There are all types of laser treatments for acne in Beverly Hills, and with them, a few different kinds of lasers are used. To better understand what treatments are available, it’s good to have an understanding of the three general categories of lasers that could be used:
Ablative lasers wound you. That might seem kind of strange at first, but think about working out. You lift heavy things in order to wound your muscles – this stimulates them and causes them to grow. Ablative lasers work on a similar principle. They remove the outermost layer of skin and heat the layer below it, stimulating the growth of new collagen fibers. This smooths and tightens the skin.
Non-ablative lasers, conversely, are non-wounding. They instead bypass the top layer of skin entirely, heating the deepest layers. This stimulates collagen growth too, but the results are far less drastic than ablative lasers. The healing time is much shorter, however, and it eliminates some of the risks that ablative lasers have for patients with darker skin.
A third subcategory of laser is available – the fractional laser. These lasers can be ablative or non-ablative. Instead of affecting 100% of the skin, fractional lasers leave some areas of the skin unaffected – this stimulates more rapid healing. Fractional treatment can be a bit more expensive, but the healing time is quickly reduced, so fractional lasers have become a favorite for some dermatologists.
There are a number of different benefits laser therapy can have for your skin. Laser treatment can often be used to treat mild to moderate acne scarring. The appearance of fine wrinkles and sun damage may also be reduced through laser treatment. Laser therapy is also generally rejuvenating – it literally makes the skin look younger by tightening and smoothing it.
You’ll have to take care of your skin after laser therapy; your primary goal will be to avoid sun exposure. Your dermatologist may recommend you change your skin care routine after treatment. Particularly heavy creams may make you more prone to acne, as the top layer of skin has been removed.
A new type of therapy that’s getting a lot of attention is light therapy; it’s kind of like laser therapy in that it uses light as its primary tool. There haven’t been large-scale studies about the efficacy of light therapy, but it’s a promising new domain in the world of dermatology. Red and blue LEDs both serve different purposes – red lights may be used to promote collagen growth, while blue lights seem to be useful in reducing acne. We’ll continue to monitor the effectiveness of these treatments; we want you to have access to the best dermatological treatments available.
In our office, we have a number of different laser treatments available, from the V-Beam laser to reduce the appearance of scars to laser treatment to reduce acne. Laser therapy is non-invasive and comes with very few risks. Nonetheless, in preparation for the treatment, you’ll need to take a couple of steps. You’ll want to refrain from sun tanning or waxing for two weeks before your treatment. The day of the treatment, you’ll need to stop using lotions, perfumes, or similar substances on the areas that are going to be treated.
The treatment itself takes moments; you can be in and out over lunch. Before your treatment, we’ll give you clear instructions about how to prepare for your appointment.
