Getting to Know the Latest Anti-Aging Laser Treatments

The anti-aging industry is marvelous to watch. Every year, a new type of treatment hits the market promising to banish the signs of aging. As age, unfortunately, comes to all of us, these innovations are welcome additions to an already large selection.

If you were to be critical of this continuously growing industry, you could point to the fact that mass confusion now exists amidst the vast array of procedures available. Even if you were to narrow anti-aging treatments down into categories, you’d still probably struggle to choose the perfect one for you.

Just look at laser treatments: There are now more lasers being used in clinics than there are in organized laser shows. But which of these cosmetic lasers is best for your condition, and which type of laser will deliver on its promises?

Before embarking on any anti-aging laser treatment, it’s advisable you familiarize yourself with the different types that are on the market. It just so happens you can do that by reading on.

Fraxel Lasers

Fraxel laser treatment is one of the more modern types of laser treatment. Also known as fractional photothermolysis, Fraxel is a simple procedure, but one that can produce life-changing results. It works by puncturing the skin and inflicting it with lots of tiny injuries. This causes the skin cells below to produce more collagen in order to heal these small wounds. Collagen, as you probably know, is the body’s very own anti-aging chemical, and is responsible for youthful-looking skin, the type everybody craves.

Ablative Lasers

Ablative lasers are frequently used on major skin conditions due to their power and precision. An ablative laser will target each layer of your skin, causing it to heal itself at the deepest level. While ablative lasers are certainly effective, they do come with several downsides.

Ablative laser treatment, unfortunately, is usually rather painful. As a large area of your skin is being targeted, your pain threshold is tested a little more than it would be when undergoing a different type of laser treatment. You may also experience side effects such as bleeding and skin oozing after treatment. This isn’t nearly as bad as it sounds; however, it does mean you’ll need to be aware of infections after treatment. Aftercare instructions should help you prevent this from happening, so if you do opt for ablative laser treatment, follow these instructions carefully.

Non-Ablative Lasers

Unlike an ablative laser, a non-ablative laser only targets the deeper layers of your skin, leaving the surface of it untouched. As you can probably guess, this brings with it the advantage of reduced risk of infection. After treatment with a non-ablative laser, there won’t be any major side effects to worry about. You’ll also be back to your everyday life in no time at all.

So why have non-ablative laser treatment if it doesn’t target as many areas of the skin? Well, non-ablative lasers are best used to treat fine lines and shallow wrinkles. Those who only want to improve their skin slightly and don’t want to worry about infections and other side effects usually choose this type of laser thanks to its ease of use.

It’s important to keep in mind that non-ablative lasers aren’t powerful enough to treat scars and deep wrinkles, so if you’d like to have those particular conditions worked on, you need to opt for a different type of laser.

Deciding on the Right Type of Treatment for You

Hopefully after reading this, you’ll have developed a better understanding of what laser treatment involves, and how it can benefit you. With any luck, you’ll also have decided on what type of laser treatment you think is best for you and your needs.

If you’ve decided against lasers, that’s fine too. With so many different anti-aging treatments around, you have a multitude of options when it comes to looking younger.

Whatever you do, be sure to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of a treatment before going through with it. Also, make sure you contact a trained professional, just to ensure you get the very best results for your skin type.