What Are the Different Types of Facial Dermatology?

Facial dermatology treatments include dermabrasion, chemical peels, hair and scalp treatments, lip augmentation, unwanted hair removal, eyelid surgery and liposuction. The majority of facial treatments are aimed at reducing wrinkles, acne scars and active acne. Electrolysis or lasers can treat hirsutism, which is excess facial hair in females. Anti-wrinkle injection treatments are an additional service performed by dermatologists.

A fairly common facial dermatology treatment is the chemical peel. This treatment uses a glycolic acid or some other acidic mixture to prompt peeling of the skin's upper layers. Chemical peels can help reduce or eliminate surface wrinkles and some cases of acne. Mild to moderate acne scarring can also be reduced with a chemical peel.

Repeated treatments may be required in order to achieve the results that the patient wants to see. Chemical peels can cause some irritation and redness to the skin. The treatments do not usually require any type of anesthesia or numbing and are relatively quick to administer.

Another facial dermatology treatment that patients often seek to reduce wrinkles and acne is dermabrasion. Some of these treatments can be quite intrusive, depending upon the severity of the skin damage. Numbing and anesthesia is typically used with dermabrasion since the deeper skin levels are removed. A rough brush or razor instrument is used to slough away the skin, reducing the appearance of deep acne scars or wrinkles.

Dermabrasion can also be used to renew the skin and give it a more refined appearance. While it won't reduce pore size or eliminate oily skin, it can help the skin get rid of clogged pores due to abnormal shedding. The facial dermatology treatment will not necessarily eliminate acne, but it does help reduce it.

Some individuals visit a dermatologist to treat hair that is thinning or receding. While this type of treatment is geared more towards the scalp, it is considered to be a facial dermatology treatment since the hair line overlaps the facial area. Hair transplants and extensions may be used if hair re-growth medications do not work.

Dermatologists also administer facial injections, including fillers, wrinkle reducers and fat. Fillers may be used to plump up lips, sagging skin areas or to reduce the appearance of severe acne scars. Fat taken from other parts of the body through liposuction may be injected into facial areas for these reasons as well.

Unwanted facial hair may be addressed through electrolysis, lasers or prescription hair removal creams. Electrolysis and lasers help kill the hair root over time. Several treatments are usually necessary. Hair removal creams are less intrusive, but also kill the enzymes that contribute to the hair's growth.