Earlier this month, we wrote about the best skin rejuvenation devices and the results you can expect to achieve if you have a particular procedure. Lasers can treat a wide variety of conditions, so if your plans include hair removal, eliminating acne marks or sun damage, or even treating unsightly capillaries, read on. Making an informed decision is key to getting the best results.
Hair Removal
With spring and summer a few months away, winter is a great time to begin laser hair removal treatments. Hair grows, sheds, and rests in different phases, so getting rid of it requires multiple sessions. You need to plan ahead before beginning your hair removal journey. Most areas require 3–6 visits spread out over several months in order to remove most of the hair (some always remains, but it usually grows in finer, less dense, and lighter in color). Laser hair removal is perfect for men and women with dark hair and light skin (sorry, blondes) and can zap away unwanted face, neck, chest, back, underarm, bikini area, and leg hair. Cynosure and Lumenis are two of the best laser devices in use today, so look for them when picking a provider.
Dark Spots
Acne can leave red or brown spots in its wake, as can sun exposure. Areas of hyperpigmentation caused by excess melanin respond well to various laser treatments. Ablative lasers, like CO2, are very precise and reduce hyperpigmentation while also stimulating the body’s own collagen production. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments cover a broader area but are also highly effective at eliminating excess pigment. A PicoSure laser treatment is another option that you may not have heard of before. It’s frequently used to remove tattoo ink, so it’s excellent for removing brown spots and is a wonderful option for melasma patients or anyone wanting to treat a large area of discoloration. As a bonus, the PicoSure uses pressure instead of heat to break up pigmentation, so there’s less discomfort after treatment and any redness fades quickly.
Red Veins
Some forms of redness under the skin are actually the result of broken capillaries. Tiny veins occasionally burst during pregnancy, and they can also occur due to injury or rosacea. When this happens the blood becomes visible in a branch-like form because it pools under the skin. Unlike a bruise, broken capillaries do not fade with time, so if you want to get rid of them, head to your dermatologist for either a laser or IPL treatment.
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Proper aftercare makes a huge difference in the long-term efficacy of a laser treatment, so follow your provider’s instructions to the letter. Since your skin may be fragile after a procedure, it will need to be babied. Protect your moisture barrier by using a non-comedogenic moisturizer daily. Ditch the exfoliating scrub and take a break from retinol for at least a week because both of these products can aggravate sensitive skin. Last, but never least as far as we’re concerned, reduce sun exposure and wear broad spectrum sunscreen whenever you’ll be outdoors. Freshly treated skin can easily be damaged, and you didn’t invest in a procedure just to throw away your results.
To your skin (and hair) goals,
Team Reflect