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Skin Lasers



"Improving Your Skin Appearance"


Skin Lasers










Skin lasers are becoming increasingly popular for people wanting to improve their skin condition. The word "laser" signify Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

Their purpose is to remove damaged skin,layer by layer, through flashes of light directed over the skin. Because of their function skin lasers can be classified into two categories
  • ablative (means to be removed or vaporized at very high temperatures)
  • non ablative


Ablative Lasers

Ablative lasers pass through the upper layers of the skin, removing them. Laser light reach the lower layers, heating them and stimulating collagen production. The result is a more supple, elastic and younger looking skin.

There are two types of ablative lasers:
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2)
  • Erbium: YAG (Er: YAG)


Carbon Dioxide Laser

The latest carbon dioxide lasers use short pulsed light energy to remove damaged skin, layer by layer. CO2 lasers are used to treat
  • scars
  • warts
  • birthmarks
  • aging skin conditions such as wrinkles and sun damage
This treatment is performed on an out-patient basis, and under local anesthetic if treating specific parts of the face. When treating the whole skin face general anesthetic may be used if necessary. Treatment can take up to two hours, depending on area-s treated.

The skin will experiment some redness, swelling, tenderness,...that will heal progressively after one month. Sometimes takes longer for the skin to heal. Patients will have to wear bandages for about seven to ten days. Stay out of the sun and wear sunscreen with high SPF every day.

The results with carbon dioxide lasers are long-lasting and offer more dramatic results than the erbium laser, but the recovery time is longer. It can be a minor risk of scarring and infection.

Erbium: YAG laser

Erbium: YAG skin lasers use short pulsed infrared energy which pass through the top layer of the skin, and is absorbed by the water in the deeper layers. As a consequence the water is heated and this causes the water and the tissue of the skin to turn to vapour. This process increases collagen production, giving the skin a younger looking appearance and improving the skin's texture.

The erbium: YAG laser is used to treatThis skin laser is not only used in the face but in the neck, chest and hands too. Erbium skin lasers are less invasive that CO2 lasers so the recovery time is shorter and less painful.

If during treatment you feel some discomfort local or topic anesthetic may be applied. After treatment the healing process will take up to one week, and will get progressively better over the next few weeks. Is very important to stay out of the sun and wear sunscreen with high SPF every day. Choose a good qualified physician who will give you all the guidelines necessary for this procedure.


Non Ablative Lasers

Non ablative skin lasers are the alternative to ablative lasers for people looking to improve their skin condition, in the shortest period of time. The difference between ablative and non ablative lasers is that the latest don't remove the top layers of the skin. Instead non ablative lasers work beneath the epidermis (top layer of the skin), targeting the deeper layers with short pulses of light, increasing collagen production.

Non ablative lasers are used to treat
  • rosacea
  • sun damage
  • freckles
  • age spots
  • tattoos
  • stretch marks
  • some scars
  • birthmarks
  • leg veins
  • fine lines and wrinkles
  • acne
  • hair removal
  • irregular pigmentation
  • redness of the skin
With non ablative lasers there is not recovery time, so people can return to work or their every day activities immediately after treatment. If you use make up it can be applied after the procedure. The inconvenience about non ablative lasers is that you will need more than one treatment (a series of six is normally recommended) to see good results and they don't come cheap.

Whatever treatment you choose to rejuvenate your skin, remember that is very important to stay out of the sun and use sunscreen with high SPF every day after the treatment and will be still better if you use it every day of your life, you skin will thank you for it. A good sunblock product recommended after laser treatment or as a daily moisturizer to protect the skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays is Philosophy Shelter 2oz

Check this article about sunbathing to see how the sun can affect your skin.

Here i have made a selection of the most popular non ablative lasers treatments. Although the same laser can treat different skin problems, i have focus in the lasers that are used most for skin rejuvenation.

Cooltouch Laser

The Cool touch skin laser helps to improve aging skin . First the skin is treated with a cooling spray. Then a hand device piece is used to deliver short pulses of laser energy into the deeper layers of the skin, stimulating collagen production, improving the skin condition.

Cool touch lasers are used to treat

  • fine lines and wrinkles
  • acne scars
  • skin texture
  • skin tightening
Treatments can take up to 30 minutes and sometimes local anesthetic may be offered. After treatment the area treated can feel hot and have a pink tone that will fade over the next few hours. The risks with the cool touch skin laser are minimal and people can go to work immediately after the procedure. To achieve optimal results more treatments will be needed. Your physician will give you the necessary guidelines for this treatment.

Medlite Laser

Medlite laser works in a similar way to the cool touch skin lasers. Short pulses of energy lasers pass through the epidermis into the deeper layers of the skin. The top layer remains intact, while in the deeper layers collagen production is stimulated.

Depending on how deep the medlite laser penetrates the skin, different skin problems will be treated such as
  • tattoo removal
  • skin pigmentation
  • hair removal
  • acne scars
  • wrinkles
  • skin texture
  • enlarged pores
  • vascular lesions
  • freckles
  • age spots
  • brown birthmarks
The risks with medlite lasers are minimal. Treatments can take up to 45 minutes, depending on area-s treated. During treatment local or topical anesthetic may be offered if necessary. After treatment the area-s can feel hot and with a pink tone that will fade over the next few hours. Stay out of the sun and use sunscreen with high SPF every day to protect your skin.

Scarring and infections are very rear, but ask your physician about any side effects with the medlite laser. You most probably will need a series of treatments to achieve better results. This product MD Formulations Vita-A-Plus Illuminating Age Spot Laser Treatment 3.5ml is an alternative to laser skin treatment and has glycolic acid, vitamins A and C and mulberry, specially designed to diminish sun spots, freckles and sun damage.


N-Lite Laser

With N-lite skin lasers the energy passes through the epidermis into the deeper layers of the skin, targeting damaged tissue and stimulating collagen production, while the top layer (epidermis) remains intact.

N-lite lasers are used to treatDuring treatment you may feel a warm sensation in the area treated. There is no need for anesthetic with n-lite laser and there are no side effects. You can go to work or resume your normal activities after treatment. Stay out of the sun and wear a sunscreen with high SPF every day to protect your skin. A series of treatments will be needed for optimal results six to eight weeks apart.

Titan Laser

Titan skin lasers work by projecting infrared light through the epidermis, heating the water within the dermis which causes the collagen to contract. Thus collagen production is increased, giving the skin a younger appearance over time.

Titan lasers are used forTitan laser is not only used to treat the face, but can be used to treat loose skin in
  • arms
  • abdomen
  • neck
  • arms
  • knees
  • thighs
  • elbows
During treatment you may feel a warm sensation. It can be uncomfortable and some people need topical anesthetic or pain relieve. After the procedure the area treated can present some redness or swelling that will fade over the next few hours.

Normally you will see the results gradually, over the next few weeks or months. Yor skin appearance will get better as new collagen is formed, in the deeper layers of the skin. With Titan skin laser there is no need for recovery time and no disruption to your normal life. You may need more than one treatment for better results. Stay out of the sun and wear sunscreen with high SPF every day.

Fraxel Laser

The fraxel laser is one of the newest skin treatments around. The fraxel laser works by projecting a laser beam over the skin, reaching the deep layers and causing microscopic wounds to the desired areas. As a consequence new collagen is produced and the healthy areas around the wounded tissue, help to speed up the healing process.

The fraxel skin laser can treat areas separately rather than the whole face. This skin laser is used to treat
  • acne scars
  • age spots
  • brown spots
  • melasma
  • fine lines and wrinkles
  • pigmentation
  • rough skin
Before treatment a topical anesthetic is applied. Then a blue tint is applied to the skin surface, to highlight the areas to be treated. The skin will be cooled with a device during the procedure. You will feel an uncomfortable feeling like tingling or prickling .

After treatment the skin will feel hot for a while, and will have a pink tone that wll fade over the next few days. Flaking and swelling of the skin may occur and can last for few days. Your skin will have a bronzed appearance after the treatment that will disappear over the next two weeks.

Over the next few months your skin will gradually became fresher, smoother and younger looking, as new collagen is formed beneath the epidermis. The fraxel laser has been approved by the FDA (food and drug administration, US) and is considered to be safe.

The effects are long lasting and your physician will decide how many treatments are needed, to achieve optimal results. Stay out of the sun and wear sunscreen with high SPF every day to protect your skin.

IPL(intense pulsed light)

Intense pulsed light works by projecting short pulses of intense light through the epidermis into the lower layers (dermis). This heat causes damage to the tissue which the skin repairs by producing new collagen, improving the appearance of the skin.

Intense pulsed light (IPL)is used for
  • hair removal
  • skin pigmentation
  • age spots
  • blemishes
  • fine lines and wrnkles
  • port wine stains
  • freckles
  • acne
I had this treatment done four years ago for a red birthmark i have in my face. It hasn't disappear completely because i didn't complete the course of treatments that i needed. I was treated by a registered nurse in a clinic. Before treatment i was given protection for my eyes.

Then she applied a cool gel to my face because i wanted to treat all my face. I was a little bit apprehensive but didn't have anesthetic. I could feel my face heating up and the feeling that someone was prickling my skin with every shot. It was uncomfortable, but nothing that i couldn't tolerate.

The treatment took around twenty minutes and my face was a little bit red at first, but fade away soon after. Some people may experience other symptoms such as mild swelling but in general, is a safe procedure and you can return to work or your daily activities immediately after treatment. You can also apply make up straight away.

A series of treatments few weeks apart are needed to achieve the desired results. As with every skin rejuvenation treatment stay out of the sun and wear sunscreen with high SPF every day. One good product often recommended after laser treatment is M.D. Forte Skin Rejuvenation Lotion II 1 oz. It contains 20% of glycolic acid compound and is designed to rejuvenate the skin.



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