Which laser treatment is right for your skin?

Fall is known as “laser season” for a reason. It’s the perfect time to clean up sun damage and boost collagen. Laser treatments are great for undoing damage caused by fun in the sun, but they can do so much more.

Laser treatments can address acne scars, age spots, fine wrinkles and uneven skin colour or texture.

Your skin type will dictate the kind of treatment you need to achieve your goals. For laser treatments, it is crucial to book a consultation with an experienced practitioner, as a one-size-fits-all approach may actually be damaging to certain skin types or make conditions such as melasma worse.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the basics and discuss some of the treatments that have been highly effective in addressing my clients’ concerns.

How do lasers work?

Lasers deliver concentrated beams of energy at specific wavelengths to target a skin issue, such as brown spots or broken capillaries, without damaging the surrounding skin.

Different wavelengths (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, etc.) are absorbed by the skin targets. The light transforms to heat when it hits the desired target, such as melanin, and destroys it.

So, if your issue is hyperpigmentation, you would be treated with that specific wavelength. If your issue is redness, we need to target the damaged capillaries and general dermis.

What are the different types of laser treatments?

There are numerous types of laser treatments. As previously mentioned, only an experienced practitioner should determine which kind of treatment is right for you.

Ablative and non-ablative treatments are the two main types of lasers.

Ablative lasers remove parts of the epidermis, the outer layer of your skin, and heat the dermis to induce collagen production. As the epidermis regenerates, the skin becomes smoother and tighter.

Non-ablative lasers don't remove the epidermis. Instead, they deliver targeted channels of heat that stimulate collagen growth in the dermis.

What are some specific types of laser treatments?

Fractionated laser treatments are used for skin resurfacing and overall collagen induction. It treats only a “fraction of skin” at a time, leaving the surrounding tissue intact. This selective targeting promotes speedy healing.

Our "Wrinkle Buster" has two customizable wavelengths. One can be used for resurfacing the outer layer of the skin, while the other can penetrate deeper, targeting both the epidermal and dermal layers.

Fractionated laser is an excellent treatment for addressing sun damage and rejuvenating the skin. Typically, three treatments are required for optimal results. However, many patients are happy with the result of one or two.

Fractionated laser downtime is usually about 7 days. Day 1 and 2, you can expect swelling and redness. Day 4-7, you may experience a sunburn-like sensation as well as skin flaking and peeling.

Erbium Laser "Wrinkle Buster" or laser peel is not as aggressive as the CO2  laser resurfacing that is available for intense resurfacing. Erbium has less heat, resulting in less downtime.

“Wrinkle Buster” helps reverse sun damage, reduces moderately deep wrinkles and improves the tone and texture of acne scars. The treatment also stimulates collagen production, resulting in skin rejuvenation.

Another common treatment is a photo facial or Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). The device is used to treat the same issues as lasers. IPL uses a spectrum of light wavelengths in timed pulses to target and heat chromophores, namely melanin and hemoglobin. The selective absorption destroys the cells containing these chromophores while leaving the surrounding tissue intact.

IPL helps to minimize or remove age spots, freckles, birthmarks, broken capillaries, rosacea and unwanted hair. IPL has minimal downtime. You can resume your usual activities almost immediately after treatment.

Lasers are not for novice practitioners.

If you’re contemplating laser treatments, please book a consult. Your skin type, health history, including allergies, medication and skincare routine will determine which laser treatment is right for you. For some darker skin tones, lasers may be off the table because of the risk of hyperpigmentation. However there are other solutions.

As always, I am here to help. Please book a consultation with me to help you determine the best way to achieve your skincare goals.

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