Question regarding laser treatments
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Tue Apr 08, 2014 10:15 am

Hi I've been researching into the science of laser treatments and there still something I don't quite understand and was hoping someone on this forum could help.

From my understanding lasers work to remove the outer layers of skin, promoting new layers to form when the skin heals. However if skin is uneven- say as a result from scarring from acne, how do the lasers work so that it makes the uneven scarred skin smooth?

I.e if the laser is removing layers of the skin, won't the laser also remove the skin in the holes of the acne scars- making the scars deeper? How do the lasers only remove the unscarred skin and not the scarred skin when the whole surface of the skin is visible and therefore affected by the laser?

Its something thats always caused me to question the logic behind laser treatments, especially after reading about procedures that made ice-pick and box scarring worse after laser treatments from people on this forums and real self.com, as theres just so many people that have had there skin made worse from laser treatments that I can't help question the safety and logic behind them. I'd really appreciate any insight into this thanks.

free skin care · Tue Apr 08, 2014 2:18 pm

This is a good question. I think microdermabrasion is probably better to even the surface of the skin
or a chemical peel.

I had several IPL treatments and the top layer of the skin shed over a few days including melanin bits but I don't think it might work on scars too well if it's thickened tissue. I felt burning of my spots and not on any of the non pigmented spots.

free skin care · Tue Apr 08, 2014 5:21 pm

There are lots and lots of lasers in the world. Tell us what laser treatment you are thinking about and you will get better feedback.

Wed Apr 09, 2014 10:43 am

I suppose I'm looking referring to all of them generally, but ones which help the epidermis - like Co2 and Erbium laser.

Wed Apr 09, 2014 10:25 pm

William I suppose you could consider spot laser treatment or dermabrasion just on the scars. A cheaper solution would be needling the scars at regular intervals.

Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:40 am

but that would make the scars deeper. Does anybody have an answer to this or have I simply pointed out the fatal flaw in lasers.

free skin care · Fri Apr 11, 2014 1:00 am

For an informed medical opinion you might trywww.justanswer.com

Fri Apr 11, 2014 3:41 am

Thanks Sakura. I actually asked a derm on that site but his answer was very textbook- that lasers would resurface the skin- but couldn't explain how it wouldn't make scars deeper in the process.

I also think medical professionals do not consider the health status of individuals before laser treatments- as many factors such as low white blood cell count and low thyroid function all affect rate of inflammation and healing. Which explains why many get worse results as their skin has been damaged but unable to heal properly- regardless of the skill of the surgeon.

I think its one of the many cosmetic treatments that we currently have a lot of ignorance too and will look back on it in a few decades in disbelief of our poor, un-sightful attitude towards it.

free skin care · Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:37 am

Needling does not actually make them deeper. I have had fairly decent results using that combined with peels on several scars. If I were more diligent, the results might even be better but I do not have the down time.

Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:40 am

If the laser works at a unified depth, say 2mm and the scar is 1mm deep from the skin surface then the laser would take more from the surrounding skin than it would from the deeper scar area theoretically making the skin look more uniform.This is without taking into account the wound healing factor and collagen build-up.Even so for very deep,pitted scars you can only take off so much so punch grafting,excision or elevation would seem a better alternative but only an expert could give you a definitive answer!

free skin care · Fri Apr 11, 2014 7:01 am

I had a scar that the derm recommended adding a bit of filler too. I didn't do it but that was an option.

free skin care · Fri Apr 11, 2014 12:44 pm

You might try emailing Beautipedia. I contacted them about lasers and got a helpful response. Be prepared to wait though, they get a lot of emails.

They said I would pay around $300-500 in a major urban center and there should be a dermatologist that administers it.

They didn't say why but from the forms I filled out it's not recommended for diabetics, people with heart conditions or epilepsy or skin cancer. The screening should have been done before, filling out the forms is not screening but at least the place was clean and valued safety.

They said I would need about three treatments spread over several months. I've had five but only saw dramatic results one the first one.

Perhaps, I'm being too picky about my skin and there wasn't that much to deal with, even the clinic said I had great skin but it's always the eye of the beholder and I wanted the glow that yoga instructors always have.

I don't feel confident without some makeup though I have gone out without any but it was dark!

free skin care · Fri Apr 11, 2014 12:44 pm

You might try emailing Beautipedia. I contacted them about lasers and got a helpful response. Be prepared to wait though, they get a lot of emails.

They said I would pay around $300-500 in a major urban center and there should be a dermatologist that administers it.

They didn't say why but from the forms I filled out it's not recommended for diabetics, people with heart conditions or epilepsy or skin cancer. The screening should have been done before, filling out the forms is not screening but at least the place was clean and valued safety.

They said I would need about three treatments spread over several months. I've had five but only saw dramatic results one the first one.

Perhaps, I'm being too picky about my skin and there wasn't that much to deal with, even the clinic said I had great skin but it's always the eye of the beholder and I wanted the glow that yoga instructors always have.

I don't feel confident without some makeup though I have gone out without any but it was dark!

free skin care · Fri Apr 11, 2014 12:45 pm

You might try emailing Beautipedia. I contacted them about lasers and got a helpful response. Be prepared to wait though, they get a lot of emails.

They said I would pay around $300-500 in a major urban center and there should be a dermatologist that administers it.

They didn't say why but from the forms I filled out it's not recommended for diabetics, people with heart conditions or epilepsy or skin cancer. The screening should have been done before, filling out the forms is not screening but at least the place was clean and valued safety.

They said I would need about three treatments spread over several months. I've had five but only saw dramatic results one the first one.

Perhaps, I'm being too picky about my skin and there wasn't that much to deal with, even the clinic said I had great skin but it's always the eye of the beholder and I wanted the glow that yoga instructors always have.

I don't feel confident without some makeup though I have gone out without any but it was dark!

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