Laser Treatments

What Are Laser Treatments?

Dermatologists use lasers to treat many cosmetic skin concerns such as redness, blood vessels, dark spots, sun damage, fine lines, scarring, and unwanted hair. It can improve the overall look and appearance of the skin. There are many different types of lasers and laser technology is always evolving.

How Do Laser Treatments Work?

Laser harnesses the power of light and heat to improve skin tone, texture, and complexion. Technically, lasers work by emitting a beam of light to treat a certain target such as blood vessels or dark spots. Depending on the type of laser and wavelength selected, the light emitted will penetrate at different depths of the skin allowing lasers to treat multiple concerns or targets.

How Many Laser Treatments Will I Need?

The majority of the time, laser treatments are recommended in a series of 3 treatments. However, this varies from patient to patient, so a consultation with one of our providers at Advanced Dermatology & Aesthetic Medicine is required to determine your exact needs and to decide if your concerns can be appropriately addressed with laser treatment.

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FAQs About Laser Treatments

At Advanced Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine, we offer laser treatments for acne, rosacea, broken capillaries, angiomas or cherry red spots, laser hair removal, and facial rejuvenation.
Yes. But there is a greater risk of discoloration when using lasers in darker skin tones. That doesn’t mean darker skin tones need to shy away from lasers. Instead, it’s important to find a provider who has experience using laser on darker skin tones and can properly assess the risk vs benefits for you and the condition you are treating.
We use the aerolase laser which is FDA-cleared for acne treatment. It is both safe and effective in all skin tones including darker skin tones. The laser energy penetrates deeply into the skin, generating heat around the sebaceous (oil) glands. The heat destroys the P. Acne bacteria, reduces inflammation and sebum (oil) output. Clinical studies of this treatment show a reduction in acne lesions, reduced, redness and oiliness with even the first treatment, but is optimal with 4-6 treatments spaced out between 2-4 weeks each. As an added bonus, this treatment also evens out skin tone and texture!
Our laser uses a 1064nm wavelength which targets water, melanin and hemoglobin in the skin. The deep penetration of this wavelength allows stimulation of collagen, which helps minimize appearance of fine lines and improves overall tone and texture of the skin.
There is always a risk of side effects with any laser treatment. One of the most important things you can do to lower your risk of side effects from laser is to wear sunscreen and NOT BE TAN for your treatment. Your doctor will discuss side effects and risks during your consultation. Some possible risks for lasers include:
- Redness and swelling
- Unforeseen changes in skin color and appearance. Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation are both possible side effects.
- Burn or blister
Lasers are powerful and can produce great results, but they aren’t miracle machines. Depending on your specific skin condition and the kind of treatments you get, results can take time, and repeat sessions are typically necessary, even with the most aggressive laser. Whatever you do is going to require maintenance at home in your daily routine.
The downtime with laser treatments varies greatly and depends on the type of laser and settings used for your treatment. At our practice, we typically tend to have gentler treatments that we space out over time to get great results with no downtime after each treatment.
If you invest time and money into a laser routine at the doctor’s office, it’s really vital that you do a good topical maintenance routine at home to optimize the results of the treatment. Our providers with guide you with the best home regimen for your condition and treatment.