The science
How deep,
and why.
Aesthetic treatments are easier to compare once you know which layer of skin they act on.
Depth map
Four layers,
four conversations
Depth increases downward. Recovery generally increases with depth.
Corneum
The outermost barrier. Exfoliation and hydration work here. Little to no downtime.
Epidermis
Where pigment and turnover live. Peels and light resurfacing reach this layer.
Papillary dermis
Early collagen structure. Microneedling and some lasers work at this depth.
Reticular dermis
Deep structural support. Fractional laser and injectables. Recovery is planned.
Topics
Read further
Short explanations of the concepts that come up most in consultation.
Why we photograph your skin under fixed light
Progress is hard to see day to day. Fixed-position, fixed-lighting photography removes the two variables that make...
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Depth is the whole conversation
Nearly every aesthetic treatment can be described by one question: how deep does it work, and how...
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What a compromised barrier actually looks like
Tightness after cleansing, stinging from products that used to be fine, and redness that lingers. These are...
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The case for waiting
Sometimes the honest recommendation is to do nothing for six weeks. Here is how we decide, and...
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Reading an ingredient list without the marketing
Concentration, formulation and order matter more than the hero ingredient on the front of the box. A...
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Questions worth asking at any consultation
Whoever you see, these are the questions that separate a considered plan from a sales conversation. Print...
Read moreOn medical content
Educational material on this site is written in general terms and reviewed by a licensed practitioner before publication. It is not a substitute for an individual consultation, examination, or medical advice.
Ready to talk
it through?
A first consultation runs sixty minutes.