Types of Lasers in Heat Treatment
Advances in laser technology have set the stage for a plethora of non-surgical cosmetic treatments, primarily used as anti-aging solutions. While some lasers do not use thermal (heat) to perform corrective procedures for skin irregularities, most treatments require the use of heat in order to be effective. The types of lasers in heat treatment vary in purpose, design and function. Does this Spark an idea?
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Uses
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Laser treatment is used to correct unwanted visible skin irregularities caused by aging, sun damage or skin conditions. The ultimate result is younger, more even toned and textured skin. Skin discoloration (hyperpigmentation) caused by sun damage is a common condition of laser treatment patients and is typically in the form of flat, dark spots, called sun spots or age spots. Other color irregularities include redness caused by rosacea, acne, birthmarks and scars, which can all be treated using laser heat. Textural conditions that are treated with laser heat include fine lines and wrinkles and deep scars. Broken capillaries and visible veins can also be treated. Lasers are also used for tattoo removal.
Ablative Laser Technology
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Ablative laser technology uses thermal lasers that literally burn off the surface skin tissue. This is laser heat treatment designed to reveal a "fresh" layer of skin beneath the surface, reducing the appearance of discoloration and wrinkles. Some types of ablative lasers, such as the CO2, work to burn off the entire skin surface, while others target only specific areas. The type of ablative laser technology used depends on the patient's skin type and condition.
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CO2 Lasers
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CO2 lasers are the highest intensity lasers used in ablative laser heat treatment. CO2 treatment is performed to correct moderate to severe skin conditions like deep folds and wrinkles. They emit a heat effect on collagen (the skin's essential protein) below the skin's surface layers and therefore yield tighter and smoother skin than other types of heat lasers. However, this heat treatment requires significantly longer recovery time and have more potential complications than less aggressive lasers.
The CO2 laser is so strong and effective that it is used to supplement other treatments in the early stages of cancer.
Erbium Lasers
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Erbium lasers also rely on thermal functioning to be effective. These lasers are powerful yet less intense than CO2 lasers and remove thinner layers of skin. This is often preferable for patients with dark skin, since such patients run the risk of pigmentation side effects with other laser options. The Er:YAG laser is commonly used for overall skin resurfacing and rejuvenation treatments, since it is almost as powerful as CO2 treatment yet gentler, therefore yielding less complications and side effects. Erbium lasers use heat to reduce the appearance of moderate to deep wrinkles, patches of skin discoloration and scars.
Pulsed Dye Lasers
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Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) technology uses heat, but in a different way than the aforementioned laser types. PDL targets the blood vessels beneath the skin's surface. As the laser beams penetrate the skin and reach the blood vessels the beams are transformed into heat that instantly destroys the target blood vessels. Healthy surrounding cells are left unaffected and undamaged, since PDL technology uses precision to correct skin conditions rather than target the entire skin layer. PDL technology has adjustable settings to achieve optimal performance on different skin conditions. The John Hopkins Cosmetic Center suggests that PDL is the option to treat rosacea discoloration, facial spider veins, port wine stains, unwanted birthmarks, scars and small cherry angiomas.
Nonablative Lasers
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Nonablative lasers do not burn off the skin tissue. They do, however, use heat in a process called photothermolysis. The laser beams are of either energy or light, which heats up beneath the skin's surface to damage unwanted tissue. This is described as "controlled injury," which promotes the growth of brand new skin cells. Nonablative treatment is used to treat many of the same skin conditions as ablative, but is effective only for correcting mild to moderate skin conditions. The side effects and recovery time for nonablative laser treatment are far less than with ablative laser types.
Lasers That Do Not Use Heat
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Laser types that do not use heat are often referred to as soft lasers, low level lasers or cold lasers. These lasers cannot perform the same functions as lasers that use thermal energy. They are used for other purposes, such as treating of hair loss and reducing the pain of minor injuries.
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