Im going to let you in on a little secret.
Although Im constantly researching new skin treatments, Im a relative newbie when it comes to lasers.
To be honest, when I hear the wordlaser,my mind jumps to light sabers before skin care.
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No Jedi mind tricks here, just effective, science-backed treatments that dermatologists stand by for visible results.
Nothing really takes the place of what lasers can do for the skin.
That, she says, is where lasers come in.
And they can do a world of difference.
“Laser” stands for light amplified by stimulated emission of radiation.
Yep, its complicated.
That means derms use one wavelength to target brown spots, another for red bumps, etc.
Theyre not like magic erasers, but theyre quite helpful, saysAmy Wechsler, M.D.
Some treatments take a few sessions spaced out over time to work.
But after that, youre pretty much done.
People have this idea that laser is so expensive, Oh, it takes so many treatments.
Oh, Im going to have such a bad recovery, says Dr. Papantoniou.
But really, its not that expensive and it works really well.
Let’s be real for a second: Lasers are not cheap.
Turn to a resurfacing lasers.
In this category, Fraxel Dual is by far the favorite among dermatologists.
More collagen and elastin means smoother, younger-looking skin.
We can treat superficial brown spots on the top and deeper wrinkles.
Dr. Waldorf adds that Fraxel is also an option to help minimize the rough texture of acne scarring.
Fraxel can also be used on the body to smooth surgical scars, likeC-sectionor breast augmentation scars.
The laser lowdown:Expect to pay $500 for just cheeks, $1,000 for full face.
It can require three to five treatments to see results.
After that, some patients also come back for Fraxel touch-ups once a year.
In addition to her V-Beam, Dr. Papantoniou also uses a KTP laser on particularly stubborn red blood vessels.
If you have those subtle lines, you might basically trace them with a KTP, she says.
The laser lowdown:The cost is usually $400 to $600 per treatment.
The results of a vascular laser can vary depending on the patient.
For those with rosacea, it can take two or three treatments to see a significant difference.
After a treatment, skin can appear pinkas if you got a sunburn.
There is a slight chance of bruising.
When shit happens and you hate thattattoo, lasers can erase your ink.
The tattoo laser is attracted to pigment in the skin, brown in particular, says Dr. Papantoniou.
Warning: Not all designs come away easily.
Overall, new tattoos that are done professionally are harder to remove.
Plus, colors like green, yellow, and blue can be stubborn.
Since a tattoo laser targets the color brown really well, it can also be good for treatingdark spots.
She uses the MedLite laser in her practice.
The laser lowdown:Price will be $150 to $400 per session.
It can take several sessions (10 to 25) to remove large tattoos.
A hair laser works by targeting pigment, says Dr. Papantoniou.
The laser light has a preference for the melanin thats in the base of the hair follicle.
The laser burns the hair down to the base stunting the growth.
It can be used on underarms, bikini line, and legs.
Dr. Papantoniou uses the Candela Gentle Pro Laser for most of her patients.
For darker skin, she recommends something like the Lyra laser.
Other experts also recommend the nd:YAG.
No skin throw in has to stay away from lasers, says Dr. Wechsler.
Its just very much operator dependent.
Currently there isno board certificationin laser medicine.
Its a strong machine.
If you dont know what youre doing, you could definitely cause injury.
The pros recommend seeing a medical doctor when it comes to laser treatments like the Fraxel and V-Beam.
Even with treatments as simple as laser hair removal, verify you do a thorough check on the facility.
Youd be surprised how many people I see who have complications from laser treatments, says Dr. Papantoniou.
Theres no laser police running around.
People get injured, and they cant even sue.
Let me preface this by saying everyones pain threshold is different.
However, lasers are known to be painful.
It depends on the area of the body," says Dr. Wechsler.
“The face and the neck tend to hurt more with the laser than other areas.
Although bikini andunderarm laser hair removaldefinitely hurts, too.
Most times a dermatologist will apply a strong numbing cream before using the laser.
We give people stress balls and ice afterwards, Wechsler says.
And she adds, no pain, no gain.
