As much as we enjoy being outside, spending time at the beach and outside sports, it wreaks havoc on our skin. Even if you wear sunscreen religiously, those rays sneak in when your guard is down leaving you with sun damage.
Laser resurfacing is a great way for people who want a new, brighter complexion. It works great to treat these conditions, as well as receive a bit of skin tightening.
- Wrinkles
- Hyper-pigmentation (dark spots)
- Large pores
- Scars from acne, surgery or trauma
- Melasma (brown patches that worsen with hormones or sun)
Dramatic results
The number of different lasers is overwhelming. The most important aspect to understand is what the laser is actually doing. There are two types of resurfacing lasers: ablative and non-ablative. Don’t worry, it sounds worse than it is! The ablative lasers are CO2 or YAG lasers. This means that the top layer of skin is replaced with brand new skin in 1-2 weeks. So, plan to take this time off of work. These lasers are a one-time treatment, have dramatic results and nearly eliminate the fine lines, scars or pigmentation irregularities!
Before:
After:
Good for people on-the-go!
Non-ablative lasers, like Fraxel, do not “vaporize” the skin like an ablative laser does, so the skin remains intact. Columns of heat are applied to the skin, which are then replaced with new, fresh skin. After the treatment, you look like you have a sunburn for 2-3 days, then a tan for 2-3 days and then the old skin flakes off for a few days. After the “sunburn” phase, most people are able to go to work/school, so it is perfect for the person on-the-go. However, if you have a big event, you will probably want to wait a week. Since each treatment is not as intense, the best results are seen with a series of 3-5 treatments spaced one month apart.
If there is a treatment or surgery that you are wondering about, please send me your questions at drangelasturm.com. In a simple appointment you can be on your way to younger looking skin and a happier outlook!