Laser skin treatments can be an effective solution to diminish acne scars, deep wrinkling and sun damage without surgery – making them a convenient solution for anyone avoiding incision pain or recovering from its aftermath.
Nonwounding lasers such as baby fractional and picosecond tools deliver energy directly into the deeper layers of skin for an added radiance boost and texture improvement. Plus, these non-injuring tools are generally safe for most skin tones!
Acne
Laser treatments are one of the best ways to treat acne scars. By eliminating damaged cells and stimulating new cell growth to repair any damage done, this treatment can remove scarred skin cells while making scarring much less noticeable. Results may not completely disappear but instead can make scars much less obvious; note that effectiveness will vary from person to person and require multiple sessions before success can be seen.
Laser skin treatments require applying a topical anesthetic to minimize pain. Once they have finished cleansing the area to remove dirt and oil, laser will then slowly move across it. Because skin color can have an impactful impact on how laser treatment reacts, prior consultation with a dermatologist should always take place prior to starting this procedure.
Following your laser skin treatment session, it’s common for redness and swelling in the treated areas to persist for hours or even a day afterward. Your skin may feel uncomfortable at first but should go away naturally within hours or days; to speed this healing process along further it would be wise to apply cooling creams such as fragrance-free aloe vera gel or non-comedogenic lotion immediately following each session to soothe skin discomfort and help it to recover faster.
If you have darker skin, laser treatment may cause additional pigment to be released from the body and lead to hyperpigmentation afterward. To combat this issue, bleaching cream should be applied prior to laser sessions as well as sunscreen with at least SPF 30 protection after.
Side effects of laser skin treatments may include mild infections, herpes simplex reactivation (which manifests as cold sores), or changes in your skin tone. You can reduce these risks by choosing an experienced and qualified dermatologist as your laser provider and following their aftercare instructions for treatments suited for you and determining how many sessions should take place.
Fine Lines & Wrinkles
Laser treatments may provide an effective means of treating wrinkles and other skin imperfections by stimulating collagen production, leading to decreased fine lines and wrinkles, improved skin texture, brightened dull skin tone, treated discolorations as well as helping heal scars. Laser procedures tend to be less invasive and less expensive than surgical methods – many people can see results after just three to six sessions, without experiencing significant downtime between sessions.
Lasers can be used to treat either an entire facial area or just specific problem areas. Your doctor may suggest ablative laser skin resurfacing for treating deep creases and wrinkles, which involves removing damaged epidermal layers while stimulating new collagen formation for tightening skin tightening, tightening up lines and wrinkles and tightening them out over time. Nonablative lasers like pulsed dye and erbium (Er:YAG) lasers may also be effective at treating fine lines and wrinkles by heating dermis cells to stimulate new collagen formation for firmerness of firmer skin tightening over time.
Fractional laser skin resurfacing is another effective technique for diminishing fine lines, wrinkles, scars and other discolorations on your skin. Your physician will apply topical anesthetic prior to using the laser on the treatment area; for more extensive work or full face laser resurfacing treatments they may suggest general anesthesia as a safer solution.
After receiving laser treatments, it’s essential to keep the treated areas clean and covered. Your doctor may advise wearing nonstick dressing for 24 hours after your treatment and applying ointments two to five times a day as part of an antiscab strategy. You may experience swelling due to this treatment; cold compresses and elevating your head while sleeping may help alleviate it; plus your doctor may provide anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate any pain or discomfort experienced from this process.
Sun exposure should be limited before and after laser resurfacing treatments to protect the skin from permanent irregular pigmentation, while smoking should also be limited for at least two weeks prior and post treatment in order to decrease complications and aid the healing process.
Skin Texture
Uneven skin tone is a common problem across skin types. While serums and creams can provide temporary solutions, laser treatments offer lasting relief by targeting the source of damage. Laser treatments remove outermost damaged layers to produce smoother complexions with improved textures.
Lasers produce heat that stimulates collagen production, plumps and firms skin by producing plumping and firming proteins known as collagen peptides that plumps and firms the tissue, thus helping reduce fine lines, wrinkles, as well as enlarged pores. Furthermore, it may make an effective difference in uneven skin texture that’s difficult to treat with over-the-counter products.
Laser skin treatments offer another benefit in terms of acne scar reduction: lasers can remove scar tissue left from when you had an outbreak, exposing fresher skin underneath and helping even out your complexion. Furthermore, this can reduce any redness associated with an acne scar as well as help even out skin tone.
After receiving treatment, it’s not unusual to experience temporary dryness or flaking that lasts several days to weeks; using moisturizers and staying out of direct sunlight may help minimize these side effects.
Laser treatments can also help to eradicate brown spots, freckles and other forms of sun damage due to age by dispelling pigment from their roots through heat from lasers.
If your skin has suffered from severe discoloration, laser treatments could be required in order to restore its beauty. This is particularly applicable in cases involving deep acne scars.
Before beginning laser skin treatments, it is a wise idea to consult with a doctor first. Your physician can assess if you are an appropriate candidate and provide guidance in preparation for your procedure. He or she may also outline any potential benefits or side effects so you know exactly what to expect. Once treatment begins, a topical anesthetic may be administered first in order to reduce pain and discomfort; laser skin treatments typically take 30 to 60 minutes per area being treated.
Sun Damage
Lifelong sun exposure has left us all with some degree of sun-induced skin damage, from brown spots and uneven texture to more serious problems like cancer. Laser skin treatments offer hope against such side effects – and can even reverse them altogether!
At each laser skin treatment session, your skin will be thoroughly cleansed and lightly numbed using topical anesthetic before being passed under the device. The laser emits short bursts of energy that penetrate deeply into your skin, heating and damaging it so that your body naturally repairs it over time–while producing collagen at the same time, according to Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Rachel Nazarian MD.
Your doctor will select an appropriate pigment-seeking laser that fits with your skin tone and type: Q-switched (such as Ruby, Alexandrite and Nd: YAG lasers) or picosecond lasers such as PicoSure, Pico Genesis and PicoWay lasers will target pigment clusters within damaged skin while simultaneously emitting nanosecond bursts of energy that sunspots up high or down low can absorb to be destroyed.
These treatments typically cause little more than temporary redness and swelling; nonablative laser treatments have no downtime whatsoever, while ablative lasers cause small tears on your skin’s surface that trigger your body’s natural collagen-making capabilities–though this could result in scarring.
If you are considering laser skin resurfacing, speak to your physician about your skin history and any medications taken or taken in the past that could impede healing. Also make sure that heavy sun exposure is avoided by using broad spectrum sunscreens if undergoing such an treatment.
Your doctor may suggest bleaching agents or treatments to help you reach your desired goals, such as hydroquinone for hyperpigmentation or steroid creams for acne. Please keep in mind that any changes to skin color may take several weeks or months as your body adjusts to it.
