I’ve seen peels in action and have no doubt of their effectiveness to address, if not reverse, the signs of ageing, but do I dislike my fine lines enough to commit to one?” our digital editor asks. We’ve all seen the Sex and City episode where Samantha attends Carrie’s book launch post-chemical peel, frightening onlookers with her red and raw complexion. And despite knowing that a) this is potentially the most far-fetched storyline in the series and b) a few days’ sacrifice now could potentially reverse years of sun damage, I was still anxious awaiting my fate in the consultation room at About Skin in Auckland’s south-east suburb of Stonefields.

The personalised session began with placing my face inside an Opatra® DOME, which uses RGB visible light, PL polarised light, and UV spectrum imaging technology combined with AI to generate a series of images to assess both my skin’s current and future concerns, measuring both the surface and subsurface layers of the skin.

The obvious culprits were present: enlarged pores on my nose and inner cheeks; dehydration in my forehead; high levels of sensitivity and widespread inflammation.

What I wasn’t prepared for, was the image of me in the future, which detected UV pigmentation and rosacea that isn’t visible on my skin’s outer layers yet. The pattern was almost identical to my late grandmother’s rosy complexion, which was flush with jersey caramel freckles on her fair skin. That’s when I knew this technology had merit and fully understood the gravity of preventative skincare. To my relief, the prescribed course of action recommended by director and national educator in advanced skin treatments, Jody Burke, was Laser Genesis — a powerful tool that harnesses the power of a near-infrared (NIR) Nd laser to induce controlled thermal injury, encouraging the production of collagen while addressing a spectrum of skin concerns including fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, and redness.

The best part? Absolutely zero downtime. I was swiftly booked in for the following Friday with fortnightly sessions spaced over two months and sent on my way with a series of Xcell Medical Skincare to complement my treatments.