Winter can be a difficult season for maintaining skin health, especially in Colorado, where the air is cold, dry and often windy. You may need to change your skincare products and increase hydration just to maintain baseline skin comfort.
At the same time, winter offers advantages for cosmetic dermatology. The lower UV index and shorter days can make it easier for your skin to recover after treatments like laser resurfacing, and it can be a good time to heal from sun damage. At AboutSkin Dermatology and Aesthetics, we often recommend laser resurfacing during the colder months to help patients in the Denver area target sun damage and texture issues with fewer limitations during the healing process.
What Is Laser Resurfacing?
Under the right circumstances, focused light energy can be used to remove damaged layers of skin and stimulate collagen. This process is called laser resurfacing, and it is often considered the gold standard for skin rejuvenation. There are many different types of resurfacing lasers with a wide variety of depths and applications.
Why Is Winter the Best Season for Laser Resurfacing?
Less Sun Exposure
After any laser resurfacing treatment, minimizing UV exposure is one of the most important parts of the recovery process. During the winter months, the sun rises later and sets earlier, and people tend to spend more time indoors, which naturally reduces the risk of sun-related complications. This makes it easier to protect your skin while it heals and helps support more even results.
More Comfortable Recovery
Cooler weather can make the recovery period more manageable, especially during the early days when the skin may be red, sensitive, or peeling. Heat and sweat have a tendency to irritate freshly treated skin. Cool weather creates a more forgiving environment for post-treatment care.
Built-In Downtime
Winter includes built-in opportunities for rest, including time off during the holidays and fewer outdoor obligations. It is easier for some patients to take a few days away from work and social activities and fit recovery time into their schedules.
Recovery From Summer Sun Damage
Sun-related damage doesn’t always show up right away. It often accumulates, and fine lines and dark spots can become more noticeable in the months after peak sun exposure. A laser skin resurfacing session in winter allows us to address that damage once it’s fully developed and easier to assess.
Preparation for a More Glowing Spring
Investing in skin treatments during winter can give you healthier-looking skin by the time spring arrives. Many laser resurfacing options require a series of treatments spaced out over several weeks or months, so it can take time to see your full results. Starting in winter allows you to complete this process before spring and summer social calendars pick up and outdoor activities resume.
What Can Laser Resurfacing Address During Your Winter Reset?
- Fine Lines and Early Wrinkles: Cool, dry air can make fine lines more visible, especially around the eyes and mouth. Laser energy targets these shallow wrinkles by removing surface layers and encouraging collagen remodeling underneath.
- Sun Damage and Uneven Pigmentation: If you have discoloration from sun exposure, like freckles or brown spots, laser resurfacing can help break up excess pigment and promote a more even tone.
- Acne Scars and Textural Irregularities: Winter is an ideal time to consider laser resurfacing for scars, especially those caused by past acne. These treatments are designed to smooth uneven areas and trigger healing responses.
- Enlarged Pores and Dull Skin: Laser skin resurfacing can help refine enlarged pores while removing the outermost dull, rough skin layers.
- Loss of Firmness: As collagen production naturally slows with age, skin can begin to feel less firm. Certain laser technologies reach the deeper dermis, where they stimulate new collagen growth and support better skin elasticity.
Contact us online or call 303-756-7546 to schedule your consultation and learn whether laser resurfacing is the right solution for your concerns.
Laser Resurfacing Levels and Intensity
Light to Moderate Resurfacing
Light and mid-level resurfacing methods have less downtime than more aggressive options. We use these treatments for prejuvenation and to address pigmentation issues and early signs of aging. A laser skin treatment at this level may involve gradual improvement through heat that stimulates collagen and promotes cell turnover.
Deeper Resurfacing
Deeper resurfacing removes more skin tissue and triggers a more intensive remodeling response. These treatments are typically used to treat deeper wrinkles, acne scarring and advanced sun damage. Healing takes longer and may involve several days of redness and swelling. Stronger lasers, such as fully ablative CO2 devices, fall into this category and require more planning and recovery support.
Laser Technologies Offered
Non-Ablative Lasers
Non-ablative lasers deliver heat into the tissue but do not remove any of the skin. These devices are used to improve tone, texture and mild discoloration. We offer options like Lutronic LaseMD (thulium 1927 nm) and Cynosure ICON (1540 nm erbium), which provide rejuvenation for sun-damaged skin with less downtime than other laser types.
Hybrid and Fractional Ablative Lasers
Hybrid lasers combine ablative and non-ablative wavelengths in a single treatment. Ablative energy removes tiny columns of skin, while the non-ablative portion heats surrounding tissue to boost collagen production. This method is known as fractional laser resurfacing, and it’s designed to target concerns like sun damage, fine lines and rough texture with a balance of results and recovery.
In a split-face clinical study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Dr. Cohen found that combining fractional ablative and non-ablative lasers produced similar results to ablative-only treatments, but with fewer immediate side effects. HALO 2.0 is one of the most advanced options in this category.
Full-Field Ablative Resurfacing
Full-field ablative resurfacing with the NuRadiance Erbium laser treats 100% of the skin’s surface in the treatment area. It is used for deep lines that other lasers cannot fully address. This method often delivers greater improvement per session and typically requires fewer treatments, but it involves more downtime, including swelling, crusting and prolonged pinkness.
Compared to older CO2 technologies, our NuRadiance treatments offer more predictable results with a lower risk of complications. Read more here about Dr. Cohen’s work in preventing complications during fully ablative laser resurfacing.
Find Out If Laser Resurfacing Is Right for You With a Consultation in Greenwood Village, CO
Cooler months in Greenwood Village and the Denver area create the right conditions for laser resurfacing, especially when downtime and sun avoidance are important factors. We offer various resurfacing options for everything from sun damage and fine lines to deeper wrinkles and acne scars, and we cater to different needs and recovery preferences. At our practice, you will be under the care of Board-Certified Dermatologists, including Dr. Cohen, who is an internationally recognized expert in lasers, skin cancer and aesthetics.
To request an appointment at AboutSkin Dermatology and Aesthetics, complete our online contact form or call 303-756-7546.
