How Do Lasers Work to Rejuvenate the Skin? AT DERMACARE SAN DIEGO

Published: November 5, 2018
Category: Blog, Laser Treatments, Skin Care
laser treatment patient

Today, women and men have multiple options to rejuvenate the skin safely and achieve long-lasting results. These rejuvenation options include chemical peels, microneedling with PRP and laser as well as more invasive procedures for individuals who have more severe symptoms or desire more dramatic results. Lasers, however, can be an especially great option for people who have mild to moderate skin symptoms or skin with multiple problems, want visible results but also don’t want to have excessive downtime. Laser treatments also combine well with other cosmetic treatments to provide a more comprehensive solution for long-term, all-over results.

How Lasers Rejuvenate the Skin

Lasers induce a natural healing response in the skin. Depending on the laser being used, either micro-wounds or heat are utilized in a controlled and targeted fashion. Either micro-wounds will be made on the surface of the skin, or the deeper layers of the skin will be gently heated. Both methods induce a healing response, called neocollagenesis, but in different ways. After treatment, your body immediately and naturally begins healing compromised tissues. During neocollagenesis, the body produces more collagen, the protein primarily responsible for the underlying structure of the skin. With more collagen present in the skin, it will begin to take on a more youthful look with improved tone, and subsequently, patients will have reduced symptoms, such as wrinkles, scarring, sun damage, enlarged pores, discoloration and crêpeyness.

Kinds of Lasers

Individuals considering a laser treatment have multiple options to choose from for their procedure. One of the primary differences between lasers is whether they are ablative or non-ablative.

Ablative Versus Non-ablative

Ablative lasers remove the top layer of the skin, which may contain damage or unwanted symptoms. An ablative procedure is considered a more aggressive treatment for the rejuvenation of the skin but one which can provide more substantial results when that is desired, and that can last for a longer period of time. Patients who have an ablative laser treatment often require only one session to get their desired results.

By contrast, patients who elect to have a non-ablative treatment may require three or more sessions to obtain their desired level of rejuvenation. Non-ablative lasers initiate neocollagenesis differently. This latter class of lasers will heat the underlying layers of the skin to induce the healing response leading to better-looking skin. Which procedure you should have will depend on your skin condition, your goals and the recommendation of your doctor.

Common Laser Devices

Laser treatments are often referred to by the brand name of the device. Popular treatment devices include:

  • PiQo — Piqo lasers are non-ablative laser treatments which improve a wide variety of skin conditions with minimal downtime. Few treatment sessions are needed to obtain your results, and the treatment has only 24 hours or less of downtime.
  • Fraxel — Fraxel lasers can be used in ablative and non-ablative capacities. These devices affect only a fraction of the skin in the affected area which promotes faster healing and results. Downtime is approximately 24 hours.
  • CO2 — A CO2 laser is an ablative laser treatment and is the most powerful laser treatment available. Patients will have one week of downtime, on average, but will enjoy the most substantial and long-lasting results.

The Results You Can Expect From a Laser Treatment

Lasers cannot stop the aging process, nor can any cosmetic treatment. However, ablative and non-ablative lasers such as CO2, Halo and Fraxel can naturally induce the production of collagen which can lessen and reverse mild to moderate symptoms of aging with lasting results. Depending on the laser selected and the present condition of your skin, you may need one or more treatments to obtain your desired look, and you may need touch-ups in the future to maintain them. However, lasers can produce visible results quickly which effectively address a wide range of common concerns, and they can allow interested patients to avoid more invasive procedures to get the facial rejuvenation they desire.

Have your laser treatment at Dermacare! Call for Your Free Consultation

At Dermacare, we reveal the beauty within. We offer our patients many different laser treatment options because we believe they can help our patients realize their best self. Every person deserves to feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. Laser treatments, in particular, can make your cosmetic journey more comfortable and help you avoid unwanted downtime so you can live your life the way you want and enjoy your results more quickly.

If you would like to learn more about your candidacy for a laser treatment, contact us today. You can reach Dermacare by telephone at 858-943-2443 in Rancho Bernardo and 760-472-5088 in Carlsbad. Begin your journey to beauty with Dermacare.