Youthful, glowing skin – it’s something we all want. However, as time continues to pass us by, our skin continues to show signs of aging. Laser skin treatment has become a popular way to help people reduce the signs of aging, including wrinkles, acne scars, age spots, and other blemishes. While there are several other options available to help you reduce these signs, there’s nothing quite like laser treatment.
7 Things You Should Know About Laser Skin Treatment
If you’ve seen the “before” and “after” pictures of patients who have received laser skin treatment, you’re probably already sold on the many benefits and the results of the procedure. And while there are many practices that offer this type of skin treatment, there are several facts you need to know about lasers before you end up getting burned.
- What is Laser Skin Treatment and How Does It Work? – The lasers used during this treatment work by harnessing the power of both light and heat to improve the overall skin tone, texture, and coloration. It causes a controlled damage to the skin’s surface, allowing your body to heal the tissue by creating new skin in its place.
- Always See a Board-Certified Dermatologist – If you’re interested in receiving laser treatment, it’s crucial that you see a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon who has experience. Most of the complications that occur during these treatments are due to having inexperienced people take care of you.
- Know the Main Categories of the Lasers – There are several categories of lasers, including ablative, non-ablative, and fractional.
- Ablative – These lasers are the most powerful used today. During treatment, they remove the top layer of your skin (epidermis) and part of the second layer (dermis) by superheating the water in your skin. The body responds by making new, younger-looking skin, eliminating all fine lines and wrinkles. Recovery time lasts for about a week, sometimes a few days longer.
- CO2 – Despite the possible side effects, such as waxiness and hyperpigmentation, there are still some skin-care specialists who use this laser. It works best for people who have fair skin tones. During the treatment, the laser will remove the entire epidermis and some of the dermis, requiring a recovery time of two weeks.
- Erbium – There are many healthcare professionals who prefer this laser over others due to its aggressive resurfacing and few side effects. It can treat a variety of skin tones and conditions, from melasma, to fine lines, to irregularities in skin tone.
- Non-ablative – Unlike ablative lasers, these are much gentler on the skin. They were created to direct their energy much lower into the deep tissue of the skin. Though the results may be mild, they are much better for people with dark skin as they pose a low risk of hypopigmentation.
- Fractionated – Think of fractionated lasers as a medium between ablative and non-ablative. Instead of burning 100% of the skin, these lasers use digital pixels to destroy their target. This allows the skin to heal much quicker without causing trauma to 100% of the skin at once.
- Light Therapies – Though light therapies aren’t going to give you dramatic before and after photos, they are best used for skin maintenance. They are also known as intense pulsed light (IPL) or violet-blue light (VBL). While they aren’t technically lasers, they are best considered to be a rejuvenating therapy.
- Additional Lasers – It’s important to remember that there are several other types of lasers that can treat your condition; however, these will depend on the type of condition and its severity. Some of these lasers include Q-switched, Nd:YAG, and Picosecond.
- Work with Your Dermatologist to Choose the Best Laser – It’s always wise to receive your treatment from someone who has experience using lasers. So, when it comes to choosing which laser treatment is best suited for you, you need to consult your dermatologist. You don’t want to just choose the first option given to you.
- You Will Need More Than One Treatment – While laser skin treatments have become one of the most effective and popular ways to rid yourself of those bothersome skin conditions, you will need more than one treatment. Depending on the severity of your condition and the laser used during the procedure, you may need to return after a few months to be checked out by your dermatologist. However, in the end, you will definitely need more than one laser treatment to obtain the results you receive after your visit.
- If You Have a Darker Skin Tone, Approach Lasers with Caution – Not all types of skin and skin tones react to lasers the same way, which is crucial to remember when you opt for skin laser treatment. When there is more pigment in the skin, you risk making someone’s skin look blotchy.
- Maintaining Your Results After the Treatment is in Your Hands – After investing a significant amount of your time and money into a laser skin treatment, it’s vital that you have a good maintenance routine at home after. At-home maintenance is key to maintaining the results you receive after the treatment. To know which type of skin care routine is best for you, speak with your dermatologist after the procedure.
How You Can Do It All, Even Laser Treatments
How you can get the all kind of laser treatment understand no two customers are alike, and neither are their needs or their skin. So, if you’re looking to get a younger, natural-looking appearance and would like to know more about the laser treatments please read my blog.