionals
There are professional treatments that effectively improve a host of skin concerns, including visible signs of aging, discoloration, skin texture, loss of elasticity, and more. If minimal downtime is a priority when scheduling a winter skin treatment, remember that in addition to more intense one-time treatments, many of the below can be less aggressive when performed as a series.
Laser Resurfacing
These treatments are designed to reveal fresh, healthy, youthful-looking skin and they also work beneath the surface to stimulate collagen and elastin production. Non-ablative laser resurfacing leaves the skin’s surface intact and can be performed at both low and high intensities, which dictates the number of sessions necessary and associated recovery time. Ablative laser resurfacing with a CO2 or erbium laser often delivers more significant results, but these treatments can require several days of downtime (or more).
Chemical Peels
Ideal for exfoliation that improves the appearance of the skin’s surface and maintaining a clear complexion, chemical peels range from superficial treatments that can be performed as often as once a month (with minimal downtime) to deeper treatments that require more time for recovery.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Although not a laser treatment per se, IPL is a non-ablative treatment that uses several wavelengths of light to target fine lines and wrinkles, discoloration, and visible redness. These winter facial treatments can be customized to address your specific skin concerns, and although you may see visible improvement after one session, minimal-downtime IPL treatments are generally recommended as a series.
Microneedling
Microneedling is a minimally-invasive procedure that creates micro-injuries in the skin to promote its natural healing process—which includes the production of collagen and elastin. This treatment effectively improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, skin texture, acne scars, and stretch marks. Although microneedling can be performed as a stand-alone treatment, technologies such as Vivace® and Morpheus8 combine microneedling with radiofrequency for enhanced tightening and contouring on the face and body.
Hydrafacial™
The Hydrafacial™ is a deep-cleansing treatment that can be customized with various serums to address fine lines and wrinkles, pore congestion, skin texture, firmness, and more. This is an ideal winter facial treatment for improving dry, dull skin and instantly boosting radiance.
Body Contouring
Winter is the ideal time to schedule body treatments that target lax skin and unwanted fat, since it can take several sessions and months to see the final outcomes. Several types of energy are used for body contouring, including radiofrequency and ultrasound for skin tightening, as well as cryolipolysis (cold) for fat reduction. But with the right timing, you’ll be able to reveal your results in time for spring and summer.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser-based treatments for hair removal require a series of treatments and up to six months or more to see final results (as well as maintenance treatments to keep hair growth at bay). Since laser hair removal is safest and most effective when performed on skin that has not been exposed to the sun, this is an ideal winter skin treatment.
Skinceuticals Products For Winter Skin Procedures
Post-procedure skincare can have a significant impact on winter skin treatment results. Following your skincare professional’s instructions is paramount, and they are likely to recommend these specific steps.
Hydration
Restoring skin hydration after any professional procedure is of utmost importance, but this is especially critical for counteracting the effects of winter weather and minimizing transepidermal water loss. Providing the skin with ample moisture after any winter skin treatment helps ensure optimal healing and results. SkinCeuticals Epidermal Repair is a therapeutic moisturizing cream that protects and soothes compromised post-procedure skin while helping to restore the skin barrier. In addition to extra hydration, your skincare professional may also recommend a product such as Retinol or Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight to encourage cellular renewal and help reduce the buildup of dead cells.
Antioxidant Protection
In addition to providing superior environmental protection, our award-winning, physician favorite C E Ferulic has also been tested suitable for use after laser resurfacing procedures.
Sunscreen
Broad-spectrum sun protection is essential for maintaining the results achieved with any winter skin treatment. Once you have the go-ahead from your skincare professional, our mineral-based sunscreens are safe and effective for shielding post-procedure skin from UV rays.
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About Gretchen Wobensmith
Gretchen Wobensmith is a licensed aesthetician with 27 years of experience. She has been training professionally for large global brands for the last 20 years. Gretchen brings her skill set of having a deep understanding of skin histology and ingredient technology to the SkinCeuticals Global Education Team as their Product Lead. Gretchen shares her passion for mentoring skin care professionals, to elevate their knowledge and skill set in the medical skin care industry.
