What You Need to Know About Laser Skin Therapy

laser skin therapy

Our skin ranks as the largest and most visible part of the body. It plays a number of very important roles that range from helping to create our senses to protecting what lies beneath. But our skin also suffers from a number of environmental factors – including the hot and cold -, the use of harsh products and a variety of other internal and external torments that threaten to wreak havoc on its long-term health and appearance.

Whatever the cause of your skin related problems, you can feel certain that it will be very evident, especially if located on the face. Skin conditions can include acne, wrinkles, blemishes and a host of other issues that range from annoying to severe. The list of what could go wrong with our skin seems never-ending, especially when we consider what aging brings. Sagging skin, dark circles, wrinkles, etc.

While anti-aging medications and products all promise to help stave off the advances of aging while helping to improve the current state of your skin, most of these solutions fail to actually live up to what they promise. That’s when patients start to seriously consider the benefits associated with laser skin therapy treatments.

How Do Lasers Help Improve My Skin?

Laser technology has the capability of producing high intensity light that dermatologists can precisely focus on certain areas of the body to produce a variety of different effects.

The beam of light produced by a medical laser can gently remove or eliminate the skin tissue to treat scars, blemishes and scars, while also having the ability to seal cut skin tissue or blood vessels. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) has the ability to specifically treat pigmentation and blood vessels. This type of technique directs short, concentrated pulses of light at irregular skin, enabling your skin care doctor to precisely remove the skin layer-by-layer.

What Conditions Can Laser Therapy Treat?

At our Wilsonville dermatology clinic, we use laser therapy to treat a variety of issues that include:

  • Acne scars
  • Spider veins
  • Scars
  • Brown spots and uneven skin color
  • Unwanted hair
  • Age related problems, such as age spot, frown line and wrinkles
  • Skin tightening
  • Crow’s feet
  • Dark circles around the eyes

As laser therapy technology continues to advance, the future promises a whole new range of potential uses for this revolutionary treatment.

Types of Lasers

A number of different types of lasers are currently used in skin therapy. The pulse durations of a laser, its wavelength frequency and how it targets skin tissue all determine the type of laser best suited for certain types of treatment. The two broadest categories of laser include:
Ablative Lasers
This type of laser produces an intense wavelength of light that penetrates the top layers of skin, which then removes the outer layers of sun or age damaged skin. The laser light stimulates the underlying skin layers, resulting in the formation of collagen and improvement of wrinkles. After completing this type of therapy, an ointment and dressing is applied to the skin. Once the skin begins to heal following treatment, new skin forms that is tighter and smoother.
Non-Abrasive Laser
Unlike ablative technologies that heat the top layer of skin so that it’s easy to remove, non-ablative lasers work beneath the surface of a patient’s skin. This type of laser helps to stimulate collagen growth to tighten the underlying skin to improve overall tone. It also can help to remove fine lines and mild to moderate skin damage.
Pulsed Dye Laser
Pulse dye laser treats the skin by targeting the blood vessels directly in order to shrink them and make the skin less red. It’s similar to a rubber band snap and can be used anywhere on the body and face. This type of treatment needs between 3 to 5 sessions to complete, but it does provide permanent results.

If you’re interested in learning more about what laser therapy can do for the health and appearance of your skin, contact our office today to schedule your next laser therapy consultation with the team at Valley View Dermatology.