Haute Beauty caught up with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Aanand Geria who dished on the best treatments for dark spots, the remedy for stretch marks and more.

What are some of the best treatments for dark spots?

Not all dark spots are created equal. It depends on what is the cause of the hyperpigmentation. Superficial lesions like “sun spots” respond well to photo facials and chemical peels. Deeper lesions might require a fractionated laser or micro needling in addition to a bleaching cream called hydroquinone.  

What are some options for people with sensitive skin looking to have laser treatments done?

People with sensitive skin can still be treated by most lasers but it does require less aggressive settings. A board-certified dermatologist knows the nuances of sensitive skin and skin of color and can make adjustments accordingly. One laser, in particular, called Clear and Brilliant, is a gentle resurfacing treatment ideal for people with sensitive skin or those who can’t afford a lot of downtime.  

Which treatment would you recommend for aging skin? 

The two most important things are to wear sunscreen every day and use a topical retinoid product. After that, a variety of procedures including botox, fillers, and lasers will each address different facets of the aging process. Botox will relax the facial muscles causing wrinkles, while fillers will replace volume lost, and lasers will improve the quality of the skin in terms of sun damage and tightening lax skin. 

Which treatment or procedure will give the skin a lifted youthful appearance?

Mild to moderate sagging skin can be tightened nicely with ultrasound (Ultherapy) or radiofrequency (Thermage) technology. Recently, “thread lifts” have gained popularity. This is a minimally invasive procedure resulting in which threads are introduced into the lower layer of the skin resulting in immediate non-surgical lifting.   

Is there a specific technique to map out the golden ratio of a client’s facial feature?

 The golden ratio is otherwise known as “phi,” is a mathematical construct used to define a beautiful face. The ratio is 1:1.618 and this can be applied to a wide variety of measurements on the face. For example, the ratio of the upper to lower lip, or the ratio of the distance between the eyes to the length of the eyebrow, should come out to 1:1.618 in a “beautiful face.” This ratio is best measured using calipers.   

What is the most popular treatment or procedure clients are asking for?

Right now the two most commonly requested procedures that we do are the Hydrafacial and CoolSculpting. 

The Hydrafacial is a 3 step procedure: First, uncover a new layer of skin with gentle exfoliation. Second, remove debris from pores & nourish with intense moisturizers. And third, saturate the skin’s surface with antioxidants and peptides.

CoolSculpting is the world’s most popular body-contouring procedure in which fat is frozen resulting in a permanent reduction of stubborn fat. The most commonly treated area is the abdomen, but you can also do the flanks, arms, outer and inner thighs, bananas roll, bra fat, and under the chin. Best of all, it’s minimally invasive with virtually no downtime.    

Can stretch marks be reduced through a laser treatment or surgical procedure?

If a stretch mark is red, a vascular laser can certainly be helpful in fading the color. In addition, a fractionated non-ablative laser or micro needling may help improve the texture of the skin. A topical retinoid should be tried as well as this can help increase collagen production in the stretch mark.