Dermatologists and aesthetic clinics have been popping off with newer and newer treatments to help skin concerns. From facials to injectables, there’s always a new nip and tuck in the market. One treatment that’s been catching our eye lately is Laser Skin Treatments. From reducing pigmentation to smoothing the overall appearance, it sounds like a good fix for a myriad of skin issues. But with so many lasers to choose from, not to mention all the alternative light therapies like IPL and LED, which one is the right pick?
We’ve put together a brief guide to explain all the major types of laser treatments in the market so you know what you’re working with. But remember, while this is not as permanent as cosmetic surgery, it is still a complex procedure, so consult a professional to know for sure which laser is right for you!
But First, How Does It Work?
Sure, we know lasers are involved, but how does the treatment actually benefit your skin? Lasers emit light that is precise, which targets specific spots, concentrating the energy on the right area. Different lasers produce light at different wavelengths, which helps with the depth of penetration in the skin and the type of skin tissue that’s affected. This light is absorbed and turned into heat, which results in one of three things. Either you get a photothermal effect, which means the heat destroys the targeted tissue, or you get a photomechanical effect, where the intense pulses break down unwanted tissue, or you get a photochemical effect, a chemical reaction within the skin cells which helps to heal the skin.
So, now that we know how it works, let’s look at the type of laser treatments you can get.
Abrasive Lasers
These are mainly used for skin resurfacing treatments. They work by removing the outer layer of skin, regenerating smoother skin from underneath. Two common lasers you would hear are CO2 and Erbium YAG. They help treat wrinkles, acne scars, damaged skin, and uneven skin texture.
As its name suggests, CO2 uses a carbon dioxide laser to remove the damaged skin, whereas Erbium YAG is a gentler version of CO2, causing fewer side effects and faster recovery. That being said, both lasers are more aggressive than the other lasers on this list. Since the upper layer of the skin is vapourised, these treatments require more time for recovery. But, compared to most lasers, these two are the most effective, showing dramatic improvement to the skin.
Non-Abrasive Lasers
As the name suggests, lasers under this category penetrate the skin without disturbing the outermost layer of the skin. They work by heating the underlying layers, stimulating collagen production. This means fewer side effects and minimal recovery time, and it is usually done for mild to moderate skin issues. Two popular treatments in this category are ClearSkin and ClearLift.
ClearSkin helps treat acne with minimal invasion to the skin. The lasers target the sebaceous glands to help control excessive oil production that causes acne breakouts. It also eliminates the bacteria responsible for acne breakouts and stimulates collagen to heal and improve the skin’s texture. Whereas ClearLift is a more comprehensive treatment. The lasers target the deeper skin layers to stimulate collagen production, which makes the skin firmer, clears sun spots and fine lines, and gives an overall brighter complexion to the skin.
Q-Switched Lasers
These lasers deliver high-intensity pulses of light which get converted to heat. They’re used to treat pigment-specific issues like tattoo removals, hyperpigmentation, and melasma. The heat disrupts the pigment particles, breaking them down and naturally removing them from the body. Another unexpected benefit of Q-switched lasers is firmer skin. As the laser light penetrated the skin, it inadvertently activated collagen production, which makes the skin smoother.
Near Infraed Lasers
This laser is commonly used in anti-ageing treatments, called NIR Skin Tightening, which target sagging skin. Sagging skin occurs when there’s a decline in collagen and elastin, the proteins that help make your skin stay firm. The NIR Skin Tightening treatment uses near-infrared light, a type of laser, to stimulate both collagen and elastin. This gives the skin its skin-tightening effect, lifting and toning it, making it look more youthful. Best of all, this treatment is painless and compared to the rest of the laser treatments on our list, this one comes with no recovery time.
