With less daylight hours and less time spent outside during this season, wintertime is ideal for a Fraxel laser skin treatment at the FineTouch Dermatology. Skin after any type of laser resurfacing is extra sensitive since it is in the wound healing process to improve appearance and/or correct a cosmetic or medical issue.
Winter is thus typically ideal for laser skin resurfacing since patients are less likely to expose recently treated skin to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays for the sun. After any Fraxel laser skin treatment, patients should apply sunscreen with a SPF 30+ daily to the face and areas of the body exposed to the sun. It’s also a good idea to wear broad-rimmed hats, sunglasses and protective clothing on or over areas treated with laser resurfacing.
FRAXEL LASER SKIN TREATMENT ABILITY AND EFFICACY
Fraxel lasers use the body’s natural ability to produce healthy, normal collagen tissue. The focused light energy of the lasers turns into heat on the dermal layer beneath the skin’s surface. The skin responds to the heat as in injury and in turn, begins the wound healing process. Skin produces collagen as a way to repair itself following Fraxel laser resurfacing.
With Fraxel laser treatments, monochromatic light waves that are concentrated penetrate the skin and restructure the affected or damaged tissue. Fraxel’s “fractional” targeting only treats specific areas, leaving surrounding areas undisturbed. Patients thus heal faster following laser skin treatment with less downtime.
Fraxel lasers either entail ablative or non-ablative treatments. Ablative procedures vaporize the outer layer of the skin. The removal of damaged skin allows newer cells to surface. Non-ablative procedures focus on deeper layers of the dermis to stimulate collagen restructuring and renewal.
Los Angeles acne scar patient before and after Fraxel Dual*
FRAXEL LASER SYSTEMS: FRAXEL DUAL AND FRAXEL REPAIR
Fraxel laser systems can effectively improve the appearance of scars, remove skin imperfections, eradicate wrinkles and improve overall skin tone and complexion.
Fraxel laser resurfacing treatment address a wide range of aesthetic issues in skin rejuvenation, including:
- Wrinkles
- Scarring
- Pigmentation
- Sunspots
- Age spots
- Large pores
- Melasma
- Freckles
- Moles
- Birthmarks
Fraxel DUAL
Fraxel DUAL is a non-ablative laser treatment that addresses mild to moderate acne scars, mild to moderate periorbital wrinkles, actinic keratosis, melasma, photodamage, surgical scars and. It incorporates the use of two laser strengths to stimulate collagen and refine skin.
Fraxel DUAL works with deeper layers of the dermis to induce and promote collagen remodeling. The Erbium aspect of the laser (1,550 nanometer wavelength) normalizes collagen density. The Thulium aspect of the laser is more superficial (1,927 nanometer) and helps refine the skin’s surface.
The Erbium fiber laser penetrates deeper to address more difficult scarring and wrinkle issues. The Thulium fiber laser can be used on the entire body. Fraxel DUAL can also be used on all skin tones.
Fraxel re:pair:
Fraxel re:pair is a fractionated CO2 laser that causes fractionated and microscopic zones of photo thermolysis (light-induced burns) of the superficial and deep layers of the skin. Fraxel repair is only recommended for those with lighter skin complexions, defined as Fitzpatrick I to III types.
Fraxel re:pair is an ablative treatment that address severe acne and more complex skin complexion issues. It also assists with vascular dyschromia, pigmented lesions, rhytides, fine lines, textural irregularities and moderate to severe wrinkles and furrows in lax skin. It is a more invasive treatment that vaporizes skin with the dermis.
The re:pair also has noticeable results after one treatment. This includes skin tightening, tissue shrinkage and immediate coagulation. Due to its fractional delivery, it does minimal damage to the surrounding dermis layer of acne scars or skin not treated.
For more information on Fraxel laser treatments, contact FineTouch Dermatology for a consultation. To learn more about Fraxel, click here.