Your skin is the biggest part of your body and the one with the greatest visibility as well. From protecting your inner organs to regulating your body temperatures and fluid levels, your skin is responsible for a wide array of functions.
Since your skin is an exposed organ, it is often affected by environmental factors and other chemicals. Should you suffer from a problem with any body part, your skin will probably be affected as well. Even as you grow older, your skin loses its health and so many problems start to take shape such wrinkles and fine lines.
A dermatologist in Southlake, TX states that the most common skin conditions are acne, blemishes and wrinkles. UV exposure and improper care also adds years to your face, causing your skin to sag and dark circles to form around your eyes. You can minimize ageing signs if you follow a proper treatment plan as recommended by your dermatologist in Southlake, TX. Medications and lotions may help you out to some extent, but if your condition is severe, then your dermatologist in Southlake, TX will advise you to undergo laser skin treatment.
Laser is a source of high intensity light, allowing small spots to be focused accurately and subjecting them to high energy levels. Laser beam can vaporize into the tissues of your skin, minimizing the appearance of scars, blemishes and wrinkles. In some cases, laser is also used to seal your blood vessels or cut your tissues.
Your dermatologist in Southlake, TX may also use Intense Pulsed Light or IPL to treatment pigmentation. This is similar to laser but with a broader spectrum. Your dermatologist in Southlake, TX will direct short and concentrated beams where your skin tone is uneven, and remove the topmost layer with utmost precision, leaving fresh and clear skin underneath.
Treatable Skin Conditions
Laser therapy can treat the following skin conditions.
- Unwanted hair and tattoos
- Acne
- Skin problems related to aging such as fine lines, wrinkles and age spots
- Spider veins
- Birthmarks
- Dark circles around the eyes and sagging eyelids
- Frown lines
- Pigmentation and uneven skin color and texture
- Skin tightening
Laser Types
Many different kinds of lasers are used for skin treatments. Your dermatologist in Southlake, TX will select the most appropriate of these by considering different factors such as pulse durations, wavelength and the area which has to be treated.
Broadly, lasers can be divided into two main types for skin treatment purposes.
Ablative Laser
In this process, your dermatologist in Southlake, TX will target your skin with an intense wavelength laser light, which will eject into the surface and then remove damaged or aged skin at the top. Laser works on the underlying skin, stimulating collagen which minimizes winkles. Once the treatment is over, your dermatologist in Southlake, TX will apply an ointment and then dress up the affected area with bandages. The new skin that grows over the affected area is tighter and smoother.
Ablative lasers can further be divided into:
Carbon dioxide laser
Carbon dioxide lasers have been in use since the 1960s, but they do have certain side effects, so your dermatologist in Southlake, TX will probably advise fractional mode lasers. The latter type has fewer side effects and allows your skin to heal in a shorter period. But fractional mode laser cannot be used if your skin tone is dark.
Carbon dioxide laser is used for treating deep set wrinkles, acne cares, birthmarks, moles, saggy skin, feet corns and even skin cancer. Side effects include pain, a burning sensation, itching, pigmentation and longer healing periods
Erbium Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet
This type of laser is associated with fewer risks. During the procedure, your dermatologist in Southlake, TX will remove the topmost layer to treat deep lines, wrinkles, moles and pigmentation. Side effects include a slight burning session, some redness and swelling or bruising, which lasts for about a week or 2.
Non ablative laser
In this method, your dermatologist in Southlake, TX works below the skin surface, stimulating growth of collagen and tightening the layers beneath to improve skin tone. Your dermatologist in Southlake, TX may also use this method to treat fine lines and moderate skin damage.
Non ablative laser can further be divided into the following types.
Pulsed Dye Laser
If your dermatologist in Southlake, TX opts for pulsed dyed laser, then they would target your blood vessels, forcing them to shrink and consequently, decreasing redness. Pulsed dye laser can be applied on your face and any body part, but you need around 3 to 5 treatment sessions with your dermatologist in Southlake, TX. Healing time is only a couple of hours, and results are long lasting.
Your dermatologist in Southlake, TX will suggest pulse dyed laser for birthmarks, spider veins, stretch marks, fine lines near your eyes, rosacea and broken capillaries. Side effects include minor bruising and temporary pigmentation.
Nd: YAG laser
Neodymium doped YAG or Yttrium Aluminum Garnet, a crystal like material, is used as a medium for solid state laser technology. This laser emits light with greater energy which is targeted onto a certain skin issue. Heat is generated and the affected cells are destroyed.
YAG laser may work for lesions, pigmentation, spider veins and hair removal, but generally, the associated success rates are lower compared to other laser treatments. Also if this method is used for vascular lesion, then there is a chance that they would return. The associated side effects include itching and swelling.
Alexandrite Laser
Alexandrite laser also emits light at high energy, which is then converted into heat, damaging the targeted area permanently. This laser type is extremely precise and destroys only the lesion. The surrounding tissue is often undamaged and unaffected.
Alexandrite laser works well for treating sun damage skin, hair removal and pigmentation. You may experience pain, swelling and redness, but the side effects are common and without any serious consequences.
Visit us at Compassion Dermatology in Forth Worth, TX, and we’ll assess your individual skin condition. Accordingly, we’ll determine the most suitable laser treatment method.
