If you're looking to improve your skin's texture and tone by addressing scars and pigmentation, it's essential to make an informed choice. Below, we'll explore various treatment options, their advantages, and potential drawbacks.
1. Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing is a highly effective but aggressive procedure in which the top layer of the skin is removed through intense heat. It's important to note that when performed by inexperienced providers using improper settings, it can lead to side effects such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, keloids, or permanent hypopigmentation. As a result, this treatment is not recommended for individuals with Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI due to these associated risks.
Possible complications include grid marks from Fraxel laser. While these marks usually fade away, they may become permanent if scabs are accidentally disturbed during the healing process. Individuals with medium to deep skin tones are at a higher risk of burning and scarring because laser beams target pigment. Additionally, laser treatments can increase sensitivity to sunlight, making sun avoidance in our climate quite challenging.
Many people also report increased sensitivity of the skin.
Moreover, there is a significant downtime, lasting for weeks to months following the procedure, often requiring numbing and general anaesthesia for ablative lasers. It's advisable to avoid ablative or fractional lasers if you have active acne, as this may exacerbate inflammation. Fraxel laser treatments should be spaced four weeks apart.