Laser treatments use light beams to treat tissue. This technique has many uses in medical procedures, including treating scarring, hair removal and acne treatment.
Shave the area to be treated 24 hours before your session in order to increase its accuracy in targeting hair follicles with light beams. This will make sure that every light beam hits exactly where its beam is needed for effective results.
1. Swelling
Swelling is a normal side effect of laser treatments and should subside within an hour or two; you can speed recovery with cool compresses applied directly to the area being treated, while laser hair removal practitioners may prescribe topical anesthetics to manage pain and reduce swelling.
If you are predisposed to cold sores, fractional laser treatments may activate the herpes virus at the treated site after your procedure. Fractional lasers in particular have been known to trigger outbreaks; to help mitigate this potential risk, your physician should provide an antiviral medication like Valtrex before your session.
Change in skin texture due to heat from laser treatment is another side effect commonly experienced, which may become particularly noticeable if you’ve recently used an at-home tanning kit or recently tanned.
Laser light penetrates your top layer of skin, stimulating its water-retaining cells to produce heat as your body heals the wounds caused by treatment, producing mild itching or pigment changes (hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation) caused by treatment. While these side effects are rare and can be reduced by following your physician’s instructions (for instance avoiding direct sun exposure for 10 days prior to your session and hot showers and other heat producing activities as well as foregoing cream, lotion or moisturizer use on treatment day), they can all help minimise side effects that could arise from treatment sessions resulting in mild itching or pigment changes (hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation). These effects should also include avoiding direct sun exposure for 10 days prior as well as not using creams, lotions or moisturizers on skin on treatment day itself if possible.
2. Redness
Facial redness often results from vascular conditions like rosacea. This condition causes flushed skin with prominent blood vessels or even ruddy complexions to form on the face. Laser treatments may reduce or eliminate facial redness to leave clearer, healthier-looking skin behind.
Gemini KTP laser therapy employs a burst of green light which penetrates abnormal blood vessels, causing them to collapse and dissolve over time. While this approach can reduce redness somewhat effectively, multiple sessions may be required before seeing results similar to that achieved through traditional eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty).
Another effective option for treating facial redness is IPL/BBL (broad-band light) treatment, which uses blue or violet light filtered through filters to target broken blood vessels and pigmentation issues. While this therapy is more successful at reducing redness and dilation of blood vessels than its predecessors, 3-5 treatments typically are necessary before seeing noticeable results.
Both methods tend to be painless; however, some patients may experience skin crusting which can result in scabbing and scarring. To minimize any such effects, apply moisturizer immediately following each laser treatment on affected areas; it may help. Infection risks should also be considered, particularly where laser probes come into direct contact with large areas. Therefore it’s wise to treat all affected areas like wounds while they heal.
3. Blistering
Laser hair removal uses heat energy to destroy unwanted hair follicles and stop new growth, while creating small tears to the skin which your body heals by producing more collagen and elastin, according to research. As a result, your skin may appear red or itchy following treatment depending on which procedure was employed and your individual skin tone.
Blistering occurs when your body attempts to expel damaged tissue by creating fluid-filled sacs and blisters, often due to laser treatments. Although uncommon, blistering may also result from laser procedures performed under medical supervision; should blisters appear after your laser procedure was complete, contact the physician who supervised your care immediately as they will likely know whether these blisters are related or from some other source, such as viral infection or herpes simplex virus infection.
Blisters usually heal on their own within a week or two. If the blisters become painful, take an OTC pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce discomfort.
After laser treatments, you may notice some pigmentation changes, such as darkening or lightening of affected areas – which is more prevalent among those with darker skin tones. Some individuals might also experience crusting of skin which may lead to scarring without proper treatment; moisturizing affected areas and keeping out of direct sunlight should help to alleviate these side effects which should eventually subside within days.
4. Discoloration
Just like with exercise, laser treatments create small tears in your skin which then heal through natural means by creating new tissue and collagen formation, which is said to reduce fine lines and wrinkles according to Cleveland Clinic research. Unfortunately, however, these wounds are susceptible to infection so it’s important to refrain from touching them and using over-the-counter medicines or treatments unless specifically instructed to by your physician.
People with darker skin tones run a greater risk of discoloration; however, this usually only lasts temporarily and depends on which laser was chosen to use. Some lasers utilize longer wavelengths that penetrate deeply into skin and hair follicles while other lasers feature quicker pulse widths to more readily target blood vessels and pigment cells.
Discoloration may occur due to structural changes to your skin or as a side effect of medications; for example, certain antibiotics can interfere with how light is absorbed by it. A sunblock with SPF 30+ protection should help speed recovery after laser treatments such as skin lasering; Melanin in skin acts as a competitive chromophore for transmitted energy which leads to hyperpigmentation due to laser burn injuries which can be countered using bleaching cream; otherwise if this problem persists it should be discussed with a dermatologist immediately.
5. Itching
Laser treatments are extremely safe when performed by trained technicians and can be used to treat conditions ranging from hair removal and skin resurfacing, as well as hair restoration. Most side effects are minor and will resolve within days or so; it’s important to be aware of any possible risks so that medical assistance may be sought if necessary.
Laser treatments that penetrate the surface of skin may result in itching. This is especially true with laser hair removal due to the fact that damage caused by this treatment impacts hair follicles, leading to itchy responses from your body in response. If this itching becomes severe, cold compresses and ice packs may provide temporary relief, while applying hydrocortisone cream might also provide some comfort – just make sure that you follow all instructions closely so as not to over-do it!
Other possible side effects may include pigment changes (darkening or lightening of your skin), cold sore outbreaks, blistering, scarring and infections – although these events should only happen rarely if administered by well-trained technicians. It is essential that if any such symptoms arise that they be discussed with your physician immediately.
6. Scarring
Just like exercise, lasers cause tiny tears in your skin and serve as “purposeful wounds” that encourage your body to create new tissue in that area, leading to less noticeable scars over time.
Bruising and blistering may occur following laser treatments, though these side effects typically subside quickly on their own. Hyperpigmentation (darkening of skin tone) is less prevalent but still possible; to help mitigate its occurrence after laser treatments it is wise to use an effective sunscreen with high SPF protection as this could potentially occur.
Infection is also a risk associated with LASER treatment, although it’s less likely if you follow doctor recommendations. For instance, if you have herpes simplex virus and are getting laser treatment around your mouth, antiviral medications will likely be prescribed two days prior to and seven to 10 days post treatment.
Scarring from laser therapy is relatively rare and most often experienced with nonablative laser treatment. When scarring does occur, it typically presents as either a slight depression or textural change to the skin; thickened red itchy painful scars known as keloid scars may also appear but these cases are quite rare due to equipment errors or bad practitioners rather than due to laser itself; it’s therefore vital that laser treatments only be completed under supervision by medically trained providers; those performing it without adequate credentials risk putting their patients’ health at risk.
