A laser facial is a way to elevate the basic facial using different techniques in order to increase collagen production, even out skin tone and combats hyperpigmentation.
Hence, it rejuvenates the skin overall and gives you a healthy look.
It is a no-downtime treatment, whereby you can return to your daily activities immediately.
This can be your quick solution to several skin problems such as acne, melasma, sun damage and pore size.
This article discusses how a laser facial can be beneficial for your skin. Let’s find out more below!
Laser Facial Types
There are different types of lasers used in this treatment.
The treatment can use different types such as IPL laser or nonablative for laser skin resurfacing.
This treatment will mostly use nonablative lasers.
This is because ablative lasers are more aggressive and can even burn a part of the skin.
That does not go well with a facial because that implies gentleness as well as safety.
On the other hand, nonablative lasers are resurfacing devices.
They will stimulate collagen in your skin, improve its overall appearance and not cause it any damage.
Then there is IPL Laser done using the intense pulse light devices.
The name for any facial that uses IPL is photo facial.
However, it now contains many other treatments done step by step and in layers.
Combining IPL laser with high-impact but low-energy non-ablative agents gives the skin an essential boost.
Hence, these facials use laser plus light that treats various skin concerns and can give you glowing skin.
Treatment
The treatment consists of two parts.
The first one is about stimulating collagen and the next one is about exfoliating the skin to remove any dry skin cells and fade brown spots.
The entire duration of the procedure is 20 to 30 minutes.
First up, your dermatologist or esthetician would wipe your skin with cleansing wipes.
Make sure you arrive with no makeup on.
Next up, they begin the first part of the treatment which is a nonablative laser.
This is the YAG Laser that targets the dirt, oil and bacteria, collagen production and pore size beneath the skin.
It will also help with reducing hyperpigmentation.
This part of the procedure is comfortable and warm. It will not pose any damage to your skin such as burns.
Once you are done with everything beneath the surface, it is time to work on the elements on the surface.
For that, your dermatologist will use IPL Laser and light device to exfoliate the skin and reduce redness as well as inflammation.
It helps to even out your skin tone entirely.
However, there’s a catch.
If there is more pigment present in your skin, then your dermatologist might skip this part.
Instead, they will add a hydrating serum which usually contains hyaluronic acid.
This serum will give you the hydration needed after this procedure.
While the first part may not hurt much, the latter part will give you slight light snapping sensation.
Though it is fast enough hence, it will rather be tolerable.
You will not require any downtime and can go about your day as usual.
There will be some pinkness and the skin can be slightly sensitive for a while.
However, that will be fine within a few hours.
You can apply moisturizer or other skincare after the treatment.
What Concerns Does a Laser Facial Treat?
People get a laser facial for:
- tightening pores
- evening out skin tone
- evening the skin texture
- firming the skin
- removing wrinkles, acne and acne scarring
- removing brown spots, hyperpigmentation, melasma and sun damage
Skin Texture, Pores, Wrinkles
You will not see an immediate improvement in your skin texture, tone and overall quality.
In fact, you will have to wait for 5 to 7 days to see the results in the form of an even healthy glow.
This is because of collagen formation and skin cell turnover.
While you may notice a change in the skin texture and tone with only one treatment, the tightening of pores, and reduction in wrinkles and acne scarring will take 3 to 5 treatments.
Hence, you may need maintenance treatments every month.
However, the best time to get a laser facial is one week before an important event to get a healthy glow at the time of the event.
Look out for one of the best laser clinic in Dubai or Jumeirah to book your appointment at REPC Dubai.
Dealing with Brown Spots, Hyperpigmentation and Sun Damage
In order to remove brown spots and hyperpigmentation, you will need more than 3 treatments.
For brown spots emerging due to sun damage and aging, you will at least require 3 to 5 treatments.
Your esthetician will give a gap of 3 to 4 weeks in between treatments during which the skin will heal and start showing results.
However, for melasma, you will need around 6 to 8 treatment sessions.
This is a gradual process and the fading of the dark spots will occur over several weeks and treatments.
Active Acne
The process for controlling active acne is slightly different in that, it requires additional procedures together with a laser facial.
The photo-acoustic technology used in this process stimulates skin cell turnover. Besides it also reduces the sebum production in the oil glands.
But most importantly it controls the inflammation of acne.
Hence, it treats the active acne while also preventing the new ones from emerging on the surface.
The acne size reduces within days of the treatment. Initially, you would require treatments more frequently to control the acne.
Therefore, you will need treatments for 1 to 3 weeks. Once the acne is controlled, your treatments will disperse into months to maintain the results.
For better results, your doctor may recommend microdermabrasion, blue light treatment or ultrasound infusion with the facial.
Plus, they may also advise you to use topical acne therapy and take an oral antibiotic to reduce the acne.
You may wonder if you can use the treatment for a hydration boost?
Well, the laser facial benefits are more catered towards tightening pores and removing brown spots, acne, wrinkles and melasma.
While the treatment will add suppleness to the skin, it will not completely cure extremely dry skin.
Therefore, if you are looking for hydration, this treatment is not exactly for you.
In what other instances, the treatment may not apply? Let’s find out below!
Laser Facial Side Effects and Concerns
Usually, there is slight sensitivity and redness right after the procedure.
However, it will go within a few hours.
During IPL light treatment your skin will also feel warm and it may hurt a little due to the light snapping.
However, that is bearable.
The warmth after both lasers will subside if the esthetician applies a hydrating serum.
There is no downtime for the procedure and you can continue your daily activities.
This facial treatment can provide significant benefits for people with sensitive and acne-prone skin.
It can correct your current condition as well as prevent it from resurfacing again.
One consideration to keep in mind is that IPL may work better on lighter skin tones.
For people with darker skin, estheticians and dermatologists need to protect the melanin in the skin.
Hence, they have to be very careful while modifying the energy in the settings or the number of passes.
This can overheat the epidermal melanin.
Therefore, your doctor may suggest skipping the IPL treatment.
Instead, they may recommend another pass of the nonablative Nd: YAG laser.
Or your doctor can recommend a completely different treatment for your acne and blemish-prone skin i.e. a carbon facial.
Other than that, your doctor may recommend delaying the treatment if you have skin inflammation, a cold sore outbreak, areas of broken skin or you take a photosensitizing medication.
Therefore, discuss your medications beforehand and if you cannot come off some medications, let your doctor know that too.
They may recommend any other suitable treatment.
Laser Facial Before and After care
Before the procedure come on a clean face.
For aftercare, your doctor may recommend a few details to keep in mind and some products to avoid.
The products that you should avoid for the next 48 hours or more are glycolic acid and retinoids.
Besides these, you do not need any downtime.
In fact, your skin will look better when you leave the clinic.
The esthetician will apply products after the treatment for hydration so your skin will already be supple, dewy and glowy.
These products also help to relieve the transient heat felt after the laser.
It is better to wear sun protection after the procedure too.
Your skin can be sensitive hence, it can protect your skin from further damage.
Plus you can layer up hydrators and other non-active ingredients during this time.
Use more non-irritating anti-aging and antioxidants during this time.
Layer them up because your skin absorbs them best after a laser.
By taking care you will be able to retain the results of the procedure better.
Finally,
If you want to give your skin a new life while getting rid of wrinkles and acne scars, getting a laser facial is a good option.
It can treat many problems at once in order to even out your skin’s tone and texture.
Getting it once in a while can be a way to give a well deserved break and treat to your skin.
