The importance of prevention: a reminder of mechanisms of action, up-to-date therapeutic possibilities, protocols

The skin represents one of the most sophisticated “organs” of our body.

It has barrier functions against external aggressions, has the fundamental task of maintaining the body’s internal homeostasis and serves to regulate many very important functions such as, among many others, sweating, but it is also fundamental in interpersonal communication as in love. Not least it is one of the most important sexual organs. Indeed, it remains absolutely fundamental in conveying sensations: think of redness or paleness! But not only that, the smell or scent that each of us exudes represents a great factor of attraction or repulsion that characterizes us. The human skin is of remarkable complexity. It has many layers, from superficial keratinized and solid, to deep, many collateral apparatuses, from hairs to sweat glands, nerves to blood vessels. It is renewed continuously: in 20 to 30 days in the young and almost twice as long in the mature person!

Know that skin thickness decreases by 6% every 10 yr, and our skin is healthy and young if it maintains high cell turnover over time. It can be perfectly repaired by sophisticated mechanisms that allow its complete restituito ad integrum by growth factors that allow the reconstitution of blood vessels, collagen and all skin components. It is therefore of absolute evidence that, just as we do for any other organ, the skin needs to be protected, but also cared for and nourished: providing the skin with the building blocks that allow it to replenish itself, supplying it with the necessary hydration, and helping it in its repair processes is very important to reduce and delay skin aging.

It is in this sense that revitalizations are addressed: medical treatments that aim to heal the organ “skin” increasingly stressed by atmospheric agents and pollutants that certainly abound in our cities. But also useful after long exposure to the sun. These are numerous medical treatments that tend to integrate into the dermis those substances that our body can no longer produce in adequate amounts, such as, in particular, hyaluronic acid.

The decrease in hyaluronic acid in the dermis is one of the most important causes of skin aging as it is largely responsible for hydration, fibroblast reproductive capacity, and collagen synthesis. In addition to these substances that the body no longer knows how to produce, other substances such as vitamins, amino acids, minerals, nucleic acids, coenzymes, and reducing and antioxidant agents are added to stimulate and nourish, but most importantly, detoxify this very important organ. All this in a cocktail that is as effective as it is simple to administer. In fact, it involves giving small injections that distribute these substances throughout the face, neck, décolletage, and hands, the body regions most exposed to photo (due to light) and chrono (due to time) aging. The proposed revitalization programs have no contraindications and are offered for all skin types and age groups. In general, one session will not be sufficient but at least 3 to 4 sessions about 10 days apart will be required. Your doctor will be able to recommend the protocol most appropriate for your skin type, assessing whether you also have coexisting skin hyperpigmentation, wrinkles or other problems.

Are there different types of revitalization?

There are a few types of revitalization depending on the rationale it exploits:

1. Revitalization with polyvitamins and hyaluronic acid: This is a very liquid cocktail containing many vitamins, cytochromes, antioxidants, minerals, nucleic acids and hyaluronic acid (as much as 15 mg per bottle) that aim to correct many factors: (a) reduction of free radicals in the skin (b) supplementation of missing or reduced substances (c) deep, long-lasting hydration Great when we don’t have big problems yet, in young women who want to keep their assets as long as possible.
2. Hyaluronic acid hidroreserve revitalization: serves to help the skin and dermis maintain good hydration. We have available some types of hyaluronic acid with higher or lower molecular weights. It is injected into the dermis and provides long and important hydration: it draws water back. Great for dehydrated, dry skin, when moisturizers are not enough, which as we know can only penetrate so much, otherwise they would become drugs!
3. Revitalization with amino acids and hyaluronic acid: the dermis is made up of some specific amino acids that are integrated together with hyaluronic acid-we put the building blocks that will be used by the skin especially to enhance reparative processes. Great when we have skin that needs repair, before major trauma such as peels, fractional lasers, or surgery to prepare the skin for healing.
4. Revitalization with platelet growth factors: a small blood sample is taken, centrifuged, and plasma and platelets are extracted. This platelet-rich plasma is re-injected after activation, or placed locally as a mask or brushed on to greatly accelerate healing. I am about to publish some experimental articles on this technique that have documented interesting results.
   Excellent for accelerating healing processes, particularly after fractional laser and in very degraded skins to improve recovery.

Where can cosmetic revitalization be done?

Revitalization is done on the face, but also on the neck, décolleté and hands and in all areas that need improvement. Lately some patients have requested treatment of very mobile and somewhat thickened areas such as the knees, wrists and elbows, where we have had excellent results. Just recently I attended a mega congress, in Monte Carlo, the world congress of antiaging medicine and in aesthetic medicine, where I organized, together with a colleague from Paris, an entire session on hand rejuvenation!

Interest in areas other than the face is growing exponentially, and I personally am increasingly proposing this to my patients.

Is there a protocol or can it be done whenever you want?

There is a protocol, now tried and tested for each revitalization and although all treatments are absolutely customized, we can summarize them as follows:

Revitalization with amino acids, with hidroreserve hyaluronic acid and with polyvitamins: 1 session every 10 days for a total of 3 to 4 sessions, twice a year.

Revitalizationwith PRP (platelet-rich plasma): 1 revitalization every 30 days for three sessions, once a year.

Are these treatments expensive?

No, but the active ingredients in the materials we inject are very specialized and are not cost-free. I would say to be wary of costs that are too low, because surely the quality of the products they inject into you suffers. Better to do nothing, in my opinion, than to save on quality and thus raw material costs, especially in aesthetics. Let’s say that these are techniques that can cost from 150 to 300 euros per session, approximately, although it is obviously not possible to give valid indications for all professionals.