AviClear is a game changer due to the way in which it really works on pimples without damaging the skin. Typical acne-targeting lasers goal the inflammation and scarring related to blemishes by utilizing heat energy to stimulate collagen or light energy to combat excess pigment that may cause heat injury on dark skin. But AviClear gets to the foundation reason for pimples by targeting the sebaceous glands (using a non-ablative 1726 nanometer wavelength laser) and removing excess sebum. Because the AviClear wavelength is simply absorbed by the glands and doesn’t affect the skin pigment in any respect, “it’s the primary FDA-approved device that may treat all sorts of energetic pimples, including blackhead [small bumps]pimples [pus-filled lesions]and cystic [painful red bumps]all skin tones,” says Dr. Nichols.
Three monthly sessions are required, and while they sometimes last lower than an hour, there’s some pain related to most lasers. When the doctor slides AviClear over the skin, it seems like “a slight snap of an eraser,” explains Dr. Shamban. However, the discomfort (and temporary mild redness during recovery) comes with big advantages: clear skin for as much as two years. Such results don’t come low-cost. AviClear is just not covered, so expect to pay around $4,500 for 3 treatments. Your sticker shock will vary depending on where you reside.
Radiofrequency (RF) microneedles for dark skin
If texture issues reminiscent of pimples scars, effective lines, wrinkles and stretch marks are bothering you, Vivace Ultra could be your skin’s savior. It is a radiofrequency microneedling device – and it’s a technological improvement over traditional ones that use the facility of radiofrequency (heat energy that causes skin damage) and tiny needles (to puncture the skin at different depths). Like its predecessors, this device triggers the skin’s natural repair response to advertise collagen production for a smoother, tighter appearance. According to Dr. Shamban, “RF microneedling is usually a colorblind treatment. Unlike many other energy-based devices, it doesn’t use heat, light or any wavelength of energy that relies on a chromophore or targets the melanin within the skin. is used appropriately by an experienced provider, is protected for patients of all ethnicities and the darkest shades of the Fitzpatrick scale.” But the Vivace Ultra is the primary RF microneedling device to also include ultrasound imaging and mapping, which could mean the outcomes are more precise: Dr. Frank. This detailed view allows doctors to regulate the depth of the needle to the patient’s skin – and in the event that they need to regulate the needle for a selected purpose – reminiscent of smoothing pimples scars or tightening the neck – or avoiding bad results – reminiscent of heat – induced hyperpigmentation – personalized depth measurements provided by Vivace Ultra make it less of a guessing game. An individual approach ensures higher results. “It’s also unique that it will possibly treat quite a lot of skin types, including darker ones. We can deliver energy deeper into the skin while minimizing trauma to the epidermis [that can cause hyperpigmentation]says Dr. Frank. Depending on the treatment area, a Vivace Ultra session can last anywhere from 15 to half-hour, not counting the numbing process, which takes 45 minutes to an hour. Although several very effective needles are involved, Vivace Ultra (which received FDA approval in October 2022) has minimal unintended effects. Some swelling and redness for one to 3 days after the procedure is normal. Some say RF microneedling is surprisingly painless, others say it hurts like crazy (ask your doctor, do use numbing cream which will help rather a lot).As for cost, be prepared.It will break the bank even greater than tickets to Beyoncé.Treatment can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 each and chances are you’ll need as much as 4 visits to see a noticeable improvement in texture skin (results vary based on aspects reminiscent of age and skin condition, with some patients needing six treatments, in accordance with a recent clinical study to me).
Resilient hyaluronic acid: the most recent mimic wrinkles filler
“A standard misconception that I keep hearing is that darker skin doesn’t age [deep complexions] may not experience the identical effective lines and wrinkles as their lighter counterparts, age begins to present itself as a lack of volume, says Dr. Nichols. We are all born with hyaluronic acid in our skin. It is due to him that our skin is moisturized, smooth and plump. The more candles you’ve gotten in your birthday cake, the more natural the production process slows down. Fillers will help with this, and by chance dermatologists are on the alert with their syringes. The latest filler that dermatologists are raving about is known as Resilient Hyaluronic Acid, or RHA. It was first introduced within the US in 2020, but continues to be only available at select dermatology offices. (Revance, the corporate that makes the road, hasn’t confirmed when it’s going to be more widely available as of press time. You can search the practice locator on the Revance website to see if a dermatologist in your area offers RHA.)
RHA comes in numerous formulations (RHA 2, RHA 3, RHA 4 and RHA Redensity). “The numbered categories indicate characteristics reminiscent of thickness and plasticity. Clinicians can mix and match them and use them like an artist’s palette to create a mixture that may deliver the perfect results for the client’s needs,” says Dr. Hartman.
