Laser Resurfacing Treats Many Different Skin Conditions

What is Laser Skin Resurfacing?

Millions of people suffer from a wide array of skin conditions that impact their day to day life.  While not all skin conditions can be treated with laser skin resurfacing, many can be!  Laser skin resurfacing can visibly improve many skin conditions and may even completely eliminate some skin conditions.  It is first important to understand what exactly laser resurfacing is and how it is different from other outpatient skin treatments, which the American Society of Plastic Surgeons explains, “Laser skin resurfacing, also known as a laser peel, laser vaporization and lasabrasion, can reduce facial wrinkles, scars and blemishes. Newer laser technologies give your plastic surgeon a new level of control in laser surfacing, permitting extreme precision, especially in delicate areas…Your surgeon uses the laser to send short, concentrated pulsating beams of light at irregular skin. This removes unwanted, damaged skin in a very precise manner one layer at a time. Laser skin resurfacing’s targeted approach means there are fewer problems with hypopigmentation, or a lightening of skin, for procedures such as laser acne scar removal. The laser beam used in laser resurfacing will remove your outer layer of skin, called the epidermis. It simultaneously heats the underlying skin, called the dermis. This action works to stimulate growth of new collagen fibers. As the treated area heals, the new skin that forms is smoother and firmer.”

What Skin Conditions Can Benefit from Laser Resurfacing?

When it comes to reducing wrinkles and scars, few treatments offer more substantial results than laser resurfacing.  Laser resurfacing works to remove damaged skin lasers, rejuvenate skin layers, and resurface skin so that patients are left with smoother, healthier, younger-looking skin.  Because laser resurfacing removes layers of skin, it may be able to remove enough layers of damaged skin that it can eliminate the appearance of some scars, hyperpigmentation, rosacea, age spots, broken blood vessels, and other skin discoloration.  There are two types of lasers commonly used – CO2 (typically for deeper skin conditions) and Erbium (typically for more superficial skin conditions). Your doctor will select the best laser resurfacing procedure based on your medical history and to produce your desired results.  Speak to an experienced physician about which type of laser procedure can treat your specific skin conditions.