Who wouldn’t do anything to get clear, radiant, and hydrated skin? If we could only travel, sleep late, or stress out over mundane things without having to worry about how it can affect our skin, then the world might be slightly a better place. But unfortunately, the beauty goddesses have not blessed us with skin that doesn’t need maintenance or nutrients, so we must find a way to take care of the largest organ of the body.
Specifically, we tend to give importance to our faces because, as much we may want to think otherwise, it’s the first thing that other people look into.
The Path Magazine | The traditional facial has evolved into many types, including the laser facial
Luckily, facials have been so handy – just make an appointment to your local derma clinic or walk in to get a treatment. But a new type of skincare therapy involves a laser, which might scare you just by reading the words “laser” and “face” together. It has been steadily gaining popularity around the world as spas and clinics make it sound just like the traditional one. A Google search would give you a multitude of positive reviews, but don’t head to your derma just yet. Here’s everything you need to know about it:
Laser Facial
Obviously, this type of facial makes use of lasers, which provide high-intensity light and energy. There are two types of this: ablative and non-ablative, Mayo Clinic explained. The first one removes the outermost layer of the skin, meaning it removes the wrinkles and aged texture. After the wounding treatment, the face is patted with an ointment, and then dressing is applied. Once the skin is completely healed, smoother skin emerges. Examples of this are carbon dioxide laser and erbium yttrium-aluminum-garnet.
Premier Laser Clinic | Laser facials have become a trend nowadays, with more people wanting to try the treatment that has gotten rave reviews
The second is a non-wounding laser that promotes collagen formation and firms underlying layers of the skin – although it is not as invasive as the other kind and would only require a short recovery period, it is said that it is less effective. The non-ablative targets what’s under the skin, examples of which are the Nd:Yag laser, Alexandrite laser, and pulsed dye laser.
Getting a laser facial can reportedly result in visibly better skin. It is also said to be effective in hyperpigmentation, tightening skin, remove wrinkles, reduce fine lines, remove the sun-damaged layer of the skin including scars, and acne treatment.
Not One Solution for All
New York University Medical Center clinical professor Roy Geronemus said there are customers who experience discoloration and even scarring because of the wrong intense pulsed light used for the skin type and color.
NYU Langone Medical Center dermatology clinical associate professor Doris Day also denounced spas and clinics that claim that there’s a laser facial that’s suitable for everyone, explaining that one treatment that’s good for a person may do harm to another.
Pain Tolerance
If you have low pain tolerance, a laser facial may be too much for you. Those who underwent the treatment likened the experience to snaps of a rubber band on the skin, but the American Board Cosmetics Surgery explained that this could depend, apart from the pain tolerance of an individual, on the laser used, the area of the skin, and the depth of the treatment.
Men's Journal | Patients have reported tenderness on the area of the treatment after the session
The ablative laser will likely hurt, especially for deeper processes, which is why it may sometimes require anesthesia or sedation. Non-ablative laser patients, meanwhile, will feel little to no pain during the treatment. It would only make use of a topical numbing cream to keep discomfort at bay.