Skin Care Q & A: Should I Get Laser Skin Treatment?

• Core Facts

You may have heard of using lasers to resurface the skin and get rid of lines and wrinkles. These skin care treatments vary from highly invasive surgical procedures to something you can do over your lunchtime. Before embarking on such an adventure, you should find out more about the different types of laser treatments so you can determine whether they should be part of your skin care routine.

There are basically three types of lasers used on the skin. The first is a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) laser. It’s very powerful and is used primarily to treat deep wrinkles, scars, and so on. It removes the outer layers of the skin and is the most radical of laser procedures. Recovery time is two to three weeks.

The second is Er:YAG or Erbium:YAG, short for the chemical names of the crystals used. It is not as powerful as the CO2 laser and is usually used on shallower wrinkles. Many doctors prefer it over CO2 because it’s less damaging. Like CO2 lasers, it also removes the outer layers of the skin but it doesn’t go as deep. The recovery time is a week or two.

Both CO2 and Er:YAG require general or local anaesthetic and you may need multiple treatments. Also, although recovery itself is up to three weeks, your skin can remain pink for up to a year even after the milder Er:YAG, and you have to stay out of the sun.

The third type is non-abrasive laser resurfacing or N-Lite: also referred to as photo rejuvenation. Unlike CO2 and Er:YAG, N-Lite doesn’t damage tissues, is relatively painless and, in many cases, has no recovery time. In fact, it’s being touted as the perfect lunchtime skin care treatment. However, some doctors may use more powerful settings than recommended, which can cause the blisters, peeling, sores, scabs and bruising experienced with CO2 and Er:YAG. You might want to make sure your doctor doesn’t do that.

N-Lite often requires two or three treatments and the changes are seen over the next 90 days. Although results are never guaranteed, it usually removes fine lines and wrinkles and reduces acne scars and pigmentation. N-Lite doesn’t exfoliate as deeply as CO2 or Er:YAG so a peel is sometimes recommended prior.
 
All three stimulate collagen production. As collagen provides the underlying structure of the skin, any skin care treatment that results in more collagen thickens the skin and plumps it up.

After any type of laser skin care treatment it’s vital to protect the surface of the skin from further damage. With CO2 and Er:YAG, it’s going to be a while before you can put anything on your skin, but with N-Lite, some people even put make-up on before they leave the doctors office. As soon as you are able, it would be wise to start using natural skin care products that won’t cause irritation, including a shielding lotion. A good shielding lotion locks in natural moisture and keeps out chemicals so the skin can heal. It is now recommended by thousands of doctors.

If you’re looking for a younger, fresher look, check with your dermatologist to find out if laser treatment is right for you. If you decide to go forward, make sure you use the shielding lotion for after-laser skin care treatment.

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