Laser Skin Lightening Treatments

Laser Skin Lightening Treatment

There are many options available for those considering lightening their skin.  Many products are available over the counter and through the internet.  There are also prescriptions doctors can write out.  A growing popular trend is to have laser skin lightening treatment.

During laser treatment the lasers work by sending out a single-color, high intensity beam of energy that is absorbed by chromosphores, which is defined as an atom or molecule that makes color.  Once the chromosphores have absorbed the beam they are destroyed.  The laser’s wavelength shows how deep the laser went into the skin and ultimately shows the location of the chromosphores.

Lentigines or age spots can be treated using the Q-switched ruby laser or by the Q-switched Nd: YAG laser.  Skin darkening caused by a rash, cut, or infection that has healed can also be treated by either of these lasers.  For age spots on the hand the latter has been found to be more effective.  Side effects from this type of laser treatment can be discomfort, redness, mild swelling, and reverse effects of post inflammatoryhyper pigmentation.

Ablative pulse and carbon lasers have been used for many types of hyperpigmentation results.  They are typically a good choice for superficial layers of the skin or epidermis.  However, there tend to be side effects with this approach such as hyperpigmentation and scarring so it is not a first choice.

When treating melanoma the best choice is to use both the ablative pulse laser and a Q-switched alexandrite laser.  Using the pulse laser alone can be unpredictable and most likely will end up causing more damage to the skin.

Another type of ablative laser the erbium (er):  YAG laser can vaporize the skin in the upper dermis and this will disrupt melanin granules.  Patients with refractory melanoma have been found to have good results with this type of laser.  However, other cases of melanoma have suffered from post inflammatoryhyper pigmentation.

Some of the newest technology using lasers to improve skin lightening treatment is the Fraxel or fractional photthermolysis.  It causes less damage to the skin by requiring less healing.  During treatment 15 to 20% of the skin is resurfaced and the surrounding skin is used for healing.  So far, case studies have been very positive when using this laser to treat hyper pigmentation and melasma.

Laser surgery definitely has its risks, but with growing technology it seems to be becoming less dangerous.  The most unnerving thing about lightening the skin with lasers is that it can have a completely reverse reaction and make the skin worse than it was.  However, if every option has been exhausted it is not unreasonable to discuss with a physician.