What is Laser?
Many people struggle with skin conditions including blemishes, acne, wrinkles, pigmentation, redness, unwanted hair growth, spider veins and much more. Anti-aging products and medication are common responses to these issues, but they can be ineffective. Laser skin treatments are promising and can help to treat these skin conditions.
Lasers are sources of high intensity light that precisely focuses on small spots to gently vaporize and/or ablate skin tissue. Laser can be used to treat the following skin conditions
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- Remove unwanted hair
- Fade unwanted tattoos
- Acne and acne scars
- Aging skin (pigmented spots, wrinkles) and uneven skin color
- Birthmarks
- Spider veins
- Droopy/dry/sagging eyelid skin
- Dark circles
- Pucker marks and frown lines
- Scars
- Smokers’ line
- Vascular lesions
- Skin tightening
- And many other skin problems and diseases
There are several types of lasers and the clinical applications depend on the wavelength peaks, pulse durations and how the target skin tissue absorbs the light. The broad categories are:
Ablative Lasers which involve an intense wavelength of light ejected into the skin, thereby removing the outer layers of aged or sun damaged skin. The underlying skin is stimulated to produce collagen, hence improving wrinkles. In this laser resurfacing treatment, an ointment and dressing are applied to the skin to allow skin healing. New skin formation occurs that is smoother and tighter. There are two types of this laser category Co2 ( not good for darker skin tones and run a high risk of pigmentation, pain, itching, burning, redness and scarring) and Er:YAG laser (faster healing with minimal side effects such as redness, swelling and bruising lasting upto 1-2 weeks).
Non-Ablative Lasers works under the surface of skin. The skin is heated to remove top skin layer resulting in collagen production and skin tightening. There are three types of this laser category Pulsed Dye Laser (quicker treatment and healing time, less redness, mild pigmentation and bruising post treatment, can be used anywhere on the face and body), Nd:Yag Laser (high energy light beam is focused on skin areas that heats and destroy the bad cells, minimal pain, mild redness and quick recovery), Alexandrite Laser (high energy wavelength light, damages specific targeted area causing lysis and leaving the surrounding tissue intact).
There are other Light-based treatments which are used to cure skin problems with similar purpose and results, but they are not exactly laser treatments. IPL, Pearl, Photo facial, PDL, RF, Ultrasound are some light-based treatments. The results and recovery vary depending on the technology and procedure used.
Is Laser safe?
Yes laser is safe. A consultation with an experienced professional is required to determine the appropriate treatment plan.