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Skin treatment with radiofrequency energy
Skin disorders
Some people may think “cosmetic dermatology” begins and ends with “celebrities getting Botox”, but it encompasses all types of conditions that can significantly affect a person’s health and well-being. Luckily, thanks to the miracles of modern medicine, many of these skin conditions can now be treated without expensive plastic surgery, so patients can get straight back to looking and feeling their best.
We’ve compiled a few of the most common skin conditions below—read on to find out more about each one. You might be surprised to discover just how many of them can be treated safely and effectively with radiofrequency (RF) energy. (In the interest of fairness, though, we’ll also mention a few alternatives!)
Spider veins
What causes them?
Veins have tiny one-way valves inside them to regulate blood flow; when those valves get weakened or damaged, blood can’t flow properly, so it collects inside the vein. For many people, they go hand in hand with varicose veins—they’re the same basic principle, but in larger veins (usually in the legs and feet).
Can they be prevented?
Some people are genetically more prone to spider veins than others—you’re more likely to get them if they run in your family—but there are still steps you can take to reduce your risk. For example, fair-skinned people often develop spider veins in areas with chronic sun damage, so protect your skin with sunscreen or clothing when outdoors. Anything that causes redness or flushing (extreme temperatures, skin irritation, spicy foods, excess alcohol consumption) may potentially increase your risk of facial spider veins. As for leg spider veins, they’re similar to larger varicose veins: sitting or standing for long periods can make them worse, and so can any condition that puts extra pressure on blood vessels (e.g., obesity).
How RF treatment can help
Radiofrequency thermocoagulation is one of the safest and most effective ways of treating spider veins. The doctor inserts a tiny needle into the spider vein and applies targeted RF energy, which causes the vein walls to collapse—and prompts the body to redirect the blood to healthy veins instead.
Other alternatives
Two other common treatments for spider veins are sclerotherapy (injecting a chemical into the veins to make them collapse) and laser therapy. Talk to your doctor about which option would be best for you.
Rosacea
What causes them?
Rosacea is a widely misunderstood condition—it’s often mistaken for various other skin conditions, including acne, psoriasis, and allergic reactions. Likewise, scientists aren’t sure why it develops; possible factors range from genetics to environmental triggers to a certain kind of mite on the skin. Anyone can develop it, though it’s particularly common in fair-skinned women between the ages of 30 and 50.
Can they be prevented?
Without a better understanding of what causes rosacea, it’s hard to know how to prevent it. People who do have rosacea can prevent flare-ups by keeping a diary of what triggers them (e.g., spicy food, sun, stress, wind and cold, alcohol, specific skin care products).
How RF treatment can help
Radiofrequency treatment has been shown to provide lasting relief by targeting the blood vessels just beneath the skin that cause flushing.
Other alternatives
Rosacea treatment focuses on managing symptoms, so the ideal treatment varies from patient to patient. Examples include oral or topical antibiotics, medications to constrict blood vessels, or prescription acne treatments.
Stretch marks
What causes them?
Stretch marks are a type of scar that happens when our skin stretches or shrinks very quickly, causing proteins within it (collagen and elastin) to tear. People typically get them from gaining or losing a lot of weight, being pregnant, or simply growing.
Can they be prevented?
Though stretch marks are partly a matter of genetics, anything you can do to keep your skin healthy and supple will help prevent or minimise stretch marks. Drinking plenty of water, getting enough vitamin C (an antioxidant), and exercising (to improve circulation) can all be beneficial.
How RF treatment can help
RF treatment stimulates collagen production, essentially encouraging the skin to heal itself. The advantage of radiofrequency energy is that it is very precise, so there’s no risk of damaging the surrounding skin.
Other alternatives
There are countless creams and ointments on the market claiming to cure stretch marks, but buyer beware: many of them don’t live up to the hype. One notable exception: studies have shown that lighter and more recently formed stretch marks often respond to creams containing retinol.
Cherry angiomas
What causes them?
Cherry angiomas (red moles) can develop almost anywhere on the body, and scientists aren’t entirely sure why. They’re quite common, especially in people over 30—in fact, about 75% of people over age 75 have at least one.
Can they be prevented?
Without knowing what causes them, it’s hard to say how to prevent them. Luckily, they’re not dangerous, although they can certainly be annoying, especially if they’re located where they’ll rub against clothing.
How RF treatment can help
Cherry angiomas are benign tumours made up of blood vessels, which makes RF thermocoagulation a good choice. The doctor pierces the angioma with a very fine needle and applies RF energy, which causes the blood vessel walls to collapse and eliminates the angioma.
Other alternatives
Cherry angiomas can also be frozen off (with liquid nitrogen), burned off (with a laser) or shaved off (with a fine blade). The one thing to avoid is picking them off yourself, as they’re likely to bleed.
Fibromas
What causes them?
Fibromas are benign (non-cancerous) growths made of connective tissue. Anyone can get them, but they’re most common in people aged 20 to 49, and twice as common in women as men. About 20% of people who develop them previously had a wound where the fibroma formed, but they often develop for no apparent reason.
Can they be prevented?
There isn’t a known way of preventing fibromas, but luckily, they aren’t dangerous. They may not even require treatment unless they’re causing you discomfort (typically pain or itching).
How RF treatment can help
Your doctor can remove the fibroma by gently cutting through it using a very fine radiofrequency needle—it’s typically painless and takes just a few minutes.
Other alternatives
Fibromas can also be treated using steroid injections. In some cases, they go away on their own.
Wrinkles
What causes them?
Some wrinkles are caused by a loss of volume underneath the skin, which causes it to sag; others happen because the skin can no longer “snap back” into place as easily (e.g., laugh lines). Both are primarily caused by the natural aging process—which is why “anti-aging treatment” and “wrinkle treatment” are practically synonymous.
Can they be prevented?
Mountains of eternal youth are unfortunately in short supply, but there are certainly ways to avoid accelerating the aging process. For starters: don’t smoke; protect your skin from the sun; drink plenty of water; and use a good quality moisturiser.
How RF treatment can help
Its energy creates heat, which triggers your body’s natural regenerative processes and causes it to produce more collagen (a protein that helps keep skin firm and well-hydrated). The resulting “tightening” effect can last anywhere from a few months to a few years.
Other alternatives
Dermal fillers, chemical peels, face lifts, wrinkle creams, Botox… the list goes on and on!
Skin tags
What causes them?
Skin tags are the result of extra cells growing on the top layers of the skin. Some people are genetically more predisposed to them than others. They’re partly caused by the skin rubbing against itself, so people who are overweight are more likely to develop them. They’re also more common in older people, people with Type 2 diabetes and pregnant women.
Can they be prevented?
Only to an extent: you can reduce your risk of skin tags by reducing friction on your skin. Wearing necklaces can cause them to form on the neck, for example. If you are prone to developing them under your arms, powders or powder deodorants may help.
How RF treatment can help
Similar to fibromas, skin tags can be removed in a matter of minutes using a fine radiofrequency needle, which creates a clean, painless incision without damaging the surrounding tissue.
Other alternatives
Skin tags can be treated by freezing, cutting, or cauterising. In some cases, they may even drop off on their own.