- Patients of laser therapy for the skin span a wide range of age and skin conditions. Twenty-somethings use laser therapy to even skin tone, improve complexion, and sometimes for tackling stubborn acne problems and undesirable birthmarks. The ultimate goal of patients is to look more youthful, achieved with laser therapy by softening, tightening, and evening out the skin's texture and color. Patients often use laser therapy to correct skin irregularities caused by either the natural aging process or extrinsic aging factors. Hyperpigmentation, such as age spots and liver spots, usually due to UV ray exposure, is a major cause for treatment, as is the desired reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. Diminishing scars, zapping away broken capillaries, spider veins, melasma spots, and stretch marks are other reasons patients seek laser resurfacing.
- Laser therapy procedures are nonsurgical and non-invasive, meaning they require no incisions through the skin or cavity-entrance into the body. High-intensity laser beams filled with plasma energy permeate the epidermis (at varying depths, depending on the technology used and the objective), targeting specific clusters of skin cells to dissolve and/or destroy those that are undesirable. The beams slough off old, dead skin cells, and promote the regeneration of new skin cells from the inside out. Hence, collagen growth is stimulated and a fresh layer of skin is revealed. Laser therapy patients experience very little to no pain, at the very most feeling a slight pinch as the beam strikes the skin.
- Results on wrinkles after continual laser therapy treatment.
The effectiveness of laser therapy depends on the original skin condition and the patient's desired results. Improved complexion through a more even skin tone and the radiance of the new skin cells is the first visible result of patients who use laser therapy for more preventative reasons. In their first stages, broken capillaries are often removed with one laser treatment session. Hyperpigmentation areas, such as age spots and liver spots, may require multiple treatments before they become invisible, and, depending on their size and depth, may require healing intervals between sessions. Fine lines and wrinkles will diminish by being "filled" from the inside out by stimulation of new collagen growth after the unwanted cells are destroyed, but the time it takes to achieve these results, vary with skin condition. Effects, however, are long-term to permanent. - Years ago, it was only possible to receive laser therapy treatment in the offices of dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Currently, however, spas and beauty salons across the United States have begun offering this service due to demand and market growth. "Medspas" are businesses that offer a combination of spa treatments and medical cosmetic procedures, and there are currently over 2,500 medspas in the United States, with growing numbers. State and national medical boards now seek regulation of cosmetic laser therapy, so that nonmedical practitioners, such as cosmetologists, electrologists and aestheticians, are required special training and certification in order to legally (and safely) render this service to patients. Patients who seek laser therapy are strongly urged to research the source, and, at least for now, stick with the medical professionals.
- This is a rather ironic fact about laser therapy for the skin: while corrected, mroe youthful skin is achieved, the skin also becomes substantially more sensitive to extrinsic environmental factors, primarily the sun. Thus, it becomes even more crucial that the patient use a strong SPF sunscreen to protect the skin from UV rays. Dermatologists also recommend supplementing sunscreen with wide-brimmed hats to protect the face post-treatment. Although it is uncommon, laser treatment may also leave the skin more irritable, causing redness and itchiness.
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