Understanding the Different Skin Laser Techniques
The application of laser technology in the cutaneous region is a clinical technique that is increasingly becoming a primary treatment option for patients with a wide variety of skin concerns. Specialists at Marion Ob/Gyn Inc. offer aesthetic applications of carbon laser peel in Marion, Ohio, to help patients eliminate chronic skin conditions such as acne scars, wrinkles, and sun damage.
Principles of skin laser technology
Laser technology interacting with skin tissue is based on the optimization of three fundamental principles:
- Wavelength: Specific components of skin tissue absorb laser energy of particular wavelengths.
- Duration: Laser pulse duration should not exceed a tissue’s relaxation time, which is the time it takes a tissue to cool down after laser irradiation.
- Energy density: This principle is also known as fluency. Achievement of maximum target destruction in the skin tissues requires optimal energy density.
The above principles enable maximum energy delivery while reducing collateral damage on tissues from thermal energy.
Laser skin resurfacing techniques
There are two categories of laser skin resurfacing techniques:
- Ablative procedures
- Carbon dioxide laser
Patients with severe photodamaged and scarred skin increasingly opt for carbon dioxide laser treatment. The carbon dioxide laser produces an energy wavelength of 10,600 nm and causes dramatic histologic improvements by absorbing and vaporizing water-containing tissues as it penetrates through the skin. The use of a carbon dioxide laser in clinical aesthetics provides the additional advantage of enhanced collagen tightening. Dermal collagen heating shortens collagen fibers by altering their triple-helical structure. Your care provider may recommend other treatment procedures such as skin lifting and sculpting to enhance your carbon dioxide laser procedure’s cosmetic outcome.
- Erbium: Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Laser
This alternative skin resurfacing technique uses short-pulsed erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser to minimize the adverse effects of carbon dioxide laser procedure while producing similar results. Patients with atrophic scars, photodamage, melasma, and rhytids can use Er: YAG laser treatment. Technological advancements in laser technology enable patients to receive the carbon dioxide laser’s coagulation properties and sufficient tissue ablation from the Er: YAG laser by developing a hybrid Er: YAG/CO2 laser system.
- Nonablative procedures
- Pulsed Dye Laser
The pulsed dye laser treatment is a nonablative technique that treats hypertrophic scars and vascular skin lesions, and mild facial rhytides. The procedure involves selective dermal heating, which causes fibroblasts up-regulation by stimulating the release of cytokines and endothelial growth factors.
- Mid-infrared lasers
Mid-infrared lasers penetrate great tissue depths delivering energy at longer pulse durations at optimal energy densities. This form of nonablative laser treatment corrects acne and atrophic facial scars.
- Intense pulsed light source
An intense pulsed light source is a treatment option for patients that want to correct irregular pigmentation, improve skin coarseness, and reduce rhytides formation.
- Nonablative radiofrequency technology
Nonablative radiofrequency technologies deliver electric currents to the skin, ultimately generating heat in the skin tissues by creating resistance in ions’ flow. The use of radiofrequency treatments enhances tissue tightening and rhytides reduction. Patients usually report significant skin improvements after a single treatment session.
Increasing technological advancements in skin laser treatments provide a wide range of options for patients with skin concerns. Visit Marion Ob/Gyn Inc.’s website to learn more about the different cosmetic laser treatment options available.
