Tag Archives: treat skin conditions

Laser Skin Resurfacing vs. Cosmetic Skin Treatments like Chemical Peels and Microdermabrasion

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Rosacea treatment AtlantaPatients often ask about the advantage of laser skin resurfacing over other treatments targeting surface damage like chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Although each of these treatments target conditions like wrinkles, sun damage, melasma, and acne scarring, they produce different results. The main difference is that lasers penetrate the skin’s surface to target deep layers of tissue while chemical peels and microdermabrasion treatments better address milder, superficial issues.

Lighter chemical peels and microdermabrasion treatments are better suited for patients who have just started noticing imperfections like fine lines, wrinkles, and melasma. In fact, many young patients receive these types of treatments to maintain a youthful appearance while older patients may benefit from stronger peels. We offer a variety of chemical peel options to treat an assortment of skin conditions. During a chemical peel treatment, the skin is cleansed and a chemical solution is applied. Once chemicals have reached the desired depth, a neutralizing agent is applied. The damaged outer layer of skin is eliminated to reveal the healthy skin beneath and stimulate collagen production. Depending on the strength of the chemical peel, the outermost layer of skin may continue to peel for up to a week following treatment.

Microdermabrasion creates a similar effect to that of a chemical peel. However, rather than using a chemical solution, microdermabrasion uses a handheld device with a rotating head to exfoliate the damaged outer layers of skin. Microdermabrasion successfully stimulates collagen production while reducing surface imperfections like acne, acne scarring, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation. Although patients may experience temporary redness following treatment, microdermabrasion requires no downtime.

Laser skin resurfacing erases wrinkles, reduces imperfections and blemishes, and stimulates collagen to tighten skin. Instead of only targeting the outermost layer of skin, our lasers penetrate within deep layers of tissues to repair more extensive wrinkling and pigmentation irregularities. Our fractionated CO2 laser induces the body’s wound healing response by using a series of tiny laser columns to penetrate the skin’s surface, which generates “new skin” and ignites collagen and elastin fiber production. Our Erbium laser only penetrates the first three layers of skin to treat more superficial conditions including fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation.

If you aren’t quite sure which resurfacing treatment will best produce the results you’re after, schedule a pre-treatment consultation with one of our licensed estheticians today. During that time, we will listen to your concerns and thoroughly examine your skin to determine a treatment protocol specifically for you. Visit our website to learn about the other services we provide, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for skin care news and updates on our monthly specials.

Get the Best Laser Treatments and Results at Laser Lights

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At Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, we strive to ensure that every patient has the best treatment experience and best results possible. We provide educational information about our services during pre-treatment consultations as well as aftercare instructions before patients leave our office. If you’ve received a laser treatment or regularly keep up with our blog, you’ve most likely heard it’s important to avoid sun exposure for a few weeks prior to and following laser treatment. With summer quickly approaching, now is the perfect opportunity for laser treatment before summer vacation.

Due to the nature of laser procedures, sun exposure after laser treatment can cause hyperpigmentation. In fact, it’s best not to pursue laser treatment on suntanned skin to avoid pigmentation changes. All laser procedures are different—some skin conditions can be treated in just one session while others require multiple sessions. Laser treatments that require multiple sessions must be spaced four to six weeks apart to allow time for the skin to heal between sessions. Knowing how many sessions are required for each treatment can help you determine the best time to receive your desired laser treatment without risking hyperpigmentation.

Skin conditions like age spots, freckles, melasma, hemangiomas, and warts can usually be eliminated in as little as one laser treatment. Depending on the extent of the skin condition, additional treatment sessions may be required for optimal results. Additionally, some spider veins can be eliminated in as little as one treatment, but up to three treatments are often required for complete removal.

Other skin conditions like birthmarks, port wine stains, and laser skin resurfacing (wrinkle reduction) typically require a minimum of three laser treatment sessions for removal and rejuvenation. Birthmarks and port wine stains are usually darker than freckles, lie deeper within the skin’s surface, and are sometimes textured, which makes them more difficult to remove than freckles. Likewise, the number of skin resurfacing sessions necessary to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, melasma, and acne scarring with our CO2 Fractionated Laser or Erbium Laser varies from person to person, but most patients achieve desired results with a series of three treatments.

Laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, and photo rejuvenation therapy typically require at least four to six treatments. Due to the natural hair growth cycle, some hairs are growing while others are in a rest phase. Though some patients see semi-permanent results after their initial treatment, laser hair removal is only effective during the hair growth cycle. The number of sessions required for laser tattoo removal depends on the age, depth, color, size, and placement of the tattoo. Since tattoos often fade overtime older tattoos are easier to remove than newer ones. Likewise, patients who seek photofacial treatment to reduce hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scarring will see results in one treatment, but multiple treatments may be necessary for optimal rejuvenation of the face, chest, arms, and hands.

We have over twelve different lasers to treat a variety of skin conditions and skin types at Laser Lights. As you can see, many treatment requirements vary from patient to patient. Our licensed estheticians can give you a better idea of how many sessions you will need after a pre-treatment consultation. Also keep in mind that if you usually wear protective clothing or are often indoors during the summer, you shouldn’t have to worry about hyperpigmentation. However, if you do have to go out in the sun after laser treatment be sure to wear at least SPF 30 sunscreen, cover the treatment area,  and don’t stay out longer than you must. Visit our website to learn more about our other services or schedule a consultation today to take advantage of laser treatment before summer. Be sure to also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.