The Truth About Your Skin

So how do you tackle a problem you don’t even know you have? One route is the Omnia Ultraviolet Imaging System, which recently got some attention on Oprah. The photography system takes an ultraviolet picture of your face to screen for damage typically not visible to the naked eye. The special camera senses wavelengths in the ultraviolet spectrum, illuminating sun damaged areas of the skin as obvious spots.

Dermatologist Dr. Charles Crutchfield says there’s only one word to describe the faces his patients see in the speckled pictures: “It’s shocking. You’re not used to seeing yourself like that, and we often have to explain that it’s not as bad as it appears. It’s a good discussion point to talk about programs to correct the damage.”

To return damaged skin to its healthier origins, Crutchfield typically recommends a customized program that combines peels and light and laser treatments. And what about that shocking photo? It becomes the perfect “before” picture against which to gauge your skin’s rejuvenation.