Have you noticed any wrinkles, blotches, discoloration, or more on your skin? They’re part of getting older, but what if there’s something you can do to improve your aging skin?

There are things you can do to maintain and improve your skin as time goes on. Staying out of the sun’s harmful rays, managing stress, and eating right are great all-natural options.

On top of getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, laser resurfacing is an option. Lasers can help manage or treat wrinkles, discoloration, and other skin issues.

Wondering if laser skin rejuvenation is right for you? We’ve got everything you need to know in this guide — keep reading!

How Does it Work?

First off, let’s talk about your laser treatment options. There’s no sci-fi ray gun behind the technique but sophisticated modern machinery developed by medical experts.

There are two lasers that are most commonly used: erbium and carbon dioxide, or C02, lasers. Each has their pros and cons.

Erbium is used to treat deeper wrinkles and produces less burning, redness or swelling. However, this type of laser is not recommended for darker skin tones.

C02 lasers use fractionated pulsing light beams. They pulse quickly to remove a thin layer of skin without as much heat damage.

Pico lasers use this type of quick pulse light that acts more of a vibration than a burn. This wakes cells up and tell them it’s time to make more collagen.

Who Should Get Laser Skin Treatment?

Lasers are amazing tools for treating discoloration, acne, and wrinkles, but are they safe to use on everyone? The short answer is yes, but there are a few things that make some people better candidates than others.

Those with fine lines across the forehead or around the eyes and mouth are great candidates for laser treatments. Shallow acne scars or marks from hyperpigmentation, sunspots, or other skin conditions can be treated through laser therapy.

However, if your acne marks are very deep, you might not see the results you’re looking for. As with any procedure, it’s always smart to talk to a medical professional to find out if an option is right for you.

Before the Procedure

If you’ve decided to get laser skin improvement, you’ll need to prepare for the procedure. When you go for your initial consultation and your medical professional gives you the green light, there are steps you should take to make sure it goes as smooth as possible.

First off, stop smoking. Not only does smoking damage your skin in general but it prolongs or even halts the healing process.

Ten days or even two weeks before your treatment, stop taking medicines that affect blood clotting. Tell your doctor about supplements or prescriptions you’re taking and avoid taking ibuprofen, aspirin, or vitamin E leading up to your appointment.

For those that routinely experience cold sores or fever blisters, make your doctor aware before going for your treatment. They might end up prescribing you antibiotics or antivirals to help reduce the risk of developing them from the laser treatment.

In the week leading up to your appointment, don’t go for BOTOX injections, laser hair removal, electrolysis, or use any hair removal creams. Shaving is still alright but waxing can still irritate your skin.

Stay away from other products that might cause skin sensitivity. That means no harsh exfoliating scrubs or retinol creams and serums.

Try to be gentle to your skin in the lead up to your appointment. Make your doctor aware of any procedures, skin issues, or conditions that might affect your results.

During the Procedure

Depending on the laser you use depends on what you should expect during your procedure. Some are a little more painful than others or might take longer because of the level of treatment you’ve selected.

Your treatment can take anywhere from half an hour to a few hours, depending on how much you want done. It is an outpatient procedure so don’t expect to stay the entire day.

For smaller surfaces, your doctor might choose to use a bit of local anesthetic. Larger procedures might involve general anesthetic.

Procedures using Pico lasers which pulse and break up the beam usually have little to no discomfort or downtime. They don’t affect the area as harshly as ebrium or C02 lasers.

During the procedure, the person performing it will place a small laser device close to your skin. Depending on the type of laser you use, it might feel like light tingling or even like a rubber band snapping against your skin.

After the Procedure

There will be some immediate care right after the procedure. Necessary steps need to be taken to reduce redness, swelling, pain, and bacterial infection.

With Pico lasers, they’ll apply a cool compress immediately following treatment. If needed, they’ll also apply a soothing balm to your skin.

Some procedures require bandages and continuous wound care to ensure you heal correctly. You’ll need to clean the affected area a few times a day and apply ointment or petroleum jelly as needed to prevent scabbing and infection.

Some redness, swelling, and peeling is expected. Not everyone will experience these side effects, but it’s important to keep them in mind.

If you feel that you’re not healing right or experiencing more pain than usual, it’s time to tell your doctor. Sleeping with your head elevated, using ice packs, and using SPF whenever you go out afterwards will help minimize negative after effects.

Consider Laser Skin Rejuvenation

Laser skin rejuvenation can be a great way to bring back youthful texture and elasticity to your skin and minimize scarring and dark spots. It’s important that you’re informed of all of your options and the ins and outs of the procedure before you choose what you want to do.

Talking to an experienced professional about the procedure will help answer any further questions. If you have anything more you want to learn about this treatment, we’re here for you.

Reach out to us any time to talk about your options and what kind of treatments are right for you!