Smooth the skin surface Most innovations in this area are in the laser arena. When lasers first became popular in the late 90s, they were very powerful and removed the entire top layer of the skin. Although this resulted in much smoother skin, many people were red for months and ended up with a whitish porcelain look on their skin. The next wave of Erbium lasers was safer but not as effective.

The latest trend in lasers is the use of a fractionated beam, which means that a series of pinpoint holes are made in the skin rather than removing the entire skin surface. Lasers such as the Active FX and the Fraxel use this technology, which has been shown to safely smooth skin without prolonged redness or resulting whitening of the skin.

This year, light devices to treat wrinkles at home were launched. This technology is not the same as the fractionated lasers and is not as effective; however, many people report that they can see slightly smoother skin with these devices. I believe that these at-home devices will be more effective in the future as the technologies mature. All three of these types of treatments can be performed on the same office visit. Prices vary by location and skill of the doctor. It is important to remember that you get what you pay for and if it seems too cheap, you have to wonder why. If you plan to do any of these treatments before the holidays, make sure you give yourself two to four weeks to recover. Discuss the time frames, side effects and prices with your doctor.

I wish you great skin for the holidays!

— Dr. Leslie Baumann is the Director of the Baumann Cosmetic and Research Institute in Miami Beach. She was a Professor of Dermatology at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine for 12 years. Dr. Baumann is the author of “Cosmetic Dermatology: Principles and Practice” and “The Skin Type Solution,” and of the popular blog www.skinguru.com.