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), but we were kind enough to take notes for you.
In 1954, the first stimulated emissions of microwave radiation were created.
A few short years later, doctors and researchers realized these controlled emissions could have clinical applications.
In the early 1960s, dermatologist Leon Goldman became the first person to use lasers to treat skin problems.
(He went on to pioneer the use of lasers for removal of tattoos and pigmented lesions.)
How do lasers work?
What are the different types of lasers?
That said, understanding certain concepts can help you have an educated conversation with your doctor.
Lets start by addressing the difference between the two main fractionated lasers: ablative and nonablative.
As the epidermis heals and regrows, the treated area appears smoother and tighter.
(Well get to that in a moment!)
Nonablative lasers, on the other hand, don’t ablate or destroy the outer layer of skin.
Collagen being, of course, one of the building blocks of our skin.
Substantial improvement of most issues is seen after three or four treatments.
Whats not to like, right?
But wed be remiss not to mention the downtime involved.
After three to five 20-minute treatments, spaced about a month apart, brown spots can dramatically improve.
However, the results are less dramatic than youll get with other types of fractional laser treatments.
IPL is a popular rig for treating sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and acne.
But despite popular belief, IPL is not technically a laser.
It’s used to treat similar issues as lasers, though.
The laser destroys the targeted tissue while leaving the surrounding tissue as undamaged as possible.
This is one of the few lasers that can target both the epidermis and the dermis.
However, the new, fractional version allows for faster healing but excellent improvements of fine lines and spotting.
Ultimately, it resulted in a 70% to 90% reduction in hair.
It is the workhorse laser in my office, she says.
It usually takes several treatments to see full results.
Side effects are minimal, with bruising being the most common.
What are the different uses for lasers?
Contrary to popular belief, lasers arent just used for skin rejuvenation.
These are some uses you might not have known about.
Excimer lasers attack the DNA of these T cells, and can help improve the appearance of the skin.
Birthmarks can be dramatically reduced with the help of lasers.
Pulsed dye lasers target and decrease melanin and eliminate blood vessels.
Alster accepted a fellowship in Boston, where her patient traveled to receive treatments.
And she changed my life because I wouldn’t have looked into lasers if it wasn’t for her…
I ended up opening up my own center in Washington, D.C. in 1990.
And at that time it was the only freestanding laser center in the world.
Lasers can treat many types of scars, including surgical scars, acne scars, and scars from injuries.
They penetrate the epidermis to stimulate new, healthy skin cell growth.
Laser hair removalis a medical procedure that uses a concentrated beam of light to remove unwanted hair.
The laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair.
The light energy is converted to heat, which then damages the hair follicles that produce hairs.
This damage inhibits or delays future hair growth.
With repeated treatments, laser hair removal can permanently reduce unwanted hair.
While all hairs dont fall out immediately, they will shed within days to weeks of treatment.
But lasers arent only used for hairreduction.
Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a relatively new treatment that uses low-power lasers to stimulate hair growth.
Short answer: Yes!
Alster often combines non-ablative laser treatments withmicroneedlingto amplify the effects.
When deciding whether or not to try a laser, your age shouldnt be a major deciding factor.
It’s more of a matter of the problem you want to fix, not how old you are.
There are various options for at-home laser treatments that it’s possible for you to use safely.
Typically, at-home devices have significantly lower power than those used in a medical setting, to reduce risks.
Many lasers for wrinkles or acne are simply LED light products, like theDr.
Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLitemask.
There are, however, a few at-home non-ablative fractional lasers available, like theTria SmoothBeauty Laser.
You really do need to keep your skin moist [afterward], she says.
And then it’s all about sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen.
Right now, Michelle is intoDr.
Loretta Urban Antioxidant Sunscreen SPF 40, which has a slight tint.
She also usedCeraVe Moisturizing Creampost-treatment to help speed up healing.
