Groundbreaking laser methods continue to evolve, more patients are turning to laser therapies.
WHAT ARE LASER TREATMENTS? Laser treatments are noninvasive techniques that use highly concentrated, pulsating light beams on the skin. Laster therapies can treat:
- Hair removal
- Scars from acne or chickenpox
- Aged or sun-damaged skin
- Uneven skin tone
- Liver spots
- Warts
- Angiomas
- Vascular lesions
Laser resurfacing treatments reduce facial wrinkles and skin irregularities; laser hair removal inhibits future hair growth.
HOW ARE LASER TREATMENTS DONE? Laser treatments for the face use light beams to remove layers of skin or stimulate collagen growth. There are a variety of lasers, each that can treat different skin concerns. Lasers can be ablative, wounding lasers that remove the thin outer layer of the skin and heats the underlying skin to stimulate growth. Types of ablative laser treatments include CO2 lasers, erbium lasers and combination treatments. Alternatively, lasers can be nonablative, nonwounding lasers that stimulate collagen growth. Types of nonablative lasers include pulsed-dye lasers, and intense pulsed light (IPL) lasers. Combinations that use both types include fractional lasers.
Laser hair removal penetrates hair follicles, absorbing the pigment in the hair shaft which generated heat and damages the follicle to inhibit future hair growth. Laser hair removal only affects actively growing hair follicles, so it may take several laser hair removal treatments to provide significant hair reduction.
WHAT LASER TREATMENTS CAN’T DO? Though laser therapies effectively improve skin flaws and slows hair growth, it is not permanent. Periodic maintenance treatments may be needed.