Laser Treatment Side Effects
Laser treatment is an increasingly popular non-surgical, non-invasive cosmetic procedure performed to correct unwanted visible effects caused by a variety of skin conditions. While lasers are also used for other treatments, such as hair removal and loss and vision correction, the phrase "laser treatment" usually implies the most common use of lasers in the derma-medical world, which is skin resurfacing. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that over 400,000 laser resurfacing treatments were performed in 2008 in the United States, an increase of 134 percent since 2000. While this cosmetic procedure is ultimately considered safe and effective, laser treatment does yield some mentionable side effects. Does this Spark an idea?
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Uses
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Laser treatment is used to correct irregularities in the skin's color and texture to yield smoother, more even and younger-looking skin. Such irregularities include forms of skin discoloration, commonly in the form of liver spots or age spots caused by sun damage. Laser treatment also corrects discoloration in the form of redness caused by rosacea, unwanted birthmarks and moles, various scars and other skin conditions such as melasmas. Broken capillaries and visible veins may also be treated with laser technology. Fine lines and wrinkles are a common condition of patients. Laser treatment is also used to remove tattoos.
Laser Types
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Many different types of laser technology are used for cosmetic treatment, varying in strength, purpose, design and functionality. Different laser treatments work at various skin layers to treat irregularities, and the effectiveness of the laser type used for treatment depends on the skin condition and desired results. Ablative lasers, such as YAG or CO2 laser technology, actually burn off the surface layer of the skin. Ablative laser treatment is highly effective for producing desired results, especially for moderate to severe conditions, like deep wrinkles, but the aggression of this treatment increases potential side effects and down time. Nonablative lasers do not burn the skin's surface, and instead use light and energy to penetrate the skin's surface layer to specifically target and destroy the irregular skin cells. This is the gentler laser resurfacing option, thus with less intense side effects and complications.
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Discoloration
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It sounds ironic, since discoloration is usually a cause for laser treatment, but irregular skin coloring can be a side effect of laser treatment. Skin discoloration has two types: hyperpigmentation, in which the skin is darker than its natural pigmentation; and hypopigmentation, in which the skin is lighter. Hypopigmentation is the more common side effect of laser treatment, as patients with darker skin tones are at risk of the lasers destroying the natural melanin in the skin (the substance responsible for skin pigmentation). This is a long-term and sometimes permanent side effect for darker-skinned patients. Hyperpigmentation may occur in fair-skinned patients as a result of laser treatment, but this side effect will subside within a few weeks.
Swelling and Bruising
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Swelling and bruising are common side effects of laser treatment, more severe depending on the severity of the treated condition, as well as the type of laser technology used for treatment. Bruising is more common for some types of treatment, such as Pulse Dye Treatment (PDL), but subsides within 10 days. The patient may experience mild discomfort and can treat the treated area with ice packs until these side effects are gone. While most laser treatments do not require anesthesia and have no down time, harsher ablative treatments, such as CO2 lasers, may cause enough swelling and discomfort to prevent the patient from returning to normal activities for a day or two.
Redness and Flakiness
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According to the Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery, the treated area may be red and crusty for three to 10 days. For all-over facial skin resurfacing, this side effect may spread over the entire face. To avoid scarring, leave the area alone until it is healed. This is even true for treatment of mild conditions, such as small, broken capillaries, which often have a tiny scab-like appearance that disappears within one week.
Treated skin may also appear bright pink, which, according to the Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery, can last for weeks. Patients who wear makeup cannot resort to doing so until at least two or three weeks after treatment. Doctors will likely prescribe an ointment to speed up the healing process.
Increased Sun Sensitivity
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Skin tissue treated with laser technology is substantially more sensitive to sun exposure after treatment. Sun exposure threatens discoloration and inhibits proper healing. Avoiding sun exposure is best until the skin heals and returns to its normal shade, after which a high-strength sunscreen should be applied daily.
Minimizing Complications and Side Effects
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According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the best way to avoid laser treatment complications and minimize side effects is to choose a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, who has completed at least five years of training and who has at least two years' real experience. The ASPS also says that skilled surgeons only operate in accredited medical facilities.
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