Understanding Laser Treatment: How Light Targets the Skin

Lasers function as precise beams of light, with their effects on the skin influenced by various factors, including the wavelength of the light and the specific target within the skin. These targets may include different colors, such as red or brown, depending on the condition being treated.

When it comes to acne:

• Red Targets: These typically represent active acne infections or areas where acne is healing slowly.
• Brown Targets: These are more common in individuals with darker skin tones and are often the result of increased pigmentation following an infection. This condition is known as Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH), where melanin pigment causes the skin to appear brown.

To achieve optimal results, it’s crucial to address these pigmentation issues before tackling the acne scars themselves. If the brown color persists, the overall appearance of the skin may remain unsatisfactory, even after scar treatment. Both targeted laser therapy and appropriate medicinal creams are effective in addressing these pigmentation concerns.

Understanding Laser Devices: Names, Wavelengths, and Treatment Purposes

Laser devices often come with appealing names, much like sports cars such as Mustang, Corvette, or Camaro. However, these names can be misleading without a deeper understanding of what the lasers actually do. The key to differentiating between various lasers lies in understanding their wavelengths and how they interact with the skin. Complicating matters further, lasers are often named based on the material inside the laser tube that produces the light.

For example:

• CO2 Laser: This laser emits an invisible infrared wavelength of 10,600 nm, which targets the superficial skin cells, causing a peeling effect.
• Nd Laser: Operating at a wavelength of 1064 nm, this laser penetrates deeper into the skin, primarily bypassing the epidermis.
• KTP Laser: With wavelengths of 532 nm or 940 nm, this laser is used to treat red or brown pigmentation, depending on the specific skin concern.

Lasers vs. Chemical Peels: Understanding the Differences

Ablative and non-ablative lasers serve different purposes:

• Ablative Lasers (e.g., CO2): These lasers remove the top layer of skin, making them effective for more intensive treatments.
• Non-Ablative Lasers (e.g., Nd): These lasers work by heating the underlying skin tissue without damaging the surface, often marketed as collagen-stimulating, although this claim is frequently overstated.

It’s important to note that some devices marketed as lasers, like Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) devices, are not true lasers. IPL devices use multiple wavelengths filtered through a gross filter, making them less precise than true lasers.

Fractional Lasers: What You Need to Know

Fractional lasers use only a fraction of their output on the skin, a technique designed to reduce recovery time. While this may sound beneficial, treating only part of the skin often sacrifices comprehensive results. Full-surface treatments are generally more effective, though they require longer healing times.

Laser Wavelengths and Acne Scars

Lasers using wavelengths of 532 nm and 940 nm are effective in reducing red, inflamed acne scars and treating the brown pigmentation of old acne marks. However, it’s crucial to understand that certain types of scars, such as box and rolling scars, are not suitable for treatment with lasers, peels, or other superficial methods like microneedling. These scars require deeper interventions to release and lift the skin from below, as surface-level treatments do not address the underlying issue.

In summary, while lasers and chemical peels can be beneficial for superficial skin concerns, their role in treating deep acne scars is limited. Many of these treatments are often fleeting trends that may not provide long-term results for more severe scarring.