Laser technology has advanced greatly over the past several years and laser therapy is now used to treat everything from acne scarring and brown spots to hair and tattoo removal.
Dr. Dayan’s subliminal difference addresses the many factors that play into our subconscious understanding of beauty. One of these factors include creating a healthy, homogenous tone to our skin. The skin can denote health and reflect our internal health. Creating a healthy glow to the skin, whether through laser treatments or a quality skin care regimen can help you subtly, subconsciously attract others.
As different lasers are used for different treatments, the recovery time can vary from one day to several weeks. With that in mind, some laser treatments are better to focus on in the winter when patients have the availability to recover inside without the risk of dangerous sun exposure.
A laser is a single beam of focused light that is attracted to a specific color or target. When a laser light hits its target, energy is released often in the form of heat. If it hits the wrong target then no energy is released. This allows for a concentrated approach to eliminating the intended targets.
There are many lasers available and each one is attracted to a different type of target. Some lasers are best suited to target tiny red spider veins; others for dark deep blue veins and still others are better equipped to remove dark or light hair. It is important to realize that no one laser does it all, and that many times, multiple laser treatments are recommended to obtain the best results. As well, each laser’s strength can vary and, depending on your condition, can require slightly more recovery time.
Recovery from lasers sometimes requires staying out of the sun and harsh weather conditions, relaxing inside, and staying calm as to not stress any healing skin. That is why the winter is one of the best time to receive laser treatments that require a longer recovery time. Here are two laser treatments that require more than a day of healing and are worth considering for the colder winter weeks.
Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing
Total FX lasers
are conducted using the UltraPulse by Lumenis, Inc. The Active and Deep FX lasers can be used separately or together to eliminate moderate to deep lines and creases due to aging, sun damage, acne scars, and more. Both are sufficient in improving the sight of wrinkles, scars, and folds as well as strengthening skin tone and evening texture.
Downtime: 3-7 days.
While 3 days to a week doesn’t seem so bad compared to lasers before fractional CO2 laser resurfacing which could take an average of 6 weeks before feeling fully recovered, 3 to 7 days is still a large amount of time to avoid the sun. Winter is a great time to receive such treatment as you’re already staying inside and protecting yourself from cold winds and damaging sun rays. Work and more normal activities can usually resume after a 10-day period. Ten days is a long time to stay out of the sun and inside. That is why winter time can be perfect for staying warm, relaxing, and keeping close to home.
FRACTIONAL ERBIUM LASER RESURFACING
Similar to the Total FX lasers, Fractional
Erbium laser resurfacing focuses on treating superficial to moderately deep lines and wrinkles. It also an option to treat acne and other scars and can be used for the face, hands, neck and chest. The fractional erbium laser is a good choice for darker skinned patients with decreased risk of pigmentation changes compared to other resurfacing options.
Downtime: 2-3 Days.
Redness of the skin usually fades within 48 hours after the treatment. 3-5 treatments are recommended spaced 4-6 weeks apart.
Both laser resurfacing treatments should be considered for the cold winter months as they have a much longer healing time than most lasers. If you’re interested in laser treatment for scarring, wrinkles, or folds it is recommended to consult your physician on what laser technologies would work best for you. If either of these lasers are recommended, there is not better time than now to recover in a warm relaxing home.
