Look around you and see how many have perfect (or near-perfect skin). Hardly a handful, probably?
Only a few among us are blessed with smooth and glowing skin genetically; for others, they have to live forever with dull and unhealthy-looking skin.
Or is it?
Well, this certainly was the case 3-4 decades ago. But we are living in an era of medical marvels. Cosmetic treatments have advanced to such levels you can get the skin you desire in just a few visits to a dermatologist.
A treatment that has really changed many people’s lives is laser skin resurfacing. The popularity of this treatment is such that its global market is expected to hit $378.4 million by 2027.
But what exactly is laser skin resurfacing, and who is this treatment for? Do they have any benefits over other treatments? Let’s answer all your questions one by one in this post. Read on…
What is Laser Skin Resurfacing?
It is a type of cosmetic procedure done using a laser to enhance the appearance of the skin or to treat minor facial flaws. In this, the skin is slowly removed layer by layer through the heat that is generated from the lasers. During healing, new skin cells are automatically formed, giving you a much younger and smoother look.
The best part about this procedure is that it can be performed standalone or along with other cosmetic procedures. There are two types of laser treatments viz. ablative and non-ablative. Ablative removes the epidermis or the outer layer of the skin while non-ablative just heats up the underlying dermal layer and doesn’t remove any skin.
Who is this treatment for?
One of the primary audiences for laser skin resurfacing treatments is people who have fine lines, wrinkles and skin that is prone to lose its elasticity. Using this procedure, they can remove all these tell-tale aging signs.
Laser skin resurfacing is also ideal if you wish to treat –
- Uneven skin tone, birthmarks, or scars on the skin
- Age spots (liver spots) and crow’s feet
- Acne scars or scars from chickenpox
- Sun-damaged skins
- Enlarged oil glands or open pores
However, based on your skin type and the extent of the condition, it will be the dermatologist who will make the final call on whether laser skin resurfacing is the right choice for you or not.
For instance, the dermatologist might not recommend this treatment if you have active acne breakouts, dark skin, deep wrinkles, or excessively sagging skin. In such cases, they will recommend other treatments.
Benefits of Laser Skin Resurfacing
The 5 major benefits of the treatment are:
- Safe and effective
- Non-invasive
- Low downtime
- Long-lasting results
- Minimal side effects
Being a minimally invasive and outpatient procedure, you do not have to stay back after the procedure. You might experience some amount of swelling, redness, and crusting which will go away in one or two days after non-ablative treatment and five to seven days after ablative treatment. You can also follow the tips highlighted in this post for a speedy recovery.
The benefits of the treatment are also dependent on the type of laser used, such as erbium laser, fractional laser, CO2 laser, pulsed dye laser, etc. Once again, the final choice of laser rests with the dermatologist, who will analyze your skin type, the concerned area, and the desired results before making a decision.
Conclusion
The popularity and the wide acceptance of most cosmetic treatments today are due to the advancements in technology, an increase in beauty standards, and a rise in the aging population. Laser skin resurfacing in particular has become popular as it comes with long-lasting results and no significant side effects. Thanks to such treatments, you do not have to live with unhealthy and dull skin anymore.
As they say – Life isn’t perfect, but your skin can be
