Laser Skin Treatments – Are We Really Renewing the Skin, and What Price Does It Pay Along the Way?

In recent years, laser treatments have become a significant part of the aesthetics world.

We are promised smoother skin, fewer wrinkles, fewer spots, softened scars, and a younger, fresher appearance.

Some of the results really are impressive.

But there is something that especially interests me about these treatments.

To make the skin renew itself, some laser treatments create a controlled injury in it.

So what actually happens to the skin during the treatment? How does the body repair the damage? And are repeated treatments over years always beneficial?

What actually is a laser?

A laser is a device that emits light energy with defined characteristics, which can be directed at different targets within the skin.

Depending on the wavelength, the power, the duration of exposure, and the type of device, the energy can affect pigment, blood vessels, hair follicles, or water found in the tissues.

It is important to understand that there is no such thing as one laser treatment suited to all skin problems.

A device intended for hair removal works differently from a device intended for treating scars or for skin renewal.

How can a laser encourage skin renewal?

In some treatments, especially laser treatments for skin renewal, energy is used to create a controlled thermal injury in the tissue.

The body responds to the injury through a healing process.

During recovery, changes can occur in the organization of collagen fibers and the production of new collagen.

This process may improve skin texture, reduce fine lines, and soften some of the scars.

But not every laser treatment works by injuring the skin's surface, and not every treatment encourages collagen creation to the same degree.

What is the difference between the types of laser?

Ablative Laser

This is a treatment that removes part of the outer skin layers and creates a controlled injury in the tissue.

Familiar examples are the CO2 laser and the Er:YAG laser.

Such treatments can be effective in improving wrinkles, scars, and skin texture, but usually require a more significant recovery period.

Non-Ablative Laser

These treatments heat certain areas in the tissue without removing the skin's surface in the same way.

Recovery is usually easier, but sometimes a series of treatments is required to reach the desired improvement.

Fractional Laser

In a fractional treatment, the energy is delivered to tiny, separated areas in the skin, with tissue not directly treated remaining between them.

The method allows the neighboring tissues to take part in the healing process.

Fractional laser can be ablative or non-ablative, and therefore it is important not to confuse the terms.

What are the advantages of laser treatments?

1. Improvement of skin texture

Certain treatments can reduce roughness, improve the evenness of the skin's surface, and soften fine lines.

2. Treatment of acne scars

Fractional laser may improve the appearance of certain acne scars, although it is not always possible to eliminate them completely.

3. Treatment of pigmentation spots

Suitable devices can treat some sun spots and pigmentation.

However, certain types of pigmentation, such as melasma, may actually worsen following an unsuitable treatment.

4. Treatment of blood vessels and redness

There are laser devices that target hemoglobin in the blood vessels and can reduce the appearance of prominent capillaries and certain redness.

5. Encouraging changes in collagen

In some skin renewal treatments, improvement in texture and certain firming can be achieved through processes of repair and reorganization of the collagen.

But it is important to remember that even a successful result does not stop the natural aging process.

What are the disadvantages and risks?

Here it is important to understand that laser is not just a beauty treatment.

It is energy delivered to living tissue, and therefore unsuitable use can cause damage.

1. Burns and scars

When the treatment's power is not suited to the skin type or the treated area, burns can occur.

In certain cases the injury can lead to scarring or a permanent change in skin texture.

2. Post-inflammatory pigmentation

One of the possible complications is the appearance of dark spots following the inflammatory response to the treatment.

The phenomenon is called Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation.

The risk may be higher in darker skin tones, in tanned skin, and in certain treatments.

Sometimes lighter areas than the surrounding skin can also appear, as a result of a decrease in pigment.

3. Prolonged redness and sensitivity

After certain skin renewal treatments, redness, swelling, burning, and sensitivity can appear.

In some cases the redness lasts weeks and even more, depending on the depth of the treatment and the personal response.

4. Infections

When the skin's protective layer is damaged, the risk of infections during recovery rises.

Certain treatments can also trigger a herpes outbreak in those prone to it.

Therefore it is important to tell the doctor about a history of herpes sores before a treatment in the face area.

5. Damage to the eyes

Laser radiation can damage the eyes if suitable protective means are not used.

In treatments around the eyes, special caution is required, as well as protective equipment suited to the type of device.

Is a stronger treatment always a better result?

Not necessarily.

There is a tendency to think that the redder the skin, the more it peels, or the longer the recovery it requires, the more effective the treatment is.

But that is not a correct way to measure success.

A treatment that is too aggressive can cause damage without providing a significant advantage.

The goal is to choose the treatment power suited to the problem, the skin type, and the result one wants to achieve.

Is laser suited to all skin tones?

Not all types of laser are suited to the same degree to all skin tones.

In dark skin there is more melanin, and therefore certain devices may also affect the skin's natural pigment and cause burns or color changes.

This does not mean that people with dark skin cannot undergo laser treatments.

It means that the device, the parameters, and the professional must be chosen according to the skin tone and the type of problem.

And what about repeated laser treatments over years?

This, in my view, is an important question.

We know that certain laser treatments can encourage repair processes in the tissue and improve the skin's appearance.

But this does not mean that one should continue creating controlled injury in the skin without limit.

The effect of repeated treatments depends on the type of laser, the treatment's power, the intervals between treatments, and the skin's healing ability.

There is no proof that every series of laser treatments causes skin thinning or cumulative damage. On the other hand, a treatment that is too aggressive or repeated before sufficient recovery can increase the risk of complications.

Therefore, in my view, it is important that every treatment have a clear goal, and not to perform treatments just because the time for the next treatment has arrived.

Does laser really rejuvenate the skin?

It can improve certain signs of aging, but it does not return the skin to its biological state at a young age.

It does not stop hormonal changes, does not prevent volume loss in the face, and does not cancel all the damage caused by sun exposure.

There is a difference between improving the external appearance and stopping the aging process.

What should be checked before a treatment?

Before choosing a laser treatment, it is important to know which device is used, what the treatment's goal is, and what the risks suited to our skin type are.

It is worth asking how long recovery is expected to last, what the risk of pigmentation is, what results can be expected, and how many treatments are really required.

It is also important to update the practitioner regarding medications, a tendency to scarring, herpes, recent tanning, and previous treatments.

Especially in aggressive treatments, it is worth choosing a dermatologist or a medical professional with suitable training and proven experience with the device and the skin type being treated.

And what is important to do after a laser treatment?

Recovery is part of the treatment itself.

It is important to follow the practitioner's instructions, avoid unprotected sun exposure, and not use acids, peels, or irritating substances before the skin has recovered and in accordance with the instructions.

In treatments that damage the skin's outer layer, proper wound care and keeping the area clean are especially important.

One should not peel scabs or try to hasten recovery.

If worsening pain, purulent discharge, fever, or an unusual change in skin color appears, one should go for a medical examination.

My daily recommendation

I think laser treatments are an interesting example of medicine's ability to use the body's natural healing processes to improve the skin's appearance.

But I also think it is important to remember that not every treatment that encourages renewal is necessarily a treatment we need.

Sometimes we are so busy with the question of how to eliminate a wrinkle or a spot that we forget to ask what is required of the skin to reach that result.

I am not against laser treatments. I am in favor of understanding them.

I believe proper skincare begins with preserving the existing skin: protection from the sun, good nutrition, sleep, moisture, and treatment suited to its condition.

And if we choose a more advanced treatment, it is important that it be done from a real need, with realistic expectations, and in professional hands.

Because in the end, our skin is not only the envelope we see in the mirror.

It is a living, functioning, renewing organ, and our goal should be not only to improve its appearance, but also to preserve its health over years.

Nurit Rozenblat

With love,
Nurit Rozenblat
OrOrgani

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