Beautiful skin is refined, even and smooth. It has a soft and velvet-like texture, and lovely colour. It is not overly shiny, or grey or yellowed, sallow or sunken. Everyone can have more beautiful skin by improving these factors, and at Laser Skin Care we have the tools to achieve beautiful skin.
The process of light and laser rejuvenation involves a number of elements which together can take your skin from the dull and ordinary to amazing!
What can affect our skin?
Of course our skin is our body’s outer protective layer and as such is prone to damage from the sun and other factors in our environment. These other factors include hormones, poor diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, pregnancy (acne, melasma), trauma (cuts, burns, abrasions) and infections.
Hence during our lives, it develops mottled pigmentation, scattered telangiectasia, (“broken capillaries”) and loss of tone – which manifests as looseness and wrinkling. It may be scarred, have dilated pores, enlarged sebaceous glands, and keratoses (pre-cancerous change). It may become sallow (yellowed), or grey, and coarse and shiny. Cancers may develop.
Treatment methods
The approach to rejuvenating the skin depends on which of the above are present and to what degree. It is also important to tailor your treatment to your age. Your treatment plan may include the options outlined below:
• IPL treatment
• Photodynamic Rejuvenation
• Photofractional Rejuvenation (combined IPL and Fraxel laser)
• Fractional Erbium or CO2 laser (Fraxel Laser & Ultrapulse Deep Fx & Active Fx)
• YAG or Pulsed Dye Vascular laser
• Revlite pigment laser
IPL Treatment (photorejuvenation)
Great IPL treatment is a cornerstone to achieving beautiful skin, and regular IPL treatment is the best way to maintain it! With the widespread availability of Intense Pulsed Light, this is easy to forget. Laser Skin Care only use the Danish Ellipse IPL, which has the largest body of quality medical research to support it. The Ellipse IPL is unparalleled in its ability to target many of the problems of ageing and sun-damaged skin.
Face, neck, shoulders, arms and hands are the most common areas treated.
A course of two to three treatments is recommended, each usually lasting 15 to 30 minutes.
IPL photorejuvenation reduces red and brown blemishes, with a subtle tightening of the skin by targeting pigmentation and dilated blood vessels (broken capillaries) while stimulating collagen production.
On its own, IPL skin rejuvenation is generally suitable for mildly sun damaged skin. Laser Skin Care uses the third-generation Ellipse+ IPL which has the advantage of filtering our more of the damaging wavelengths of light that may cause complications.
Each treatment is quick and easy, and most people are able to return to work and resume normal activities straight away.
Photodynamic Rejuvenation (PDR)
PDR is the combination of IPL treatment with the use of a special light sensitive cream containing ALA (amino-laevulinic acid) This cream is applied to the skin prior to the IPL treatment, and is absorbed into abnormal skin cells. Exposure to the IPL light sets off a chain reaction within these cells leading to the destruction of the abnormal cells by the body.
The main use is for moderate to severe sun damage often indicated by the presence of keratoses (sun spots). These are noted as red, scaly patches on the skin, and may indeed be confused for early skin cancers.
The after-effects of redness, swelling, bronzing and some crusting are usually more pronounced than IPL alone, and time off work may be needed. We recommend a course of treatments in most cases. This allows the full benefits of rejuvenation, as well as the opportunity to treat abnormal areas on successive occasions.
Fractional Laser Resurfacing - Fraxel Dual Erbium and Ultrapulse Deep Fx and Active Fx CO2 laser
Fractional laser resurfacing has been a great breakthrough in skin rejuvenation. Older technologies such as full-field ablative laser resurfacing, whilst very effective, had significant long-term scarring & depigmentation potential. Fraxel Erbium laser has now been used at Laser Skin Care for 10 years and has proven to be safe and effective.
The Fraxel Dual is particularly useful for stubborn pigmentary conditions, whilst also giving pleasing textural skin improvement. It also assists in softening fine lines and wrinkles – for example, around the eyes.
New in 2011 is the Lumenis Contour fractional CO2 laser. This provides an option for ageing and sun-damage treatment.
Each treatment involves the application of local anaesthetic cream for 60 minutes prior. The treatment itself lasts 15 to 30 minutes depending on the area treated.
For best results, a series of between 2 and 5 treatments is recommended, depending on the condition being treated.
After treatment, the area is red, and moderately swollen. In the following days exfoliation occurs. Some scabbing can be present. Time off work varies, but many choose to take two to five days to allow swelling to settle and bronzing or scabbing to come off.
Progressive rejuvenation occurs with successive treatments and with no significant down time between.
Before and After picture of our patient after one treatment of full face Fraxel and CO2 under her eyes.
Cynergy Vascular Laser
The Cynergy vascular laser is a useful addition to the treatment of red blemishes which often occur in sun-damaged skin. The Cynergy is often used in combination with Ellipse IPL treatment and provides an important second option in removing stubborn telangiectasia (broken capillaries) in areas such as the nose.
At Laser Skin Care, we tailor our treatments to suit you and achieve the best results.
To find out more about our skin rejuvenation and resurfacing treatments, book a complimentary consultation today.