One of the documented problems with intense pulsed light therapy (IPL), a form of laser skin treatment, is that IPL typically has negative side effects for non-Caucasian women. Women of different ethnicities are prone to hyperpigmentation (excessive darkening of certain areas) or hyperlightening (excessive lightening of certain areas) which can create problems when obvious areas of the face and neck are being treated.
Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a type of skin treatment (also known as a photofacial) which uses intense light to erase fine lines, broken capillaries, and brown spots on the skin. Results are similar to a medium depth laser or chemical peel, without the recovery time, blistering, or burning common in these types of peels.
Skin resurfacing is the broad term for cosmetic procedures which are completed to improve the texture and appearance of the skin. These are often requested by patients seeking to diminish lines and wrinkles. Resurfacing techniques may also be prescribed by physicians as a way to remove precancerous lesions from the face.
The most common types of skin resurfacing techniques are dermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser resurfacing.
Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) is an alternative to surgical stripping for those under the skin veins which are responsible for creating varicose veins on the skin's surface.
As you may know, varicose veins are caused by a condition called "venous insufficiency" which means, basically, that the veins in your legs are not able to effectively funnel blood back to the heart. Circulating blood starts to pool in the vein, causing it to become enlarged and twisted. It's estimated that 50-50% of American women and 40-45% of American men have some problem related to vein functioning. In people over 50, varicose veins can impact 1 out of every 2 people. Severe varicose veins can become a significant health hazard; if so much blood is pooling in the lower body, there will be decreased flow to the rest of the body, including the heart and brain.
Active FX is a new laser skin treatment technology which offers improvements in skin texture, tone, and firmness in just one treatment. But just because it's newer, does that mean its better? Let's compare Active FX with Fraxel, another form of laser skin treatment.
Active FX and Fraxel both employ "fractional" methods, which means they work on a fraction of the skin, skip a small fraction, and then work on another fraction of the skin. This creates treatment "dots" on the skin- each dot of treated skin is next to a dot of untreated skin. A "fraction" of the skin's surface is treated rather than the entire surface. This allows for faster healing, while reducing collateral skin damage, swelling, and redness.
Laser resurfacing (also referred to as a "laser peel") involves the use of a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser which is used to remove damaged or wrinkled skin, layer by layer.
Lumenis Ltd, a developer, manufacturer, and seller of global laser equipment has just launched Active FX, billed as an effective, single treatment for skin rejuvenation. This procedure can be used to treat wrinkles, fine lines, loose skin and discoloration (e.g., freckles, "age spots," etc.), as well as other effects of aging and sun damage.
For those who suffer from varicose or spider veins, vein closure by laser (marketed under names such as VNUS closure) may offer an effective method for reducing the unsightly appearance and discomfort associated with these kinds of venuous issues.
My Dad had very bad varicose veins when I was a child,
There are two main types of laser treatments for scars.
One is the pulsed dye (vascular) laser, which works by decreasing the amount of blood flow into the scar, and by decreasing the amount of collagen that deposits at the site of the injury. This, in turn, will improve the appearance of the scar and may quicken healing time. This type of laser has been used with some sucess to treat acne scars, especially ones which are still red and raised.