--- title: "Skin Treatments" --- Skin, tone and texture # Skin Treatments Great skin is not one treatment; it is the right few, matched to your skin and used consistently. At Santa Barbara Face & Body, Dr. Allison Pontius offers CO2 laser resurfacing, SkinPen® Elite microneedling, chemical peels, hair regeneration, and medical-grade skincare, and, just as important, is honest about which suit your skin type and which need more care in darker tones. [Request a consultation](https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/request-a-consultation/) Santa Barbara, California Skin treatments at Santa Barbara Face & Body address tone, texture, sun damage, and clarity through a toolkit that includes fractional CO2 laser resurfacing, microneedling, chemical peels, hair regeneration, and medical-grade skincare, all led by Dr. Allison Pontius, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon. A defining part of the approach is honest, skin-type-aware matching: microneedling and superficial peels suit every skin tone, while resurfacing treatments such as CO2 laser carry a higher risk of pigment change in darker tones and are recommended with a skin-type assessment or an alternative. ## What skin treatments can do The plan is built from a few well-chosen treatments, matched to your skin. - Resurface and smooth. CO2 laser and microneedling improve texture, fine lines, and acne scars. - Even the tone. Chemical peels target sun damage, spots, and dullness. - Support and maintain. Medical-grade skincare and daily sun protection protect the result. - Regenerate. Hair regeneration addresses early thinning. The full toolkit resurfacing, tone, skincare, and hair ## The skin treatments Each links to its own page. | Treatment | Best for | Tone note | | --- | --- | --- | | CO2 Laser | Deeper resurfacing, texture, scars | Skin-type assessment in darker tones | | Microneedling | Texture, scars, fine lines | Suits all skin tones | | Chemical Peels | Tone, texture, by depth | Superficial suits all tones | | Hair Regeneration | Early thinning hair | For most candidates | | Medical-Grade Skincare | Daily maintenance | For everyone | Tone-aware matched honestly to your skin type ## Which treatment, matched to your skin The honest starting point is your concern and your skin type together. | If your concern is | Often a good fit | Skin-type note | | --- | --- | --- | | Texture, fine lines, scars | Microneedling or CO2 laser | Microneedling suits all tones | | Sun spots | Chemical peels or CO2 laser | Superficial peels suit all tones | | Uneven tone, dullness | Chemical peels | Superficial peels suit all tones | | Melasma | Peels, microneedling, skincare | Treated gently, skin-type aware | | Early hair thinning | Hair regeneration | Realistic expectations set upfront | The value is honesty about fit: some laser treatments carry a higher risk of pigment change in darker skin, so the plan uses a skin-type assessment and, where needed, a tone-safe alternative. ## Concerns the skin treatments address Many people arrive with a concern rather than a specific treatment. | Concern | Often addressed with | | --- | --- | | Sun damage and uneven tone | Chemical peels, CO2 laser | | Acne scarring and texture | Microneedling, CO2 laser, peels | | Dull or aging skin | Microneedling, peels, skincare | | Melasma | Peels, microneedling, skincare | | Thinning hair | Hair regeneration | The value is not the list. It is matching the concern to the treatment that fits your skin, honestly. ## Why Santa Barbara Face & Body Skin treatments are only as good as the judgment behind them. Dr. Pontius brings a facial plastic surgeon's understanding of skin and a restrained, results-first approach, and she is candid where it matters most: resurfacing treatments like CO2 laser can cause pigment problems in darker skin, so she assesses skin type and offers tone-safe options such as microneedling and superficial peels rather than a one-size-fits-all menu. Honest, physician-led skin care is the standard here. Physician-led a facial plastic surgeon's judgment on your skin ## Where to start **A good starting point if you** - Want to improve tone, texture, or clarity - Have sun damage, acne scarring, or dullness - Want a physician to match treatments to your skin type - Prefer a short, effective plan over a long menu **Worth discussing carefully if you** - Have a deeper skin tone and are considering laser resurfacing - Have melasma, which needs a gentle, layered approach - Are pregnant or breastfeeding, since some options are deferred ## What to expect A skin consultation starts with your concern and an assessment of your skin type, because both determine what is safe and effective for you. Dr. Pontius explains which treatments fit, which to approach cautiously in your skin tone, and how skincare supports the result. You leave with a short, honest plan and realistic expectations, plus clear pricing in writing. ## What it costs Skin treatments are quoted by the plan, not by a shelf price, because the right plan depends on your skin, your concern, and how many sessions are needed. Many treatments work best as a short series with maintenance. You will have clear pricing in writing at your consultation, with no pressure to do more than you need. - **Treatments:** CO2 laser, microneedling, peels, hair regeneration, skincare - **Matched to:** Your concern and your skin type - **Tone-safe options:** Microneedling, superficial peels - **Led by:** Dr. Allison Pontius, facial plastic surgeon - **Approach:** A short, honest plan over a long menu ## Request a skin consultation If you want clearer, healthier skin with a plan matched honestly to your skin type, start with a skin consultation with Dr. Pontius. **CTA:** Request a skin consultation > Cosmetic Treatments, American Academy of Dermatology (United States). Skin-quality concerns such as tone, texture, sun damage, and acne scarring are addressed with treatments including lasers, microneedling, and chemical peels; treatment selection accounts for skin type because some laser treatments carry a higher risk of pigment change in darker skin. — [Cosmetic Treatments, American Academy of Dermatology](https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic) > Sunscreen FAQs, American Academy of Dermatology (United States). Daily broad-spectrum sun protection is fundamental to skin health and to maintaining the results of cosmetic skin treatments, and helps prevent pigment problems and photoaging. — [Sunscreen FAQs, American Academy of Dermatology](https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/sunscreen-patients/sunscreen-faqs) ```ld+json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/skin/#webpage", "name": "Skin Treatments", "url": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/skin/", "description": "Skin treatments at Santa Barbara Face & Body improve tone, texture, and clarity with laser, microneedling, chemical peels, hair regeneration, and medical-grade skincare, led by Dr. Allison Pontius. 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Treatments are matched to your skin type and tone, since some suit every skin type and others need more care in darker tones." }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/skin/#webpage" }, "url": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/skin/" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which skin treatment is right for me?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It depends on your concern and your skin type together. Texture, fine lines, and scars often respond to microneedling or CO2 laser; sun spots to chemical peels or resurfacing; uneven tone and dullness to chemical peels; and early hair thinning to hair regeneration. A consultation matches the treatment to your skin rather than starting from a menu, and the goal is a short, effective plan rather than the longest one." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are these treatments safe for darker skin tones?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Some are, and some need more care, which is worth being honest about. Microneedling and superficial chemical peels are generally suitable across skin tones. Resurfacing treatments such as CO2 laser carry a higher risk of pigment changes in darker skin, so they are approached with a skin-type assessment, conservative settings, or a tone-safe alternative. Matching the treatment to your skin type is central to how the practice works." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How many sessions will I need?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It varies by treatment and goal. Some resurfacing is a single session with downtime, while microneedling and peels often work best as a short series spaced weeks apart, followed by maintenance. Skincare and sun protection extend the result between and after treatments. Your physician will give you a realistic plan and timeline at the consultation rather than an open-ended package." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I still need skincare if I have treatments?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. In-office treatments and daily skincare are partners, not substitutes: a good routine, especially daily sun protection, protects and extends your results and keeps your skin healthy between visits. Medical-grade skincare is matched to your skin at the consultation. It supports the treatments rather than replacing them, and it is often the single most cost-effective part of a plan." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/skin/#citation-ead0eb0e", "name": "Cosmetic Treatments, American Academy of Dermatology", "url": "https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/skin/#citation-7d781a32", "name": "Sunscreen FAQs, American Academy of Dermatology", "url": "https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/sunscreen-patients/sunscreen-faqs" } ] } ```