According to the Mayo Clinic, laser resurfacing removes aged or sun-damaged skin to enable new, younger-looking skin to replace it. It is used to treat many skin conditions that result from sun damage, including fine to moderate wrinkles, age spots and uneven pigmentation. Multiple procedures may be required, and your skin may stay red or pink for several months afterward. There are different lasers available for treatment, as well as a combination of laser and topical ointments.
Ablative Lasers
Ablative lasers are some of the first lasers used by dermatologists to treat sun-damaged skin. There are two types of ablative lasers: CO2, and Erbium, which remove layers of the skin. C02 lasers were the first and are the most aggressive laser treatment; they necessitate a much longer recovery time. Patients who receive CO2 treatments may experience redness and weepy skin for two weeks or more. Erbium laser treatments are less aggressive, but may require more treatments for the same effect. Erbium patients, however, can return to work in a week or less.
Non-Ablative Lasers
Non-ablative lasers leave hundreds of holes in the skin--versus removing the whole top layer of skin--using a pulse laser. With this treatment, the skin produces more collagen and elastin, which results in smoother skin. Multiple treatments may be required, but enable patients to have a rapid recovery with almost no downtime.
Pulse Dye Lasers
Pulse dye lasers heat the skin, causing it to produce more collagen. Collagen production enables the skin to smooth itself over. Pulse dye lasers are used for red birthmarks, rosacea and for sun damage.
Photodynamic Therapy
The Science Daily reports that the University of Michigan Health Department demonstrated evidence to support the effective use of laser treatment in combination with a topical treatment to treat sun damaged skin. They used a photosensitizer called 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) in combination with a pulse dye laser. Results suggest this treatment to be effective for even the most severely sun damaged skin.
CoolFrax Laser Treatment
CoolFrax laser treatment is a non-surgical treatment which focuses on small areas of the skin at a time. It uses microscopic lasers to create tiny wounds in the area needing treatment, such as an age spot. As with other laser treatments, the wound triggers the skin's natural healing process to generate more collagen and rejuvenated skin cells. There is little to no recovery time with this treatment.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Tests and Procedures: Laser Resurfacing: Basics: Definition
- Mayo Clinic: Tests and Procedures: Laser Resurfacing: Basics: Why it's Done
- Mayo Clinic: Tests and Procedures: Laser Resurfacing: Basics: Results
- Earth Times: Epione Reveals a 'Bright' New Solution for Dull, Sun Damaged Skin
- Science Daily: Sun-Damaged Skin Responds Well To Laser Treatment
