Cosmetic Conditions

Age Spots, Brown Spots, Freckles

Brown spots develop on our skin from chronic exposure to sunlight and the tanning process.  They may be referred to as age spots, sun spots, liver spots, freckles, or lentigines.  They appear as flat or slightly raised areas of varying shades of brown.  Sun spots result from an increase in pigment production and deposition in our skin in response to sunlight.  The Dermatology and Laser Center at UCLA offers a variety of treatments including laser skin resurfacing, fractionated laser rejuvenation, photofacial and light source rejuvenation, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion to improve the appearance of these age spots.

If you would like to discuss improving the appearance of your age and brown spots, please request a consultation to speak with our cosmetic dermatologists.

Sagging Skin, Folds, Volume Loss

Sagging skin results from the combination of chronic exposure to sunlight, tanning, and progressive loss of soft tissue and bone volume with age. Most typically, deep folds form around the nose, mouth, and chin.  A hollowed or sunken appearance may be seen around the eyes creating a "shadow effect" in the form of dark circles.  Together, these changes lead to an aged and tired appearance.  Our approach at the Dermatology and Laser Center at UCLA is to counteract these changes by restoring the lost tissue volume.  We utilize many different cosmetic fillers composed of natural substances such as collagen and hyaluronic acid, to achieve these goals and to create a healthier, youthful appearance. Combination therapy with cosmetic fillers and laser and light source procedures may also be performed to achieve additive results.

If you would like to discuss improving the appearance of your deep skin folds or sagging skin, please request a consultation to speak with our cosmetic dermatologists.   

Skin Tone and Texture

Alterations in skin tone and texture result from chronic sun damage as well as the intrinsic aging process.  Blotchiness of the skin, or dyschromia, appears as brown spots, redness, and broken blood vessels across sun exposed areas.  Textural irregularities and roughness of the skin result from dryness, superficial scaling, benign and pre-cancerous growths.  At the Dermatology and Laser Center at UCLA, we particularly specialize in using laser skin resurfacing, fractionated laser rejuvenation, photofacial and light source rejuvenation, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion alone or in combination to restore the natural tone and texture of the skin.

If you would like to discuss improving your skin tone and texture, please request a consultation to speak with our cosmetic dermatologists.

Wrinkles and Fine Lines

Wrinkles and fine lines of the face, neck, and chest result from a combination of factors including sun damage and the chronic movement of underlying muscles.  Characteristic wrinkles form along the forehead, between the eyebrows, along the sides of the eyes, atop the nose, as well as around the mouth, cheeks, and neck. Dramatic reduction of wrinkles may be achieved by lessening the movement of underlying muscles by injecting botulinum toxin. Further improvement can be achieved by combining botulinum toxin therapy with cosmetic fillers, laser and light source procedures, or chemical peels. The Dermatology and Laser Center at UCLA has nationally recognized experts in these areas to help improve the appearance of these wrinkles and fine lines.

If you would like to discuss options to improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, please request a consultation to speak with our cosmetic dermatologists.

Acne Scarring

Acne scarring commonly appears on the face, chest, and back in a variety of forms ranging from subtle, slightly depressed scars to deeper hollowed depressions.  The cumulative effect of this scarring process may cause significant emotional distress. Various treatments including laser skin resurfacing, fractionated laser rejuvenation, photofacial and light source rejuvenation, chemical peels and microdermabrasion are available at the UCLA Dermatology and Laser Center to smooth the scars and even the skin tone and contour. The number of treatments necessary to improve acne scarring depends on the depth, area involved, and the individual's response to treatment. 

If you would like to discuss improving the appearance of your acne scars, please request a consultation to speak with our cosmetic dermatologists.

Broken Blood Vessels and Rosacea

Broken blood vessels appear as straight or curved fine lines with a red to purplish color.  Also known as telangiectasia, broken blood vessels are most commonly found over the sun exposed areas of the face, neck, and chest.  Redness or flushing may be prominent and may worsen with triggers such as exercise, alcohol, and spicy foods.  Telangiectasias develop from damage to blood vessels by chronic exposure of sunlight, the tanning process, and rosacea.  The Dermatology and Laser Center at UCLA offers a variety of laser and light source treatments, including pulsed dye laser therapy, fractionated laser rejuvenation, and photofacial and light source rejuvenation to treat these broken blood vessels.

If you would like to discuss improving the appearance of your blood vessels, please request a consultation to speak with our cosmetic dermatologists.

Port-Wine Stains and Vascular Malformations

A variety of vascular malformations exist; they may be present at birth or develop during one's lifetime.  They include port-wine stains, hemangioma, spider angioma, cherry angioma, telangiectasias, angiokeratoma, pyogenic granuloma, and many others.  Not only can the vascular lesions be a significant emotional stressor, they may also create functional impairment.  The Dermatology and Laser center at UCLA offers laser and light source procedures designed to treat vascular malformations safely in patients of all ages. 

If you would like to discuss improving the appearance of your vascular lesion, please request a consultation to speak with our cosmetic dermatologists.

Spider Veins/Leg Veins

Small red, purple, or blue threadlike veins commonly appear over the surface of the thighs and lower legs.  These superficial blood vessels become prominent from abnormalities in blood flow and damaged valves within the veins. Other contributing factors may include genetics, weight gain, and hormonal changes, as well as sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time.  The Dermatology and Laser Center at UCLA offers various treatments including sclerotherapy and laser and light source procedures to target and eliminate these spider veins. 

If you would like to discuss improving the appearance of your spider veins/leg veins, please request a consultation to speak with our cosmetic dermatologists.

Tattoos

Laser tattoo removal represents one of the most common dermatologic procedures.  Tattooing most commonly is performed for cosmetic purposes; however, tattoos may also arise from trauma, medical procedures, or be performed for cultural reasons.  The Dermatology and Laser Center at UCLA offers state of the art laser treatments to specifically target the tattoo pigment to safely and effectively treat tattoos.

If you would like to discuss laser tattoo removal, please request a consultation to speak with our cosmetic dermatologists.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (310) 206-SKIN.